Culinary Requirements and Curriculum
Wednesdays and Thursdays, 11am-3pm
Must maintain excellent attendance of culinary classes
Must take and pass the Food Protection Exam at the end of the semester
Must engage with the materials and complete all culinary homework assignments
Must take a final exam on the last day of culinary class
Sample of Topics Covered:
Chef's coats and aprons will be provided to all students free of charge
Must maintain excellent attendance of culinary classes
Must take and pass the Food Protection Exam at the end of the semester
Must engage with the materials and complete all culinary homework assignments
Must take a final exam on the last day of culinary class
Sample of Topics Covered:
- Knife skills and safety
- Menu planning
- Herb and spice identification
- Cooking for large amounts of people
- Preparing stocks and sauces
Chef's coats and aprons will be provided to all students free of charge
Literacy Requirements and Curriculum
Mondays and Tuesdays,11am to 3pm
Must maintain excellent attendance of literacy classes
Take a pre- and post- test in either TABE or BEST Plus, where applicable
Be prepared for class with writing utensils and completed homework
Literacy Curriculum by Program:
Must maintain excellent attendance of literacy classes
Take a pre- and post- test in either TABE or BEST Plus, where applicable
Be prepared for class with writing utensils and completed homework
Literacy Curriculum by Program:
- ESOL:
- English language skills related to the culinary workforce
- Customer service dialogue practice
- Culinary and Professional vocabulary
- TASC:
- Basic to intermediate Math, ELA and Social Studies concepts
- Preparation for the Math, Reading, Writing and Social Studies portions of the TASC exam
- Exploration of personal goals: professional, higher-education etc.
- College C.A.R.:
- Equip students for college level writing assignments such as critical essays, arguments and research papers
- Introduce college-bound students to the practical life skills they will need to handle the rigors of higher-education, including time and stress management, working with academic and financial advisers and experience with technology
- Improve fluency and comprehension by practicing higher-level reading skills
CAFE Prep Workforce Development
Need a job? Get started with a Job Zone account:
Job Zone is a New York State website that is a great Career Tool for adults! JobZone is an interactive resource to help adults manage their careers. It is the perfect tool for:
If you need assistance in navigating the website and getting started, please reach out to our workforce development counselor, Tonya McPhearson! We're here to help!
Job Zone is a New York State website that is a great Career Tool for adults! JobZone is an interactive resource to help adults manage their careers. It is the perfect tool for:
- Planning your future
- Organizing your job search
- Exploring your career interests and skills
- Developing customized resumes
- Taking a career skills assessment
- Exploring more than 800 careers
If you need assistance in navigating the website and getting started, please reach out to our workforce development counselor, Tonya McPhearson! We're here to help!
Click Here to Create Your New Job Zone Account
Step By Step Instructions:
Step By Step Instructions:
Where To Start Searching For Jobs
Apart from meeting people face to face, you can also be efficient in your job search by sitting in the comfort of your home and exploring a variety of job opportunities online. We have put together 10 websites that have been very helpful to our students. Meet with us at Job Road to learn more about each website:
Resume
At Job Road, we will help you to tailor your resume to one that fits your experience and interest.
Frequently Asked Questions about Resume Development
Q. Does my resume need to be one page? How long should it be?
A. It depends on your experience. If you have less than 5 years of experience, it is important to focus the details of your resume on one page. However, if you have more extensive experience, it is ok to go onto a second page. In most cases, the resume should not be longer than two pages.
Q. How far back should I go with my experience?
A. It is appropriate to list experience from the last 10-15 years. Experience prior to that is seen as outdated and should not be listed, unless the experience was all within one company.
Q. Should I include work experience from my home country?
A. YES! Professional experience and education from your home country is extremely relevant to positions here in the U.S. and should be included on your resume. You may be told you are overqualified or that you should take experience off your resume – this is not the case!
Q. How should I list my survival job?
A. We want your resume to reflect you as a professional, so we position your professional experience so it is the first thing employers see. If you have worked in a survival job in the U.S., list it in a secondary section titled, “Additional Work Experience.
Q. Should I include my English classes?
A. While we encourage you to list professional development that is related to your field, we do not include English classes or other unrelated courses on your resume. In addition to not being relevant, employers may assume it means you do not speak English well enough for the job (which we know is not true!)
Q. Should I put a picture or personal information on the resume?
A. While it is customary in many cultures to include a photograph and personal information (marital status, age, etc), it is inappropriate in the U.S.
Q. How do I indicate promotions in title and/or responsibility?
A. If you had more than one position within a company, it is important to demonstrate that, as it shows employers that you learn quickly and were trusted with additional responsibilities. The best way to demonstrate these promotions is to list the company name first (typically, we list the position title first) and the dates you worked for the company in total. Underneath that, you will list your most recent position, with dates, and the unique responsibilities you had in that position. Continue like that for each position you held at that company, making sure to include only the responsibilities and accomplishments unique to that position (i.e. to eliminate repetitiveness).
Q.Why do you include, Permanent Work Authorization. No Visa Sponsorship Required?
A. When employers see that your work experience has been exclusively out of the country, they may assume that you are seeking visa sponsorship and pass you over based solely on that misperception. This statement lets employers know that you are permanently work authorized and your status is not an issue for consideration.
