A Private Chef can be exactly what your busy household needs, but before hiring this indispensable professional, you’ll want to be sure they’ll be able to accomplish what’s needed. Asking yourself and prospective private chef candidates certain interview questions will help you choose the best individual for your requirements.
Private Chef Overview
A household’s Private Chef’s responsibilities extend beyond the creation of meals for a family. They also must prepare menus and adjust them as necessary, source and obtain the healthiest, best quality ingredients, and ensure constant cleanliness and organization in the kitchen, to name a few.
Before knowing the best questions to ask a Chef, there are questions to consider for yourself.
Determining What You Need
Taking time to answer the following questions will help you clarify the type of Private Chef you need, identify whether a candidate possesses all the skills you seek, and help you determine the best cook interview questions to ask.
How Often Will You Need Them to Cook for You?
It will be important for you to know how many meals you’ll need your Private Chef to prepare. Will they be required only at breakfast and lunch, or will they also be preparing dinner and snacks?
On Which Days Will They Be Needed Most?
Some days may be busier than others for your household. Consider how many busy days are in your schedule, and how many meals you will need your Private Chef to prepare on those days.
Which Dietary Requirements Need to Be Accommodated?
Any household members with special diets due to allergies or medical conditions will be a definite consideration when hiring a Private Chef. They should possess the skills and knowledge necessary to prepare these kinds of meals.
Important Private Chef Interview Questions
Once you’ve identified what you need in a Private Chef, you can compile a list of interview questions. Below are questions that will help you choose the right professional for your household.
What Is Their Experience?
Asking prospective candidates about how long they have been cooking, as well as what kinds of food they have the most experience with preparing will reveal much about what you can expect from them.
Do They Have Any Specialties?
Many Private Chefs specialize in certain dishes or in meals from certain countries. This will be an important question to ask if there are specific preferences in your household for meals.
Can They Accommodate Children?
If you have children in your household, asking your potential candidate whether they can accommodate these types of meals will be important. You can also ask if they are willing to prepare child-friendly and adult meals at the same time.
Will They Prepare Meals in Your Kitchen?
Some Private Chefs prefer to prepare meals in their own kitchens and deliver them to clients, while others are happy to work in the client’s kitchen. If they’ll be working at your home, arrangements will need to be made to ensure your Private Chef has access to the tools and ingredients they need.
Do They Provide Other Services?
Another question to ask your prospective candidate is whether or not they provide other services, such as cooking for dinner parties or family events. In addition to their cooking skills, a Private Chef may also have other talents.
For example, they may be skilled at teaching, and so may be amenable to leading a cooking class for your special guests. They may also be able to offer entertainment in the form of storytelling as it relates to the food they’ve prepared.
After the Interview
Once your interview is complete and you’ve chosen the professional that’s right for your household and have welcomed them into your home, you will have other items to ask a Chef about, such as:
- Portion sizes (larger portions will allow for leftovers on days your Private Chef isn’t working)
- Their flexibility of schedule in response to your needs at certain times of the year, such as when your children are on summer break from school
- Their ability to prepare meals and foods according to religious holidays (kosher, halal, and similar)
What Is the Best Way to Find a Private Chef?
The time and effort needed to locate the right candidates, compile your list of requirements, conduct interviews and choose the best fit can be a long and time-consuming process. If you already have a Personal Assistant or Estate Manager, they are likely well-equipped to handle this for you.
If you don’t have these professionals working for your household, a household staffing agency is the ideal choice.
SOURCE: Staffing at Tiffanie’s
