Career Counselling

Pastry Chef

Description

Eating chocolate for a living might sound like a dream job but it could become a reality for you if you are a cocoa-lover. All you need to do is come up with new flavour ­combinations, test new products and travel round the world sourcing ­ingredients. One needs to know everything about ­chocolates and above all a clean and ­sensitive palate because chocolate flavours are rich and ­complex

Requirements

After Class 12, do a bachelor’s course in nutrition and food ­technology or applied science (hons) in food technology which will give you some basic ­knowledge in ­selection, ­preservation, ­processing, ­packaging, ­distribution, and use of safe, ­nutritious and wholesome food. Getting some experience in product development, from the retail side or the supplier side can be of great help.

Job Prospects

 It starts from Rs. 20,000 per month in the Indian market and the rest depends on your ­experience and work. The skills required are as follows:

• You need to be enthusiastic and passionate about chocolate
• The person should have sensitive taste buds so that one can make out the slightest ­difference in flavours
• One has to be ­updated about the latest trends
• The person should have amazing amount of patience
• The job involves a lot of ­interacting with suppliers, design agencies who do the packaging, and of course, ­customers. So you need to be a ‘people person’ — a good ­communicator

Pros & Cons

This kind of work gives immense creative satisfaction. The job could be demanding. You have to make a conscious effort to eat healthy in order to maintain your calorie intake