Making candies and confections from chocolate is a dream job for many people. Spending days surrounded by fine chocolates and seeing the smiles on people’s faces as they bite into one of your masterpieces sounds like bliss. Making a couple of batches of chocolates for the holidays is a lot different than becoming a chocolatier, whose job is to make quality chocolates year round, however. The job can be very stressful, with long hours and hectic holidays.
To become a chocolatier, you must first consider your experience in the field. If, like most people, your experience working with chocolate is limited to home kitchen specialties, it may be a good idea to seek out some formal classes. There are two ways to go about this. One is to take a few essential classes through a local trade school or culinary program. The second is to attend a formal culinary academy. A culinary academy degree will take a lot a longer to complete than just a few classes, but you will be able to learn more of the techniques you will need.
After completing your education, the next step is to seek an apprenticeship under a master chocolatier. This will give you the hands-on experience necessary to become a professional and open your own store. Working under the direction of someone already in this field can be an invaluable experience.
During your training, begin considering your niche, something that will make your chocolates stand out from your competitors’ products. There are hundreds of options available to you. Considering this before you become a chocolatier can give you a focus when planning your business. You could work with different treats dipped in chocolate, cream-filled chocolates, or specially flavored chocolates. Having a product that is unique, but will still be in demand, will help you to stand out from the crowd of other chocolatiers.
After gaining experience under a master chocolatier, it is time to open your own chocolate shop. Find a location that will get a lot of traffic going past. Design a marketing plan, and get the name of your shop out to your potential customers. Opening around the winter holidays, with enough time to let people know about your business, is a great way to build a customer base.
A job working with chocolate is great for those who are creative and have a natural affinity for sweets. Those who choose this profession will be working in a field that many chocolate enthusiasts only dream about.
