A girl that worked as a daytime baker wanted to go to the night position, so whole foods put her on the over night position. They were worried about me being on over nights because I had never worked that shift before, though I know I would have been fine, since I often stay up late and sleep in the day to be on Chris' schedule when I can. I totally understand though, because a lot of people can't handle it.
They later had called to offer me a daytime baker position and because I was under the impression they had chosen someone else I chose the supervisor cafe job... I got in there for 2 days and knew I made a huge mistake. I was ashamed to tell people what I had chosen instead, because I really felt as though I was taking a step backwards, and not forwards. That is exactly what I was doing.
I originally was looking for another job to be in a bakery, to be happy. I loved every single person I worked with at Olive Garden as well as the managers. If you have ever been a server or are one, you know it is hard, not really hard work, well on busy nights yes, but the slow unpredictable days are difficult. You do not have a set income, it's all on how busy the restaurant is and how great of service you give. While you can give amazing and excellent service, some people just don't know how to tip, or they do know how to tip but they just got soup and salad.. which is 6.99 or 7.49 now actually. Someone may just get that and water... so they leave 3.00 they think that 3.00 is a great tip! Well 3.00 is 40% of 7.49, but when everyone gets soup and salad at lunch... and you only have 5 tables for lunch.. say the others are two tops and each leave 5. That is 23.00 for the day of running refills and refills and then you're cut, or you just don't want to stay because it's so slow! Trust me I would feel better about leaving after two hours with 23-30 rather than leaving after four hours with the same amount or five dollars more. It is hard to want to stay on slow days! I have been there as long as I was because all of my co-workers were amazing, and seriously I have never had a better group of managers! These managers are the best I have ever had and I cannot imagine better ones then those.
Well I got into this cafe supervisor roll and in the job description it was just rolls of a regular cafe worker, and after seeing how disorganized and dysfunctional everything was, I knew I was taking a step backwards, I had made a mistake, and that I didn't want to be here. I was embarrassed to say I passed up an amazing baking opportunity one that I have been searching for, for two years after graduating college, but I had already chosen this job before getting offered the day time baker position, I didn't want to go back on my word because I take pride in my word. When arriving to open the store at the cafe, not knowing how they do things and the manager of that section being 30 minutes late, and being criticized for not doing this and that when this was my first opening shift I knew for certain it wasn't going to work, and yes I was stepping backwards, and I think I did this because it was something I was comfortable with, coffee is something I know and did for two years.
There comes a point in your life when you need to stop staying with what you are comfortable with and know, when if you are unhappy with where you are in life, you need to step outside of the box and reach for your goals and dreams. Well, my dream is to be in a bakery, to bake all day, do what I love. I was reluctant for a while because while I love to bake, I didn't want to get tired of it, wore out, or burnt out. If you truly love something though, that wont happen, and I know now for certain it's where I need to be. Well I had called whole foods back and had explained everything and I got the day time store baker position! I was actually in the middle of running when I got the call and official offer. I am so proud of myself for finally realizing what I wanted and going after it fully and whole heartily.
Though my degree is in culinary arts, it has been difficult finding a foot in the door into a bakery, and it is because I hadn't done it professionally yet. Even with a degree in that field, now days, people want to see the actual paper trail. In this job, or career field rather, the experience means more than the degree. I mean... with the holidays coming up are you going to hire someone with a degree that they received two years ago or someone that has been baking for 10 years and has worked at 5 different bakeries? Any smart person would choose the person that has been doing this already! I am super grateful and thankful for this opportunity to finally do what I want to do for the rest of my life! I am so excited to get in there and start working!
Also, the day time position is not just breads it's pastries, muffins, cakes, and everything that I love and want to bake! My goal is to learn everything that I possibly can as quickly as I can, become super proficient, and eventually be that go to person when anyone has questions. I will work my ass off to show that they made an excellent choice giving me that second consideration for the day time baker, when they didn't have to.
I have never been so happy or excited to start a job, and I am not ashamed to say where I'll be. At the moment I had thought they didn't pick me for the over night position and before getting offered the day time position when I chose the cafe supervisor, deep inside I knew I shouldn't have, even if they didn't offer me a baking position I still should have continued the search not have settled. In my mind though, I thought that could help me for when I wanted to open my own bakery, but I wasn't excited to start the job... even when starting I was still googleing "baking jobs in nj" that really should have been my first indicator that it was a bad decision.
Luckily everything has worked out, I am where I want to be, and I start orientation on Thursday and I go in tomorrow to fill out all the tax and new hire forms! :) Also come back on Wednesday for a Halloween inspired cupcake.
Anyhow the point of this post is mostly to tell y'all, follow your dreams and don't stop until you have reached them!
No comments:
Post a Comment