Baker (Bakker)

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A baker is a craftsman, who independently makes bread, cake, pastry and sausage rolls to sell. If a baker is only responsible for heating up products, one speaks of a cold baker. The profession of baker can therefore be divided between traditional baker and cold baker. When a baker makes his own products, one speaks of a warm baker or of artisan baker. If a baker does not make his own products, one speaks of a cold baker. Nowadays it is more common for products to be made in a factory and only baked in the store. In that case, a baker cannot be regarded as a traditional baker. A baker works in a bakery, which can relate to a bakery shop with or without its own bakery workshop. As a baker, different specializations are possible, because baking bread and pastry products cannot simply be compared to baking cakes and pastries. A baker who specializes in baking cakes and pastries is called pastry chef. In addition to baker's work, a baker can be responsible for general sales work, but this can differ per baker. Anyone who wants to work as a baker will have to be a morning person, because bakers start early. The profession of baker can be regarded as a fairly heavy profession, because most bakers have to work hard to have everything ready on time. A baker must also have a lot of professional knowledge to be able to make all products. For example, making sausage rolls, currant bulbs, cakes, white and brown bread should not be a problem for an all-round baker. In addition to the fact that the various products must taste good, it is important that all products look good. It is therefore important that a baker is careful with the making of the various products.‎

‎A baker can therefore work in different ways, because there is an important difference between artisan bakers and cold bakers. For example, a cold baker is a ‎‎sandwich shop‎‎ or ‎‎supermarket employee‎‎, who is responsible for baking sandwiches. The work of a cold baker can therefore not be compared with the work of a traditional baker. The real artisan baker is losing more and more ground nowadays, because it is difficult for artisan bakers to compete with the larger chains, which receive their bakery products from ‎‎industrial bakers‎‎. Especially within the smaller villages, traditional bakers are less and less often to be found, because the competition with the larger retail chains is difficult for artisan bakers. This does not alter the fact that there are still many artisan bakers to be found, who make various bakery products. Working as an artisan baker can be called a real craft, because a baker must have a lot of knowledge of different ingredients and baking techniques. The composition of different ingredients and the weighing of ingredients will have to be done very carefully to achieve the same quality every time. As a baker, you generally work with fixed recipes, which require accuracy. Creativity also plays an important role as a baker, because a baker must be able to provide bakery products with a special appearance during special seasons or events, such as a special shape or color. Other activities of a baker are ‎‎cleaning‎‎ the bakery and possibly ‎‎selling‎‎ bakery products.‎

‎WORKING AS A BAKER‎

‎The profession of baker can be divided into different bakers, because not all bakers are responsible for the same work. In addition, there is an important difference between an artisan baker and a cold baker. Being able to bake sandwiches alone does not make someone a baker. An all-round baker is a craftsman or craftsman who can independently make various bread and pastry products from different raw materials. Most bakers can make both bread products and pastry products. If a baker has specialized in making pastry products, the name pastry chef may also apply. In addition, a baker may have specialized in processing chocolate. In that case, the name ‎‎chocolatier‎‎ may apply. As a baker, you can also be responsible for making ‎‎local products‎‎. In that case, a baker only works with ingredients that come from a certain region. In addition, there may be flour or cereals that are made in a traditional way by a ‎‎miller‎‎. Local products, which are made in a traditional way, are generally popular.‎

‎DIFFERENT TYPES OF BAKERS:‎

  • ‎Artisan baker‎
  • ‎Confectioner‎
  • ‎Bread baker‎
  • ‎Confectionery‎
  • ‎Cold bakery‎
  • ‎Industrial bakery‎

‎WHAT DOES A BAKER DO:‎

‎TRAINING TO BECOME A BAKER‎

‎If you aspire to a career as a baker, it is best to opt for the ‎‎Mbo training all-round bread and pastry chef‎‎ at level three. The MBO all-round bread and pastry chef course will generally take at least three years, depending on the previous courses. The MBO course all-round bread and pastry chef will in most cases relate to a vocational training, in which you work four days a week for a training company and go to school one day a week for the various theory lessons. During the training there is a lot of attention for making bread, pastries and cakes, which are made with different ingredients. During the training there is also a lot of attention for ‎‎hygienic‎‎ working, because that is very important as a baker. In addition to making bread, pastries and cakes, you will learn how to modulate and finish them. During the practical training you will in most cases be under the guidance of an experienced baker, who must be seen as ‎‎a teacher‎‎. In addition, there are also plenty ‎‎of external training institutes‎‎ where you can follow a course. Accounting is ‎‎also‎‎ important as an entrepreneur.‎

‎COMPANIES WHERE A BAKER CAN BE EMPLOYED‎

‎A baker generally works for an ‎‎artisan bakery‎‎ or for a specialized pastry and pie shop. In addition, a baker can work as an ‎‎entrepreneur‎‎ within his own bakery. In that case, a baker can also be regarded as ‎‎a medium-sized business‎‎ owner. If a baker works for an industrial bakery, different names may apply. Consider, for example, the name ‎‎machine operator‎‎, ‎‎process operator‎‎ or the name ‎‎food technologist‎‎. As described earlier, factory bakers cannot be regarded as artisan bakers.‎

‎COMPETENCES BAKER‎

‎The most important competence of a baker is the professional knowledge of the bakery industry and baking techniques. In addition, perseverance as a baker can be regarded as an important competence, because working as a baker can in some cases be regarded as heavy ‎‎work‎‎. Another important competence as a baker can be creativity, because coming up with new products or adapting existing products requires creativity. Generally important words are ‎‎communication‎‎, independence, accuracy, performance, quality, ‎‎planning‎‎, organizing, vigilance, control and ‎‎passion‎‎. If you work as a baker as an entrepreneur, you will also have to have a ‎‎commercial‎‎ institution.‎

‎LABOUR MARKET PERSPECTIVE AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AS A BAKER‎

‎The labour market perspective of an all-round baker is generally good. As a baker you can work for different bakeries, so getting work is not a problem in most cases. An important addition to this is that an industrial baker does not always have to have a baker's training. The career opportunities of a baker can be seen in further specializing as ‎‎a pastry chef‎‎. Possibly ‎‎starting‎‎ your own bakery shop can also be seen as growing within your career.‎

‎TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT AND SALARY BAKER‎

‎Depending on his age‎‎, a baker in paid employment‎‎ earns between 1700 and 2500 euros gross per month. However, the salary is very dependent on the responsibility and precise tasks of the baker. A baker who works in the industry usually earns a lot less. As an independent entrepreneur, there are plenty of opportunities as a baker. However, it is important to specialize as a baker.‎

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