Monday, August 27, 2012

The Chef Profession

The term 'chef' was borrowed from the French term 'chef de cuisine' which translates to the head of the kitchen. A chef is most commonly known as a person who cooks professionally for other people both privately and publicly. Chefs are highly skilled in their profession and are talented at all aspects of food preparation within the kitchen.
The traditional chef wears a tall white hat, necktie, double breasted jacket and an apron. In most cases, professional cooks where an all white uniform with a slight element of colour such as a red neckerchief. By opting for a white uniform, it portrays the chefs as clean, pure and professional which in turn reflects the kitchen as fresh and clean for food to be prepared in. Whilst chefs are often stuck in the kitchen, in some cases they make an appearance on the restaurant floor to serve a special dish or to receive a complement from a customer.
When working in a kitchen, it is essential to be properly aware potential hazards, health and safety. There are many different factors to consider and rules to be put in place when working in a fast paced kitchen environment. Another part of a chef's uniform is a pair of plain and practical shoes with steel or plastic toe caps; these are to protect their feet from any accidental incidents including sharp knives.
For many years, the typical chef uniform has been used within the kitchens at hotels, restaurants and even cafes. Whilst some uniforms differ from one to the next, chef clothing usually follows the same kind of style to ensure maximum safety and protection whilst in the kitchen. Chefs usually wear a tall hat as an outlet for heat which allows hot air to circulate inside the hat; it also helps to prevent sweat from dripping down the face for hygienic reasons in hot and stressful situations. The white doubled breasted jacket is also worn for safety as well as appearance. Chef jackets are usually white to repel the heat whilst cooking; they are also designed to help prevent injuries to the skin such as burns. A double breasted jacket is often worn in the kitchen as it allows chefs to cover up food stains by buttoning up the jacket from the other side. Chef aprons are also regularly used over the top of the jackets, again to prevent spillage and scalds to the skin.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Stay Away From Common Management Consulting Application Mistakes

Recruiters have to review hundreds of job applications in one setting. They trim down the number of applicants by first eliminating those who have committed obvious mistakes in their documents, tests and interviews. Then they select those who did well in the recruiting process. In most cases, these are the people who understand the tough competition and who have exhausted all means to attain their dream job.
One of the reasons why applicants fall short along the way is skipping research about the target firm. The facts you get from reading on the Internet, reliable people and other sources can lead you to the right path. By being updated, you become aware of job opportunities, of the firm's working environment and of events attended by key people in the industry. Intensive understanding can guide you in writing effective resumes, in acing interviews and in making smart statements during networking events. As an old adage says, knowledge is power. You must believe that!
Another aspect where you can go amiss is your inability or disinterest to network. In management consulting, this is quite an important strategy since many are called to interview because of the recommendations you get. It may seem unfair for those who lack connections, but for recruiters, it's quite an effective way of hiring people. Assessing applicants from scratch is costly, not to mention time-consuming. Networking, however, should be done not after sending out resumes. Establishing a circle of professionals requires time, effort and most of all, genuineness. It should start as soon as the calling for management consulting is already there.
Submitting a poorly written job application doesn't produce any positive result, either. The cover letter and resume are documents that serve as your launching pad to your career. They must be tailored to stand out head and shoulders above the rest. To do this, include relevant information on your education and experience. Also, list quantitative achievements to have more impact on the recruiters. Stating "Utilized various campus recruitment strategies to double the population of the consulting club" has a more striking effect than "Recruited new members for the consulting club." Remember that too much unnecessary information is dragging. The documents should be concise, comprehensive and comprehensible.
Another tool used in recruitment is pre-employment tests. Tests must not be taken for granted because the results reliably tell recruiters something about you and your capability to do the job. A high score on numerical reasoning means you can interpret information on graphs, charts and tables well. A terrible score on verbal reasoning implies you need improvement in preparing and understanding long textual reports. An excellent mark on abstract reasoning suggests you have superior innate intelligence. If you are scheduled for testing, call the firm's Human Resources Department promptly, ask about the tests and be mentally equipped to answer them.
Another mistake you might commit is coming to an interview unprepared. In management consulting, two types of interview are employed - fit and case. The former may be easier, may not need practice. The latter, however, demands more effort for preparation. To crack the presented case, it's a prerequisite to be familiar with a multitude of business cases and consulting frameworks. You will feel tensed and panicky once you are in front of the interviewer and you haven't practiced resolving cases beforehand. If you prepare for it painstakingly, you can demonstrate confidence, mastery and composure under stress. And because you feel calm, logical thinking will be effortless.
During fit or case interviews, some applicants are not observant of their nonverbal behavior. As a result, recruiters frown at their fidgeting, lack of eye contact or arrogant tone of voice. Bear in mind that messages are conveyed even beyond words. If you slouch, you get across sluggishness. If you smile, you transmit optimism and sociability. If you come to the interview in casual clothes, the getup might be interpreted as a sign of disrespect to the firm's working environment. Hence, attentiveness on how you express your ideas, dress yourself and move your body can be helpful.

