Hey all, so I might be getting my first job, and tbh I'm a little nervous. My dad is a regular at this microbrewery in town, so he's gotten to know the people that work there pretty well. He was talking to the cook and mentioned I was going to going to cook school (not exactly true, but I was sort of considering it). Long story short, the guy offered to take me on and train me, or some such. I've read here before that working in a kitchen can be very stressful, hard work, ect, and obviously that has me a little on edge about my (possible) job. I don't really have any cooking knowledge, besides what I've picked up around the house of course. I like to cook, but never seriously considered it for a profession I would pursue, I don't think I would consider it a "passion" or some such.

Thing is, the economy around here is pretty bad, and I've already applied to several places and never heard back. So it looks like this is probably my best chance to get a job, which I sorely need. So, has anyone been in a situation like this? What do you think about being a chef? Feel free to share any tips or tidbits of advice that might help my nerves if you like. I look forward to your replies :thanks: .

First job? In a kitchen?

Bad news bro, you're not gonna be doing much cooking. You'll become very well acquainted with the kitchen sink and sponge though. Have fun! :biggrin:

it kind of is about who you know, to atleast getting an interview which is half way there. I just got a job recently but its not my first, but what I can tell you about first jobs and if they will be fun or not is usually dependant on if you can get along with your boss. meet the guy, and you'll probably know then and there some what how the job is going to be like. don't worry about not being very experienced in kitchen stuff, they guy offered to train you so its clearly an expectation that he has to forgive any ignorance because thats how people learn. I would brush up on getting to know your untensals (the stuff you cook with, sorry for the sp) so that when he is teaching you, you wont have one of those moments where he asks you to get something and you have no clue what it is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCY09s-c41A

First off, pay attention. I know, obviously, right? Not just to what he teaches you, but what's going on around you. Get used to getting burned. Whether because you touch something hot, something hot splashes on you, or whatever. Invest in band aids. Restaurant knives are sharp, or, at least they should be. Mirglof is right. If you can get along with your boss, it makes things so much easier. Cooking is fun, I've done kitchen work for, christ, almost 18 years. You might start as dishwasher, but always ask the cooks questions. If they see you honestly want to learn, they wil have no problem training you.

I don't think thats necessarily true. Depending on the restaurant situation, they may have a person who does that, or even a bus boy who subs for a dish washer.

If the economy is as bad as you say it is or the restaurant isn't popular, I wouldn't expect the kitchen to be very fast paced. Managers usually know a thing or two about how to train someone. You'll probably be put on at lower peak times and once you become more fluent with the menu and the kitchen flow, you'll be put on busier times.

I'd love to have your job though. Cooking has always been a hobby of mine.

Take it. At this stage, any work experience is better than none; especially in this economy.

As other people mentioned, you can't expect to do a lot beyond being a dish-monkey but you get the opportunity to prove to your next employer that you can be reliable, etc.

^

Right now I feel betrayed because I was told throughout school that a college degree would get me a job to the point I was almost assured. However in this economy that is not the case because people want Real World Experience over School Experience. Every job i've applied for or even looked on line at wants people who have experience within the industry.

As time said any work experience right now is better than none and if you want to become a chef being a dish boy is not bad. That is where many people who are chefs today start out because they will get promoted from within. Went to apply at a local restaurant near me and the lady told me point blank it's not glamorous and you would bus tables, etc... . The upside was they promote from within so you wouldn't be a bus boy for forever.

I'm betting that you will eventually get a chance at doing minor stuff even while doing bus boy stuff. They may say "Hey come help me cut these up" or "can you put these in the oven for me at X degrees". After that you'll start slowly climbing up to the point that you will have the opportunity to become a chef at that place. Just have to stick with it and persevere through it since it will probably take 5 to 9 months maybe more before you get to do some more stuff.

work experience also isn't exclusivly limited to working at a business or store, what I mean is being employed by some one specificly. things like basic land scaping for neighbors (yardwork), or unloading and unloading trucks or vans (as long as it is not for your self or a family member, or groceries)

these basic type of things fills up the blank spaces in applications at the work history part and as long as the work was legitimatly an experience that can be useful in a work setting it will work (not as good as if you had official work experience) and is much better than leaving that part of the application blank because blank spaces are a turn off for employers. they put those questions there because they want them answered, not answering them just comes off as incompetence or in experience.

