Chef seeks other opportunities

OrionsunZA said:
Thank you. I appreciate it. What did you end up doing? I see so many folks think they all Gordon. But when it comes to working Ur butt off and you see little gratitude or rewards. .. you kinda look at what's more important. I'd give my left nutt for a child of my own . It's more important to me than any thing else.
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I started studying for HR and had to make time and I'm happy I made that decision. I can tell you that it was not easy though but it paid off. Good luck bud
 
There are many skills Im sure you wouldve learned that you didnt even realize.
For example I have a friend who use to be a teacher and later got a job in logistics because of his abilities
on co-ordinating and managing.

Some ideas I can give is to either look for a consulting position (ie you only consult your expertise to other restaurants/hotels)
you dont necessarily take the pressure of running it. Thats an easier lateral move.

But to get out completely I think the best is to sit with either a guidance counsellor or a recruitment agent.
This forum can only give some ideas, the professionals should have better guidance.
 
bchip said:
There are many skills Im sure you wouldve learned that you didnt even realize.
For example I have a friend who use to be a teacher and later got a job in logistics because of his abilities
on co-ordinating and managing.

Some ideas I can give is to either look for a consulting position (ie you only consult your expertise to other restaurants/hotels)
you dont necessarily take the pressure of running it. Thats an easier lateral move.

But to get out completely I think the best is to sit with either a guidance counsellor or a recruitment agent.
This forum can only give some ideas, the professionals should have better guidance.
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When I decided to get out of the trade I too was at a loss as all I knew was restaurants and Hotels.
It was by accident that I was reading the paper and came across a Marketing Position for a large Hotel group, I thought I have nothing to lose so I applied and got the job.

That started me off changing my whole career, from Restaurants to Direct Marketing.

As bchip so rightly said, we learn so many varied things in Hotels that can be applied to so many other jobs.
 
ant_man said:
When I decided to get out of the trade I too was at a loss as all I knew was restaurants and Hotels.
It was by accident that I was reading the paper and came across a Marketing Position for a large Hotel group, I thought I have nothing to lose so I applied and got the job.

That started me off changing my whole career, from Restaurants to Direct Marketing.

As bchip so rightly said, we learn so many varied things in Hotels that can be applied to so many other jobs.
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These two answers have been enormously help full. Thank you. I'm trying to think laterally, I just didn't see it as clearly .
 
In Sunny South Africa, I think a 5 figure salary per month could be considered decent. The restaurant industry thinks R6500 a month decent. I disagree.
 
My biggest gripe with the industry is the shocking salaries. The kitchen staff are particularly the worst hit. The averages are between 3 - 5 k per month. IMO it's the industry that hits the hardest and the least possible financial rewards.

Average Joe who is a programmer earns 20 - 50k per month. Average Joe that is a salesman sees 15 - 20k per month.

These salaries don't appear anywhere in food industry. I'm talking averages folks, just in case some smart arse pipes up a comment from the peanut gallery. Yes there are the odd restaurant owner putting 50k in there pockets .. but talking about averages. ... I think the restaurant industry is right down at the bottom of the list somewhere.
 
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How much are you getting paid now as a chef, if you can reveal it?
What hours&days do you work currently?

Thx
 
DRou said:
How much are you getting paid now as a chef, if you can reveal it?
What hours&days do you work currently?

Thx
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I like big reveals. Lol
8k with a few benefits thrown in for good measure. My work week is going to be around 72 hours. That's 12 hours a day for 6 days.
 
OrionsunZA said:
I like big reveals. Lol
8k with a few benefits thrown in for good measure. My work week is going to be around 72 hours. That's 12 hours a day for 6 days.
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That is hectic, sh#t from what i can remember I was earning about R6k and that was 18 years ago, granted it wasn't kitchen.
Its really cr#ppy that the pay still sucks as the hours and amount of work you do is beyond hectic.

I still miss the trade, I keep threatening that one day I will open another restaurant, I miss the people and the rush of it all. nothing beats it.
 
Were you in charge of ordering and managing stock?
That experience could lead to something along the lines of a job doing stock control?
 
ant_man said:
That is hectic, sh#t from what i can remember I was earning about R6k and that was 18 years ago, granted it wasn't kitchen.
Its really cr#ppy that the pay still sucks as the hours and amount of work you do is beyond hectic.

I still miss the trade, I keep threatening that one day I will open another restaurant, I miss the people and the rush of it all. nothing beats it.
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It's that rush, that one customer who just had an orgasm over the food you made her, that old guy and his wife that comes on Thursdays for the same meal for 20 years, and later returns alone because his wife died.

It's all of this, the joy, the tears, the hours etc that has enriched my life beyond words.

But financially, it never had rewards .
 
There is so much money in food but also lots of people getting fingers burnt.

Ok I get it, you want to get out of the industry completely.

Start your own online business maybe in whatever field interests you? My mom started hers at the tender age of 67
 
OrionsunZA said:
It's that rush, that one customer who just had an orgasm over the food you made her, that old guy and his wife that comes on Thursdays for the same meal for 20 years, and later returns alone because his wife died.

It's all of this, the joy, the tears, the hours etc that has enriched my life beyond words.

But financially, it never had rewards .
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+1000000

This time around it wont be for the money but just for the hell of it.
 
OrionsunZA said:
I like big reveals. Lol
8k with a few benefits thrown in for good measure. My work week is going to be around 72 hours. That's 12 hours a day for 6 days.
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Wow, chefs make less than teachers? That is really shocking. Kitchen Confidential and Jamie Oliver always make it seem so glamorous.

If I can give you a tip, have a pretty good idea of what you want to do. I've been to a LOT of interviews the last year and the one thing they always look for is WHY you want the job and why you'd be the best fit for it. If they suspect you're just throwing your CV out there they think you won't be dedicated, no matter how hard you worked before. (South Africans also tend to flat out lie on their CV's).

You say you're European. What country specifically? If you're French, German, Italian etc you could consider teaching your language to people. Those teachers can earn decent money at the right institutions (Alliance Française or similar). You won't get rich but it should be decent by your standards. Plus they are normally paid by the hour.
 
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TJ99 said:
Wow, chefs make less than teachers? That is really shocking. Kitchen Confidential and Jamie Oliver always make it seem so glamorous.

If I can give you a tip, have a pretty good idea of what you want to do. I've been to a LOT of interviews the last year and the one thing they always look for is WHY you want the job and why you'd be the best fit for it. If they suspect you're just throwing your CV out there they think you won't be dedicated, no matter how hard you worked before. (South Africans also tend to flat out lie on their CV's).

You say you're European. What country specifically? If you're French, German, Italian etc you could consider teaching your language to people. Those teachers can earn decent money at the right institutions (Alliance Française or similar). You won't get rich but it should be decent by your standards. Plus they are normally paid by the hour.
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Born here, German and English parents. I finished school here and moved to Luxembourg at 17.My heart is in Italian cuisine. I speak the language, mix with the people, imported the food, and cooked Italian food professionally for over 10 years.
 
TJ99 said:
Wow, chefs make less than teachers? That is really shocking.
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why are you using teaching as a yardstick for low salaries:confused:

They may not be on the higher end of the salary scale, but they okish
 
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