[thekingof8]

I have been a cook for 16 years. I started off working at Montana’s for 8 years. I then went back to school hoping I could move up and make a career out of it. Boy was I wrong. Dead wrong.

After school ended, I got a job as a cook in a retirement home. I lasted there 8 months, and during that time we went through 3 service managers. They just kept adding to my workload without any training or guidance or pay increase. The Cracker-Jack Union was no help either. At least I got along with the residents, though.

My next job was as a First Cook in a Cafeteria with Compass. It looked promising at first. I was stuck on the grill for the first little bit, because of a short order cook who showed up when she felt like it. The Chef was a complete idiot, and shouldn't be anywhere near a kitchen, and never backed me up when I needed him. I was laid off after two years, and the ***** manager wouldn't give me my Record of Employment. I had to get the Labour Board and my Local MP involved.

After 4 or 5 months, I got a job at Moxie's, a restaurant. That place treated me like crap from day one. After 2 months of getting talked down to and yelled at, I had enough and walked out.

During that time, I was also working casually at CHEO (Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario). The people there were nice and the pay was nice. The job was too much though. I was going through a medication change, and the 12 hour days and hectic pace were too much. I eventually had to quit. It still haunts me to this day that the job didn't work out. It has been the only place I have worked where I was proud to admit I worked there.

Soon after, I got a job in a cafeteria with Sodexo. The first two weeks were hell. There was constant fighting and bickering. Eventually, the Chef got sacked, and things got worse from there. I was then stuck on the grill and didn't get along with the new Chef. who was a smart-***. I was going through another medication change and tried to tell the chef about my mental health and he just treated me like some drug addict. He then cut my hours, making things worse.

I got hired at Ashbury College as a catering cook. I hardly got any help. I was expected to be able to help everyone else and do my job. The problem is I would be out helping at lunch, while the Chef was in the office. Then I would get yelled at for not getting the catering done. Can't be in two places at once.

I finished the school year, and then planned on going back to school to study cabinet making. I picked up a job as a general labourer in the meantime. Things didn't get off to a good start at school. I was 30 minutes late to my first class, because I couldn't find the room. I was also having trouble keeping up, and handling the long days, and having to spend all of that money. After 3 days, my anxiety was acting up and I quit school.

I then got into a program to try and start my own business. I was really excited for this. I was learning something new and I felt my life was going somewhere. Then it all came crashing down. The business plan just didn't work out, and I took my counselor's and quit the program.

I was unemployed for a long time which caused me great stress, and I was thinking of going on Long Term Disability.

I decided to take my present job as a Grill Cook instead. The people are nice and I get along with the customers, but the job doesn't pay the bills. My parents help me out every month. I have debt issues, and it feels like I'm never going to get out of it.

I hope to go back to school next year, but I have no idea what I want to do. I'm too scared to try anything else, since I've been a trick pony. The cooking thing hasn't worked out and I'm just afraid of making the same mistake again. I have no idea what interests me. I try to improve my life, but I just fall flat on my face each time.


Thanks for reading.

[Mikeyboy]

Hey there. I have no advice to give, as honestly I'm not doing so well work-wise these days either. Just wanted to say I sympathize and I hope things get better for you. Good luck out there.

[Mustkeepjob32]

It sounds like you've been through some tough gigs. Some of those sound horrendous. It is good that your parents can help you out right now. What about trying not to stress about that and just let yourself casually think of things you might like to go back to school and study. Just so you don't put undue stress on yourself.

[sans]

Hey King,
One thing i took notice of is that you really do a great job of sticking it out, even though it's lousy from the start. I give you alot of respect for that. When i get into something, i tend to run before i give it a chance to work out.
Seems like you are trying very diligently to find your place, and i think you will. Much luck on your career goals. You are not alone in this!

[thekingof8]

I was reading another post on how someone is embarrassed by their job, and that is my problem too. I've been to Chef School to learn to cook, and 6 years later, I'm still asking people if they "want fries with that?" It's just down right humiliating. I just want a job where I can say I am proud to work there. Flipping burgers and chopping vegetables doesn't cut it.

[Petra5ed]

Bottom line, I think our country is royally F'd up right now. I have a friend who went to a prestigious culinary school and is struggling to make ends meet even though he's head chef in a high end restaurant. It might just take a while for you to find your spot.

[CosmicRose]

Wow being a chef for 16 years? That's amazing, truly a worthy accomplishment. I have great respect for chefs and you should feel proud to work anywhere, not just the children's hospital. It sounds like you just had a really rough experience with the people you've been working with, rather than the actual job itself. If I were you I wouldn't keep spending money on new schooling that they try to sell you with promising careers - its a gimmick to get you to sign up and spend all your money only to be handed a piece of paper without any real job prospects. This is something all my friends (early-mid twenties) are finding out after graduating community college or even universities. You literally have to start at the ground up no matter what schooling you have. The cabinet making sounds like you could literally do that in your own garage and make a better profit than spending money for someone to teach you. Pick up a hobby that you could potentially make a business out of and take it step by step - you never need schooling to start your own business, ever. Not even a business degree will get you anywhere if you want to start your own business. That's totally in your hands, so that's a good thing, no more shelling out dollars to some campus. Anyway, you must have a lengthy resume. Have you considered going into baking? Its a little less stressful to work at like a bread bakery where you have time to bake in the late nights or early mornings instead of fast cooking. This might be a little less stressful. I would just keep looking at places to cook with coworkers that are actually nice - and one that pays the bills, they're out there - especially at hotels (you have the experience to apply at hotel restaurants). Word of advice, no matter what anyone says, do not tell your boss or your coworkers about any mental difficulties or any mental troubles you may be having, the stigma is still very much alive and its none of their business anyway. I would never spend money on a chef school, or any school, after what happened to me in a medical trade school for phlebotomy - spent close to $2500 for a certificate in a saturated field, never once landed a job after my training. All schools are, are businesses in and of themselves. Don't fall for it...unless you have a really steady plan that you know for a fact will work or you already have an internship lined up with someone. The rest is pure luck. You will make it - you already have 16 years!!! of experience. You just need to find the right environment that will make you happy. Maybe try applying to other hospitals that are less hectic?

[thekingof8]

I am DONE with any kind of kitchen work. I've tried applying to hotels and hospitals and I never hear anything. I haven't learned anything since college, since I keep being stuck on the grill. I can only find these crappy paying jobs. I've lost my passion for it. I've just had enough and want to move on to something else.