Monday, August 13, 2012

Hiring a Catering Company - Questions That Need Answers

If you're hiring a catering company for an upcoming event, you may think you need only make sure they have good food before signing up for service. There's more to it than that, however. The more thought and research you put into hiring a company to serve your food, the better results you'll get from your choice. You can never go wrong by listening to the recommendations of others. Start there and get a short list of companies in your area. Narrow this list by judging appropriateness. You don't want a place that specializes in pizza and hot dogs serving your fancy wedding guests, of course. Once you have a couple of companies left, choose by asking these questions.
Where are you located?
This may seem like a basic question, but it is one of the most important. If a catering company is cooking the food 40 miles away from the dinner you're planning, it could very well have an impact on the quality. Even if the company is well prepared for distance travelling, they may charge extra to handle that kind of mileage. Find out beforehand and you could have an easy way to eliminate a company from your short list of candidates.
Can you do my event?
This is another obvious disqualifier that should be asked early on. Here's why. Some venues have exclusive contracts with certain catering companies and you might not be able to bring in a company that is outside of that list. Talk with both your venue and the companies on your list about whether it will even be possible to hire them for the occasion. You'll also want to make sure the date in question is one they have open.
Can we have a taste test?
Some catering companies charge customers even for a taste test. Though this is indicative of a certain confidence, it certainly doesn't help you make your decision. If a company allows you to come in and sample their wares, give them preferential treatment over one who will not. After all, you should be able to determine ahead of time if the food they're serving is actually any good. You can skip this, of course, if they are also a restaurant that you've eaten at before or if you have first hand knowledge about how good their food is.
Can you serve alcohol?
Many event planners find they have to hire a separate bartender with a liquor license if they want to serve alcohol at their party. You might check to see if the catering companies you are looking at have a liquor license, as it could save you from that extra headache.

Monday, August 6, 2012

Aluminum Balusters' Advantages and Disadvantages

Aluminum balusters are metal products that are usually made in bulk to be placed in strategic places to protect people and objects from going through railings. There are many different kinds of designs and patterns for these things. In fact, they can even be made to order to suit the preferences of the person who orders it. These products have a lot of benefits if the home owner or the building owner chooses to use them for the railings. These products also come in different materials such as wood and other forms of metal as well as plastic.
Advantages
Among the advantages that come with using aluminum balusters is the variety of designs and patterns that it comes in. Due to the fact that this kind of metal is malleable and easy to manipulate, there are several designs that they can be made into. Custom made designs can be done if the person who ordered the design wishes to have a lot of them made. This means that the manufacturer will not be at a loss when it comes to income because of creating the design and the holders or molds of the design. Some manufacturers like to have more than a hundred made in order to have some form of income.
If the manufacturer thinks the design is profitable, it is possible that they will patent it or make sure to market it and make more sales. Another advantage of using this material is the abundance of it in the world. Although the processing of the material takes some time and effort, the process has been perfected and there are a number of manufacturing plants that can handle the demand with ease. Aluminum balusters do not have shortages unlike wood. The material is also resistant to a number of elements which it may be exposed to. It does not rust at all, unlike other iron, which is commonly made into similar products. It also does not react to snow and sun exposure which is a good thing. It does not rot or splinter like wood and unlike steel, the paint will not discolor after several years. This metal is unlike steel and iron which may shrink or expand according to the weather.
Disadvantages
One disadvantage of using this material is the fact that there are some grades or degrees of this material that are softer than steel or iron. This makes them prone to dents if they are hit strongly enough. There are some grades that are stronger than others and one can choose to have these instead of the softer ones. Another disadvantage of using aluminum balusters is its resistance to paint. Usually they are anodized for a much longer tint. If one wants to paint them, a process is necessary to make them more susceptible to it.
These are just some of the disadvantages and advantages of using aluminum balusters for decks. The advantages of the material far outweigh the disadvantages that come with it which is why many business and home owners prefer it.