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We’re going to look at how being an Empowered Worker impacts the life of a young baker, but before we do, take a moment to consider this question:
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO BE AN EMPOWERED WORKER?
Isabelle is an experienced baker at the family-owned-and-run Jackson’s Supermarket.
Good morning, Mr. Jackson! Everything is on schedule in the bakery. Cold enough for you today?
Hi, Mr. Jackson! We’re baking the sourdough buns for this week’s special. Want one hot out of the oven?
Glad you’ve got things covered. And it’s frigid. Bakery’s a good place to warm up!
Oh good, you’re getting ahead. They smell delicious! I’ll have one.
Isabelle loves baking. After getting a start with a summer job at a tiny local bakery, she took some basic food safety classes, and joined Jackson’s as an apprentice baker.
We’ll need more muffins. There's always more demand in the winter.
This weekend we’ve got a special on raisin bread. I need to get a jump on that.
Yes, tomorrow’s Saturday, and everyone will be looking for their muffins.
Yeah, I should do that first. We’re low on loaves in the bins.
She liked her work, but was starting to feel a little stuck and wasn’t sure about her future at Jackson’s...
She was routinely passed over for promotions, which usually went to Jackson family members...
Isabelle! Meet our new head-baker trainee: My niece, Alyssa Jackson. We think she’s got talent, and are hoping you can teach her what she needs to know!
Even if they had minimal experience…
Nice to meet you Alyssa. How much baking have you done?
Welcome, Alyssa.
Mr. Jackson, um, I'll do my best to teach our new head baker.
Um, aside from lots of home baking, I did a summer job helping the bakers at the North Lakeland Jackson’s.
Haha, yes. Well Isabelle, we know you’ll be a good team player here.
Isabelle saw enough of this to understand that because of the tendency to fill management positions with family members, her options for advancement at Jackson’s might be limited.
This upset her and left her feeling pretty frustrated.
Mr. Jackson does appreciate me some, and I did get a cost of living raise. Maybe I should stay…
Enough! How can I find out what else might be out there for me?
But where will I be in 2 years? Same place? I need to look out for myself.
Yes. There are other opportunities out there. I just don’t know where they are … yet!
Isabelle reaches out to a friend she could talk to about the situation.
Isabelle, you’re a good baker. It’s the store, not you.
Thanks, all my reviews at the Supermarket HAVE been good.
It’s like a bad breakup! What do I do next?
Right! Because you’re good! Think about who you might ask to give you a reference letter.
Haha, exactly, and you’ll feel much better when it’s done! One thing you can do is start exploring what other jobs might be out there.
Using the live chat on the website for Highland Culinary School, she asked how they might help her.
Nice to meet you Isabelle. I understand you’re looking to take the next step in your baking career.
Yes, thanks! So I’m trying to figure out what my options are.
Are there job boards where positions for bakers might be listed?
Do you know of places that might be hiring?
We have seen more restaurants and bakeries looking for pastry chefs than any other culinary specialty - that seems to be a hot area.
Huh. I don’t have a lot of experience with pastries, unfortunately.
Wow. Do you have any courses on pastries next semester?
Don’t sell yourself short! We have some courses that can help you build your pastry skills.
Yes we do. There’s a basics course and a more advanced course too.
Isabelle registered for the course, while also applying for jobs in the area.
OK, I’ll send this last application out and then get some sleep. Tomorrow I’ve got class after work.
Just as Isabelle completed her first course, she was asked to interview at a LOCAL downtown restaurant.
Tell me more about your experience, Isabelle.
Well, I feel confident in my bread baking from my experience at Jackson’s.
I’m looking forward to doing more with pastries. I just completed a pastry certificate at Highland.
That’s great. And it looks like you also just completed the pastries course at Highland - we’re going to be doing more pastries...
That’s great. We’re introducing new pastries soon. And I know you’re solid on bread from your experience.
A week later, she was offered the job at the restaurant, as their new pastry chef.
And she took it.
Welcome Isabella. We’ve been looking forward to your joining us..
I’ve been looking forward to working with you. Thanks!
Before we go on…
How important do you think Empowered Worker skills are to being successful in life and work?
Thanks!
Empowered Worker skills enabled Isabelle to take control of her career path and upskill to meet her goals.
The value of skills like these has inspired each of the five Features in the Profile of the Lifelong Learner.
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