I need some career advice.

[Ming]

Ok, so here's my deal...I'm going to take you through a trip in time...

Waaaay back in middle school, all of us kiddies were required to take Home Ec. During that time, I noticed I had a definitive love and skill at cooking. So when high school came around, I was enthralled to find out that they had a Culinary Arts program. I quickly jumped at the opportunity, and loved every moment of it, to the point where my senior year I decided to found and be co-president of my high school's now hugely successful Culinary Arts club. I even considered going to Culinary school for a while, but determined that it wasn't practical, and decided instead to go to business school, which was something that I had also determined that I enjoyed and had a definite skill in.

I had gone into school with a pretty set idea, but while there, I confirmed that marketing was where it was at, because the other areas had become boring to me, and I refused to be jump on the bandwagon and be swayed by the half-truths about how accounting majors came out of school making $55,000 a year. That's a lot of money, and money is important, but so is sanity and free time. I didn't want to spend the 50-60 hours a week for the first few years of my career to earn that $55k.

But I digress...

I was enthralled again to find my sophmore year that the following year, a new stright marketing major was going to be offered. It wasn't a business degree with a marketing concentration, it was a marketing degree. I spoke it over with my favorite teacher, and she said to jump on the opportunity, so I did.

But then something happened. As I kept taking my classes, I began to be more and more turned off by the business world. I decided to minor in philosophy, in order to clear my mind of business for a couple of hours a day. Don't get me wrong, I still like the concept of marketing...I just don't like the business world as a whole anymore.

So finally, I finished school with my degree. I decided to take an internship with Pepsi, in their human resources department, hoping that it would lead to a future career, which it did not. I did, however, confirm while I was there that I really still dislike the corporate world. That lasted until the end of September, and since, I've been looking for a job.

In that interim period, I've done a lot of thinking. I started cooking at home more, and I started to watch the Food Network A LOT and become inspired by it, and I realized, again, how much I love food. So much to the point that yesterday, I altered my resume and applied for a position as a sous chef in a very fancy local restaurant. I expected, since I don't have the practical, on-the-job 2 years of experience that they asked for (but I applied anyway) that they would disregard my application.

However, at 9:00 this morning, I get woken up by a call from the restaurant, asking me to come in and meet with them next Wednesday. I'm extactic, but then it hits me....

I have a degree that I spent 4 years of my life getting. I owe more money in student loans for said degree than I care to list here. But I don't want to spend my life doing that. And cooking is something that I love. But I have no "real" experience...and I probably will sacrifice a good portion of my free time if they offer this job and I take it. But cooking is what I love, and yet I still sorta like marketing.

I'm scared...and I don't know what to do...

[Shino]

Ming...

My thought...

it doesn't matter how much you make as long as you love what you do. (and can live).

Cooking is what you seem to want to do. I see no reason to pursue that. The business world isn't getting any better. If you don't like it now, chances are you won't like it later.

Will you make more money in the business world... probably... unless you get something crazy awesome in the cooking, like your own show! which would rock.

Moral. Depends on what you want. If you are worried about money... then you may want to explore the marketing thing again. I'm sure there are oppertunities out there that would fill the requirements that you want.

However... You love cooking. If you wnat to do something you know you are going to love. Then there it is.

If it were me... I'd be heading in to that restaurant with a huge smile on my face.

[Tobias]

well, i know that you wanted to visit Chef at some point in time today, since today is culinary club back at the good ol Staples High school.

I was giving it thought today when you walked into the room and told me about this job offer: When i was in highschool, i followed the cooking route even more seriously as you did, and don't get me wrong, i enjoyed it, but the thing is that, well, i lost interest in it. I saw the other people who wanted to persue a career in cooking on a much different track: They were much more into it that i was, and well, while i was good, they were much more creative and productive: All i was good at was getting a recipe and following it to a very highly-qualified degree. So i caught myself before i made the commitment, took a different route at a liberal arts college, and persued that rather than going to culinary school.

Now, the reason why i bring this up is because you remind me of all of the people that had that drive to really do this stuff, like the co-president when i was president: He had a job as a sous-chef when he was 17 years old, along with working at a pizza place in town: He thorughly enjoyed the art, and wouldn't stop at anything to persue his dream.

I don't know, i see you with the same passion: You have the creativity, the skill, but most importantly, the love for the art. Like i said, you'll be talking to chef later (for those of you who don't know, "chef" is our culinary teacher from high school), and i know she can point you in the right direction. I mean, I feel you were her first favorite student when you started the culinary program...more just grew out of it.

Anywho, you've got my lowly opinion...i hope it helps.

~That is all

[Yunni]

I love art, drawing. You all know this - however, did you know that Kim very nearly ended up going into the military?? Why? Because it was first thought that a hobby should stay a hobby. I began doing collage courses that were aimed towards the military job, after all that sort of career is more 'practical' and 'safe' - in terms of having something long term.

BUT.

I was not happy.

I took a chance and decided to go with my heart - ditched what I was doing and went on more art-related courses, and luckily got into University on the 'BA Computer Games Design' degree I am on now.

I am still yet to really enter the working world, so technically I have yet to find out if I can 'make it big' but I know for certain it was the RIGHT thing to do. I would have been misrable if I stayed with what I was going to do.

Ming, go with what you love. As one of my teachers have said, you will never work a day in your life if you are in a job you love.

[Shandriz]

I agree with the majority on this-- go with what you love. I know UP is going to be a teacher, and she's not going to make much either, but...I really believe you guys can make it work. ^_^ I know you can. You're both smart and wonderful people. And cooking -can- get you places.

And if you're doing what you love, you'll do a better job and it, and probably get more recognition. And isn't that the most important thing? Having fun?

Edit: Misread some things. xD

[Silver Adept]

Go for it, Ming. Do the job you enjoy, and you'll find a way to make the money work out for you. Better to be doing what you love than getting a paycheck for things you hate to do.

[Kudasai Hiroki]

You are more fortunate than you think. You already have a degree in business and marketing. You have a love and a talent for cooking. You practically have your foot in the door at a prestegious restaurant where you will gain the experience and credentials you will need to further yourself in that field. You, my friend, are primed to open your own restaurant. With a few years experience as a chef and your degree in business you are in better shape than most to start your own business and possibly a successful one at that.

The problem with most restaurants is most of them fail, not because of poor food quality, but lack of business experience.

You should be happy with the position you're in and embrace the wonderful opportunity chance has afforded you.

But that's just me.

[Reverend]

Bud, I've got to say that if you don't take this job I will personally come back and thwack you for passing it up!

Just because you got a degree in one thing doesn't mean that you can't pick up job experience doing other things, and besides, marketing and cooking aren't so far apart. Remember, someone needs to market the restaurant and the dishes to the customers.

Take the job man. If anything, it will be a great litmus test to how happy it makes you.

[Ming]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I really appreciate it, and if you have anything else to say, I would love to hear it.

The thing is, though, I think most of you are misreading what I said. I haven't actually been offered this job. I just applied, pretty blindly might I add, and they called me back the next day, much to my surprise. I was expecting a call back with some guy on the other end laughing at me. But that never came. I'm going to that appointment next Wednesday...but I have no idea what to expect. I don't know if I'll be greeted by a horde of laughing chefs, be offered the job, be offered a lesser one, or be offered a job as waitstaff. I have no idea. I guess only time will tell, and I supose that that is one of the reasons I'm so confused right now.

[Blackmage]

Go with what you love, why be miserable and make a lot of money. I know a lot of people in my company that make well over and even double of $50k a year that don't like their job that wish they didn't get stuck financially to where they have to stay. So get out while you can.