Hungry Jack's, Fasta Pasta, Domino's, KFC, McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Subway

Or

El Bulli Spain, The Fat Duck UK, The French Laundry USA, Tetsuya's Australia, Pierre Gagnaire France [Images], Le Calandre Italy [Images], Bukhara India.

Do some of these names sound familiar?

• Application Express Week for foreign colleges

If yes, then chances are that either you are a hungry tourist standing on any of the food streets of the world, checking your wallet and deciding where to go to satisfy your taste buds or you are at the crossroads of your career aspiring to make a career in the booming hospitality industry. If you are come under the second category, read on. The following information will guide you through making the right decision.

Cooking as we know is the art of converting one form of food or raw vegetables, fruits, meat, flour, pulses etc into mouth-watering dishes. The diversity of cooking worldwide is a reflection of the varied nutritional, aesthetic, agricultural, economic, cultural, social and religious considerations that impact upon it. It is the same is the case of bakery items.

If you like cooking, want to work in an energetic and dynamic environment, are creative, like doing things with your hands and don't mind working hard, you could become a commercial cook.

Cooks or chefs work in restaurants, cafes, hotels, motels, clubs, cafes, hospitals, take-away outlets, function centres, catering firms, flight catering centres and ships. It is challenging work as you have to work long hours and nights and weekends. However, it is extremely rewarding and offers great career options and job satisfaction.

• Top Australian hospitality colleges

Every profession has its entry requirements, basic qualities required, teething problems and unique career options because as they say variety is the spice of life! So let me spill the beans for you on the type of study options available in Australia and the career opportunities after pursuing them.

What training do you need?

To be a qualified cook you need a Certificate III in Commercial Cookery or Asian Cookery. You can do this through a training programme plus some on-the-job experience, or through a New Apprenticeship.

~ Certificate III in Commercial Cookery is the standard 'trade' qualification required to become a qualified cook
~ Certificate III in Asian Cookery is the trade qualification for those specialising in Asian cookery
~ Certificate IV in Asian Cookery is designed for qualified cooks who want to develop their skills in kitchen supervision in an Asian kitchen
~ Certificate IV in Patisserie is designed to give you high level patisserie skills as well as supervisory skills required for running a caf� or cake shop
~ Certificate IV in Commercial Catering will enable you to develop more catering skills such as managing functions or catering for hospitals, as well as supervisory skills
~ Diploma of Hospitality Management is the qualification for chefs who wish to acquire skills in management to manage a kitchen or their own restaurant

Careers

So, what are the career opportunities after pursuing any of the above mentioned courses?

There are excellent job opportunities for cooks. There is currently a shortage of cooks in all the states and territories of Australia and good cooks are always in demand. They can work in a variety of locations and can become a chef or catering manager, or can own their own restaurant or catering company.

They can also be specialists in areas such as ethnic cooking, Asian cookery, baking and patisserie or dietary catering. They can even be TV chefs! There is lots of variety and good travel opportunities. Many young cooks get experience overseas before progressing in their chosen career area.

So, are you ready to be a part of this dynamic hospitality industry? Then, do not lose the golden opportunity of applying to top colleges and universities of Australia offering world-class, career-oriented courses.

The writer is CEO of PAC Asia services, a study abroad consultancy. Mr Bhatia is a permanent resident of Australia. For more information, one can visit www.pacasia.org or call at 0172-4618383