How can I boost my confidence in the kitchen?

The expert panel
Our expert panel comprises representatives from the Hotel and Catering Training Company (HCTC), Accor Hotels UK & Ireland, Greene King Pub Company, MaydayExec, Bartlett Mitchell, Learnpurple, Conran, and Portfolio International.

The question I've recently left a position as sous chef in a busy pub-restaurant I helped open in the Cotswolds. Although initially confident, a few weeks of my new job left me feeling like a rank amateur. What do you recommend would be the best move for me to reclaim my confidence?

The Answers
The first thing to do is to step back and take stock of what you have achieved so far. It's very easy to focus on perceived failings and brush over what you have achieved.

Speak to your immediate boss. Get their perspective on how you have performed so far. Their perception may be very different from yours. Clarification of goals and the steps needed to achieve them is the first step to achieving anything. Was your induction effective? Do you have adequate information on the standards you are required to achieve? Some extra coaching in down times will also develop the skills you need away from the pressure of service.

Alternatively, you may wish to seek a position as sous or demi-sous chef in a larger establishment where there is more than one deputy. This way, you will have the support of colleagues as well as guidance from the head chef/manager. In a larger environment you will have the opportunity to run specific sections and brush up your skills in all areas, which will help boost your confidence.
Wendy Bartlett, director, Bartlett Mitchell
In my view no one deserves to feel like a rank amateur. However, I know kitchens can be high-pressure environments. The good thing is that good-quality sous chefs are in short supply.

You should take the time to find an environment, people and, most importantly, the right head chef who will support and mentor you. The most important thing for you to do now is not take the first job that comes along but write down exactly what you are looking for and ensure your next job meets those criteria.
Lesley Reynolds, chief executive, Portfolio International
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