Schedule an appointment with our Workforce Counselor to complete your professional resume. Our counselor can be contacted at cicu.cafeprep@gmail.com or by phone at (646) 234-6246.
Cover Letter
Along with a resume, a professional cover letter often accompanies your job application.
What is a cover letter?
"A cover letter is a single-page letter written to the person or organization offering the job you're applying for. A well-written cover letter should introduce you and encourage the person reading it to read your resume."
Ask us at Job Road how to write an effective cover letter that includes your experience and goals but should you get started on your cover letter before we meet, here are a few things to keep in mind:
After reading your letter, someone should be able to answer these questions:
Come Talk To Us About Creating a LinkedIn Page
No matter where you are in the job search process, a LinkedIn page is extremely helpful for networking, finding employers, and giving potential employers the opportunity to find you. With a LinkedIn page, you have an opportunity to market yourself, tell your story and become your own brand. Get started at LinkedIn and visit us to update and edit your LinkedIn page.
Apart from meeting people face to face, you can also be efficient in your job search by sitting in the comfort of your home and exploring a variety of job opportunities online. We have put together 10 websites that have been very helpful to our students. Meet with us at Job Road to learn more about each website:
- Monster
- Craigslist
- Job.com
- Restaurant Work: Poach
- Non-profit Work: idealist.com
- Sports Enthusiasts: jobsinsports
- Construction Gigs: Constructionjobs
- Our Weekly Job Listings (in partnership with WorkForce1): Go to the FeaturedJobs tab @Community Impact
Resume
At Job Road, we will help you to tailor your resume to one that fits your experience and interest.
Frequently Asked Questions about Resume Development
Q. Does my resume need to be one page? How long should it be?
A. It depends on your experience. If you have less than 5 years of experience, it is important to focus the details of your resume on one page. However, if you have more extensive experience, it is ok to go onto a second page. In most cases, the resume should not be longer than two pages.
Q. How far back should I go with my experience?
A. It is appropriate to list experience from the last 10-15 years. Experience prior to that is seen as outdated and should not be listed, unless the experience was all within one company.
Q. Should I include work experience from my home country?
A. YES! Professional experience and education from your home country is extremely relevant to positions here in the U.S. and should be included on your resume. You may be told you are overqualified or that you should take experience off your resume – this is not the case!
Q. How should I list my survival job?
A. We want your resume to reflect you as a professional, so we position your professional experience so it is the first thing employers see. If you have worked in a survival job in the U.S., list it in a secondary section titled, “Additional Work Experience.
Q. Should I include my English classes?
A. While we encourage you to list professional development that is related to your field, we do not include English classes or other unrelated courses on your resume. In addition to not being relevant, employers may assume it means you do not speak English well enough for the job (which we know is not true!)
Q. Should I put a picture or personal information on the resume?
A. While it is customary in many cultures to include a photograph and personal information (marital status, age, etc), it is inappropriate in the U.S.
Q. How do I indicate promotions in title and/or responsibility?
A. If you had more than one position within a company, it is important to demonstrate that, as it shows employers that you learn quickly and were trusted with additional responsibilities. The best way to demonstrate these promotions is to list the company name first (typically, we list the position title first) and the dates you worked for the company in total. Underneath that, you will list your most recent position, with dates, and the unique responsibilities you had in that position. Continue like that for each position you held at that company, making sure to include only the responsibilities and accomplishments unique to that position (i.e. to eliminate repetitiveness).
Q.Why do you include, Permanent Work Authorization. No Visa Sponsorship Required?
A. When employers see that your work experience has been exclusively out of the country, they may assume that you are seeking visa sponsorship and pass you over based solely on that misperception. This statement lets employers know that you are permanently work authorized and your status is not an issue for consideration.
Schedule an appointment with our Workforce Counselor to complete your professional resume. Our counselor can be contacted at cicu.cafeprep@gmail.com or by phone at (646) 234-6246.
Cover Letter
Along with a resume, a professional cover letter often accompanies your job application.
What is a cover letter?
"A cover letter is a single-page letter written to the person or organization offering the job you're applying for. A well-written cover letter should introduce you and encourage the person reading it to read your resume."
Ask us at Job Road how to write an effective cover letter that includes your experience and goals but should you get started on your cover letter before we meet, here are a few things to keep in mind:
After reading your letter, someone should be able to answer these questions:
- Why do you want the job?
- What experiences have you had in the past that demonstrate you’re qualified for the new job?
- What are you passionate about?
- Why are you different from someone who has the same resume?
- How can they get a hold of you?
Come Talk To Us About Creating a LinkedIn Page
No matter where you are in the job search process, a LinkedIn page is extremely helpful for networking, finding employers, and giving potential employers the opportunity to find you. With a LinkedIn page, you have an opportunity to market yourself, tell your story and become your own brand. Get started at LinkedIn and visit us to update and edit your LinkedIn page.
Volunteer Hours
CAFE Prep can connect students with opportunities to complete volunteer hours in a food setting (soup kitchen or food pantry). This experience is both professionally beneficial as well as personally fulfilling and can be added to one's resume as a culinary engagement with the Upper Manhattan/West Harlem community.
Please reach out to Adam at cicu.cafeprep@gmail.com to inquire about volunteer opportunities!
Please reach out to Adam at cicu.cafeprep@gmail.com to inquire about volunteer opportunities!