How to become a Baker

A tradesperson who usually bakes and sometimes sells bread or other confectionary items using any concentrated heat source is termed a baker. They use their understanding of ingredients to craft new recipes and bake delicious products. They measure and combine raw ingredients to bake and decorate items. They also ensure that the products used as ingredients as well as the finished items adhere to quality and food safety standards. They are expected to bring out their creative skills and create products that are as aesthetically pleasing as they are to taste. Professionals working as a part of the industry as a baker are highly skilled and innovative

. They are in charge of developing recipes in an exact manner to achieve a consistent product. They often work in a commercial kitchen that is equipped with large equipment such as industrial mixers and ovens. They will also need to greet customers, answer their questions, clean the workstations along with other pieces of equipment, as well as ensure that customer`s needs are satisfied. They must also ensure that the bakery is well-stocked and operating smoothly.

heir primary aim is to bake cakes, make breads, or make cookies, pastries, pies, and other ked eateries by using various kinds of ingredients. These professionals are quite good in their spatial sense that helps them to understand and visualize new recipes with different ingredients. They also have a strong reasoning and evaluating sense to understand what type of ingredients would be used in a particular recipe, in how much quantity would they be used, etc.

The essential responsibilities of a baker will typically be as following:

• Conduct a thorough quality check of ingredients and ensure they match the standards and specifications. 
• Arrange and prepare the instruments or equipment for work.
• Keep a check on the measurements and weights of the ingredients used.
• Combining the raw ingredients keeping in mind the measurements.
• Observe the product and adjust the oven temperature, humidity or speed of the conveyor accordingly. 
• Set time and speed controls so that ingredients will be mixed or cooked according to instructions.
• Order and receive raw supplies or machinery along with directing and coordinate bakery deliveries.
• Work with the dough like roll, knead, cut or shape it to form rolls, pie crusts, tarts, cookies etc. 

There are a few core abilities and skills that are requisitely required to become a baker. Time management is one of the essential factors as work requires a lot of precision and time management. Their speaking skills must be functioning well as they need to have conversations as well as provide a lot of instructions while baking. Quick decision making must also come in handy to them for emergencies or critical situations. They must have a great sense of coordination while working with their peer group.

Active listening and learning skills are also expected from them, this helps them in paying full attention to what others are saying as well as understanding the connections of new information on current and fire problem-solving strategies. Their monitoring skills help them assess their performance, their coworker's performance as well as the organization's performance to make changes for their betterment. Their creativity level must be very sharp as it will be needed in order to craft new items on their menu. They need a great level of attention to detail as these details are what makes the item glamourous. The job requires a lot of stamina as well to help them work for long hours while standing. There are a lot of primary and secondary abilities that are required for any individual to become professional in their baking skills. A few of them have mentioned above, and some of them are discussed ahead.

Professional bakers are very strong in their active listening and equally in their active learning capacities. It is important that they pay attention, and listen actively while learning any new recipes. Along with it, they are also supposed to have strong observational skills to understand the changing flavors, odor, color or any other sense during or after baking the food item. Alongside, they also need to have active learning skills to keep their mind open- ended in terms of learning new skills and aspects in this capacity. These professionals also need to have strong critical skills that help them in evaluating, analyzing, referring to the changes in their baked products, and make amends if required in their recipes.

Nonetheless, this is one profession that involves strong fine motor skills of an individual. Since the professionals use strong work of their small muscle movements and hands, it is important that their fine motor skills are good having good grip as well. This profession requires high amount of patience, which is why being a baker is considered a very skillful profession.

A "Baker" salary can vary based on factors such as experience, location, the type of bakery, and the baker's level of expertise.

• Minimum Monthly Salary: The monthly salary can be from INR 10,000 to INR 20,000
• Maximum Monthly Salary: The monthly salary can be  from INR 40,000 to INR 1,00,000 or more
• Annual Salary: The annualsalary can be from INR 1,20,000 to INR 12,00,000 or more
• Highest Paying Job and Scope: The highest paying job for a baker is often owning and operating a successful bakery business. The scope for bakers can be diverse, with opportunities in various settings, including local bakeries, commercial bakeries, hotels, restaurants, cafes, and catering businesses. 

Admission to the 3 year hotel management degree program in any recognised Institute of Hotel Management (IHM) in the country is through a Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) conducted by National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology (NCHMCT). 10+2 or equivalent in any stream in the minimum qualification required to appear in this exam.

• Hotels
• Restaurants
• Caterers
• Supermarkets and bakeries
• Grocery stores
• Baking
• Manufacturing companies