If you love baking and want to pursue a career in pastry, finding a good mentor can make a huge difference in your success. A pastry mentor can offer you guidance, feedback, inspiration, and opportunities to learn new skills and techniques. But how do you find the right pastry mentor for your career? Here are some tips to help you in your search.
Before you look for a pastry mentor, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve in your pastry career. Do you want to specialize in a certain type of pastry, such as bread, cakes, or chocolates? Do you want to work in a specific setting, such as a bakery, a restaurant, or a hotel? Do you want to start your own business, or advance to a leadership position? Having specific and realistic goals will help you narrow down your options and find a mentor who can help you reach them.
First you need to know what kind of pastry chef you want to be. For Example, do you want to work at a Resort? Hotel? Las Vegas? Europe? at a small Bakery or Coffee Shop? Commissary? Food Truck? you get the point. Then you research out the people that are working at these kind of establishments and find where you want to work. Who do you connect with? who makes you feel inspired? does someone have a strong personal story that you are touched by? Education? I always tell my clients and students become a good pen pal and keep in touch. Get cards wherever you go, exchange phone numbers and emails, don't be shy and ask for the help ask for the mentorship. Thank you
Once you have your goals in mind, you can start looking for potential mentors who match your interests and aspirations. You can research online, read blogs, books, and magazines, watch videos, and follow social media accounts of pastry chefs you admire. You can also network with other pastry professionals, attend events, workshops, and competitions, and ask for recommendations from your peers, instructors, or employers. When you research potential mentors, pay attention to their style, skills, achievements, values, and personality.
After you have a list of potential mentors, you need to reach out and connect with them. You can send them an email, a message, or a letter, introducing yourself and expressing your interest in learning from them. You can also ask them if they are willing to meet you for a coffee, a phone call, or a video chat. Be polite, respectful, and enthusiastic, but not pushy or demanding. Explain why you chose them as a potential mentor, what you hope to learn from them, and how you can benefit from their guidance.
You can't expect the solutions of your problems without addressing them. Most of the time we all need some expert or even a pair of ears who can just listen to us and give some words of motivation and inspiration. It's ok to be not ok but what actually is not ok is seeking no help to feel better.
If a potential mentor agrees to meet you or talk to you, you need to establish a relationship with them. You can do this by asking them questions, listening to their advice, showing your appreciation, and following up with them. You can also show your interest and commitment by sharing your work, asking for feedback, applying their suggestions, and updating them on your progress. You can also offer to help them with their projects, or join them in their activities, if possible. The goal is to build trust, rapport, and mutual respect with your mentor.
Once you have a relationship with a mentor, you need to set expectations and boundaries with them. You need to discuss how often you will communicate, what mode of communication you will use, what topics you will cover, and what goals you will work on. You also need to respect their time, availability, and preferences, and avoid being too needy, intrusive, or demanding. You need to understand that your mentor is not your boss, your friend, or your therapist, but a professional who is willing to share their knowledge and experience with you.
The most important thing you need to do as a mentee is to learn and grow from your mentor. You need to be open-minded, curious, and eager to improve your pastry skills and knowledge. You need to take advantage of the opportunities, resources, and connections that your mentor provides you. You also need to challenge yourself, try new things, and experiment with your creativity. You need to be humble, grateful, and respectful of your mentor's feedback, criticism, and praise. And you need to celebrate your achievements, share your challenges, and enjoy your journey with your mentor.