Anyone use an intern in their shop?
I saw a thread that Elisa Strauss; Confetti Cakes owner works with interns. She never said if she paid them. She usually expects them to work during the week and at least 1 full day a week for about 6 wks.
Do you pay an intern? I know they should be paying me 
HaHa I've had some calls from students at the culinary college. Might consider it?
mpc
You need to check with the bureau of labor in your state. It may or may not require you to pay students. If it isn't legally required, you do not need to pay them- you are teaching, they are learning for free.
The school may know if you are required to pay them. I would hope not, payroll is very complicated.
JoAnnB
As always you are just too smart! Thank you!
I appreciate that info.
mpc
I just finished an internship at Pix Patisserie in Portland. I worked 5 days a week, 10 hours a day and didn't make a dime for 3 months.
I have to say, I really did learn a lot. If you have the opportunity to take on a culinary student, know that you would have to do a good deal of teaching, but if you get someone who wants to work hard, for little or no pay, it will definitely be worth it to you.
rstml
So you learned pastries or cakes?
Baking, chocolate making or decorating?
Did they treat you like an employee; breaks and lunch?
Did they give you freebies to take home?
Did they have you follow someone around or actually get your hands dirty?
Was it worth it to you?
Thank you for responding.
mpc
www.mypastrychef.com
I know this is off the subject a little bit, but "mypastrychef" I just looked thru your gallery, and WOW! It was like thumbing thru a cake magazine....!!
You SHOULD be getting paid for your work!
You are way too sweet. I wish more people in my area felt that way.
I struggle with each cake and hope the customer will be happy and not complain.
thanks again
mpc
rstml
So you learned pastries or cakes?
Baking, chocolate making or decorating?
Did they treat you like an employee; breaks and lunch?
Did they give you freebies to take home?
Did they have you follow someone around or actually get your hands dirty?
Was it worth it to you?
Thank you for responding.
mpc
www.mypastrychef.com
I learned pastries. They did not do cakes as we do cakes. We did bake cakes for certain pastries though. Everything was from scratch and done in very large batches. We would do anywhere from 500-1000 pastries in one batch. Then they were frozen for later finishing. I was treated like an employee with a lunch hour. Breaks were rarely taken as there was little or no time. We were given a shift drink...coffee mostly and at the end of the day, I could take a pstry home. I worked on my own a lot, and other times we all worked as a team. It was definitely worth it to me as there is a huge difference between school and actually working in the industry. If you contact the nearest school to you, they will actually set you up and send possible interns your way. You are free to then interview them and even have them do a working interview, as I did, to be sure they are compatible with you and your style. Hope this helps!
rstml
Yes this helps alot!!
SO will you be using this knowledge in your own shop? Do you have plans or are you going to stay with cakes and cookies? BTW as I have told you before your cakes amazing. Someone should be interning under you!
Thank you for sharing
mpc
bellejoey
I just looked at your at your gallery and I "love" your cookies. You deffinitely have a talent!
mpc
depending on the rules of the intership thru the school, you may not allowed to be paid. my college would not allow you to get paid for an intership and also receive credit. i know that when i was in college, i did an intership where i had to work an average of 30 hours a week and not get a dime. instead i had to pay the school! i earned 3 credit hours for this. so those semesters where i did the intership, i was extremely busy with being a full time student, intership, and working a part time job so i could have some cash! so check into the rules of the college you are attending! many want you to get the work experience but you can not get a paycheck while doing!
my daughter in law is going to be an intern (in a different area)....and she is paying them 350.00 a month
mpc - I am hoping to open up shop in Michigan. Granted the rules are pretty tough there, but we are hoping to purchase a building in the near future. I waited years to go to school and I use the things I learned on my internship EVERYDAY! Once I am up and running, I would definitely take on an intern. I know that the Le Cordon Bleu program allows it's students to either take on a paid or non-paid internship. I am not sure about the other programs.
I know that being an intern in a bakery, learning under someone with experience, is an honor and a privilege. I don't agree with a student or aspiring decorator having to pay for their own internship unless it's at a place that's educationally accredited or the establishment is offering a class.
This is off of the subject but...I'm making a wedding cake this weekend (my 1st one) and I was going to make a 6",10", 12" stacked cake. Would this look okay? I seem to be seeing 6", 9", 12".
Jacqui
I am also still in culinary school. I have to do an internship before long myself! I do know that some of the internships that my fellow students have taken have been paid, but some have been unpaid as well. I have no idea what the laws are in our area regarding internships...
I'm hoping to find a paid internship...or at least one that is flexible enough for me to do alongside my regular full-time job!
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