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kkswmmr114
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 19, 2007
Posts: 36
Location: Texas
Birthday: Aug 12
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Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:09 am |
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So about 3 1/2 years ago I was a senior in high school and about three months from graduating. I was looking for a job and a friend that my mom works with said that a local (very small) bakery was looking for some help because their girl was leaving for college. I am staying home for college so that is not a factor for me. This lady, we will call her Linda, works part time in the bakery because the owner is her friend. I went into the bakery about 5 times to fill out an application and be persistent about how much I wanted to work there. At this time I was not into cake decorating but I have always liked baking so I thought that I could learn fast and it would be fun. It turns out the girl wasn't leaving or something or other and they didn't hire me. So I got another job and then another one, my current one. I am a Secondary English Education major and I graduate in May. My place of work is a tutoring service so I am basically working now in the field I will be working in when I graduate. About a year ago I really got into making cakes, with the help of this website, and I would say I am not too bad at the whole decorating thing, considering I have never had formal training or taken a class.
Okay, here is where it gets interesting. Yesterday at about 9:30 in the morning my mom calls me (I don't work on Sundays) from her work at the hospital and asks me if I can make a cake for a volunteer that came in today and it was his birthday the day before... by 12:00. I also have to run to the store. I finish the cake at 11:45 and I have it at the hospital by 12:00. At this point I am very happy with myself for finishing the cake and I think it looks pretty darn good. It would like for it to have been smoother and the frosting was melting as I was piping because my kitchen was so hot from the oven, but overall it looks acceptable.
So last night my mom come home from work and says that she has some interesting news for me. Linda, the lady that works part time at the bakery, hunted my mom down at work yesterday and basically told her that if I went into the bakery they would hire me on the spot. They are apparently in desperate need of a good decorator, they recently hired someone who said they could decorate and they can't so they need someone now.
I am very confused now. I don't really know now if what I want to do for the rest of my life is be a teacher. I love my job and I have worked very hard to prepare myself for my very near future. But now that I have discovered that I love cake decorating, I am wondering if that is where I really want to be. Quitting my current job and going to work for the bakery at this point would ruin everything I have worked for over the last 3 years. I have always told people who said I need to own my own bakery that doing it for a job would just make it not fun anymore. But now I am wondering if I am just lying to myself when I say that. I have always been so sure about what I want to do with my life, now I am completely confused!!
Anyone have any advice?? |
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PinkZiab
Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 14, 2007
Posts: 886
Location: North Jersey
Birthday: Oct 29
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Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:15 am |
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Is there any way to work part-time at the bakery for a while to see if that's really what you want? I mean yes even if you leave your current job, once you are done with school there's not reason you can't go back to your original career choice if baking doesn't work out. Could you possibly take a leave of absence for a couple months to try out the bakery? Not trying to confuse you more, just give some options. |
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kkswmmr114
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 19, 2007
Posts: 36
Location: Texas
Birthday: Aug 12
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Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:20 am |
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I have thought of that. I am the only person at my current job that does what I do so when I am gone there is no one to cover for me. I have thought about just taking it as a second job, but I am also taking 12 hours with senior level courses. Two jobs and then school on top of that I think would be too hard... gosh I wish this had come up in the summer instead!! Then I could have taken the second job and been fine with it... |
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tonia3604
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 12, 2008
Posts: 97
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Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:36 am |
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It wouldn't hurt to atleast go in and talk to Linda. If the bakery doesn't pay as well as your current job that may make the decision much easier for you. |
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SweetConfectionsChef
Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 21, 2006
Posts: 986
Location: Texas
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Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:40 am |
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IMO you should stick to the course and finish what you've started. Working in a bakery is not all fun and games. It is a LOT of hard work and cranking out the cakes. Owning one is even more stressful. Not to say you shouldn't pursue this in the future but there will always be a need for cakes and you're so close to finishing what you are doing it would be a shame to not follow it through. Again, JMO. |
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julesn20716
Regular Member
Joined: Mar 01, 2006
Posts: 169
Location: Brit living in the USA
Gallery Supporter Member
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Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:42 am |
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I would definitely finish school seeing as you are "so close." Even if you take up the bakery job full time you may evenually want to return to teaching so it would be good to have your teaching credentials to fall back on. If you can work something out part time that gives you some time to sleep then that would be good - or can you cut back your hours at your current job and work both part time? Just thinking out loud here so it may not be practical. |
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kkswmmr114
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 19, 2007
Posts: 36
Location: Texas
Birthday: Aug 12
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Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:48 am |
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Thank you all for responding. I appreciate that other people are thinking the same thing I am. Of course I am going to finish school. That isnt an option!! Lol... my mom would kill me. I guess I am just freaked out because I am second guessing what I thought I wanted to do with my future. I have never been one to second guess like that and now it is a very wierd feeling!! I will just have to think about it. Thanks again!! |
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DMCG
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 16, 2007
Posts: 92
Location: America's Home town ~ Massachusetts
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Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:51 am |
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| julesn20716 wrote: | | I would definitely finish school seeing as you are "so close." Even if you take up the bakery job full time you may evenually want to return to teaching so it would be good to have your teaching credentials to fall back on. If you can work something out part time that gives you some time to sleep then that would be good - or can you cut back your hours at your current job and work both part time? Just thinking out loud here so it may not be practical. |
DITTO! 
