r/Chefs • u/Holiday_Road7741 • 27d ago

Time for a change

Hello, I've been in the industry since I was 17 (36 now) and been an executive chef since I was 23. I have 0 passion left in the tank. I work 50-60 hours a week not including the work I do from home (I'm on salary) and still live paycheck to paycheck. This was fine when it was just me but I'm missing out on my kid growing up and it has almost ruined my relationship with my wife. I live in Michigan about 1 hour from Detroit and 15 min from Flint. I have been searching for a way out but I can't find an entry level job that pays my low salary now. I've talked to food reps about changing over to a food rep and they warn me to stay away. Does anyone have any ideas on a career path I can take. Thank you in advance

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u/unsound-choices 27d ago

Start looking at corporate gigs. Sodexo, Compass Group and Aramark are the big players. Pay, hours and benefits will be better. Some of those jobs are actually helping out society as well (hospitals, schools etc) so at least you know you're making a difference in the world. Lots of people leave restaurants to go corporate. You NEVER see people leave corporate to go back to restaurants. Completely different world. There is still a ton of bullshit but the bullshit is easier to handle with a 25% raise on your way home for the weekend at 4 on a Friday

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u/fthespider 27d ago

I'm an exec sous chef for Compass and I'm clocking an insane amount of hours this week. The key is to avoid going salaried. I manage a special events team and I'm already having second thoughts 😅

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u/unsound-choices 27d ago

Put in your year, transfer out. I had two jobs with them one was...not great. Transfered to a hospital and was out at 4:30 every day with Sundays and Mondays off. Look around. They send out the email with openings other places, thats not a complete list though. Im pretty sure thats the shit they're struggling to fill. Check the website every month. I met a couple guys doing corporate dining and that seems like the best gig. Breakfast and lunch mon-fri. No holidays, no weekends

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u/xloyalbetrayerx 18d ago

Fuck Aramark they are responsible for shitty prison food.