Your Culinary Career Doesn’t End With the Kitchen

Your Culinary Career Doesn’t End With the Kitchen

by | Oct 12, 2016 | Career

After years in the kitchen, many chefs find that they’re ready to try something else. Long hours slaving over a hot stove can start to wear on anyone after a while! Luckily, there are plenty of careers that will use your existing skills so that you can continue to develop your career and move outside the kitchen once and for all. These culinary careers will get you out of the kitchen and into new, fascinating areas of employment.

Food Critic

You know what it’s supposed to taste like. Now, get out there and see how other people are cooking it! Becoming a food critic is a great way to use your years in the kitchen to good advantage. From here on out, you get to eat the food instead of cooking it.

Food Stylist and/or Photographer

Do you delight in a plate that’s perfectly designed to be as appetizing as possible to your customers? If so, a career in food styling or photography could be the perfect move for you. Many restaurants want professional stylists and photographers to arrange their food perfectly for menu photos, advertisements, and more.

By becoming a restaurant consultant, you can work with a variety of restaurants to help them get their name off the ground and increase their customer base.

Research and Development Kitchen Worker

If you’re tired of slaving away in a restaurant, but don’t want to give up your place in the kitchen just yet, consider working in a research and development kitchen. In these locations, you’ll be the first to try new recipes, experiment with and develop new tools, and learn how to use great new foods in recipes that will entice everyone who tries them.

Teacher

Chances are, you didn’t develop your culinary skills on your own – and there are plenty of young chefs out there who would benefit from your expertise. Consider taking your skills to the classroom, where you can share tips and tricks with future chefs who are hoping to someday be as successful as you’ve been.

Consultant

Many restaurants fail simply because they don’t know how to do things properly. By becoming a restaurant consultant, you can work with a variety of restaurants to help them get their name off the ground, increase their customer base, and create fantastic dishes that will help set their restaurant apart. Consultants are able to control their hours, decrease their stress, and still enjoy that fast-paced restaurant atmosphere on a regular basis–the perfect combination for many chefs.

As a teacher, consider taking your skills to the classroom, where you can share tips and tricks with future chefs.

Nutritionist

Love cooking up healthy food and finding great ways to incorporate healthy recipes into everyday meal plans? Becoming a nutritionist will allow you to get closer to your customers, develop relationships with them, and offer them the advice they need to live healthier lifestyles.

Restaurant Owner

Want to keep the restaurant life, but take it to a new level? Consider becoming a restaurant owner. You’ll be able to keep your hand in and cook a few meals when you like, shape the menu for yourself, and interact with customers more often. For many one-time chefs, it’s the best of all available worlds.

Food and Beverage Manager

In many hotels and other large establishments, someone has to control the food that moves in and out of the kitchen. Becoming a food and beverage manager will allow you to oversee this critical area without leaving you trapped in the kitchen every day.

If you’re looking for a change of pace, any of these great jobs will help open doors and allow you to further develop your career without the need to start over. Your experience as a chef will help prepare you for exciting new career opportunities that you never imagined possible. Whether you’re tired of cooking for other people, ready to give up the long hours, or simply want a change, there’s a new career move out there for you.

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5 Things That Make Your Profile Look Unprofessional

5 Things That Make Your Profile Look Unprofessional

by | Oct 7, 2016 | IndiTips

Good Profile=Hired

One of the great features of online hiring platforms, like Sirvo, is the ability to create a profile unique to you and your accomplishments. Your Sirvo profile acts as a digital resume and is the first thing employers look at when deciding to consider you for an open position. Here are a few suggestions to assist you in making your professional profile stand out from the rest.

Profile & Cover Photo

It’s not necessary for you to upload a profile picture or a cover photo on Sirvo, but if choose to do so, you should definitely use one that shows you in your best light. The hospitality industry is still a fun industry, so we are not suggesting that you should look like you work at a bank. We are just suggesting to maybe not use photo of you and your friends at the bar. Your phone has an amazing camera and plenty of ways to edit and apply filters to enhance your best features.

Completing Your Profile

On Sirvo, your profile acts as a digital resume and is the first thing employers see when you’ve applied to a position. We provide options for you to include your work experience, education, skills and interests. It’s a simple template that can be filled out quickly and is your chance to showcase what you’ve accomplished and why you’re qualified for the position. An unfinished profile is 99% less likely to receive a response from an employer.

Know who you are trying to work for and dress accordingly.

Grammar/Spelling

One would think living in a world of spell-check that simple grammatical or spelling errors would be a thing of the past, but the reality is that the existence of spell-check has made us worse writers prone to simple errors. We see these mistakes being made on all levels, even by major news organizations. We are not casting judgement here (we are guilty of this). But what we are saying is that when you are applying for a position, check your writing and then double-check it. The last thing anyone wants is to be disqualified for consideration of a new job because of a simple grammatical error.

Dress the Part

We live in a pretty laid back culture and as a society we have become a lot more accepting of a looser and somewhat less professional culture in the workplace. The hospitality industry is one of those industries that has accepted this relaxed decorum. That being said, there is a level of professionalism that should be maintained and is expected of applicants seeking open positions. Just because you are applying for that Barista position down the street at your neighborhood’s hippest coffee shop, doesn’t mean you should wear a t-shirt and jeans to the interview. Know who you are trying to work for and dress accordingly.

An unfinished profile is 99% less likely to receive a response from an employer.

TMI

Sharing too much information, be it in within your profile or in a job interview, is also something we suggest not to do. Everyone knows it is an election year, your interview is probably not the best place to get on your soapbox about what you think is wrong with this world. We also recommend not revealing too much about last week’s music festival. Speak to your qualifications and what sets you apart from other candidates applying to the same position.

We recognize that for a lot of our applicants, making a career in the hospitality industry is not the plan. A lot of times the attitude seems to be that some people are just doing this until they find their “real job”. Well the fact of the matter is that for most employers, this is their real job. We should carry ourselves as professionals in all lines and at all levels of work. The same person offering you that Dishwasher position, may be the same person who offers you that Sous Chef position down the road. How you carried yourself in that initial meeting will go a long way.

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Open Call for The Stanley Marketplace Career Fair

Open Call for The Stanley Marketplace Career Fair

by | Sep 13, 2016 | Career

Sirvo is proud to announce that on Saturday, September 24th we will be at Stanley Marketplace’s Career Fair, located at 2501 Dallas St., Aurora, CO. Residing in a hangar formerly owned and operated by Stanley Aviation (once Aurora’s largest employer), this new marketplace is sure to be one of Colorado’s hottest locations to shop, eat, drink and have fun!

STANLEY MARKETPLACE CAREER FAIR

Saturday, September 24th 2016

2501 Dallas St., Aurora, CO

1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Pre-Registration is Required-Head Here to Register

More than 50 independently owned and operated businesses will all be gathered under one roof looking for that next great hire to join their team in one of the most anticipated openings of 2016. This is the place to work!

The marketplace has two levels of retail shops, restaurants, microbreweries, coffee shops, ice cream, bakeries, salons, health and fitness studios and so much more! Located in northwest Aurora, The Stanley Marketplace is part of a continued revitalization effort that seeks to take older structures located in the city and restructure them in a way that pays homage to their former glory. A lot of thought and effort is put into these types of spaces and it is meant to be a modern gathering place where you can bring friends or family and spend a day enjoying yourself.

More than 50 independently owned and operated businesses will all be gathered under one roof looking for that next great hire to join their team in one of the most anticipated openings of 2016.

Denverites are already accustomed to this type of scene, as many of us frequent The Source or Industry, both located in RiNo. So when you are wondering what Stanley will look like, think of those buildings and triple the amount of things to do and places to visit. The space is so huge it will also play host to some of the best art, food, music and cultural events (or “Happenings“) we all love to partake in as Coloradans; including CherryArts at The Stanley and 5280 Eats hosted by 5280 Magazine!

So, if you are looking for a fun and exciting environment to work in and have been waiting for an opportunity like The Stanley Marketplace to arrive, then come see us on Saturday, September 24th with your Sirvo resume printed and ready to go! With a place this popular, this is your chance to get your foot in the door. If you have any friends that you think would be interested in applying to work at The Stanley or are looking for a position in hospitality in general, share this blog post and tell them to head over to Sirvo and create their profile.

See you there! 

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How Culinary Internships Can Get You a Job

How Culinary Internships Can Get You a Job

by | Aug 24, 2016 | Career

It’s been said that you can’t get a job without experience, but you can’t get experience unless you have a job. So, what do you do about this? Take an internship! This is even true about culinary internships.

Benefits of an Internship

You’re probably wondering how culinary internships can get you a job. Well, to begin with, as a culinary intern you’ll learn many new techniques for cooking and baking in the “real” world (outside the classroom). You’ll also learn speed, organization, time management, and perfect your knife skills while working on the line during service.

Regardless of what path you see your culinary career taking, your internship time spent in a professional kitchen is invaluable to your career. For instance, personal chefs must understand how to set up a kitchen, private chefs must learn how to act quickly, and a test kitchen chef must learn to think on their feet while creating recipes.

Sometimes accepting an unpaid internship and working at another job while interning pays off with bigger returns than if you’d accepted a paid internship.

Considerations When Pursuing an Internship

Having some idea of where you want to see your career go is the first step, and a very important one, in deciding where you should seek out an internship. It’s also important to think about what city you want to spend most of your life living in. While moving to a big city for an internship is fun, moving away from there afterwards may prove difficult.

This is because one of the main points of doing an internship is creating contacts and networking. If you do this someplace, you may find they don’t have contacts available in the city you actually want to live in. Simply put, good local references are more beneficial than all your great skills and techniques combined.

When interning in a small, chef-driven place you get to work directly with the chefs and line cooks.

Another important consideration is the environment you wish to do your internship in. When interning in a small, chef-driven place you get to work directly with the chefs and line cooks. This doesn’t always happen in big restaurants, where it’s easier to ignore you.

It’s also important for you to consider whether you can afford to take an unpaid internship. Sometimes accepting an unpaid internship and working at another job while interning pays off with bigger returns than if you’d accepted a paid internship. If you feel as though you can keep up with everything, then you’ll look as though you’re truly dedicated to your profession. Of course, only you can decide this.

One other thing you’ll want to do before choosing where you’ll do your internship is to actually spend time reading about the restaurant. You not only want to lookout for what employees are saying about the restaurant and its work environment, you also want to learn what diners are saying about the food, service, atmosphere, and chef.

Working every station looks good to potential employees as they recognize you have basic experience in various areas of the kitchen.

 

Getting the Most out of Your Internship

In the same way you must take some time to consider whether the internship is right for you, it’s also important to stay on your feet while working an internship. This is a time during which you can do some really great networking. Get to know the line cooks, servers, and other restaurant staff. They’re all an important part of the team when you’re working in a kitchen as a chef.

Some people sincerely believe small, successful restaurants are where you’ll find the best internships because you’re expected to actually do some work. In fact, by the end of your time there, you’ll probably have worked every station. This looks good to potential employees as they recognize you have basic experience in various areas of the kitchen.

Remember, you don’t want to take an internship at a big restaurant just so you can have its name on your résumé. Make sure it sounds as though it will meet your expectations. Instead, accept an internship at a restaurant where you think you’ll be happy (you never know until you start working there). It should also be a place that challenges you so you have a great opportunity to build your skills.

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Sirvo Says: Where to Eat, Work & Live in Denver

Sirvo Says: Where to Eat, Work & Live in Denver

by | Aug 22, 2016 | IndiNews

Whether you’re a native or just moved here recently, you are already aware that Denver is one of the best places to live! We are a rapidly growing city with more and more places to eat, work and enjoy your life! So much so, that it’s often hard to keep up with all of these new areas of town on the rise.

One of the fastest growing industries to work in is the hospitality industry, which makes so much sense considering Coloradans love working at places where they can have fun, and that affords them time to explore this majestic state. Below is our list of some neighborhoods and places that we absolutely adore!

Where to eat, work & live in Denver!

RiNo (River North)

denver best places to eat and live

RiNo is an obvious choice to highlight first. This has been Denver’s hippest neighborhood on the rise for the last two years. It’s where we go when we want to feel apart of the “now” in Denver. There is also the most recent announcement of a new music festival ground! This neighborhood just keeps getting better and better!!!

Where to Eat or Work:

Acorn – One of the best restaurants in the city of Denver by Chef Steven Redzikowski and beverage extraordinaire Bryan Dayton. If you are interested in working at Acorn, check out their Sirvo page to see if they are hiring!

Americatus – RiNo’s premier neighborhood Italian eatery. Americatus may be hiring for open positions, check their Sirvo page here.

Comida – Mexican Street Food at it’s finest! Also located at The Source, Denver’s premier artisan food market. Comida is not only a great place to eat but would also be an amazing place to work.

Los Chingones – Two leveled neighborhood Mexican eatery by Chef Troy Guard. Go here to view all TAG Restaurant Group open positions.

Where to Live:

Cornerstone Apartments has two buildings in RiNo worth checking out, the newest is Link 35 coming in September!

LoHi (Lower Highlands)

denver best places to eat and live

LoHi is still one of the fastest growing neighborhoods/districts in Denver. While locals haven’t always been impressed with the “Lego” style architecture, it’s hard to deny the appeal to new and old Denver residents. This district is home to great food, art and events that seem to be happening all of the time! There is a reason that late on a Friday or Saturday night you see throngs of people walking back down 20th heading home. This is the place to be.

Where to Eat or Work:

Central Bistro & Bar – “Central Bistro is a contemporary American bistro with a focus on local, fresh, organic produce without the pretentious shenanigans.”  Wondering if Central Bistro & Bar are hiring? Check their Sirvo page!

LoHi Steakbar – A great neighborhood hangout with delicious food and drinks. View their Sirvo page if you’re interested in joining their team.

