returning to pro baking?
Hi! I'm hoping someone can help me with a bit of advice on getting back into baking in a commercial setting. I worked in restaurants through out high school and college before getting a "real job" (other's words, not mine) and through the years have continued to bake at home...really pushing myself in recent years by working with natural yeast breads and working out my own recipes (when they work...the REALLY work). I left the day job last year to set out as in a freelance development capacity but as that has dried up I find all I want to do is...well...bake (I've often regretted leaving the bakery job behind).
So I've sent out applications/resumes and been invited to 3 different places for interviews (out of 5 apps submitted --2 of which I'm not really counting because I know/suspect they're re-heating frozen dough which sounds dreadful to me).
Anyway...the interviews have seemed to go well once we get passed the obvious question of "why...", and now I'm just waiting. I had one person tell me I was exactly what they were looking for but now seems to be playing hard to get on the phone after the time we agreed to for follow-up. Another told me she was planning on making a decision tomorrow (the place I *really* want to get into...their bread are fantastic!! I know I can't make assumptions about the latter, but my question is am I chasing a ghost here...or is there really a chance that I can get back into this? If there's a chance, what advice would you offer on proving I can at least get in and learn what's needed (persistence isn't an issue...believe me)?
Thanks!
One tactic to get a chance to prove yourself is to offer to do a 2 week temporary arrangement, for minimum wage, and maybe even keep it under 30 hours a week, or whatever the threshhold is for health benefits.
Or, if that doesn't work, offer to do a 2 week non-paid "internship", if your state allows non-paid interns.
In other words, make it cheap and low-risk for them to gamble on you so they can see what you can do for them.
Either way, hiring as a temp or as an intern, they won't have to burn up a normal 90 day trial period, and have legal obligations, before deciding if you fit what they want.
And have something in the agreement, that if they keep you beyond the standaed 90 day trial period, that they pay you a "bonus" to bring your back pay up to what you would have made at regular salary or wages, since day one. IE, if they like you enough to keep you, then you don't suffer/lose money on the "gamble" either.