Feeling A Little Less Stressed

[JKat]

Hi!

I have baked since I was 16 (for family, friends, fun), and am now (just this week) 26. Since I graduated college, I have worked in many offices. And I have learned: I don’t do offices.

The birthday brought about the usual “have I been wasting my time? What am I doing with my life?” questions. I was reading up on a few baking blogs this week and realized that a few of these very accomplished women were only 1 year older than me, and I started to stress out that I had, in fact, wasted the time in between college and now, in jobs I knew I would hate. Why didn't I go to culinary school then?! What was I waiting for?!

I think one of my biggest wavering points was: is culinary school worth it? Will I learn what I need in culinary school vs. just working on the job?

Recently, I have the chance to change what I'm doing and work in a custom cake bakery. I am SO excited for the opportunity, and cannot wait to start in May, but I find myself still wondering: am I missing out by not attending culinary school?

Avoiding work (like I always do) and reading up on culinary interests, I read through this forum. What a relief to hear people feel that you don't HAVE to go to culinary school; that much of the time they prefer someone who has experience vs. a certificate. That when you walk into a kitchen, often the chef trains you how they want, regardless of your previous training.

I am feeling a bit better about not having attended culinary school now, or yet (still undecided). And reading that people who are older, with kids & mortgages, are thinking of changing course just like me is very reassuring. It’s nice to think I’m not already “too late.”

I guess my only lingering question is: do you think the experience of culinary school better prepared you for the job you took once you graduated, or could the 1 – 2 years and 15 – 40k have been better spent just gaining as much experience as you could find? I guess I’m thinking that culinary school pastry arts will teach me the higher skills that the job will expect me to have. Will a job really teach me how to make fancier sauces, infuse ingredients, etc? Or will they expect me to know that?

A LONG post, I’m sorry! But thank you for any help you can offer and any advice that you give. It helps me wrestle with my thoughts!

[Thomski]

I’m glad that you are feeling less stressed.

As you are starting out in this business most places of employment will not expect you to have a high level of skills. You just have to be honest about what you have or haven’t done.

Plus, most employers know that because someone has a degree doesn’t mean they actually know how to do something.

As an example, last year I was working at a 5 diamond resort and we hired in a new guy as a cook II, which was a step above where I was at the time. He was making a very large batch of cookies, and dumped all the eggs in at once. Needless to say, all that product had to get dumped out.

This guy went to culinary school, proving the point that a culinary degree doesn’t prove skill level.

Just ask a lot of questions and you will get the skills you need. And when you start wanting a higher level position, go and find out what skills you need to get that job.

Have fun!

[Derek Cooks]

If you've read through this forum, then you know my views, JKat. Interestingly, what you learn depends entirely and where and who you work for, and/or where and how hard you work in school.

In any event, jump in with both feet in May. Until you've actually experienced the life, you won't know the answer to your questions.

And lighten up on the "wasted life" stuff, huh? That (your life) was all sooooo yesterday. You did what you did, it's done, it is what it is. You CAN do something about TODAY. Make it a great one!

[JKat]

I think I am going to take a class at a trade tech school that my friend who owns a cake bakery recommended. That way I have some basic knowledge for larger scale baking. I can't wait!

Today is rainy and as I headed off to my boring office job this morning, I turned to my boyfriend and said, "What a waste of today at an office! I could be baking all day..."

So as it is I'm brainstorming things to make tonight. I'm thinking pistachio something...

Thanks for everyone's advice!