Looking to find cooking/pastry chef jobsWhat type of job are you looking for? Cooking and or pastry chef/bakery chef position where my creative side can visually wow the customers and satisfy their pallet with the delicious flavors of my creations. What nationality are you? Canadian with a PRC for USA What languages do you speak (and at what level)? English, excellent written, oral and comprehensive understanding of the English language. Very limited understanding of some French Canadian language but not enough to carry on a conversation. What country or area are you looking to work in and why? Belize and surrounding area because I feel I can contribute something new to the area with my cooking skills and people skills as well. I am more mature than the average person looking to relocate, therefore can offer a little more than someone who is looking to island hop and find themselves. What countries have you worked in? Canada and the USA What countries do you have a visa to work in? Canada and the USA What field do you currently work in? Culinary Arts and Human Resources What fields have you worked in before? Culinary Arts, Human Resources, Banking, Manufacturing and Education What qualifications do you hold? Associates Degree in Applied Sciences. Which do you consider more valuable? Formal education or skills and why? Both have their pluses and minuses although nothing compensates for hands on experience. It's all well and good to say you have a degree, but applying that degree to practical work won't get the job done, unless you are a mathematical genius or scientist. For the work I am looking for and have done, no amount of education will compensate for practical, hands on experience. Describe the benefits of working with others There is not a person alive who cannot benefit from the association of those they work with. Everyone brings something new to the table from which the rest can glean a little something and take away if not a new idea, perhaps a new perspective. No man or woman is an island and no one knows the answers to all problems. By putting two heads together to form one great end is beneficial to everyone participating. Describe the benefits of working alone You have no one to blame but yourself (If you are the type to pin it on someone else) and you have to own what you do. You have to challenge yourself daily to be the best you can and get the job done and get it done well and on time. You have a better understanding of your capabilities when you work alone, but then you also miss the benefit of peer pressure to spur you on and a leader to help smooth out the rough spots when your brain just shuts down. What was your worst working experience? Having an employee threaten my life when he was fired. What is the most important lesson you have learnt throughout your career? You can't solve all the problems of the world but you can not to be the problem. You can only do what you can in one day, for tomorrow brings a new set of plans that you have to adapt to and rise to the ocassion. Rome wasn't built in a day and you shouldn't expect more from yourself than you are capable of giving. What unique skills do you have? Insight- the ability to know when to jump in with both feet and when to stand back and let others do their job. Patience-you can't rush to get the job done. Steadiness and patience win the day. Human Resources training and people skills not learned overnight. Bakery and pastry making for more years than I care to say right now :), and cooking for the throngs who are starving and looking at you like you might be their next meal if you don't serve them immediately. What would you consider as your 'dream job'? Teaching young adults how to survive in today's world. Passing on any knowledge which might make them a better person without making the same mistakes I made along the way. Bringing new ideas and hope for the future to a generation that I feel has gotten left behind. More or less to stop and smell the roses along the road to greatness because it just might be too lonely at the top to enjoy it all. What are the most interesting aspects of your field? The creativity and freedom one has when they are presented with an empty plate and lots of raw materials. The ability to bring people together with one goal in mind. Good times, good food and good company. What are the least interesting aspects of your field? When everybody gets to go home at the end of a great meal and I'm stuck washing the dishes! Not much that isn't interesting in the kitchen, it's all good. Why would you be an asset to this establishment? I am an open minded, cheerful, hard-working woman who nothing more to give than committment, honesty, reliability, earnestness, compassion, a drive to succeed, patience, excellence, and passion to the task at hand and life in general. I love what I do and do what I love. How can potential employers contact you? via email: jlstephan1123@yahoo.com and via telephone if that is your preference. Please don't call me to ask how the weather is, it's Michigan...from the start of the question to the end of my answer the weather will have changed at least twice; call me with sincere questions regarding my aspirations and experience or goals etc. Thank you | 
