How Do I Get Experience Without Any!?

Decorating By lrlt2000 Updated 2 Jun 2011 , 2:05am by Coral3

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lrlt2000 Posted 1 Jun 2011 , 6:22pm
post #1 of 14

For those who recommended gaining business experience by getting a job in the baking industry, how would I do that with no formal experience and no baking education!? I literally have only done this on the side for family and friends. I just found a job posting for a local bakery looking for a cake decorator, but it asks for a resume!

How the heck to do I construct a resume for that when nothing on my current resume is even relevant (I'm an attorney icon_lol.gif )!?

13 replies
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crisseyann Posted 1 Jun 2011 , 6:32pm
post #2 of 14

You have some pretty awesome cakes posted. Maybe make a portfolio? Good luck. icon_smile.gif

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Lovin_Cakes30 Posted 1 Jun 2011 , 6:36pm
post #3 of 14

You read my mind! I have been thinking the exact same thing. I guess just attach some samples of your work to the resume. I would also list qualities you have picked up form being an attorney and how they could be relevant with working in a bakery. For example... time management, multi tasking, legalities of health safety???? Include anything you think would help on the business end of it! Good luck!

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TexasSugar Posted 1 Jun 2011 , 6:51pm
post #4 of 14

Depending on what the bakery is looking for, they might actually like someone that they can train themselves to do things their way.

These are two examples I found with google.

http://www.esampleresume.com/Cake%20Decorator.htm

http://www.sampleresume.net/Resume/Cake-Decorator-Resume.html

While you don't necessarily have anything to put in the Professional Employment section related to cakes, you can still play up any qualities you think you have to offer them. If you have taken any classes (even from 'big names' or such I'd list that. And for past employment, list what you do do now. While it doesn't show them that you have decorating experience, it can show them that you are professional, that you've done the same job for years (which shows dedication and that you are someone they could count on).

And as the others said, I'd definitely include photos of your best cakes.

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cakification Posted 1 Jun 2011 , 6:51pm
post #5 of 14

It's the same question as " how do I get credit, if I don't have any?!"
Most people start off with a pre-paid credit card to build up some history. You could offer to do an internship for a few weeks so they can see how you work? or you could just explain in a cover letter that you have no formal experience, and just attach photos of your work, as others have suggested.

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TexasSugar Posted 1 Jun 2011 , 6:57pm
post #6 of 14
Quote:
Originally Posted by cakification

It's the same question as " how do I get credit, if I don't have any?!"
Most people start off with a pre-paid credit card to build up some history.




You get someone to co-sign, then suddenly start receiving 50 million other card offers!! Mailings from the same companies, several times a week until you get tired of it and find out there is a website you can go to to opt out.

My dad had to co-sigh for both a car and a cc for me. Then suddenly everyone wanted to give me credit cards. What cracked me up was when my bank said, "oh you have a cc with us, who is your car though, I bet we can get you a better deal with us since it isn't easy to get a cc here." I was like "Ummm, dude, I had to get a co-signer." "Oh, well in that case come to us in a year or so then." *rolls eyes*

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Unlimited Posted 1 Jun 2011 , 7:27pm
post #7 of 14

Good luck applying for the positionyou've received a lot of good advice.

It's a catch 22! My dad always knew that he wanted to be a truck driver, but nobody would hire him without experience, and he couldn't get experience without being hired, so he bought his own truck and started his own company adding a fleet of trucks later. If you have enough passion, you'll find a wayeven if it means starting on your own and being your own boss to create the profession that you want.

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madicakes Posted 1 Jun 2011 , 7:58pm
post #8 of 14

I agree with the portfolio suggestion....let your work speak for itself. The bakeries I have worked at had me decorate a cake during the interview.

Another suggestion, while maybe not ideal, is looking into grocery store bakeries as a stepping stone. My first bakery job was at a grocery store bakery, having never done a lick of work in the field at all, just doing hobby decorating and baking. Granted, I didn't get to do the kind of decorating I wanted to do, but it was experience nonetheless.

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jason_kraft Posted 1 Jun 2011 , 8:11pm
post #9 of 14
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unlimited

It's a catch 22! My dad always knew that he wanted to be a truck driver, but nobody would hire him without experience, and he couldn't get experience without being hired, so he bought his own truck and started his own company adding a fleet of trucks later. If you have enough passion, you'll find a wayeven if it means starting on your own and being your own boss to create the profession that you want.



This catch 22 exists in a lot of professions, at least cake decorators are able to practice at home without spending a ton of money. In my day job I support an enterprise-class business software system called SAP (most implementations typically cost at least a million dollars), and if you want to gain experience you need to spend thousands of dollars to access sandbox software systems specifically built by third-party companies for testing and education (since no company will hire even unpaid interns to mess around with their critical business systems) AND take courses that typically cost $500+ per day.

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Lovin_Cakes30 Posted 1 Jun 2011 , 9:00pm
post #10 of 14

It reminds me of when I looked into nursing school. First I looked at the job market and every single job posting required at leat two years of experience! How do you get the experience if you can't ever get a job????? I feel the same with cakeing! I can't afford to keep doing free cakes all the time, but would never just start a business (even a cottage one which I plan on doing after awhile) without tons of practicing! Not to mention needing the business experience/schooling. Feel like I hit road blocks every direction I turn!!! But hey, nothing is impossible... right?

Let us know if you end up applying and how interviews etc go!

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lrlt2000 Posted 2 Jun 2011 , 2:00am
post #11 of 14

Thank you all for your fast responses and great advice!

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lrlt2000 Posted 2 Jun 2011 , 2:01am
post #12 of 14

[quote="crisseyann"]You have some pretty awesome cakes posted. Maybe make a portfolio? Good luck. icon_smile.gif[/quote]

Shucks, thanks thumbs_up.gif

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Coral3 Posted 2 Jun 2011 , 2:04am
post #13 of 14

Also, are there any food safety courses you could do, or food handling certificates you could attain? That sort of thing would also make you more employable in food industry I would imagine.

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Coral3 Posted 2 Jun 2011 , 2:05am
post #14 of 14

double post

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