Annabell Amaretto asked:




Culinary arts industry is an excellent choice to start a career for all the people, who breathe, drink, and live food. Majority of aspirants, who decide to become a chef, already have an inclination for it, from a very small age.

An individual can easily become a chef by working as an apprentice in a reputed restaurant or by enrolling to a professional cooking course offered by a culinary arts school.

A contender can also travel the ladder up to become a great chef without any qualification. However, it demands the aspirant to gear up and begin from the bottom level positions. This level work involves jobs such as peeling vegetables or else cleaning kitchen. Although remember that, this offers a good opportune to aspirants to learn from successful, established chefs in the business. However, it is best to get some basic qualifications in order to begin from a bit higher position.

5 Steps To Conquer:

Discussed below are 5 steps to help a budding chef conquer the dream of becoming a great chef:

1. Zero down on a good culinary arts school: The benefits of attending a proper training course to become a chef are myriad. After gauging the scope, even individuals having sufficient experience as a chef have enrolled themselves to a professional school to better the skills and chances of getting hired at top positions. Cooking schools are the best place to learn various facets of culinary arts arraying from basic to more advanced culinary techniques.

2. Attain Perfection: Practice is the only way to attain perfection. A chef requires to constantly prepare myriad dishes at a fast pace devoid of any mistake. Chefs need to experiment with flavors and ingredients and acquire familiarity of varied tastes. Even working with a local restaurant as a chef can help to gain invaluable insights.

3. Get familiar with the business: The most important advantage of attending a professional course or working in a restaurant is to have the opportune to undergo strenuous schedules as well workload typically observed by the chefs in the real world. Keep in mind that chef’s job is very hectic and involves extended working hours without any breaks.

4. Attempt to achieve excellence: Majority of successful chefs moved up the ladder with lot of perseverance and under pressure. Hence, try to do best in every endeavor. The more amount of time a person invests, the more short cuts to trade are learned.

5. Lastly and most importantly, Love Food:b If a person does not have a liking of food, then that person will simply become a cook but not a great chef.

Overview:

Regardless of the talent of an individual and graduation from a prestigious culinary school, an aspirant need not expect to become a head chef overnight. An executive chef is liable for the victory or failure of a restaurant. Hence, a candidate has to put in great deal of effort and time, to earn that expertise and attain trust to fulfill the responsibilities.

Best of luck!

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It’s a jungle out there. You are all surrounded by the enemy vying for the same bounty. The enemy is trying to steal your business or better yet, make sure no new business comes your way. These enemies are disguised as other real estate professionals, the very ones who greet you at conventions with a smile and ask about business. They stand waiting for you to get turned down for business and then swoop down for the kill.

These enemies thrive on competition. These guys are out to get you and get you good. But there is good news – by implementing a dynamic marketing program, you can beat your enemies at their own game! All you need is a solid marketing program consisting of approximately 10 of the Marketing Weapons listed below (part 2 and 3 of the list will appear in the next 2 issues of my newsletter).

Just make yourself a marketing calendar (a marketing calendar is simply a document that lists your marketing weapons and shows when and how often they will be implemented) through the end of the year. Make sure this marketing calendar lists your marketing weapons, the action step(s) required for each one, date(s) when each will happen, as well as a place to record the results. You need to record as you’ll soon learn which weapons work, the ones you’ll keep.

The 27 Marketing Weapons – Part 1:

1. Competitive Advantage: Make sure you have the competitive advantage within your target market. Be professional, referable, and provide outrageously good service. This is a good example of a daily marketing weapon.

2. Have a prospect List: Have a prospect list, keep it updated, and review it daily.

3. Follow-Up: Believe it or not follow-up is a marketing weapon because 90% of commercial real estate professionals stink at it! The best way to make sure your follow-up is working for you is to review your potential deals, deals in progress and deals under contract daily – determine what action steps are needed, make a list and then block out 1 hour of your time when you will not allow yourself to be interrupted and go for it. And, don’t forget all of those things you’ve promised people you would do. There are many other ways to create a follow up system – call me if you’d like to explore this.

4. Get an 800#: This number is easy to get, and you only pay when someone calls you. You can use it for pre-recorded messages. This is an easy way for anyone to contact you, a way to get some business from Canada (it is costly to call Canada and some people therefore don’t), and it gives you a very professional image.

5. Website and Online Presence: This one’s easy. Get a website and make it work for you. Then you can send prospects to your site for more information about you. And, while you’re at it, give away a free report in exchange for capturing their name and email address.

