Been offered a job way beyond my level of experience. What do i do?

Bakers_Dozen

The person who contacted me outside of this forum - if you contact me again the police will be involved. The next unwanted communication will be harassment.

Takeaway_Addict

High risk IMO, how much is the reward on top of what you currently earn?

New business, no guarantee it will succeed and you're risking your lack of safety in employment for the next two years.

Personally, if I were going to work for a new business I would see if I could own the business myself and take a higher reward for the risk.

ohreally

Why is a new start business soliciting you? Have they no-one earmarked to drive the creative talents required?

Sounds suspect. Let someone else benefit from this "opportunity",

Devon_Sailor

Hi Bakers,

The tea room owner obviously likes what he sees, and has confidence in your ability as a chef (the main thing!) and is willing to give you extra support on the whole management side of things. I say grab it with both hands. It is amazing what you can find yourself being capable of.

Or to flip it another way, you love your current job (which in itself is good), however, as you enjoy it so much, you could end up drifting/coasting along for a few years and all of a sudden when you are actually looking to move on and up in the catering world, there are no opportunities, or you are falling behind others...

I interviewed and was successful for a job that I had very limited experience in (straight into a regional management level job) and ended up staying there for four years, which in turn provided me with the experience and opportunity to land my current (dream!) job. All from a position exactly the same as yours. Dont look back in a few years and say "what if..."

All the very best of luck with it.

DS

PlutoinCapricorn

Did you know this person previously? Why did they approach you?

Horace

You have won awards - not many bakers can say that, the only person doubting your abilities is you. Grab this opportunity with both hands make it work for you - you never know it could lead to more exciting opportunities as you gain more qualifications and experience.

Life is a gamble - the new business has said they will offer support and training (that is a sign of a good employer who wants their staff to succeed). If you don't take the job then you could be stuck in that farm shop for many years' to come as you would always doubt your ability to take on something that will be more of a challenge thus you have stifled yourself and you will look back and say what if I had taken that opportunity when it was offered.

Do the right thing, take the job - gain more experience and qualifications with them, stop doubting yourself because you can do it.

theoretica

If you don't take this, what are your career aspirations and how would you achieve them?

Annisele

I don't know anything about your industry, but I'd be worried that somebody opening on July 20th has left it seriously late to find themselves a head chef. Is that normal?

If not, then what else haven't they quite got round to yet? Or will they be firing you as soon as their preferred candidate finishes her notice period with her current employer?

Any

You are talking patisserie, they are talking "kitchen and menu".
If that is only patisserie, then the only thing stopping you is you. However I would think about the job security part, new business, do they have cash carry them over until they are well established etc.

If we are talking also full menu cooking and you don't have experience with the savoury part of kitchen at all, I would also feel out of my depth.

I come from catering family. I can cook and manage busy kitchen, but no way would I like to manage pattiserie chefs or menu without your pattiserie experience.

Errata

If they want you to make it your own they won't mind showing you their business plan. Will they? Course they won't because they're trying to sell you a pig in a poke.

Annisele

I think you may well be at the point in your career where you should consider moving on - but that doesn't necessarily mean going to the first random person who asks you, with three weeks notice.

Can you negotiate a pay rise where you are? Can you get more involved in the business side of things?