So you want to be a ... chef or head cook

JOB DESCRIPTION: Chefs' and cooks' main responsibility is to plan menus and prepare food in an attractive manner for their customers. They commonly work in restaurants, cafeterias, lunchrooms, hotels and several other establishments that prepare and serve food. The quality and image of the food is everything for chefs. Pricing foods, hiring a cooking staff, and organizing the kitchen to suit their needs are just some of the many task of cooks and chefs.

EDUCATION NEEDED: High school plus training.

CONTINUING EDUCATION: Cooks and chefs can further their careers through more experience and training.

PAY OPTIONS: West Virginia chefs and head cooks earn on average about $32,380 per year.

HOW TO APPLY: Chefs and cooks that graduate from culinary school often have jobs lined up. Researching locations that prepare the food chef's specializes in is also a good idea. Again, newspapers, the Internet and established contacts are all good sources.

Source: http://careers.stateuniversity.com