6. Make an Audio CD Interview: This is cool. Go out and buy yourself a digital recorder (I recommend the Olympus DS-2, $149.00 because you can download the recording directly to your computer and make CD’s from there), have a colleague get on a phone call with you and interview you about business. Have a list of questions prepared in advance so there are no surprises. You can then send a CD made from the recording to prospects or better yet, post it on line. This will give a taste for what you’re all about. Be sure to capture the “benefits” a client receives when working with you.

7. Host a breakfast: Send invitations to 6 of your favorite prospects and invite them all out to breakfast. Don’t be concerned with having them all together at the same time, promote this as a way to meet new people and network – even call it a networking breakfast! Before they leave, in addition to thanking each person individually for coming, give something of value (a copy of your favorite book, a gift card to Starbucks, anything). This is a great tool for a monthly or quarterly marketing weapon.

8. Postcards: Start a monthly campaign. It takes 7 to 9 times for a prospect to see your name before they will pick up the phone and call you. Remember, people do business with those they like, know, and trust. This builds trust and makes the prospect feel like they know you.

9. Speak at Conferences: For those who like to speak, this is a great way to quickly gain credibility. Just think of the times when you attend a conference and hear people speak, don’t you automatically view them as an expert? Speak on subjects you are comfortable with, that way it will be effortless.

10. Effective Use of Voicemail: Leave clear, precise and to-the-point voice mail messages. For example, if you have a space you are marketing, state the exact location and request a callback with any interest the prospect may have. Or, if you’re calling to confirm a meeting, state that. This eliminates guesswork and allows the recipient a chance to answer the question in the event that you are unavailable when they call. Also, when leaving your callback number please do not mumble or speak slowly. State the number twice. And finally, note that leaving a precise message increases your odds of a callback.

11. Provide Outrageously Good Client Service: Providing outrageously good client service will make you stand out and memorable. Why? Because most service providers do not! Take the time to create a system for “WOW” client service and then don’t forget to follow it. This one marketing weapon is worth mega dollars. Go out of your way to go the extra mile. The reward will not only be a client for life, but referrals too.

12. Testimonials/Brag Book: You’re probably asking yourself who does this? Exactly the point – you should. Create a Brag Book that consists of testimonials, letters of recommendation, descriptions of deals well done and even a list of deals completed. I can tell you few people have this and most clients love looking at them, and it will make a prospect feel like he or she is working with a pro.

13. Publish a Newsletter: This works, and I am proof! Consistently get good information in front of your target audience. Add value by providing information that would be of interest to your readers. Send it monthly, bi-weekly or even quarterly. For those that don’t know how to do this, I will be offering a free class coming up soon and I will give you the step-by-step process!

14. Host Teleseminars: This idea came to me last week. I realized how cool it would be for you to host a teleseminar (a group call lead by you on a specific topic). For example, 7 Steps Leasing an Industrial Space. Or, Don’t Get Caught in a Bad Location – 5 Strategies for Site Selection.

15. Have a Marketing Calendar: This simply means you map out in the beginning of the year or at the very least on a monthly basis, all marketing action steps you intend to take, the date (s) they will be taken, and the desired result. This can be written in a calendar, made as a spreadsheet or whatever. The point is to plan ahead and then follow through.

16. Post on e-bulletin boards: Although I have never carried out this particular marketing weapon, it is my understanding it can be quite effective. Just Google bulletin boards in your target market and begin answering the questions posted. This will then make you “the expert” (see #9). Prospects who participate in these types of informational exchanges will begin seeking you out – I promise.

17. Write a Free Report: Add value always. Your clients and prospects will profit by receiving a free report from you loaded with useful information. An example is “10 ways to Profit From Purchasing Your Own Building”; or, “7 Strategies to Choosing The Perfect Retail Location”. At the end, add a paragraph on the benefits of using you to assist them in their needs. (Hint: make it all about them.)

18. Be an Expert: This is a no-brainer! Everybody wants to work with an expert. List 10 ways you can become known as an expert in your niche and then start checking each one off as you accomplish it, and before you know it, you will be “the expert!”

19. Ask: We so seldom remember sometimes all that’s needed is to convey our need – more business. Don’t be bashful or shamed because you are asking for business. Ask and you shall receive. If asking catches your tongue, write up a script or two ahead of time and you’ll do fine.

20. Prospect Letters: Have an arsenal of prospecting letters you regularly send out. For example, if you notice a business acquaintance has changed jobs, send him a letter and offer to sit down and share some of your knowledge about his new territory. Or, mail a prospecting letter to your key centers of influence asking for referrals. But remember, if you don’t follow up with a personal phone call the prospecting letter will be less effective.

21. Word of Mouth: Learn how to work into casual conversations that you have just finished working with a couple of key clients and now have room in your schedule for a few more. Even better, spell out who an ideal client is. Let your peers know you’d like additional business and in exchange you will be mindful to send business their way as well when you can (get in the habit of referring).

