I have been looking for a part time job and was told by a friend that one of the grocery stores is looking for a cake decorator. Anyone here have any insight on working for this type of bakery? (yes... the only baking I've ever done has been in my own kitchen) Thanks,
Amy
Be careful - they are all about quantity - 99% quantity and 1% quality.
I had the bright idea of wanting to work part time in a bakery (I already have a full time job as an Accountant) so I decided to go to the local grocery store (which was Albertsons) - I figured any experience was good. I talked to the manager, showed her some pictures (which she loved) and explained to her that I was an amateur decorator and had NEVER worked in a mass production environment. She said no problem and gave me the job. Great!!! I showed up on my first day (a 6 hour shift mind you) and she said to me (no joke), "I need you to decorate 10-15 of the big cookies, 10 sheet cakes and if you have time left as many cupcakes as you can." WTF?!?!?!?!
Needless to say, I didn't last long (not just because of that) but I also worked six weeks before I got my first paycheck!!!!
i worked for albertsons for a few years....wouldn't take nuttin for what i learned there.
they'll let you get creative after a while.
and learning speed is a good thing, after working at a few bakeries....i can do nice cakes really fast, more cakes more $$$$$$$
Hey, HAPPY BIRTHDAY Littlecake....saw it was your bday today.Have a good one. 
Grocery stores are all about mass production and speed. Now, the one I worked at did allow for some creativity, but that was very hard earned. At the least, you will pcik up some speed skills.
Happy Birthday Littlecake! 
I work for a grocery store . Yes, you have to be fast and it's not as creative as own bussiness. But I have to say that I am able to do some creative cakes for special orders, I do a lot of wedding cakes. It's not bad idea to start there.
I worked at a grocery store for 18 plus years, 17 of which was as a baker. The good thing is that it will definitely teach you more speed. The only down side is that the longer you work for them, it seems more likely you are apt to think, walk and talk with blinders on when it comes to baking, because they are a chain and they naturally want it their way. Once in a great while you will be able to do some of your own creative things but I wouldnt hold my breath for it.
For the last several years I have worked in a bakery in a casino and my eyes have really been opened to the endless possibilities when it comes to cake decorating, baking and pastry. I took some out of every pay check and bought myself many books and I feel like a kid in a candy store when it comes to all the different areas to test out and learn.
Good luck
I agree with stefy, I worked for a different grocery chain and while it was great to hone basic skills, and get some practice working with with customers, it was very stressful! Quantity is everything, because thats how they make money, so you have to crank out desserts at warp speed. While you're making all these cakes, you're still responsible for provideing customer service to shoppers and answering phones. On weekends, this can become very overwhelming! (also, I was hired as part time and never worked under 40 hours a week, which was not cool. Yes, I made some more money, but I didn't get any of the benifits of a full time worker, though I worked just as hard and as much as they did)
Did the grocery store gig for 2 different chains in the past. Have the carpel tunnel as a merit badge...LOL! I did learn many time saving tricks, and can ice a cake with BC smooth as silk in no time flat. I made really good money but ended up having to quit due to the carpel tunnel and the fact that my creative side was screaming to stretch it's legs so to speak 
But what I learned while there is invaluable! Wouldn't change that experience for the world, it made me a much better decorator, I just don't decorate at a breakneck pace any longer.
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