Your Career as a Baker
What does a baker do? A job as a baker includes such duties as making dough and batter that is used to make and bake different kinds of breads, sweet goods, pies muffins, cookies and cakes, which are then served in restaurants or are sold in retail food establishments such as grocery stores or other venues. A baker also may frost cakes and decorate other baked goods. The job of a baker is creative and complex because much of the preparation of baked goods involves artistic display of the food item. You must have the patience for this elaborate preparation, along with a keen eye for detail.
The kind of job that a baker gets to do depends on the size and scope of the employer. As a baker in a small bakery, you may work independently and have complete control over what gets prepared. In a larger work environment, you may need to follow the directions established by a menu set in advance, and also may oversee the hiring, supervision, and training of additional staff. In all instances, as a baker, you would need to schedule production and organize the tasks necessary to bake quality baked goods that consumers want to purchase. You would need to follow schedules and meet deadlines, and operate ovens and other equipment safely. You also may be required to prepare budgets and cost estimates of the necessary ingredients. And, just as with all other jobs in the hospitality industry, you would need to have good customer service skills.
Most bakers work full-time, but some work part-time and others work in shift work or have irregular hours. Usually, the work sites for bakers are connected with the bakeries of hotels and restaurants, bakery manufacturing companies, wholesale food manufacturers, grocery and other food stores, and smaller specialty baking or pastry businesses. Bakeries also have opened up in large retail food chains, and many restaurants and hotels either have their own bakery or contract with fresh bread shops or bakery cafes to provide their products.
You can receive training as a baker by enrolling in any number of culinary schools worldwide that offer specialized courses.