Night Supervisor/Cook
Iowa Lakes Community College
Emmetsburg, Iowa
Age: 24
What you excel at:
I have a very mellow, go-with-the-flow attitude that vibes well with my work ethic. I’ve seen blowouts and tantrums from some people with decades of more kitchen time than I have. Personally, I prefer to buckle down and get the job done.
Most valued trait in a workplace:
I have a little structure and a lot of freedom. There are deadlines and events that I need to be ready for, but for the most part I’m free to do as I wish regarding the meals I make for the students. I can be as creative as I need to be, and it does wonders to stifle some of the boredom I used to face in a commercial kitchen.
How you view tech differently:
Having the internet at my fingertips at any given time allows me to work and adjust my workload on the fly. In the time that someone could bring up a recipe, I’ve already seen five, watched a video on a special technique and selected what I want from each.
What drew you to noncommercial:
The difference in stress was a game changer. While commercial foodservice requires a very “in-the-moment” work culture, I can take my time and really focus on the product I’m making in noncommercial. Having weekends free was also a huge plus after missing them for a number of years.