Do you want to be a...

Baker

Bakers make bread, cakes and pastries using flour and other ingredients.

The increased use of machinery has reduced heavy work for bakers. However, they still have to stand a lot of the time.

Most bakers work full time, and they often work late at night or early in the morning. They may also work on weekends and public holidays.

Conditions in the bakery are usually hot and humid.

TASKS

Bakers may perform the following tasks:

check that equipment meets health and safety regulations
check the quality of raw materials and weigh ingredients
mix dough and batters by hand or machine, then place in tins or trays
load tins or trays into ovens, keeping an eye on the oven temperatures and the appearance of the bread, cake or pastry
unload ovens when the bread and other products are baked, take products out of trays and put aside to cool
glaze or decorate cakes and pastries with icing or cream
order baking supplies from wholesalers
operate slicing and wrapping machines
serve customers

PERSONAL REQUIREMENTS

enjoy practical work
good hand-eye coordination
good health, with no skin allergies or chest complaints
able to cope with the physical demands of the job
neat and clean
good literacy and numeracy skills
good organisational skills

Interest Area

EDUCATION & TRAINING

To become a baker you usually have to complete an apprenticeship or traineeship in Plant Baking or Retail Baking (Bread/Combined).

Entry requirements may vary, but employers generally require Year 10.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Bakers are employed in factories producing baked products, specialty cake stores, 'in-house' bakeries in supermarkets and independent or franchise bakeries.

Bakers with sufficient start-up money may set up their own businesses.