So I'll be headed off to college this fall (not culinary school, I'm sorry to say), and I need a summer job (perhaps for a month in the winter as well). Since I started getting into cooking a few years ago I have thought it would be cool to work in a restaurant, with the ultimate goal of being a cook somewhere. Is this wishful thinking, or do kids actually get cooking jobs for just the summer?
There aren't a lot of great restaurants within walking distance of where I live, and I probably won't have a car this summer. The Ninety-Nine used to be at the top of my list of places to work, but I don't think working there would really open my mind to how good food is produced... But now I found out there's going to be a fine-dining restaurant opening in my home town some time in the spring (here's their website if you're interested)... Looks so awesome! I would be stoked to eat there this summer, let alone work there. Needless to say, I would be overjoyed to work there even as a dishwasher or something like that. It seems like a great opportunity because it's opening and I suspect they'll want some extra help. I'll send an email to their careers address some time soon, but is there anything specific I should include/not include? Is there a certain way I should present myself in this email?
FYI, my credentials are pretty nonexistant... What I have going for me:
- I love to cook and I would be extremely enthusiastic even in a non-cooking job. I would be especially happy working at place like 80 Thoreau because I've always been curious about French-American cuisine, and fine dining in general. I also love their philosophy of casual hospitality (sounds like BS I know haha).
- The owners grew up in my home town and probably have a personal connection to this community. As a soon-to-graduate student at the high school, they might like me as I'm pretty connected to this community myself.
- I tend to be pretty focused at what I do. I'm pretty smart (well at least I have decent grades although it probably doesn't matter) and could contribute ideas to help the restaurant get started. I can be a good communicator but I'm not very outgoing so I don't think I would make a good server (at least at first).
- I play guitar in a band and could provide some very classy jazz music.
If I mentioned the last two bullet points I might seem a little pompous or presumptuous but from their website it seems like the people behind this joint are really cool. I dunno. What do you think?
Thanks for reading and if you have any tips for getting a summer job at any restaurant (not just one that's opening), I'd love to hear them.
Malch
Edited by Malch - 3/27/11 at 9:53am
