Baking And Confectionery: How to become a professional baker

How to become a baker

Follow these steps to begin a career as a baker:

1. Finish high school or equivalent

While some employers may not require their bakers to have a high school diploma, they may prefer candidates who have one. This credential may also be necessary if you plan to attend a culinary or pastry school to further your education.

While you're working toward your high school diploma, consider taking relevant elective courses. For example, classes that cover cooking, baking or nutrition can prepare you for success in your future career. You might also find some general leadership or business courses that can give you the knowledge necessary to advance your career. If you didn't earn a high school diploma, you can earn a GED equivalent.

2. Consider attending a culinary or technical school

A culinary or pastry school can provide you with the resources necessary to improve your baking abilities. When you enroll in one of these vocational schools, you can expect to learn about topics like nutrition and health, diverse cuisines, proper baking techniques, kitchen management and recipe calculations. Local community colleges can also host some of these classes.

Research different schools in your area so you can practice your skills in person with an experienced pastry chef. Depending on whether you sign up for a full-time or part-time program, you may be able to finish the program and earn your certificate of completion or associate degree within one to two years.

3. Gain experience as an apprentice or baker's assistant

Becoming an apprentice, trainee or assistant at a local bakery or restaurant can help you acquire practical experience within the industry. During your training period with an experienced baker, which can last between one and three years, you can expect to learn about safe food handling, sanitation and other basic baking practices. Working as an apprentice or assistant also helps you build connections with other bakers, which can help you find a job as a professional baker in the future.

4. Choose a specialty

After gaining some experience baking, think about what type of baking you want to pursue in your career. Depending on the path you choose, you can acquire additional skills. For example, plant bakers often use high-volume industrial machines and ovens, which may require additional training to operate properly. Review some baker roles that allow for specialization:

Commercial baker: A commercial baker works in a manufacturing facility and uses equipment to produce mass quantities of baked goods for stores.
Retail baker: A retail baker works in a grocery store or specialty shop to produce smaller amounts of baked goods for customers. Some retail bakers own their own bakeries and oversee the management of staff and inventory.
Pastry chef: A pastry chef works in a professional kitchen and oversees the creation of the establishment's dessert menu. They typically create and choose recipes and manage all aspects of the kitchen as it pertains to pastries.
Artisan bread baker: An artisan bread baker crafts and shapes bread on a small scale, often working by hand and with only the standard bread ingredients of flour, water, yeast and salt.
Pie maker: A pie baker specializes in making pies and uses their culinary skills for fillings and crusts specifically.
Cake decorator: A cake decorator makes the finishing touches using icing and other accents to elevate the way a cake looks, often for special occasions by custom order.

5. Consider earning a certification

Earning a baking certification can help you distinguish yourself from other bakers when you start applying for a full-time role. This kind of credential shows that you have the knowledge, skills and expertise necessary to work in a bakery. The Retail Bakers of America (RBA) offers five certifications that you can consider obtaining:

Certified Journey Baker (CJB): This certification confirms an individual's expertise as an assistant baker who helps with preparing various baked goods.
Certified Journey Decorator (CJD): This certification confirms an individual's expertise as an assistant decorator who helps with preparing various baked goods.
Certified Baker (CB): The certification is for individuals who can produce baked goods independently and assist with the general operations of a commercial bakery.
Certified Decorator (CD): This certification is for individuals who decorate baked goods independently.
Certified Master Baker (CMB): This certification confirms an individual's ability to oversee a bakery's production area and manage various professional and technical tasks within a bakery.

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6. Commit to improving as a baker

Perfecting your baking craft is an ongoing project that you continue throughout your career. Be willing to learn new techniques and upgrade your recipes. Network with other bakers so you can build connections and receive feedback on the work you complete. You may also consider continuing your education, whether you earn an additional certification or take an online course, to remain knowledgeable of baking practices.

Skills and qualities for a baker

Review some of the skills and qualities that a baker can implement in their work to experience success:

Attention to detail: Bakers show strong attention to detail when they monitor their baked goods in the oven and create fine details when decorating items.
Communication: Bakers facilitate polite, efficient communication when interacting with customers, vendors and fellow employees.
Creativity: Bakers implement creativity and have the curiosity to try new recipes and brainstorm creations.
Mathematics: When adjusting recipes, bakers use math skills and convert fractions for measuring ingredients.
Organization: Bakers can prepare all their ingredients and equipment before they start the baking process to ensure they make their goods efficiently and use the proper measurements.
Patience: Bakers show patience in their work to create high-quality finished goods, as they wait for their products to rise or bake for the full duration necessary.
Leadership: Bakers work with and lead teams to perform their expected job duties and advance in their roles.
Physical strength and stamina: While working in the kitchen, bakers lift and move heavy items like bags of flour and spend long hours in a standing position.

Tips to excel as a baker

Implement these steps to experience success as a baker:

Become comfortable with working different shifts

Bakers may have early morning shifts so they can bake the necessary goods, allow them time to cool down and set them out for sale to customers. They may also work closing shifts to clean up after a shop closes for the day. To experience success as a baker, you can prepare to work varying shifts that don't align with a standard 9-to-5 work schedule.

Learn to remain calm in a busy environment

A baker typically works in a warm kitchen with a lot of activity, as you may be in close proximity to other bakers and employees. As you gain experience, you can be mindful of keeping an organized, clean work environment and remaining aware of your surroundings.

Keep practicing

Try new recipes on your own weekly to develop your baking skills. You can also revisit old recipes and experiment with ways to improve them. Record the methods and ingredients you use each time so you can track your progress and recreate successful recipes.

Baking And Confectionery

Monday, 4 September 2023

How to become a professional baker