Hi,
im torn between taking up nursing and culinary arts. Nursing because you can find a well pating job almost anywhere as a RN and culinary arts because i've always love cooking. I would like to ask if there are enough job opportunities for somebody who just graduated from a foreign culinary school. does gender and height matter?
thanks

Well they are both low stress jobs, not.

If you have any doubt I’d suggest the Nursing career. (RN)

To make it in the culinary field you have to have an absolute passion for it, otherwise you will do it for a while, realize it ain’t what you see on TV and them realize you should have not blown your education dollars on that Culinary Arts program.

The pay while you are earning your bones in the kitchen is a joke and the hours are worse, if you’re in the type of positions that will actually make you a Chef. If you don’t absolutely love being there its hell, no middle ground.

With nursing there are many different career paths available to you, all of which pay much better anything in the culinary field.

If you are a nurse you can all ways still cook and take “gourmet” cooking classes and play.

If you hate being with friends and family and hate having holidays off the professional kitchen is the place for you! I personally would not have it any other way! My kitchen is my home and my crew is my family.

CC

There are a lot of career opportunities for chefs that allow you to have a life as well.

You do have to spend time learning the craft but you don’t have to do it in a hell hole.

The last time I looked nurses have to work weekends and nights and holidays so I don’t think the schedule thing is relevant.

After you have some experience there are lots of positions in supermarkets, corporate feeding, hospitals, nursing homes, (excuse me, extended care facilities) and even schools that let you have a near normal life. Big name chefs like Ann Cooper have worked as school cafeteria chefs and she is currently doing consulting on the same.

As far as the money goes there are a lot more RN jobs that pay big money that Chef Jobs, but many of those jobs are as administrators. (yuck)

When you look at practical nurses, nurse’s aides etc salary scales in a kitchen can be better.

There is some sexual discrimination out there; you often see females in pantry and Garde Manger type positions. It depends on the individual, I have seen sous chefs and knew of 2 Chef de saucier’s in large 4 star hotels that were female. Both went on to be EC’s in restaurants.

Height only matters if you are abnormally short or tall, not usually an issue. You do have to have the ability to stay on your feet for 8 hours. Pastry jobs often require lifting a 50 lb bag of flour.

Good luck!

G

thank you so much to both of you for helping me with this one! its nice to ba able to ask people who have first hand knowledge regarding this matter. thanks again