Shifting careers

How different is the office life compared to life in a kitchen? OMG, where to start. There isn't a close comparison. The only thing that's close is that they are both jobs that people go to to make money. The kitchen is a fast pace, think on your feet profession. In most cases you are always running. Most people who aren't at the top of their game are always running behind trying to catch up. If you're good you realize your weakness and strive to get better daily.......ChefBillyB

 

Before you take that leap of faith, please do yourself a favor and get a job in a commercial kitchen. Like chefbillyb said, there is no comparison whatsoever between working in a commercial kitchen and working as part of a marketing staff. None whatsoever.

Here are some highlights of what life is like. I'm going to be very frank about it so, please forgive me if this seems a bit melodramatic.

Culinary school is intensely expensive and your education only has value within the food industry, no where else. So, if you decide one day that this life is not for you, your culinary arts degree will mean precisely zero. The hours that you will work will be long. A 60-70 hour work week is a short work week. You will not have time for a spouse, children, friends or any sort of social life. Period. You will be working on weekends and holidays as they are your busiest times. You might get a day off during the week. The stress is intense and will be made worse by an insane chef or that one person that exists in every restaurant who is incredibly irritating. The pay is horrible. Do not expect any benefits until you reach kitchen management level, which is a 6-10 year track. This profession has one of the highest substance abuse rates and divorce rates of any profession.

These are just the highlights.

So, here's my advice which is the same advice I have given to others in this forum and to all others who have come to me over 40 years looking for some advice or a job: If you can do anything else, do anything else. Cooking at home for friends and family is nothing like cooking commercially. A passion for cooking is never enough.

Get a job in a commercial kitchen and stick with it for 6 months to a year. At the end of that time, if you are still enthusiastic about pursuing a career in the food industry, at least you will be going into it with your eyes open.

Good luck.