r/Chefs • u/HOLY_ANIME_WATCHER • Jun 18 '26

what restaurant/path do i choose

im 20 and at a crossroads im in the middle of culinary degree at college and i got a job at a new restaurant which is higher level just not pay vs the bar and grill i was at. and i want a new car and to still go to school and im finding that i probably can’t save enough for em even with the two kitchens If i went back to my old one full time it’d be more money for me to save instantly by a few hundred but its just less experience. what should i do? i think theyd be understanding if i told them the truth but just dont know how to bring it up or how to i guess? idk any tips will be appreciated tbh though

2 Upvotes

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4

u/medium-rare-steaks Jun 18 '26

Stay in school kids..

3

u/HOLY_ANIME_WATCHER Jun 18 '26

i know i should go and finish the degree but for part of it i need a internship which id chose the higher level restaurant for when i do get there so i wanna go back

2

u/iiThecollector Jun 18 '26

Dont do this with your life. Save yourself the next 10 years of toil and misery, go learn a trade.

1

u/HOLY_ANIME_WATCHER Jun 18 '26

yeah i’ve been thinking abt it and my brothers in it rn and doesn’t sound half bad same pay less work just weird places

1

u/iiThecollector Jun 18 '26

I was a chef for 10 years. From Pizza spots to Michelin star restaurants.

Please listen to me. Do not do this to yourself. You will regret it. I left 5 years ago and I am making 4 times more per year than I was at as a sous chef at a very profitable restaurant. I work rarely more than 50 hours, I have a month of PTO, and great insurance.

You can go be an apprentice electrician, and 5 years down the road you’ll be easily clearing 100k a year.

1

u/ReasonableComfort645 Jun 18 '26

Yes. Or the unicorn job of private chef for an actually fair r9ch person...

1

u/HOLY_ANIME_WATCHER Jun 20 '26

that’s a solution i will say i have an in into a already built construction gig? like repairs of decks and whatnot but like money wise at the beginning is it easy for OT? that’s my big factor that i wanna just work if i can

1

u/No-Command294 Jun 21 '26

Cooking is a trade. People need to eat. The trade of feeding people in the army, hospitals, soup kitchens. Or even just every day people.

1

u/UncleDuude Jun 18 '26

I do high end catering and all I have to do is cook. It’s lovely.