posted October 06, 2009 11:21 PM            

Generally you don't need even the kind of experience you have to get into conference center kitchens. I know many conference center chefs who were thrown into the position without any professional training and only the "Food For Fifty" book to assist. Therefore with your CIA education (fyi I'm a '98 CIA grad) and some years of experience in the field, you qualify.

Now for the hard part - finding the job. Check the job listings here on our website first, as there are many Christian camps hiring through there. You can subscribe to get an e-mail when new ones pop up too. Next check with Christian Camping International to see if they have any positions listed. Then pick an area and send letters with your resume to the directors of conference centers you would be interested in.

This is a tough time to get into that though, as most camps just went into their off-season, so you may need to hold out with whatever you're currently doing if you can until we start getting nearer to next summer.

posted October 07, 2009 08:02 PM               

I'm less familiar with the years-round camp and conference industry. I've been watching the Christian Camp and Conference Association job search board for California since I got home on August 15 from my camp. Few year-round jobs have posted. Most of those have been far from my Northern California home.

Short of locating a job in the conference market, I'd suggest that you locate one in a local residential facility, like a retirement home. Residents in these homes usually expect much better food than was traditionally served. While you might have to accept a lower level job, you should be able to move up quickly, depending on your skills and job availability.