Second Career Strategy (SCS) - FAQ

Personal Information

Be prepared to tell them your goals. Your counsellor will want to know about:

• Your work history. Are you likely to find work in your previous career field? You may need to explain why this is a necessary and important career move. Some reasons might be that three are no career opportunities in that field, or that you are unable to adapt to changes in the field. Have ready your complete work history and let your counsellor guide you regarding what to include if your history is long. Among other things they will want to know why you are currently unemployed so try to ensure you have your ROE (record of employment) or an explanation for why you are out of work.
• Your education and training. Are you used to or adaptable to a fast-paced environment? Have a list of schools you attended and the dates
• Your skills. Do you cook at home? Have you ever worked in the hospitality industry, perhaps as a waitress or short-order cook? Have you any related skills that might be useful such as the ability to work with computers?
• Your interests. There are many answers to this question. Our graduates include chefs with a passion for fine food; entrepreneurs working as personal chefs, cooks determined to ensure our elderly have the best diet available.
• Previous work or government programs for which you may have applied
• Any disabilities or issues you face that may limit the type of job you can undertake.
• Your financial needs: The SCS application form asks you to list all your sources of income including help you may be receiving from others. It is followed by a budget that reveals your basic costs. Don't be concerned: they need to know if their help will allow you to complete the program.

You may be asked to create a Work Action Plan with questions such as these:

• What are your job skills and experience?
  Write a brief paragraph about what you have done in the past.
• What do you think is holding you back from getting work?
  Sample answer: The hospitality industry is growing, but increasingly, kitchens demand new cooks and chefs have formal training and food and saftey handling certificates. I worked as a waiter and enjoyed the fast pace of a restaurant and I love to cook at home, but I don't have formal training that will make me more in-demand.
• Do you have any health or lifestyle needs?
  Explain about any limits you may have, especially if they prevent you from pursuing your previous career. Remember that the hospitality industry is very flexible with over 160 different job categories. If you need flexible hours or a job that accomodates a disability, look over all the categories. We have graduates with disabilities, young children, and other lifestyle concerns who are working in a hospitality field that accomodates their needs.
• What is your occupational goal?
  What possible careers have you considered and why have you rejected them? Why are you looking at this career?

You may be asked to provide a resume and be assessed on your career development skills. If it isn't up-to-date, your counsellor may require you to get assistance completing it or ask for assurances that your resume will be ready at the end of the program. . Liaison College diploma courses contain an entire segment called CAPS devoted to career development.

You may need answers to some of these questions.

• What are the skills required by a chef or cook?
  Chefs plan and direct food preparation and cooking activities, consult with clients, supervise kitchen staff, plan menus and ensure food meets quality standards, estimate food requirements, food and labour costs, prepare and cook food on a regular basis, or for special guests or functions.
  Specialty Chefs prepare and cook complete meals or specialty foods, such as pastries, sauces, soups, salads, vegetables and meat, poultry, and fish dishes, and create decorative food displays for special events such as banquets, create new recipes, may supervise cooks and other kitchen staff, plan menus and requisition food and kitchen supplies.
  Cooks prepare and cook complete meals or individual dishes and foods, prepare and cook special meals for patients as instructed by dietitians or chefs, schedule and supervise kitchen helpers, oversee kitchen operations,
  maintain inventory and records of food, supplies and equipment, set up and oversee buffets, kitchens and work areas, plan menus, determine size of food portions, estimate food requirements and costs, and monitor and order supplies.
• What educational training is required?
  Generally, to be a chef you need completion of secondary school PLUS cook's trade certification or equivalent credentials, training and experience such a professional training from a recognized Private Career College. In Canada most kitchens will expect you to have a Food Safety and Handling Certificate. Training for this certificate is built into our diploma programs.
  Look over and print a copy of our Cook Basic Diploma to show your counsellor how our programs prepare you for a second career in the hospitality industry.
• What is the starting or average salary?
• Does the lifestyle suit your needs?
• What are the opportunities for advancement?
  The hospitality industry offers opportunities both within Canada and abroad, in cafeterias at schools and at care facilities, in tourism, fine dining and even in television. There are no limits on what is possible.
• What are the employment opportunities in both the short and long term?
  We have interviewed chefs and there is no question that a diploma from Liaison College makes you marketable.
• Where do you go to find work?
  There are many online career portals, some of them specializing in the hospitality industry. Liaision College maintains a job resource centre with links to major career portals in the industry and other useful weblinks. When you graduate, we provide assistance for job placement but you will also be expected to search the internet, job banks, directories, and newspapers, plus network and seek informational interviews where you speak with chefs and owners about their needs.

You may be asked about previous government programs for which you applied

 

Industry Related Questions

You may be asked to research your preferred industry to determine if there is a market for your new skills. THERE IS!
Your counsellor will want to know if a diploma from Liaison College makes you more marketable. ABSOLUTELY!

Here's some helpful information you should take with you.

1. One of the things you may be asked is the NOC code for our industry. NOC codes describe different job categories. There are over 160 NOC codes specific to the hospitality industry. The core NOCs are
   
   6212 Food Service Supervisors        6241 Chefs        6242 Cooks
   6641 Food Counter Attendants, Kitchen Helpers and Related Occupations
2. Some sample career opportunities are:
   
   assistant cook     banquet cook     dietary cook     chef de cuisine     chef de partie
   chef patissier    food preparer     food service helper
3. You may be asked if this is a growing employment field where you are likely to find work.
   The hospitality industry is one of the fastest growing economic sectors in Canada and around the world. It is resilent to recession. In fact, in a recession restaurants often do a booming trade since people still have to eat and restaurant meals provide relatively cheap entertainment.
4. Give them a copy of our top reasons to study at Liaison College. Let them know that the hospitality industry is one of the hottest, fastest growing sectors of the Canadian economy with opportunities in every city and across the country.
5. Check out the Future Jobs profile on being a Chef.

Resources:

• Employment Ontario' s toll-free hotline is 1-800-387-5656
• Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Education
• Employment Ontario
• Ontario Colleges