How to Get a Professional Cooking/Baking Job

People all over the world want to know how they can start a career in the culinary field. It’s an attractive profession, as food is a universal; an undeniable factor in the human experience. But, the question remains the same, how do you get your first cooking job? What will the interviews be like? How long will it take? How can you get your foot in the door?

How Can You Begin to Chase Your Dreams?

First, I recommend that you eat out as much as you can afford, and when you do, take notes. When you find a menu or restaurant you love, as your wait for the name of the people who prepared it. Once you do this, you can print out your resume and bring it in, in person.  Arrive between services, this shows that you pay attention to the running of the restaurant before you ever meet them. It will leave a terrible impression if you go in while in the middle of a lunch or dinner rush. Be honest; tell the chef you love their food and their menu. Tell them that you would love to work in their kitchen. Ask questions but stay humble. Ask about openings, take any position, but have conviction in it.

When you’ve done this, do not wait for a call back. Do not email them your resume. Bring it in in person. Do not take rejection until you have exhausted all possible options.  If you are rejected, stay modest and kind; do not take it personally. If you’re accepted, do not take it personally either. Most chefs love free or cheap labor, and if you are fortunate enough to land an entry level position, fortunate to get that foot in the door, you will still have to work hard to earn their respect.

Once you’re in, educate yourself. Familiarize yourself with the chef and the restaurant. Make it the focus of your waking hours.  Immerse yourself in the restaurant. Learn the names of everyone in the restaurant, and carefully analyze without critique what they do.  It may be trite, but come to work early and stay late. Show dedication to your craft, to the job, and doors will open up for you. Take notes whenever you can, and make yourself available for any task. Wash dishes even if dish washing isn’t what you do.

No matter who and what you are, when you’re on the bottom of the totem pole, you’re truly on the bottom. The only way you can work your way up, the only way you can break in to any industry, is to do it fully and readily, with every bit of you. Anything less will only hold you back from your dreams.

People all over the world want to know how they can start a career in the culinary field. It’s an attractive profession, as food is a universal; an undeniable factor in the human experience. But, the question remains the same, how do you get your first cooking job? What will the interviews be like? How long will it take? How can you get your foot in the door? First, I recommend that you eat out as much as you can afford, and when you do, take notes. When you find a menu or restaurant you love, as your wait for the name of the people who prepared it. Once you do this, you can print out your resume and bring it in, in person.  Arrive between services, this shows that you pay attention to the running of the restaurant before you ever meet them. It will leave a terrible impression if you go in while in the middle of a lunch or dinner rush. Be honest; tell the chef you love their food and their menu. Tell them that you would love to work in their kitchen. Ask questions but stay humble. Ask about openings, take any position, but have conviction in it.

When you’ve done this, do not wait for a call back. Do not email them your resume. Bring it in in person. Do not take rejection until you have exhausted all possible options.  If you are rejected, stay modest and kind; do not take it personally. If you’re accepted, do not take it personally either. Most chefs love free or cheap labor, and if you are fortunate enough to land an entry level position, fortunate to get that foot in the door, you will still have to work hard to earn their respect.

Once you’re in, educate yourself. Familiarize yourself with the chef and the restaurant. Make it the focus of your waking hours.  Immerse yourself in the restaurant. Learn the names of everyone in the restaurant, and carefully analyze without critique what they do.  It may be trite, but come to work early and stay late. Show dedication to your craft, to the job, and doors will open up for you. Take notes whenever you can, and make yourself available for any task. Wash dishes even if dish washing isn’t what you do.

No matter who and what you are, when you’re on the bottom of the totem pole, you’re truly on the bottom. The only way you can work your way up, the only way you can break in to any industry, is to do it fully and readily, with every bit of you. Anything less will only hold you back from your dreams.

People all over the world want to know how they can start a career in the culinary field. It’s an attractive profession, as food is a universal; an undeniable factor in the human experience. But, the question remains the same, how do you get your first cooking job? What will the interviews be like? How long will it take? How can you get your foot in the door? First, I recommend that you eat out as much as you can afford, and when you do, take notes. When you find a menu or restaurant you love, as your wait for the name of the people who prepared it. Once you do this, you can print out your resume and bring it in, in person.  Arrive between services, this shows that you pay attention to the running of the restaurant before you ever meet them. It will leave a terrible impression if you go in while in the middle of a lunch or dinner rush. Be honest; tell the chef you love their food and their menu. Tell them that you would love to work in their kitchen. Ask questions but stay humble. Ask about openings, take any position, but have conviction in it.

When you’ve done this, do not wait for a call back. Do not email them your resume. Bring it in in person. Do not take rejection until you have exhausted all possible options.  If you are rejected, stay modest and kind; do not take it personally. If you’re accepted, do not take it personally either. Most chefs love free or cheap labor, and if you are fortunate enough to land an entry level position, fortunate to get that foot in the door, you will still have to work hard to earn their respect.

Once you’re in, educate yourself. Familiarize yourself with the chef and the restaurant. Make it the focus of your waking hours.  Immerse yourself in the restaurant. Learn the names of everyone in the restaurant, and carefully analyze without critique what they do.  It may be trite, but come to work early and stay late. Show dedication to your craft, to the job, and doors will open up for you. Take notes whenever you can, and make yourself available for any task. Wash dishes even if dish washing isn’t what you do.

One Step at a Time

No matter who and what you are, when you’re on the bottom of the totem pole, you’re truly on the bottom. The only way you can work your way up, the only way you can break in to any industry, is to do it fully and readily, with every bit of you. Anything less will only hold you back from your dreams.