Career Path

Starting out as a Retail Assistant in a bakery

A Retail Assistant in a bakery will be required to deliver high standards of customer service, develop strong product knowledge to pass on information when needed, utilise basic upselling techniques to reach sales targets, understand and partake in the merchandising/display of products, prepare food/beverages of a high quality, and maintain a clean work environment to health and safety standards. This position provides business to customer interaction and engagement so good communication skills are also essential.

There are plenty of retail staff roles available throughout the hospitality and consumer goods sectors and the great thing about it is that the skills you learn are transferable across many sectors. Formal qualifications aren’t necessary in this role however you can do a traineeship through various training organisations.

The basic understanding of baked products picked up when working as a retail staff member in a bakery are a great starting point for a career in the kitchen. This knowledge will assist you in understanding what is required when taking the next step in your baking career path. You will need to apply for bakery assistant or apprentice baker/pastrycook jobs to take the next step. 

Starting out as an Assistant Baker

The role of Assistant Baker doesn’t require any previous qualifications; an Assistant Baker will learn on the job and eventually be considered an unqualified baker; however, you can apply for Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) and contribute your learned skills to a formal qualification. The role includes assisting with the production of bread, cake, and pastry products, calculating and weighing ingredients, mixing doughs and mixes, decorating products for sale, recording production information, customer service, and maintaining a clean work environment to health and safety standards.

Starting out as an Apprentice Baker

The most popular way to start a career in baking is to do an apprenticeship. When taking on the role of an Apprentice Baker you are not expected to have any previous experience in the field of baking, but it is ok if you do. You will be required to work in the bakery, attend classes with a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) or in the workplace, and complete assessments to receive a competency over a period of three (3) or four (4) years. To commence a baking apprenticeship, you must have existing employment in a bakery and be working daily with a qualified baker on the premises.

Apprentice bakers assist with the production of bread, cake, and pastry products, calculating and weighing ingredients, mixing doughs and mixes, decorating products for sale, recording production information, customer service, and maintaining a clean work environment to health and safety standards.

In Australia there are three (3) baking apprenticeships available including Certificate III in Baking, Certificate III in Bread Baking, and Certificate III in Cake and Pastry. There are incentives and funding available for businesses and employees who take on an apprenticeship, please check with your ASSN (Australian Apprenticeship support network) for more information about these incentives. Once competency has been achieved in all assessments you will be qualified as a Baker or Pastry cook and will be able to use your skills to build a passionate career in baking.

What does a baking apprenticeship involve?

An apprenticeship involves working alongside a qualified baker in a baking business (earning a wage) learning the craft, in addition to attending an RTO to learn the theory and science of the trade. Baking apprenticeships are offered part-time, full-time, or school-based and in most Australian states take three (3) to four (4) years to complete. The apprentice will participate in general workplace duties in addition to working one-on-one with an industry trainer either in the workplace or as part of a class at an RTO premises.

What happens after I complete a baking apprenticeship?

The career path of a qualified baker can vary largely from person to person. From employment as a baker or pastrycook through to owning your own bakery, a sales representative, product development or trainer it is safe to say that there are multiple opportunities that could take you anywhere in the world. Skills learned in a baking or pastrycook apprenticeship are transferable and are accredited all over the world, this means that you will always have plenty of job opportunities. Click here to learn more information about the Australian baking industry.