How Much Does This School Thing Really Mean?

[Ole]

hello all!

not to sound pessimistic about the whole thing.... but i just was wondering when its all said and done, how many of you ’employers’ are going to look at GPA’s, attendance, or give the old school a call...? i know deep in my heart that it really is good for me personally and helps me to keep and develop great habits, so there fore i just sweat and bleed daily - but when its down to a application, or interview- dose the stuff at school ketch up and help persuade a ‘hire me’ option for you down the line? or is it just a nice chunk of change spent paying another's bills....hahaha, j/k - I still love school no matter what and wouldn’t trade it for the world....

and one more, how much -if any- of this stuff will count when i go applying to go for my ’bachelors’?

oh, and could i get answers (please) for the perception of someone who doesn't have a facial tattoo and maybe a answer for me- just for any who would like to know also.

thanks,
ole

[lebelage]

"when its all said and done, how many of you ’employers’ are going to look at GPA’s, attendance, or give the old school a call.."

I only call the school if they use the teachers as a reference, or have no work experience(and plan to use me as their externship)or if they make claims to things like 1st in class or honours like that.

Schooling is relatively unimportant to me, but if they make specific claims about accomplishments during that schooling I'm checking the honesty of the claims.

My hires are based on how they behave during their stage more than anything else.

[Spee]

I can't give the final word on this, but one thing I do know. Employees who are responsible, neat, efficient, hard working and well mannered do well in any field There are precious few of them! It's really amazing.

Ask for letters of references. Copy them--don't give away the original. Show these to perspective employers

[foodpump]

Most, if not all Chefs base hiring on experience and as Lebelage says, the first 1 hr you spend in the kitchen.

The key word in my first sentence was Chefs. HR managers, owner's and non-experienced partners may get glassy eyed over schools and school reputations, but Chef's work with their employees, unlike the HR managers....

[frydaddy]

I've always looked at it as, I can get a job cooking anywhere, but by completing school you are putting yourself in a better position to advance in the industry.

[mark1]

Tossing in my 2 cents worth, lebelage and foodpump are correct, performance is much more important than what schooling your resume lists because a degree doesn't make a chef, engineer, brain surgeon etc., what you've done with that schooling has.
Yes you need a foundation from whatever source because it's at least "difficult" to conjure up a full-blown skill from clear air...
Re the resume, makes good reading and may impress prospective employers and the hires I've made, the times I checked someone's resume was when the claims seemed 'exaggerated', and would you believe, they usually were, sometimes to the point of being complete fabrications....amazing huh!
No, did not hire those folks.

[SmokeyJoe]

And let me tell you this from someone who never went to school and has managed to conjure up a full blown skill from clean air. There isnt a day that goes by that i dont wish I could have completed a 2 or 4 year degree in my chosen feild. I feel I have fought tooth and nail to turn my love of food into a career that pays the bills , and now that ive done that I feel that im still light years behind where i would be if I had fostered the types of relationships and foundations that culinary graduates do. For me it was always motivation to outdo all the cia graduates I worked with, i kept myself educated and always strived to be more passionate than they but there is only so far you can ride passion. There is a wealth of centuries old traditions and tools of the trade that is stored up and at your disposal in those hallowed walls.
So I say this, school may matter little to a perspective employer and academics may matter even less, but what does matter is that you get the most out of it for YOU while your there, it surely will build integrity, or at least help to in the long run. How well you do in school will only benefit YOU in the long run. But even after school you must continue to develope your skills and learn new ones less you become old and in the way, you never stop learning and seeking new skills. School will give you a hell of a head start though.

[mark1]

Well said SmokeyJoe.

[Ole]

thanks....
i see it from a similar point, now i don't know about the next step in a degree... i honestly have just not even had a spare second of time to get started on that research.

truthfully with my 'special situation' (and that's not the little yellow bus, even though it always did take the corners a little fast, ) without school, i might have never of been able to even get my foot in a door of any place that would help me excel in the industry. so there for i respect and honor my opportunities i have in front of myself right now.

[AMerv]

This is my first post on these forums. I've spent hours reading the archives. I have 15yrs. in Casual Dinning from the dish tank to the office. With that, I've recently applied to culinary school (CIA). I'm waiting to hear back on my application. SmokeyJoe, thank you, for your post. It has made postive re-enforcement that I'm making the right decision.