I came across an ad for a 'part-time asst. cake decorator'. Currently, I bake from home and only do a few cakes here and there.
I was wondering if it would be 'worthwhile' to take a job like this, as far as gaining experience.
Also, I would want to continue with my business ventures....would this create conflict?

Do any of you currently work in a bakery that is not your own?

Thanks

You'll never regret the experience that you'll gain from working in a bakery. If you are required to sign a non-compete agreement, I'd sign it and abide by it during the time you are employed. The agreement might not interfere with the few cakes that you do here and there, and if it doesyou might get approval from the owner to continue at a level that is agreeable to not cause a conflict of interest with them.

the bakery may consider it a conflict of business if it's a small business. The grocery stores normally don't mind. First make certain you are ok with working for someone else, particularily the way they run their business. Can you work in a fast paced invironment, are you willing to take shortcuts to complete a cake if necessary, are you creative, are you willing to work with constant interuptions if required to meet with customers, answer the phones and still decorate? What if they only need you to torte and fill cakes, are you ok with that? It's worth applying, make a list of questions to ask during the interview process then determine if you want to work for someone else or if you want to continue your path of working for yourself.

Thanks for your responses.

I do believe it is a small bakery, and it's about 20 minutes away from me.

CakeryBakery: Those are the things I was worried about, since I normally work at my own pace when making cakes.

What questions would you ask?

I haven't worked since I was pregnant with my youngest child, 2 years ago. Honestly, I'm over the SAHM thing.

first, be sure to ask how many and what hours they want you to work, (since you have a little one, the hours might be loo long on a daily basis).
second, ask if they consider it to be a conflict if you continue to decorate from your home.
then....
Will you be required to meet with customers, and/or answer phones while decorating?
Will you be required to bake or strictly decorate?
Do you have an set number of cakes that must be decorated daily?
Will you be decorating custom cakes, wedding cakes, or basic stock bakery tortes/cakes?

working in a bakery can be a great experience. when applying it would be wise to bring photos of what you can do. this can really help show them your skill level.

if you still want to make cakes from your home, make sure your work schedule won't infere with your personal cake orders. its ok to have a business on the side. your boss does not necessarily need to know about it though

good luck

No compete agreements are illegal almost everywhere. The only time they are legal is in a R & D company where there are trade secrets, or when a considerable amount of money is given for consideration. For example, my husband employees physicians and has no compete agreements, but multi thousands of dollars are given to the doctor in exchange. It also must be written by an attorney because they are so sensitive. I know... I won a huge settlement for an illegal no compete agreement. I upheld my end and suffered for it until an attorney heard about it and contacted me. An illegal no compete violates a law that keeps former employers from "interfering with your right to work".

Check with an attorney who specializes in employee rights. You can even sign one if you want the job knowing it is worthless. Then do what you want. It is not your job to educate your employer about the law.

Non-compete/non-disclosure agreements can be enforceable for a reasonable amount of time (normally no more than 18 monthscheck with your state), and they can prevent you from competing within the same industry so long as it doesn't prevent you from earning a living within other work industries. R&D companies aren't the only ones who have trade secrets to protectthat's why the non-disclosure document is required.

Those are the laws in my state. An employee rights attorney can determine the law. But lower level jobs (such as bakery help) usually can't have them. It limits the person too much. Mine was a full comission high paying job that had a huge negative impact on my former employer (my accounts went with me) and it still did not hold up.

And there is the issue that an enforceable non compete must have consideration... a specific amount paid to the employee as compensation for the agreement to work outside a specific area. If an employer wants to hire an attorney to draw up a contract and then give the $10.00 hourly employee $10,000.00 to stay out of a specific area for a year, then yes. But what employer is going to do that. This is free enterprise and you can't limit your competition with a piece of paper. There are laws against that.

Does HI even allow selling baked goods made from a home kitchen?

scp1127: Of course, if your accounts went with you (legally), a non-compete agreement was never necessary to begin with.

I believe you are looking at this incorrectly. The agreement doesn't prevent an employee from getting another job within any industry, it just limits employees from opening a similar business that is direct competition to you.

I have shared my legal agreement with others on this site as a starting point for them to present to their attorney for approval in their state. Mine has NO compensation paid to an employee, nor does it specify a mileage radius. (as you stated "to work" outside a specific area... it only applies to a former employee who wishes to open and operate as direct competition.)

So, I am an employer who is going to do that... no "pay offs" to employees, and very little in attorney fees. I'm not limiting any competition with paper, only limiting employees from becoming future competition for a temporary period of time.

In states without blanket laws banning noncompetes (e.g. in CA virtually all noncompetes are automatically void) the issue is usually whether or not the noncompete unfairly limits the former employee from finding a viable job. This is somewhat subjective, but an employer providing compensation for the noncompete clause can tilt the agreement to the "fair" side, while an employee who has been unable to find work for a significant amount of time due to the noncompete would have an easier time getting it thrown out.

Since I am the recipient of a rather large settlement that took over two years to settle, I think it is important for people to have the opportunity to find out if a no compete is viable in their area. As I stated, in mine, they are not legal (West Virginia) except for the exemptions noted earlier. I was an educated employee at the top of my field in income, and when the corporate attorneys set up a meeting with me to go over my no compete agreement, I signed it. Years later, they came in one day, took away our commission, offered us $25,000 in salary, said sorry, you built the company, but now that the customers know the benefits, we don't need you anymore. We were left not having a way to pay our bills in one day. I took a job out of town , moved my kids, and was miserable. An attorney got in touch with me, told me to come back to town and start working for the competition. My old company threatened an injunction against the new company and it got ugly. To the point, it was later confirmed that this company, which owns companies in 25 states, has all sales reps sign them, knowing they are no good and it works for them. Later, my old boss said they may have had to pay me, but I was the only one. So paying off one employee allowed them to jeopardze hundreds of family incomes over the years. It was a good business move for them.

My point... check the law before you sign. Many employers of small companies may not know they are illegal.

So, cupcakesnbuttercream did you decide to apply? If yes were you granted an interview? How did it go?