Grocery Store Decoraters.... Anyone! Resume Help Needed!!
Decorating By Cakenicing4u Updated 12 Jul 2007 , 11:05pm by Cakenicing4u
Ok, so there was an ad in today's paper for a PT decorator needed for a shop that's not too far away! I'm already a FT cake decorator at a grocery store, and I have over 10 years experience, and I was a WMI too. I don't know how to put into words what I do for a living. 
I decorate 50-70 cakes a day-- I have a good system. I can base ice a cake in less than two minutes, and a rose takes thirty seconds.... 
I am stifled, but try to do what I can with what I am provided. I want to get a PT job that I can ENJOY. I'm not loooking to make a million or take this business away.... I want to learn.... I want to help... Someday I want to open a shop, but that's YEARS away. I want a PT job that I can enjoy. I've had PT and FT jobs at the same time before, but with one that makes you miserable, it makes the other one worse than it has to be. Ok... so?? Any ideas? A lot of my job involves opening crdboard boxes, but I don't think it will help me any! I can work with better cream and buttercream and We use a flavorright product that we call "Real whip cream" I use 4 turntables at a time when I can. Ugh. I just can't think of everything I do in eight hours that would make me sound appealing to someone! I don't want to hear that I am 'over qualified' either if I DO say all that I can do!!
Help!! 
http://www.berkscountyweddings.com/The_Cake_Pros/index.html
This is the shoppe... it took some digging online, but I found it!! Even if it means I am just the baker or the base icer or the fondant roller, it would make my heart sing more than working at staples or something similar.
There is a huge difference from what you are now doing as a job and what they are probably looking for at this PT job. Are you qualified? most definitely! So right now you are just mass producing a product and you want to spend more time creating. I think that would be something that they would be more interested. Show them your talent! Doesn't hurt to say what you can do, but more importantly, show them the creative side of your work.
Are you looking at this in addition to your full time job at the other bakery? If so, they may not appreciate that if it's very close. I know as an individual bakery owner I would definately hire someone with grocery store experience (I put in 6 1/2 years myself), but probably not while they were still working at one, kind of a conflict of interest kind of thing. I would just be sure to upfront and let them know that you intend to keep working at _______ so they are aware. Otherwise, you might be prepared to decorate a cake in front of them, about 15 years ago when I applied at the supermarket bakery, that's what they did and I think it's a good idea. People can bring in all the pics they want, but seeing is believing, especially with your speed, they will be impressed. But definately include a few photos with your resume, that will get your foot in the door!
GOOD LUCK!!
-Lori
I agree with celebrationsbylori. First off I think you are definitely qualified, but how close are these two businesses? The first thing that ran through my mind was the "conflict of interest" the bakery you are looking to get hired to PT might not mind, but what about your FT job? It could be a risk if the FT job had a problem with it and fired you and then all you had was PT job.
Just something else to consider.
As for the grocery store decorator going to a bakery I think it is a great starrt! I worked in a grocery store bakery and I don't think I would have changed it for the world, yes I was working crappy hours, I didn't get to control the quality of product, but I did get to decorate A LOT and practice and get close to perfecting a lot of basic skills and icing a cake that now allow me to learn and perfect other techniques that I probably wouldn't even be thinking about if I hadn't had the basics down. I also got to work with a lot of other decorators and see a lot of other ideas, learn other techniques for a lot of different decoratings (thanks to them I learned how to make roses about 5 different ways, so now I can change the look of a cake with they type of rose I put on it)
Ya, I am thinking of the conflict of interest... but they are over 30 miles away from one another. I'm going to try and get it-- the ad stated that it is PT with the potential to go FT. So, maybe if I lose my FT job (which I doubt) and have proven myself at the new one, it would be an easy transition.
On the other hand, I'm not sure that I will be able to get the job, for the hours may not work out. If the job is indeed a support position-- I may be able to work it around my other job--ie 12 hours on Wed or Thurs and a few hours any other day of the week. If it's counter help they want, you know, a few days from 12-5 or something, that just won't work for me.
My printer is on the fritz, and I don't have a card reader or a scanner that will work-- so I'm pretty useless at home. Tuesday I am off, so I plan to go to a friends' house to make a collage of the cakes that I have done, both at work and at home-- so they can see some of the varietys I do-- IE- I've done fresh flower cakes at home and work and Airbrushing just at work. Fondant at home, but specialty items at work. He isn't too far from the shop, so a quick drive and i can drop it off on site. (hopefully there is a mail slot.)
Thanks everyone!
I'll keep that in mind if I get an interview!
well, here's a little update-- keep your fingers crossed for me!
Today I went to Target and played with all the pictures in my camera phone-- I was able to print out a beautiful collage of all the pictures I like-- from work and from me. It's really nice, with about a dozen pictures.
I had a friend print out my resume but he didn't know it was supposed to fit on one page, so it printed on three. eek! So my sister is going to re-type it tonight. I have an envelope with her, postage on it, addressed and everything! All I have to do is write a cover letter and email it to her and she will send that along as well!
I'll keep you posted!
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