22. Offer 5 FREE Consultations: By this I mean call up 5 prospects and offer to sit down with them over a cup of coffee and talk about their current and future real estate needs, no strings attached. Give a suggestion or two towards the end and then walk away without asking for business. The key is to follow-up, ask how it’s going and oh by the way, can I be of service to you? This works like magic.

23. Write a Book: Nothing will position you as an expert faster then writing a book – you will have instant celebrity status. If writing isn’t your thing, record it and have your assistant transcribe and edit it.

24. Join a Tips group: Join an existing group such as LeTip (LeTip.com) or BNI (BNI.com) and get ready to have more business. The format of these groups is to have weekly breakfast meetings and share referral possibilities with each other. Better yet, form your own referral group and share clients.

25. Serve on an Association Board: Volunteer your time to associations and organizations that apply to your specialty, for example, ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers). Offer to head up a committee or help another committee chair. Work your way up to being a board member. This gets you exposure, involvement and expertise.

26. Create a Resource List: Create a listing of valuable resources and share them with your prospects. Executives are so busy these days they will welcome any help you can provide. It will save them hours of research time and they will be grateful to you. It’s easier to give business to someone who has been helpful in the past. Plus, it shows you are resource-rich, always a plus.

27. Lastly, Be Professional: Show up on time, do what you say you’re going to do and do it with excellence.

By: Cindy Saxman Spivack

About the Author:

There are lots of reasons as to why an individual may have gaps in the Career History section of their CV (resume). Gaps can occur to allow for travel, further education, volunteering, caring for a child, parent or relative, or following redundancy. Explaining this type of gap on your CV can however be tricky. In fact even CV advisors aren’t too sure as to how this type of gap should be addressed! There are lots of commercially available CV writing guides, books and fact sheets out there, but the advice they give regarding ‘addressing gaps’ is conflicting…, and in some instances missing entirely!

So, what is the best way to address a gap in your career history?

Be Truthful
Ultimately honesty is the only way forward when it comes to compiling your resume. You wouldn’t be very happy if your future employer had lied about the salary and development opportunities attached to the job you’ve just accepted, and in the same way an employer will be less than impressed if they uncover a lie or ‘cover up’ on your CV that’s exposed later down the line. So deliberately concealing or lying about gaps in your career history is a definite ‘no no’. And if a potential employer doesn’t notice an unexplained gap when reading your CV, the chances are they will notice it at interview.

Provide an explanation
Research demonstrates that if a recruiter notices a gap in the career history section of a CV but that gap isn’t explained, they are likely to deduce that the applicant is less honest than the average person. However, if the gap is noticed and is explained, the recruiter is likely to deduce that the applicant is more honest than the average person. Result = do not leave a gap in your career history unexplained; and ensure the explanation reflects on you in as positive a way as possible.

Fill in the gap
During your career gap you will have been doing something! It may be that you were recovering from an illness, or caring for another individual. You may have been studying or travelling, or even actively seeking employment. Alternatively you may have been serving a prison sentence or spending time in rehabilitative care – there are endless possibilities. In many ways this is irrelevant. Whilst you must provide an explanation for your career gap, your focus needs to be on the skills that you developed or gained during this break in employment. Skills, abilities and experiences gained outside of the workplace (especially those that clearly relate to the job or industry in which you’re seeking employment) are just as valuable as those gained within the workplace. Describe newly formed skills and list achievements gained during this time in exactly the same way as you would if you were discussing a previous role.

Think about the layout
A single gap in your career history can usually be easily addressed to the satisfaction of recruiters by following the advice above. However if you have several gaps in your career history (and particularly if the gaps aren’t particularly positive), you may want to consider using a functional CV format.

A functional CV emphasizes skills and achievements. The majority of the CV is used to provide examples that support a specific skill set, with academic qualifications and actual employment history acutely summarized. By structuring your CV in this way, gaps in career history are less obvious to the reader.

An example layout would be;

1. Personal Details – listed
2. Qualifications – listed with place undertaken stated
3. Skills, Knowledge and Abilities – up to 5 key skills listed, each supported by a strong paragraph that provides examples of how this skill has been demonstrated in the past
4. Employment History – dates, company and job title listed
5. Interests – listed
6. References – available on request

And finally, be prepared to discuss any gaps in your career history at interview. A recruiter is likely to ask you about your time spent outside of the workplace, and you need to be prepared to respond in a positive way. View your career gap as positively as possible, recognise the skills and experiences you’ve gained whilst being out of employment, and be ready to talk about these skills and experiences in an open and honest way.

By: Samantha Pearce

About the Author: