There are always advantages and disadvantages of any employment, but there are different challenges to working in a bakery. While it can be debated whether working in a bakery is hard or not, what can you expect when you put in that job application?
Is it hard working in a bakery? Working in a bakery has its challenges—but they are all surmountable with the right attitude and experience. The job is very physical, and it can be rewarding working with positive customers. Shifts start early, but they also end early, giving you more of your day. You can be very creative with your creations, but people will also want those tried-and-true recipes. Holidays can be hard, but rewarding. While it can be hard to advance in this career, with hard work you can find success.
What are the challenges to working at a bakery, and what are the benefits? What can you do to mitigate the disadvantages so you can go to work every day with a smile? Read on to find out more.
While the job can be physically demanding, it actually can keep you physically fit.
Many bakers may complain that they’re on their feet all day, but you can use this to your advantage. While you don’t need to have any specific physical requirements to become an expert baker, you should be ready to stay on your feet for an entire shift. Sometimes, you’ll be moving items from oven to counter, or you may be cleaning or decorating baked goods. Expect any and all of these activities when you’re working in a bakery.
This can be considered physically demanding. That constant movement has the ability to leave you tired by the end of your shift, but there are ways to mitigate that. Make sure you’re getting a good night’s sleep, wear clothes that help you stay cool and don’t restrict your movement, and make sure you get decent shoes that have arch support to keep you on your feet all day.
Startup Cost for a Bakery. (Is it Expensive to Start a Bakery)
You can find successful career in baking, but it can often be hard to advance.
No matter what you’re doing, working in a bakery can lead you to some level of success. Why? Because you can easily learn on the job and it’s not something you have to have an advanced degree to start doing. Watching and learning on the job can help lead you to something greater if you decide to branch off and work on your own.
But advancing in this career can be challenging. While you can learn a lot on the job and you can learn even more by taking classes, there is not always a clear path for you to take when it comes to learning baking skills. In many cases, your best bet is either opening your own bakery or going to cooking school, where you can learn how to do more and more skilled dishes. Other than that, advancement isn’t always available to you. If you want to start your own bakery, though, you’re in luck—those skills are transferrable, and you have all the right information and skills that you need to get started when you already work in a bakery.
Top 6 Best Selling Baked Goods in a Bakery
Working in a bakery can be very rewarding, even if you have to work closely with nitpicking customers.
We’ve all experienced working with people one way or another, and as challenging as it may be, you can still find rewarding work in serving those who appreciate you. People love purchasing baked goods, and you can have the benefit and the knowledge that you helped to create some of that happiness that your customers get when they receive your handiwork.
Customers can be a massive drawback to any job, and working in a bakery is no different. You will work with many different people—which means you’re working with many different personalities. Negativity can quickly seep into your workday, even if it’s a random customer who comes in and starts to complain. This can make it very hard to work in a bakery, but remember—for every negative comment, you have many more complimenting your work.
You can be very creative with your creations, but people will also want those tried-and-true recipes.
Consider the last chocolate chip cookie you had. You have very specific specifications that you like, right? The right amount of chocolate, the right amount of softness or crunchiness, and the right size for what you want out of your cookie. People love their baked goods, but they love them done in a certain way.
But there are other options for you when it comes to working in a bakery. It is a very creative endeavor, and you can bring that into your baked goods. Whether it’s with your recipe and adding in different aspects to your cookies or your cakes, or if you’re adding elaborate decorations, you can bring whatever level of creativity that you want to your masterpieces. Just remember that if you change a recipe too much, though, you may be isolating those people searching for that perfect chocolate chip cookie. Find that balance between being creative and providing that familiar treat, and you can find success in your bakery.
Why a Bakery is a Retail Type of Business
Holidays are not relaxing in the baking profession, but you will receive many positive reviews for your work.
As you well know, people bake during the holidays—and sometimes, if you can’t bake, you purchase those items from a bakery. Because of this, you may find yourself stressed out and under new and harder deadlines when people come in with large holiday orders that you have to meet. People tend to either be very kind or very rude to you during this time, as well.
It’s not just Christmas or Thanksgiving that can be crazy—Mardi Gras can be another hard day to get through. You could also be working those hours during the holidays, or have a very early shift before the festivities begin. Working those hours are not for the faint of heart, so if you have a family that wants and needs your attention on holidays, working at a bakery may not be for you.
But consider the fact that those orders are for holiday gatherings—pies, cakes, cookies, and more are all going to support a family gathering. For every person that complains, you’ll have more happy customers praising your work, especially during the holiday season. Having a tip jar out, especially during this time, will boost morale with the amount of money that you receive.
Hours start early in the day, but that means you have more time in your afternoon after working a full shift.
Yes, it’s important to know that working in a bakery may mean very early hours to prepare baked goods before opening. But a benefit to that is that you will be off work in the afternoon—even after working a full shift. While you might have to go to bed early to get the proper sleep to start your day, you’ll have even more of your afternoon to enjoy when you work a shift at a bakery.
That being said, it can be incredibly hard to balance your work and your personal life with such an early schedule. While this can be hard for some, the more passionate you are about the work, the easier it will become. Try to take steps to make it easier for you to spend time with your family or your friends by using your time wisely on days when you work so you can schedule your time off with them. Make an effort to socialize so you don’t resent your bakery job for keeping you away from your loved ones.
Every job has its own challenges, but it’s all about perception. While some people may consider that working in a bakery is challenging based on the fact that you’re working with negative people, have long, early hours on your feet the entire time, and it’s hard to advance in your career, others may see that as an opportunity for growth and seek the benefits from facing these challenges. The real question is whether you can face these head on, or whether you find those challenges not worth the risk. If they are worth it, then you are well on your way to working in the baking industry.
Why Is a Bakery Shop A Good Business To Start
Frequently Asked Questions
No, you do not need to go to cooking school or have a degree to work in a bakery. While the skills needed to work in a bakery can be taught on the job, you can give yourself a boost by already having cooking or food production experience. A degree in some sort of cooking or culinary arts is also accepted, but not required.
According to Indeed, the average salary of a baker in the United States is about $41,000 annually. That number can go up to $50,000 annually if the baker has at least ten years of experience. Bakers can expect about $15 per hour to $20 per hour depending on level of experience.
To learn more on how to start your own bakery business check out my startup documents here
This blog post is provided for informational purposes only. The information contained is not intended to constitute legal advice or to substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney.
About the author. Entrepreneur and Bakery Business Fan.
Hi! I am Shawn and I am a happy individual who happens to be an entrepreneur. I have owned several types of businesses in my life from a coffee shop to an import and export business to an online review business plus a few more and now I create online bakery business resources for those interested in starting new ventures. It’s demanding work but I love it. I do it for those passionate about their business and their goals. That’s why when I meet a bakery business owner, I see myself. I know how hard the struggle is to retain customers, find good employees and keep the business growing all while trying to stay competitive.
That’s why I created Bakery Business Boss: I want to help bakery business owners like you build a thriving business that brings you endless joy and supports your ideal lifestyle.