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Author
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Topic: Why do chefs change jobs so frequently?
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ChefSteve
Member Posts: 60
From:Diamond Springs, Calif.
Registered: May 2003
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posted April 13, 2004 10:27 PM
   
One aspect of the restaurant industry has always puzzled me -- that's the tendency for chefs and cooks to move to a new job every 12 to 24 months. I've seen it when I've interviewed cooks who are applying to work at my institution. And I've also seen it in the resumes for cooks on CCF. Many cooks change jobs like clockwork. I understand that there can be many reasons for this. Restaurants are probably the most volatile segment in the food service industry. I’ve read over the years that something like half or more (not sure of the statistic) of all restaurants fail in the first year. I also understand those who are trying to gain experience in different cuisine’s. This is especially true for culinary school grads that want to develop a wealth of experience before entering the job market. Can we discuss this aspect of the restaurant industry? I’d love to hear the views of restaurant cooks and chefs. For the record: 95 percent of my experience in institutional food service. That’s 33 years in military, health care and corrections. I’ve sat at the same desk for 10-1/2 years now and have worked for the same employer for 17-1/2 years. (Please don’t get the idea that I’m some sort of culinary saint! [However, I should note that the writers of the New Testament frequently use the "saints" to describe the body of the saved, that is, the church. See Col. 1:1-14.] It’s been a long 17-1/2 years -- I’m looking forward towards retirement and the opportunity to get back into “real” food service.)
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Leo
Member Posts: 1155
From:Chama,New Mexico, USA
Registered: May 2003
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posted April 14, 2004 07:30 AM
First off Chef Steve...You ARE in *real* food service...you are a servant of the people who support you in what you do...you also are on the frontlines of dealing with * the least * of people who made bad choices and are paying the consequenses. God has you where you need to be to do His will. At the heart of every Chef is the heart of service...at the heart of every Christian is the same...Following and serving. You work in a field that few are called too but is so important not only to society but as you well know the correctional system, and vital part of each facility. Gee can you tell I was in correctional food service? hehe. All I know is that all the skills I attained through my many *Job hops* I use wherever I am at. I believe God was preparing me for what I do now. Making the best of what God gives us for His Glory. There ( in correctional food service) I was doing the best I could for all the people who paid for and provided for incarcerated persons.
As to Job Hopping I think you touched on the main relevant points. Everything you said certainly applied to me. Restaurants go down..even my own! Lesson Learned! We all want to move up...I went from fast food to short order cooking to hotels and a variety of restaurants learning and improving as I went. I also traveled and found myself in places where my skills kept me alive and working. In this field it is attractive in that you can go anywhere..and there are jobs. The culinary field is I would think where there is very low unemployment. The main reason a culinarian is not working is because of choice. One choice is that one may just not like where they are at...there are bad places...and we all know how rough it can be in a Food service operation that is run by abusive and compromising individuals...ruled by the enemy. Many can testify to that right now..and are praying God deliver them from that yet working in faith to be His presence in such places.
During hard economic times I have obtained employment by auditioning giving the employer a shift unpaid...and letting them see what I can do for them. Like a wandering minstral...making culinary music...art..and unlike artists I got to eat! It's a great job in that way!
Spiritually there is the Followers ethic...Where is God leading me? For me it is a life long journey open to the Holy Spirit and God's ever expanding mission. And me being open and willing. Just as you are. Willing and obedient to the call to service. Look at our example..our Lord *wandered*..had no place to rest his head...He went to where He was needed to where the Father led Him. Peter and Paul traveled in Ministry...In Paul's case after many years of being a tent maker...Yes we all need Jesus...The rich..the poor, and the many layers in between. The Good the Bad, those in prisons all over the world. We are called to witness to Him by our lives. We touch lives in the physical with food...we touch spirits by the Spirit in which we work. The most famous Chef...or the person who just made you a nice sandwich. All God's children. Going with the flow...In faith...with the heart of service.
I pray this helps...
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In HIS Focus,
Leo Griego
Member Support
Work webpage:
www.nashvillerescuemission.org IP: Logged |
Martin Hergatt
Member Posts: 29
From:Somerset, Tasmania, Australia.
Registered: May 2003
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posted June 16, 2004 08:24 PM
why do chefs move!? For me it was usually the fact that i had a blow up with the chef and left. Once i started in a senior roll i left because the owners and managers were all idiots and didn't understand how important the kitchen was to the resort or restuarant. They didn't pay high enough or the staff were all low skilled and i couldn't produce the level of food i wanted. Sometimes the waiting staff were to difficult to handle. I would spend about 6 months at best in a job. But then sometning happened to change all that. I got saved! And the hardest thing i found was that "I" might (was) have been the main problem all along. I was the common denominator in all the arguments and fights i had ever had. I realised, after years of being called every name under the sun (none of which i would repeat here) Summorised as "MORON", i began to think, maybe, I'm a moron! So i started on the road of introspection and changed a few things about the way i wievied the world and the people in it. I'm currently getting only about 2 years per job but working on the long haul. I sometimes leave for the same old reasones but not as much now. It's very hard to change, even when you want to change. The pressence of the Lord is all invasive in the daily grind for me now but the old flesh still finds it's way to the surface in the heat of service. But i fight on.Martin Hergatt
Ausy battler, battling in the Lord IP: Logged |
Bryguy
Member Posts: 183
From:Wasaga Beach, Ontario, Canada
Registered: May 2003
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posted June 17, 2004 07:40 AM
Hi Chef Steve
There used to be a saying that a chef changed his job more often than most people change their socks. In my case it was often a lack of substance to offer the establishment. They may have wanted to go one way after awhile and myself another. Usually we become complacent after a time and in this business as you know, when this happens everyone loses. I usually liked to sign a one year contract because I knew that if I had more to offer I could always stay on. Owning your own business though you do not have the luxury of moving around so you have to stay on top of your game every day. Hope this little bit helps.
God Bless and have a great day
BryguyIP: Logged |
Leo
Member Posts: 1155
From:Chama,New Mexico, USA
Registered: May 2003
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posted June 17, 2004 10:17 AM
Amen! Especially when the Lord is at the *top* of our game plan...The Father will move us...as we follow Him and work for His Glory...Especially out of our *comfort zone*..amen? ------------------
In HIS Focus,
Leo Griego
Member Support
leo@christianchefs.org
Work webpage:
www.nashvillerescuemission.org IP: Logged |
jefegarme
Member Posts: 227
From:Baltimore
Registered: Sep 2003
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posted June 18, 2004 12:38 AM
I have went through it all after 40 years and work as low as 6 months at a place . I am now saved for 12 years and every day growing in the word. We are put into positions to handle and if we do not be good stewards with what we have we will not get larger and more important positions and grow. The same goes with tithing if we want a large salary we need to plant a seed according to our wages we want. Lets all pray for a insite of our wants and capabilities and our growth. May GOD BLESS everyone and answer thier prayers. We will reap what we sow. Lets take time to give the LORD the praise HE diserves. George quote:
Originally posted by Leo:
Amen! Especially when the Lord is at the *top* of our game plan...The Father will move us...as we follow Him and work for His Glory...Especially out of our *comfort zone*..amen?
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PEACE AND LOVE OF JESUS George IP: Logged |
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