Chef Or Hairdresser?

[Baby-Kitten]

Ok, I know this is a perfectic thing to do, but i really need some more advice on this subject. I am 15 and have just finished school. I wanted to be a chef and set my heart on it because i really enjoying cooking no matter what it is that i am cooking but i've had people in my family and friends trying to put me off being a chef because they say its not a good job. But i've always thought of it as, your going to be doing this job for a long time, dont you want it to be something you like??.. but i thought its best to take the advise of my family cause if i fail in becoming a chef or i dislike it once i get into it,i kind of feel i cant say i dont like it cause i will get '' i told you so.. '' To be honest i wish i just had there support in what ever i wanted to do but that does not seem to be the case. So, instead i've thought about loads of other things i could do and i came up with hairdressing and its the only other thing i have any interest in. So now i'm left with people telling me not to be a chef, in which i really want to be, or being a hairdresser and having everyones support and being able to say i dont like it when i get into it. Please, if anyone has any advice on this subject i would love to hear from you..

Thanks x

[pigface]

I think that you should what you want to do. For sure, being a chef is hard work and you often are required to work unsociable hours, however, from personal experience I can tell you it is far harder to work in a job that you don't really want to be in (even if the hours/pay/conditions seem better) as every day will drag on.

Being a chef is the sort of skill that will always be in demand and you could your career in many different directions. Indeed, if you decided you didn't like it, even after a number of years, you could always change.

I wish that I had an idea of what I wanted to do with my life at age 15 - not many people do. I think that you should go with your instincts.

[spudqueen]

Go with what you want to do, you are more likely to be happy in life if you are in a job you enjoy and have a knack for. If you didn't try it you'd always be wondering what life could have been like, and as pigface says, even if you didn't like it after a while you could always do something else then.

[Baby-Kitten]

Sorry, Yes it would have been better to post it in the '' Jobs & Careers ''  Section, but i did not see it. Thanks for all your advise, its really helpful, thank you :)

xx

[acw]

One of the bravest things a person can ever do is admit they were wrong/made a mistake.  You certainly seem like the sort who is brave enough to make a change.  Therefore go with your instincts and look at catering colleges and go and get trained and have an amazing time!  If you don't like it, change to something else!  There are so many threads on AB about people "re-skilling" and changing career - it IS possible.  Therefore go with your heart and aim to achieve your dream.

 

PS - If you need to earn money in the mean time, perhaps you could get a job as a KP (kitchen porter).  This will give you time in catering environments and help you to learn about cooking in the commercial world.  You might even be able to get some tips from the chefs you work with! :-)

[milly143]

It's your life, do whatever you want to do with it. If you have your heart set on being a chef then dont let other people persuade you to do something else.

My Dad had an excellent career as a chef and whilst money for trainees is not great (as with most jobs), you will being doing something you love which is more then can be said for most people. Remember that making a lot of money is not the be all and end all, it's much better to be happy in your career then just doing something you hate for a bit of extra cash. Hairdressing isn't bad either (i trained as one and really enjoyed it) but if your heart is set on cooking then go for it.

I think it is great that you are thinking about your future in this way and wish you the best of luck, whichever career path you chose!

[Lillabet]

When it comes down to it you will be the person training, studying, and spending many hours a week working, in whatever career you choose. Not your family.

For some all that matters if which career will pay most. Others are looking for something a little different. You seem to want a career you will enjoy - so decide what you want to do and do it.

If that is being a chef and it doesn't work out the very worst will be that you have to retrain to do something else. If you pick a career cos others want you to and it doesn't work out you could well end up resenting them for the pressure that they put on you in the first place.

I would hope that once you've made your decision your family and friends would support you in that choice. Best of luck with your decision and career.

[hana89]

I think you should do the job you want to do, if your willing to put in the work and hours that this job requires you to then go for it. if your family dont support you now then they soon will when they see you are doing something you enjoy. i think you are only thinking of being a hairdresser because of what your family think! do what you want as long as you are happy!!

[MORELLO]

Do what you want to do. Becoming a top chef is undoubtedly hard work, and you will start at the bottom. Ultimately though I think it could be very rewarding in a number of ways. Don't worry about what other people think, follow your own path.

[mongos bird]

Hi B-K,

I've got a sister who's on her third career path and she's only just turned 40!   She did 9 years as a qualified nurse,  packed it in and went to uni to train as a teacher.  Did her degree, taught for a few years, now she's just finishing a two year course at horticultural college.   She's had to work to support herself throughout her studies but she now has a choice of teaching, nursing or horticulture!  

I think what i'm trying to say is your initial choice doesn't have to be for life.  Go for what you want to do - so what if you don't like it or fancy a change.  We all have choices.  Good luck!!!

[Baby-Kitten]

Thanks everyone for the advice i really do appreciate all of it, it helps :) 

Thanks again xx

[kdrlly]

You should do what you want and ignore everyone else, but also think about the future.  My wife is a hairdresser and we have our own shop and the money is fantastic but it is hard work when your an apprentice and making cups of tea and sweeping up for the first 12 months!  If your ambition is to eventually work for yourself then go with the hairdressign and qualify as soon as possible, even if you have to do intense short courses to qualify!  Hope this helps.

[Otrere]

If you want to be a chef, you go for it. You'll only spend the rest of your life regretting it if you don't. And if you find that you really don't enjoy it, what's to stop you going on and doing something else? You don't HAVE to stick with the same career for the whole of your life - keep going doing what you want to do and what feels right for you until you find something you are truly happy with. But it sounds to me like being a chef is something that you'd be truly good at and something you are passionate about.

It's you that is going to be living with yourself and your chosen career for the rest of your life, not your family/friends.

Go with your OWN desires and ambitions (not everyone else's) and all the very best of luck to you.

[cre]

If you love cooking - go for it - my Dad always says "Do what you love and the money will follow". Try it - what do you have to lose? People change careers many times in their life these days, if you try it and don't like it, go for hairdressing next, at least you'll be able host some fab dinner parties!!!

Both careers allow you to travel too, something I highly recommend.

Hope you make the right decision and if you don't - it's no the end of the world.

[Silversky]

Hi,

I'm 15 too, although i'm not about to leave school. But I'm in the same dilemma as you. As I've always wanted to be a chef or a pathologist, my parents have always been convinced that there is no way I can be a chef, with bad social hours etc. But I know thats what I want to do. I feel so stuck because I don't want to upset my family, they'd be so happy with me being a pathologist. But I want to follow my heart and be a chef.

But if it's what you want to do, then it should be your choice, not anyone elses. I believe in that myself, but I'm not sure I have the confidence to go against what my parents want.

You never know, one day we might work together!

Kat

XXX