Getting experience early in your career

Question

"I am finally at the last stage of my HCIMA certificate year 2 and have just started doing agency work, but I would like to get experience as a chef and also to gain some experience at management level. For the past four years, I have only been doing catering assistant/assistant cook tasks, with limited cooking. I feel that no-one will take me seriously enough to allow me to get experience, and my confidence is starting to dwindle. How should I go about getting started? Should I speak to my new boss to see how he can provide this experience?"

Joanne Grattan

What the expert says

Alison Clarke

!](#)	-

It is amazing how many young people are too afraid or embarrassed to ask for help or advice, so they don't. You have been pro-active and shown initiative in writing to Caterer.com, so absolutely you must talk to your boss. Remember, your boss had to start somewhere, and at sometime someone will have helped him. After doing that, if you still don't feel that your boss is able to support you in the way that you need, then start thinking about other businesses that you would like to work for and write to them. Demonstrate your determination by perhaps offering to work for less money and by making a potential employer aware of all the personal development to which you are committed to make your ultimate career goal a reality. I would rather employ someone with little experience but a great attitude and lots of determination than someone with lots of experience but neither of the first two qualities. You have shown fantastic commitment by developing your skills and knowledge over the past four years, so please do not underestimate how much you have already achieved both academically and in your work. Think of someone that you currently work with or have worked with in the past, perhaps even an old lecturer, and ask them to be your mentor. They will help to keep you on the right path towards your career goal. Finally, ask yourself: Á¢Â€ÂœWhat is my ultimate goal?Á¢Â€Â Do you want to be the general manager of a family restaurant, or head chef of a five-star hotel? Or do you want to lecture in catering? You need to be very clear about what you want, and once you are clear about that it will help to determine the journey you take to get there. Do you have a question for our experts? [E-mail us now, help is at hand.