Lola Mexican Fish House – “With food inspired by the coastal regions of Mexico and a bar named one of the Top Five Places to Drink Tequila in North America is the spot for serious eats and crafted cocktails”. LoHi has a great food scene and Lola would be a great job with a fun staff, so look into joining the team on Sirvo!

Linger – Located in an old mortuary, Linger is a unique establishment and offers some of the best patio views in the city! Edible Beats is a great company to work for with a lot of great concepts, view Sirvo to become their next great hire. 

Where to Live:

Check out B Street LoHi or the Vallejo Street Apartments if you’re looking to find a hip place to live.  

Uptown

denver best places to eat and live

Though some might have forgotten, this is still one of the best neighborhoods in all of Denver. There are great brunch locations, shopping, coffee shops, restaurants, dive bars and all in walking distance of each other. One can spend an entire day roaming 17th Avenue and not be disappointed.

Where to Eat or Work:

Ace Eat and Serve – “Inspired by the comfort foods and shop houses of Southeast Asia, Ace Eat Serve combines Asian-inspired cuisine with an expansive indoor/outdoor bar, year-round patio, and Denver’s only dedicated Ping-Pong hall”. Check Sirvo to see if Ace is hiring.

Beast + Bottle – “A rustic American restaurant serving hand-crafted cocktails, eclectic wines and responsibly sourced cuisine for dinner and weekend brunch”. Interested in working at B+B? Check their Sirvo page!

Coperta – From the owners of Beast + Bottle, this uptown neighborhood Italian eatery is one of the hottest restaurants in town right now! New restaurants like Coperta are usually looking for fresh talent, view their open positions.

Masterpiece Deli – They are exactly who they say they are, a masterpiece. Look into possible job opportunities at one of the best places to work in town.

Steuben’s Food Service – Some of the best comfort food you will find in the entire state. Check out their Sirvo page for current open positions!

 Where to Live:

“Urban Apartment Living” is what Cornerstone Apartments offer, there are three locations located in the Uptown neighborhood worth looking into.

West Wash Park & SoBo

denver best places to eat and live

This area of town has always been a Denver resident favorite. It has everything you want in a neighborhood, shops, restaurants, bars and a happening nightlife! There is such a great energy about this neighborhood, it’s easy to see why it is so popular. There are bike paths all around, a quick hop to the light rail station and of course Wash Park (the most beautiful park in the city).

Where to Eat or Work:

Atticus – “Atticus is comfort food, good friends, warm hospitality, laughter, and libations”. This neighborhood joint is a popular destination for residents and would be a great place to work as well!

Beatrice & Woodsley – One of the most beautiful restaurants in Denver with some of the best food and service you will ever have. Getting a job here is an opportunity to say the least, head to their page on Sirvo.

Cho77 – SOBO’s and Denver’s best Asian street food neighborhood spot! Looking for a new job, check Cho77’s Sirvo listings.

The Rosedale – From the owners of Atticus and located next door, this is a great place with delicious wings and burgers. Go on Sirvo to see their job listings.

Sushi Den – A great destination to spend a wonderful evening with a group of friends or your significant other. We imagine working here is just as enjoyable as dining here would be!

Where to Live:

With almost 20 locations in this area to choose from, Cornerstone Apartments has plenty of options when deciding where to live in this thriving neighborhood!

 

Downtown

denver best places to eat and live

We understand for a lot of people downtown Denver is too hectic, loud and crowded but that is exactly why we love it! If you are new to town and you want to be where all the action is, then work, eat and live in the epicenter of it all. Denver is alive and has a nightlife that competes with any other similar city out there. We have five major sports teams with year-round schedules, constant events and a great food and beverage scene. The best part of living downtown is that in ten minutes you are on the highway and within another thirty minutes you are in the mountains on your way to hike your next 14’er!!!

Where to Eat or Work:

TAG – Chef Troy Guard describes this concept of his as “Continental Social Food” and represents his journey as a chef and restaurateur. Check Sirvo for possible open positions.  

Osteria Marco – Chef Frank Bonanno’s famed Denver Italian gathering place named after his youngest son. See what potential employment opportunities they might have here. 

JAX Fish House LoDo – “Jax Fish House LoDo has served FRESH and sustainable seafood to the masses that pack into this hot spot since 1996″. Go on Sirvo to see their latest job listings!

Snooze at Union Station – There are reason people wait in line to eat here, and it’s because it’s delicious. Snooze has a great reputation and is one of the most popular destinations to eat and work, head to their Sirvo page!

Where to Live:

If you are looking for a unique downtown location to live, Tamai Tower at Sakura Square.

Denver is on the rise and has been rapidly growing for the last couple of years. We have so much further to go, but we are on our way for sure! The rest of the country is looking to us as to how to take their own city to the next level. We have some of the best neighborhoods in the country to live with amazing options for leisure, dining and entertainment. We are the place to be right now!

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