OUTSIDE OF THE OFFICE
We always welcome the opportunity to get out from behind the computer, and this past week we had a few occassions to do so...
COLUMBIA BUSINESS SCHOOL PANEL DISCUSSION
FROM FINANCE TO FOOD: HOW TO LEVERAGE YOUR BUSINESS BACKGROUND TO GET A GOOD FOOD JOB
Taylor moderated this targeted event, co-hosted by the Columbia Business School Gourmet Club and the
Columbia Entrepreneurs Organization (CEO).
If you have an avid interest in the subject and an hour or so to spare, check out the full video
here.
Otherwise, here are some highlights from our three panelists:
"One mistake people are making these days is that they assume that technology on its own can solve any problem; but there's more opportunity in applying technology to solve old school business problems. Think creatively about how you can fill a need."
- Michael Horn, Founder of
WhatIsFresh.com and
CraftCoffee.com
*see more on Michael below, as he's our gastro.gnome
of the week
"In order to succeed, the best advice I can give you is to 1) Leverage your Skills, 2) Pursue your Passion, and 3) Believe in Yourself. And when you apply for a job, don't forget the most obvious thing: Tell them that you want it! You'd be surprised how many people forget to do that."
-
Terry Frishman, Marketing & Food Business Consultant
"Do what you love; it will give you the motivation you need to stick with it through the hard times. If I had sold Ciao Bella 3 years into it, it would have been a complete failure, but I kept on for 5 and the sold it as a success. If you are doing something you believe in, the money will follow."
-
Jon Snyder, Founder of
il laboratorio del gelato & Ciao Bella
INSTITUTE OF CULINARY EDUCATION PANEL DISCUSSION
CAREERS WITH A CONSCIENCE: FOOD WORK IN NON-PROFITS & BEYOND
We weren't officially on the panel, but we had the chance to meet a captive audience of people looking for meaningful food work.
After hearing the experiences of the 3 panelists (
Cathy Berg, National Manager of Education Outreach for
Share Our Strength's Cooking Matters Program;
Laura Stanley, Learning Lab Manager for
School Food FOCUS; and
Jon Zeltsman, Co-Director of
Community Markets) we spoke to the student audience, and we heard a lot of familiar questions. This spawned our newest addition to the newsletter: "Ask the Gastro.gnomes" (see below).
NEW AMSTERDAM MARKET
Rainy, windy, and hovering around 40 degrees, yesterday was not the grandest day to spend outside . . . that is unless you were at
New Amsterdam Market. When we arrived at 11, soaked and sleepy from the weather, we thought surely nobody would show up. But they did! In droves. It just shows that the promise of a strong food community and a good cup of coffee can motivate the masses.
We hope to see everyone at the last market of the season next
Sunday December 19th. Many of the vendors are offering
pre-order options, so be sure to stock up for the holidays and the long cold winter. You can find us in line at
The Bent Spoon. Who cares how cold it is . . . we'd eat their ice cream in Arctic conditions (preferably with mittens). It's just that good.
ASK THE GASTRO.GNOMES
In our recent adventures, we've heard a lot of recurring questions. We hope our answers will fulfill others out there with similar thoughts and/or inquiries. This one came most recently from a student at the Institute of Culinary Education:
I SEE A LOT OF INTERESTING JOBS ON YOUR SITE THAT REQUIRE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE THAT I DON'T HAVE. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
The most important thing that we want you to know is that a job posting is simply a mode of communication (and a somewhat less than ideal one, as it remains relatively static). When employers craft their postings, they often shoot for the stars (i.e. why not ask for the best possible person out there?)
But there are 2 realities you need to consider:
1. That seemingly perfect person - as outlined by their job post - might not be out there (i.e. there might not even be anyone with the requested qualifications, let alone someone that lives in the city/state where the job is available and/or is interested in taking that exact job at that exact time), and
2. Sometimes the least likely candidates on paper have very valuable experience that the employer does not even know would be of use. It's your job as a job seeker to let them know what you have to offer and why it would be beneficial to them.
The moral of the story is don't be deterred by a laundry list of qualifications on a job posting. It's best to determine what you want to do, why you want to do it, and what you have to offer. And if you see something that resonates with you and you know that you have something to offer (even if it is not the stated qualifications) reach out and communicate that you want the job. They will never give you the job if they don't ever know that you are interested.
Do you have a burning question that you want answered? Let us know at taylor@goodfoodjobs.com.
THE GASTRO.GNOMES BLOG
Michael Horn
Founder
WhatIsFresh.com and CraftCoffee.com
What do you call a Wall Street lawyer turned internet food entrepreneur? Mike Horn. It’s an unlikely story, but that’s the way we like them. After spending 3 years up in Ithaca, NY at Cornell Law School, he wound up on Wall Street for another 3 years. Unfulfilled by his day job, he spent his nights learning code to create his first website WhatIsFresh.com, and his most recent: CraftCoffee.com. (Now we know what fueled him through grueling nights of coding.) His sites are innovative internet-based solutions to common food queries, and his story is one we can all learn from . . . read more here.
Follow our weekly blog profiles at goodfoodjobs.com/blog.
GOOD FOOD JOB HIGHLIGHTS
Week of 12.06.10 - 12.13.10
Designed to give you just a taste . . . see the
full website for additional details.
CONTROLLER
Diner/Marlow & Sons
Brooklyn, NY
Accounting is only a drag when you're applying it to a business you don't enjoy. That's clearly not the case in helping two of Brooklyn's finest farm-to-table restaurants reconcile their financial operations.
GREENHOUSE CONSTRUCTION ASSISTANT & TECHNICIAN
NY Sun Works
New York, NY
If your favorite part of seventh grade science class was when you learned about plant biology, then sign up to apply your interest in the most meaningful way. The Direcotr of Ecological design needs an assistant to help construct two hydroponic greenhouse classrooms. The only downside is that if you take the job you're likely to never find a job as cool as that ever again.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
American Community Gardening Association
Columbus, OH
If you find that you yearn to be out of the office solely to be in your garden then you're in luck. Marry your interest with your expertise to run the American Community Gardening Association.
see more good food jobs at goodfoodjobs.com
