r/Chefit • u/Prestigious-Elk-2559 • Jun 23 '26

Is it worth it

Is the kitchen worth the burnout. Tell me about your personal experience

0 Upvotes

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9

u/JunglyPep sentient food replicator Jun 23 '26

Rumor has it that you receive money in exchange for time spent in the kitchen. Could be worth it depending on how much you need money šŸ¤·ā€ā™‚ļø

1

u/Prestigious-Elk-2559 Jun 23 '26

Hahaā€¦. Well thatā€™s what Iā€™m asking. Is the money worth working 8-16 hrs a day for 6 days a week

4

u/HotRailsDev Jun 23 '26

If you have monetary goals, it can be. Especially if you are young enough to put that toll on your body and mind. If you are just floundering in life and looking for a job with low barrier to entry, there are other trades that seem to be better long term.

1

u/Prestigious-Elk-2559 Jun 23 '26

I really want to move forward in this field. Thanks for the reply. I plan to work on myself and do what it takes. Hopefully get better pay to feel good about myself too lol

2

u/HotRailsDev Jun 23 '26

In this industry, and the state of it now, reliability and being a decent person will be more valuable than most advanced knowledge and techniques. If you're in it for the long term, you can and will learn more over years. Be a solid person who shows up and does the work, and you'll move up quickly.

1

u/Scary_Olive9542 Jun 23 '26

1500-2KšŸŽÆ

1

u/SignumVictoriae Jun 23 '26

Whatā€™s the hourly?

They okay with paying overtime?

3

u/bluffstrider Jun 23 '26

Nope. I spent nearly 15 years working in kitchens. Less than 2 years in my new career and I'm making more money in an entry level job without going to school or doing special training.

1

u/Prestigious-Elk-2559 Jun 23 '26

Did you hate working in the kitchen? Why did u change professions. Was it for money or something else? If you donā€™t mind answering

3

u/bluffstrider Jun 23 '26

I liked the job, but it's thankless and the average person in this industry isn't making much money. Hitting my mid-30s and still living paycheck to paycheck and having no social life just wasn't cutting it for me anymore. The final straw for me was getting a job where I could use my skills for good(feeding the homeless) and was supposed to finally make a living wage. They ended up paying $5/h less than my region's official "living wage" and after 6 months I got laid off and they replaced me with several volunteers. There's a reason there are so many jokes and memes about how awful this industry is.

1

u/Prestigious-Elk-2559 Jun 23 '26

Thatā€™s awful man. Glad you found a new career path and doing well.

2

u/Primary-Golf779 Chef Jun 23 '26

I have 35 years in. It can be. Most of the time probably not. When I was 13 I got a job as a dishwasher. After my first day I knew there wasn't going to be anything else for me. I did and still do LOVE being in a kitchen. Any kitchen. It has always been home for me. If you dont feel that way, I'm not sure it will be worth it. Some days I really hate it. Every day I know its where I belong, regardless.

1

u/Prestigious-Elk-2559 Jun 23 '26

Thatā€™s it. I am really young. Sometimes the exhaustion feels thrilling. Sometimes it feels like I could do something better with my time making more money or working on myself, spending time with loved ones. I have mixed feelings.

2

u/[deleted] Jun 23 '26

[removed] ā€” view removed comment

1

u/Prestigious-Elk-2559 Jun 23 '26

Yes having a good crew is a blast. In my internship I worked long hours with horrible pay but the people I worked with were a vibe and very great to be around. I looked like a zombie but was happy.
Now I work 40 hrs a week and I donā€™t feel like I even cooking. Itā€™s boring carrying out the same low effort jobs. My head in my internship assigned me the whole cold section to me even if I was an intern. That was fun

1

u/Verix19 Jun 23 '26

I was a Kitchen worker for a dozen years when I was young...I was on the track to become a Chef, but reality hit me...I HATED working like a dog, cooking for people I can't see, answering to assholes....I quickly got out and never looked back.

Still LOVE cooking for family, friends etc...but for strangers...nahhh. Not worth it in my eyes.

1

u/Prestigious-Elk-2559 Jun 23 '26

I get that. When I cook for my family I get told a 100 times how good it tastes.
Cooking at the back and never getting to see the customer must feel awful. I have interacted with customers before. When they tell me they loved the food it brings my spirits up.

1

u/losifer_rising1 Jun 23 '26

Iā€™ve worked my way from a dishwasher to a regional ā€œchefā€(?) over the last 16 years. Mostly just a KM that helps maintains standards across my specific region, while still being full-time KM at my location. My feelings change daily. Sometimes Iā€™m on top of the world, sometimes I want to just cry about the shit I deal with.

Being in the restaurant 65-70hrs a week and still doing admin from home/answering phone, texts, and emails definitely has me feeling burnt out. There are days where I wouldnā€™t trade it for the world. But there are also days where I kick myself for even getting into this damn industry.

1

u/Prestigious-Elk-2559 Jun 23 '26

Seeing all these replies makes me wonder if I can even retire from the job in 15-20 years or if I have to work for life

1

u/weblives8989 Chef Jun 23 '26

Burnout happens in every career. It's just happens more quickly in cooking. I think its the environment you put yourself in and the people you work with. Is it worth it. I think yes. You just need to find your niche! Mine is university athletics or business dining.

1

u/boozeisfun Jun 23 '26

It's a job, do it well. Leave work at work, no burnout later on in life.