Culinary Job Training Admission Criteria

All applications for the Culinary Job Training Program must be received at least four weeks before the start of a class to be considered.

Age: All Candidates accepted for the Second Helpings Culinary Job Training Program must be at least 18 years of age on the first day of training.

Employment Status: Candidates must be unemployed or underemployed at the time of the application.

Drugs and Alcohol: Candidates must be drug/substance free, or be actively involved in a treatment program and/or support group. Even if in a treatment program, the individual must be substance-free while enrolled in training at Second Helpings, Inc.

Self-Management: All candidates accepted for the Second Helpings Culinary Job Training Program must be capable of independent self-management, i.e., able to take care of laundry, personal hygiene, eating, toilet and transportation requirements.

Pre-Testing: Candidates for the Second Helpings Culinary Job Training Program must be able to read at least at an 8th grade level, and must possess elementary math skills. All applicants must score at least 70% on a pre-admission examination that measures the candidate’s math and reading skills.

Residential Status: Candidates must be in a stable living environment (own/rent house or apartment, shelter resident, live with friends or relatives, etc.) for the duration of the program.

Financial Status: Candidates’ income or economic status are not a consideration for admission to the Second Helpings Culinary Job Training Program.

Physical Fitness – Commercial food production requires good physical conditioning, the ability to move quickly, the ability to bend and lift, the ability to lift at least 30 pounds, and the ability to stand for long periods. Good eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity are also required. Candidates for the Second Helpings Culinary Job Training Program must be physically capable of performing all essential commercial foodservice functions independently or with minimal supervision and assistance.

Standards of Dress and Appearance:

- Students are required to wear long black pants.
- Students must wear sturdy, skid-proof, closed-toe shoes.
- Daily personal hygiene and a clean uniform are required.
- Nails must be short, clean, and trimmed; nail polish, artificial nails, or jewelry are not allowed.
- Facial hair is limited to moustaches that are neatly trimmed. Beards and goatees are not allowed. Hair styles must be neat and professional.

Attendance and Punctuality: Due to the intensity of class work in just ten short weeks, trainees are expected not to miss any days or hours of training. Due to the nature of the program, it will be impossible to make up missed training, which may hinder graduation. Trainees are expected to be present and prepared to begin work at the scheduled starting time and to be involved in productive learning until the scheduled end of the training day. Tardiness or leaving before the end of training are both strictly prohibited.

General Policies and Expectations: Opportunities for Culinary Job Training at Second Helpings, Inc. are provided without regard to religion, race, national origin, financial status, age, gender, disability, religious practices or beliefs.

Candidates accepted into the program must be willing to adhere to the dress, attendance, safe food handling, facilities, and all other policies of Second Helpings, Inc. Candidates must have a sincere interest in working in the food service industry.

To be considered for an upcoming class, fill out our online application today.