Success Story - Success at Cornell

 MARIA PIMENTA ’11 September graduate student of Cookery - Cornell Institute. 

Maria had come to New Zealand having had previous experience from her previous jobs in the countries she hadlived before arriving in N.Z which proved useful for her new role.

These previous skills had taught her the safety aspects of working in a commercial kitchen, food safety, kitchen organization and maintenance also having a job at a Rest Home in Auckland helped her adjust & adapt quickly in her new role as Chef (casual basis) during her studies. 

Her course studies helped her to understand the principles of budgeting & costing, organization control & how to cost recipes. How to comply with specified budget restrictions & how to carry out the preparation and cooking of nutritional foods without excessive destruction of nutrients. 

Now having graduated “September she was offered this role full time but as a “Head Cook” at “The Salvation Army”, where she is complying with specified budget restrictions carrying out the preparation and cooking of nutritional foods without excessive destruction of nutrients; learned how to develop a good relationship with suppliers, check all ingredients for freshness and quality. 

It’s her job dream! & now achieving her goal and is fulfilling her dream, flourishing on her experiences & enjoying every moment as a qualified Chef

She only achieved her ambition by studying at Cornell Institute and by the helpful and friendly iCareer support to students. Many thanks to all Cornell team! 

Kindest Regards
Kathryn Lovelidge

 I started working in PESCADO (Spanish restaurant) in June i.e. three months back. I had no experience of Spanish food but with the passage of time and more of work experience I AM HANDLING TWO DIFFERENT SECTIONS i.e. THE BREAKFAST Menu and the Tapas (lunch and dinner menu). I have learnt a lot from the last three months as my Head Chef Eres is a very good teacher and a good team player. I am really enjoying working there because I am learning new food preparations and new cuisine.
Cornell Institute has always helped me in finding new jobs with better positions and I am very thankful to my teachers and chefs.
Thank you

Shivender Sen
Employer-PESCADO (Tapas)
Student- Professional cookery Level-5
Cornell Institute of Business and Technology

I am presently studying for my Diploma in Professional Cookery Level 5 at Cornell Institute of Business & Technology where I was given an opportunity to go on a work experience to enhance my skills working in a commercial environment.
I was introduced to the Executive Chef "Owen Rarity" of the Rydges Hotel by Kathryn Lovelidge the employment consultant at iCareer which is a division of Cornell Institute, for this opportunity of "a work experience".
The working environment is happy and friendly, the experiences I gained there would definitely be helpful to achieve my goals for my career work path.
The duties that I was assigned within the "Rydges Hotel Kitchen" were a variety of jobs every day, which gave me the chance to learn different things in a short period of time. I was involved with the preparation for functions and daily menus, learned the larder to meat sections, to pass; moreover, in how schedules and work plans helped the daily workflow run smoothly, effectively and efficiently. Also how team work plays the important role in a real kitchen...etc. I had keep records of my daily work to review and to revise, as the knowledge learned are directly benefits in my future career path in the Hospitality Industry.
With the Chefs' briefings prior to work commencing, clear instructions, and their demonstration and patient teaching helped make my work easy to understand and fast to pick up. I have now additional different knowledge awareness within this industry with a different aspect.
I am so happy that I had applied for this "Work Experience" and was given this chance to work at the "Rydges Hotel"; this is something that carries many values for me.
So my advice to all other Cornell Students;
Be wise, and apply for your "Work Experience" to Kathryn in icareer while you still can. These chances could slip away and you didn't take the opportunity!

Sylvie Tsun Wa Lo