Baker
Job Description:Bakers make bread, cakes and pastries by hand and with machinery.
Job Category:What you will do:
As a baker, you could:
- weigh out quantities of ingredients
- mix ingredients by hand or with catering machinery
- prepare dough
- bake products in batches in industrial ovens
- make quality checks
- decorate and finish baked items ready for dispatch or shop display
- take customer orders if working in a shop
- keep production areas clean
- stocktake and order supplies
- develop new recipes and products
Skills:
You’ll need:
- knowledge of food production methods
- maths knowledge
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
As well as:
- the ability to work well with your hands
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail (organisational skills)
- the ability to work well with others (teamwork skills)
- excellent verbal communication skills
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure (leadership skills)
- the ability to use your initiative (ambition)
Entry Requirements:
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
College
You can do a college course. In the UK, for example, courses include:
- Certificate in Hospitality and Catering
- Certificate in Bakery
- Diploma in Professional Bakery
Apprenticeship
You could start by doing an intermediate baker apprenticeship.
Work
You may be able to start as a trainee or assistant in a bakery shop, supermarket or food production plant, and work your way up.
Working Hours and Environment:
A typical week consists of 41-45 hours of work. You could be required to work early mornings on shifts.
You could work at a store or in a factory. Your working environment may be dusty, physically demanding and noisy. You may need to wear protective clothing.
Career Path & Progression:
With experience, you could become a bakery supervisor or production manager in a factory, or move into commercial sales.
You could also become a technical adviser or development baker for a baked goods or catering equipment company.
Another option is to specialise, for example in patisserie, or become a craft baker and set up your own business.