How to Get a Stage at a Michelin Star Restaurant

A stage (pronounced "stahj") is your best way into a top kitchen. It's essentially a working trial — you show up, cook alongside the team for a few days or weeks, and prove you belong. Most hires at Michelin-starred restaurants start this way.

But getting that stage in the first place? That's the hard part.

What is a stage, exactly?

A stage is an unpaid working period in a professional kitchen. It can last anywhere from a single day (a "trail") to several weeks or even months. During a stage, you work alongside the brigade, usually starting on prep before moving to a section if you impress.

For the restaurant, it's a low-risk way to evaluate you. For you, it's a chance to learn, network, and potentially land a permanent role.

When to apply

Timing matters more than most chefs realise.

• Best months: January–March and September–October. These are when kitchens are actively building teams for the upcoming season.
• Avoid: December (too busy with holiday service), July–August (summer rush, no bandwidth for stagiaires at most European restaurants).
• Lead time: Apply 6–8 weeks before your desired start date. Top restaurants fill stage spots quickly.

How to find restaurants that accept stages

Not every restaurant takes stagiaires. Here's how to find ones that do:

• Check their website — many list a "Stage" or "Work With Us" page
• Instagram — restaurants that post team photos or tag stagiaires are usually open to it
• Ask your network — chefs who've staged somewhere can often connect you
• Culinary school career offices — they maintain relationships with partner restaurants
• Job boards like Kitchen Applications — our job board aggregates live openings including stage opportunities

The application email

Keep it short, specific, and professional. Include:

1. Who you are — current role, experience level, culinary school (if applicable)
2. Why this restaurant — reference something specific about their food, philosophy, or team
3. What you want — stage dates, duration, which section interests you
4. Your CV — attached as a one-page PDF

The entire email should be under 180 words. See our guide to writing cover letters for templates.

What to expect during the stage

Your first day will feel intense. Here's what's normal:

• Arrive 30 minutes early in clean whites with your own knives
• You'll start on prep — peeling, portioning, mise en place. This isn't punishment; it's the test. How fast, clean, and organised are you?
• Watch and learn — absorb the kitchen's flow, language, and standards
• Ask questions when appropriate — but read the room. During service is not the time
• Stay until you're told to leave — never ask "can I go now?"

How to turn a stage into a job offer

The chefs who get hired after staging all do the same things:

• Be the first to arrive and last to leave
• Keep your station immaculate — cleanliness signals professionalism
• Say yes to everything — asked to clean the walk-in? Do it with enthusiasm
• Take notes — after each service, write down what you learned. Chefs notice this
• Don't use your phone — ever. Not even on break in view of the kitchen

After your stage ends, send a thank-you email within 24 hours. Reference something specific you learned or a moment that stood out. Then follow up in 2–3 weeks if you haven't heard back.

Common mistakes

• Applying to too many restaurants at once with the same generic email — chefs talk to each other
• Not researching the restaurant — if you can't name a dish or the head chef, you haven't done the work
• Expecting to be paid — stages are traditionally unpaid. Some restaurants cover meals, very few offer stipends
• Quitting your current job before confirming the stage — always wait for written confirmation

The numbers game

Even great chefs get rejected. A 20–30% response rate on stage applications is considered good. Send 15–20 well-researched emails and expect 3–5 positive responses. From there, you choose the best fit.

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Kitchen Applications handles the entire process — from researching the restaurant to writing a personalised email to sending it from your Gmail. Start with one free application and see the difference.