Okay, so you’ve graduated from culinary school and it’s time to start looking for a job. Restaurant jobs can be found at any work placement agency, or through online job searches. Before you start responding to restaurant job ads, make sure you’re prepared.
1) Have a portfolio ready. Your portfolio should include things like photographs of some of your culinary creations, sample menus you’ve created, and a resume listing all of your previous work experience (including voluntary internships) and a list of professional chefs or instructors who’ve mentored you.
2) Be prepared for an eventual interview. Wear nice clothes. Be well groomed.
3) Ask questions! Keep a list of pertinent questions to ask your potential employer after the interview is over. The jury is still out on whether it’s appropriate to ask what the salary will be at the interview stage. Some say to wait until the job has been offered. What you could do is ask for a sample salary range. That way, you’re not coming right out and saying, “What are you going to pay me?”
4) Remember, there’s no rule on how many interviews you can go to. If restaurant jobs are what you’re after, take as many interviews as you can.
5) Waiting to hear from a specific employer? If other people are phoning and giving you offers in the meantime, it’s okay to take a day or two to make your decision.
Restaurant jobs are out there, so don’t feel pressured to take the first one that comes along. Play your cards, ask the questions, and position yourself into a restaurant that offers career advancement.
