Love What You Do: Building a Career in the Culinary Industry

Starting or changing careers can be an intimidating process. For those seeking their first job, there is much to learn, while career changers may face doubts about their options or obstacles in pursuing their dream. Love What You Do demystifies the career decision process and guides readers through the steps of any job hunt. It also helps people prepare for, and find, careers of all kinds in the culinary world.

Love What You Do begins with DECIDING, where we ask readers to do a thorough self-inventory to uncover their goals, passions, strengths and weaknesses. In this section, we emphasize the importance of experience and credentials, especially during tough economic times. We also focus on how to handle the obstacles and doubts that are an inevitable part of any new endeavor.

Section II, TRAINING, outlines the steps needed to begin a successful culinary career. Both culinary school and on-the-job training are discussed as possible options. We identify what to look for in a culinary program and how to apply. We also explore paid and non-paid positions available within the industry. Finally, we look at salaries and budgets.

The final section, LAUNCHING, is all about jobs. We help readers decide what kinds of positions might be best for their needs and interests and how to conduct an effective job hunt, also including jobs outside the kitchen such as food blogging and food television production. We outline what to expect in the first year in the industry and how to excel. The book concludes with profiles of three culinary entrepreneurs and a brief introduction to jobs that are community-oriented. Interspersed throughout the book are brief profiles of people in the culinary world as well as facts, exercises and quotes from prominent chefs.

Dorothy Cann Hamilton, founder and CEO of the world-renowned French Culinary Institute (FCI), has educated more than 10,000 students in the fundamentals of cuisine. The FCI and The Italian Culinary Academy, both located at The International Culinary Center in New York City, count many of America’s most prominent chefs among their graduates. She is featured in "Family and Friends Remember Julia Child," one of the DVD extras in Julie and Julia.