My first job was cooking, not dishwashing

It's a start isn't it?
You're getting a wage and you could possibly learn something about the dynamics in the work place.
In most places, you'll get an a**kisser, a bitter moaner, a gossip, a sit on the fence guy, a shirker etc etc.
learning how to spot these quickly can only serve you well.
And at least you will find out if this type of industry is for you. Chefs arent well paid till they are quite advanced in their trade with a proven track record of bringing in
and sustaining customers through their food/menu.
Even if you're just washing dishes, you're next employer will be more impressed that you have a job, it's easier to find a job when you're in a job.

If you are seriously thinking of persuing a career in Hospitality, I'd strongly recommend Gordon Ramsay's "Humble Pie"; I know a lot of folk are put off by him however he does go into a fair bit of detail about his experiences starting in the kitchen.

Not necessarily. I was hired as an apprentice chef because of my love of cooking, and I did no dish cleaning or anything. I did actual cooking and prepping.

However, it was extremely stressful and 100% not for me. I discovered my love of cooking was really a love of cooking for family and friends, not in a stressful kitchen with bosses breathing down your neck.

(and the pay svckED. svckED HARD).

The entire kitchen staff was fired, including myself and the executive chef, due mostly to our constant complaining about the low pay we were promised would be increased once the place was opened for a month - it was a new restaurant. It was an awful experience, but I still love cooking and have even cooked for a catering party, which btw was also an awful experience (never accept a job as a cook for a catering party for rich, stuck-up snobs).

True, the pay does svck. It gets a little better if you go to a culinary school and get that paper that says "Yay, I'ma chef!" And it can be really stressful, depending on how busy they get. I don't know, I like it. I get testy sometimes and snap at people, but it's all good.

Dishwashing isn't that bad, as long as you can do it properly and relatively fast. Time goes a lot quicker when you are dishwashing


Former dishwasher :rock:

Take the job. Its tough to get your foot in the door everywhere. I wouldn't go in thinking its a career though. Especially considering this is your first job.

Like its been said already, you won't be doing any cooking. You'll most likely be a busboys/girl/person then a dishwasher.

I worked a restaurant as one of my "first" jobs. Lemme be honest. Its by far one of the worst jobs anyone can hold next to the dude who goes into a sewer. I quit only after a few weeks. Part of the reason too was my boss owed me $200. I left on a delivery on a Friday night; payday without my pay. But I was two pizzas richer......well one....cause I threw the other in the parking lot on the way to my car.

After 18 years in restaurant business, I've never had a boss that owed me money. I have had friends that worked at other restaurants that did have that problem though. Some owners shouldn't gamble. That's all I'm saying.

He definitely got his. I wasn't the only one he owed money to. About 6 months after I quit his restaurant caught fire and he was no where to be found. He torched his own restaurant and the money he owed and fled. He was later caught charged with theft and arson and spent some time in jail.

Crazy.
@OP: Don't let the talk of bad employers dissuade you. If the place has been there awhile and has an established clientele, it's most likely ok. You may find you love it. You may find you hate it. But at least you will have experience and had an experience.

I have to admit, a lot of your aren't doing much to cure my nervousness :biggrin: , but that's probably to be expected as most people hate their jobs anyways... I went in today and I guess I would be working either as an assistant line cook or a food prep assistant, assuming I get the job. The guy wants 3 grand to sort of like tutor me and teach me chef type things... Not sure how that's going to turn out. But thanks for all the advice nonetheless, now to wait and see how this goes.

Wait. You're going to pay him to work there? Ok, paying for training is cool and all, but I hope you're going to be making something too.

I've never had a job either but I imagine it'd be a smart move to do as you're told.

Either I get the job if he also tutors me...or I'll get the job and he can tutor me. Not sure yet. I should have a job though, that would be silly otherwise.

Yeah, sorry, I got a little confused.

S'all good, I kind of worded my post weird.