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Baking is probably one of the oldest and most useful crafts which still fascinates more than 24 000 Australians. According to the Australian Government the job prospects for bakers and pastry cooks are “good” the employment growth in the next nears is considered to be “moderate” and the chances to get a full time job are above average.

Everybody loves the smell of fresh baked rolls, tasty bread or delicious cakes and tarts but what does it take to become a baker or pastry cook? While cooking is art baking is science and you should fulfil some personal requirements necessary for this job:

• You should have a passion for practical work.
• You need good hand eye coordination and a natural sense for details.
• As bakers work a lot with measurements, equivalents and fractions you will need some maths skills.
• You should be physically fit, have good health and no skin allergies or chest problems.
• In general you should have a good level of hygiene as your workplace must be neat and clean all the time.
• Customer contact can be a very important part of your job which means you need good communication skills.
• Be aware that the job requires to work early in the morning!

So, do you think you have what it takes to become a baker? You can’t wait for the next birthday party or Christmas to surprise your friends with self made cakes or cookies? There are some simple career steps you can follow to make your future way easier:

1. You don’t want to work in a job you don’t like, so get some initial insights into the job at hand and work part time in a small place like your local bakery to make sure being a baker is the right thing for you
2. Think about where you would like to work in future as bakers are needed in various areas such as factories for baked products, cake stores, in house bakeries in supermarkets, or retail bakeries.
3. Look for an apprenticeship in cooking or baking since this gives you the required training and practical experience. Your apprentice employer’s reputation has an influence on your CV and your future job chances. Choose wisely or get some help for finding the right employer.
4. Watch out for bakers’ positions during your education since this will give you a better impression of the job perspectives and requirements in your area so you can focus on certain qualifications
5. Finally make sure that you’re a match for the company you want to work for. Do some research before you apply!
6. If your dream is to open your own little business be sure that you will need additional knowledge about business, marketing and accounting!

apprenticepower offers apprenticeships across a range of industries including commercial cooking as well as other industries on demand. Please contact apprenticepower today to find out more

Image by decafinata.