Working as a chef for a private household

Question

I am a married UK resident who is studying a professional chef course at NVQ level 2 at Westminster Kingsway College, London. I am 48 years old and I have a lot of chef experience in Russia where I am originally from. I love cooking and I am able to cook dishes from almost all nations. I also have one year's experience working in a pub in London.

I am very concerned about finding a job after I graduate. Unfortunately it is too late for me to start a career as a chef in restaurants in UK. I would like to find a job in working as a chef for a family or individual. I have grounds to believe that I could do this job successfully. I have tried to find an agency that deals with this kind of opportunities but have failed. I would very much appreciate your advice on finding a job like this.

What the expert says

Michael Moor, managing director, Chef Centre

!	-

Agencies exist (certainly around the Knightsbridge area of London) that deal with private households requiring cooks, butlers and nannies, and these would make a sensible first port of call because a large number of their clients are of ethnic origins, and a Russian trained chef with formal UK qualifications could be of great interest. Some private posts can be as demanding as commercial ones, and the salaries range from the minimum wage to extremely good ones, so professional advice would be wise. Accommodation and travel often come with the package, presumably two factors you would want to avoid in favour of other benefits. Age is not a problem in the London restaurant scene, nor inexperience if the right attitude is shown, so I wouldn't dismiss that idea if you feel it is what you really want to do. You are starting to sell yourself in your letter, but if you find it difficult to obtain an interview, find a reputable agency that will use its client relationships to get you a couple of trials, and then it is down to you.