There is always another cake decorating job somewhere! |
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omaida
Frequent Member
Joined: Jun 11, 2007
Posts: 397
Location: Havana, Cuba now Florida City, Fl.
Birthday: Feb 26
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Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:51 am |
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Finish school, you have plenty of time to get into real cake decorating and if that ever fails you still have your degree to fall back on.
Best of luch to you |
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PoleKitten
Frequent Member
Joined: Jul 20, 2007
Posts: 251
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Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:55 am |
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Cake decorators in a bakery are a bunch of divas in my opinion. I've worked with women in many settings - and it has NEVER been as bad as when I worked in a bakery - and it's so much worse if you are better/faster (or heck, even PRETTIER) than they are. (Sorry if that applies to any of you - just stating my experience)
This is why I cannot work with them and started my own business.
I would continue with the school/training and consider working part time at the bakery just to see how you really like it. Trust me - you might not. |
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lu9129
Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 02, 2006
Posts: 544
Birthday: Dec 22
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Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:57 am |
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SCHOOL, SCHOOL, SCHOOL!
You can always do cakes on the side for family and friends.
Get established in you career and then you can make decisions then.
LU |
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this-mama-rocks
Junior Member
Joined: May 01, 2007
Posts: 37
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Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:57 am |
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I would definitely finish school. Teachers are in very short supply, so you will have a great opportunity to choose where you want to work, whether it be in your hometown, or a different part of the country. Make a few free cakes for the other teachers & staff at your school, to build good will among your coworkers, get some practice, & get feedback. When you feel ready, do what you have to do to get licensed as a home bakery in your state, then start taking orders as your schedule allows. That way, you can be a full-time baker/decorator when school is out, and you have the job security from being a teacher.
You don't have to completely map out your life within the next 8 months - think of your career as a chapter book. Some chapters can be longer than others! HTH |
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mandi1613
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 28, 2008
Posts: 57
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Mon Sep 01, 2008 8:08 am |
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kkswimmr114 I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU MEAN!!! i have been going to school for a while now with intent of becoming a nurse. i just recently (about 6 months ago) took up cake decorating and i love it. I never thought i could have a creative side to me at all. I really enjoy baking and cake decorating but i am afraid if i went to pastry school and made it my full time job that it would lose it's appeal. i wish i could give you an answer but i can't, so i would suggest finishing school (which i know you are) go to the bakery and tell them you can work for them part time but they have to work around your schedule. if they really want you they will work with you. God Bless. |
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Cakebelle
Frequent Member
Joined: Mar 21, 2008
Posts: 227
Location: NYC
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Mon Sep 01, 2008 8:28 am |
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| julesn20716 wrote: | | I would definitely finish school seeing as you are "so close." Even if you take up the bakery job full time you may evenually want to return to teaching so it would be good to have your teaching credentials to fall back on. If you can work something out part time that gives you some time to sleep then that would be good - or can you cut back your hours at your current job and work both part time? Just thinking out loud here so it may not be practical. |
Absolutely! Finish School! nothing like good a education! |
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AZCakeGirl
Frequent Member
Joined: Feb 16, 2008
Posts: 233
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Mon Sep 01, 2008 8:35 am |
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I would stay with what you are doing for now since you have your plate full & are almost finished with school. Maybe do a cake on the side once in a while like you did for your mom. Once you are done with school & have more time available, you could apply at any bakery for part-time work around your teaching job & see how you like it.
As opposed to before when you didn't get the job.....remember you are more experienced now & there is actually a bakery telling you that they would hire you on the spot! This means that most likely, any bakery that has an opening would probably consider you for the position as long as you can show them your portfolio. |
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