Internship in Poland (if you don't speak Polish) Tourism, Food Production, Cooking

Hey,

I am studying in a Tourism School in Portugal, and I'm in the last year of a degree in Food Production, which means I can work in Product Development, Industrial Kitchen Installation and as a cook/pastry cook.

I've already been 2 months in France taking a course there in French Pastry and last summer I was in Crete for an internship, and I am thinking about going to Poland this next summer, maybe in Gdansk or Poznan. So any thoughts on places besides the usual hotel and stuff? Any of you work in the same area and can give me some help?

So I would also like to know if it's difficult for someone to get a job there after an internship, if you don't speak the language... I've been in Poland once, and it was just for a week (in Poznan).

So if anyone was in a similar position I would like to know their experience and all that, mainly about job finding, if it's difficult, if they pay well and whatnot.

Thanks m8s

To be blunt - you've got between little and no chance. You don't speak the language, you aren't a chef with a shitload of experience - really, why would they hire you over a Polish national? There's over 10% unemployment officially in Poland - really, this isn't the place to come if you're just starting out as a chef.

If you want an internship, then I know someone who might be willing to let you work there for free in Poznan.

maybe bc even as I'm finishing now I already have some curriculum, bc I come from a completely different gastronomical culture (ie Mediterranean) that can bring something different?

Isn't that a plus? :P
damn.. :( at least I tried hehehe


Even in Greece, and they have hit the bottom, they paid me 450€ per month as a trainee and they invited me to stay there...so it makes me sad to hear that..Yeah for free I could work no prob, the thing is after that...as I would like to stay in Poland for a couple of years, to learn a lot from it's food culture, as it's completely different from mine.

But you don't have the experience, nor the language skills. Education counts for nothing really - it's more about the experience and what you can do. If you had 10 years experience in high end kitchens - then maybe. But a graduate of some food "university"? No way.

Well, if you come here, work for free and get a foot in the door, you might find someone willing to take a risk and hire you. But I cannot see how you could get yourself hired without being in the country and with proof that you can handle a kitchen.

Bear in mind that even if you did get hired as a first level chef, you'd be looking at no more than 300 euro a month, without accomodation.

Wait... First of all I'm not looking for a Job as a chef, just an internship... And for sure being a chef without experience doesn't even make sense. Then depending on how it goes I would like to stay, that's why I asked how were job prospects in Poland in the Hospitality Area.

And education does count! Especially a degree, depending on what you do. But you say:


It is actually a degree and my school belongs to the administrative boards in the World Association for Hospitality and Tourism Education and Training. We have degrees in Hotel Management, Food Production, Tourism Management, etc. So it's not some crappy school that pretends it gives higher education to its students. I already told that my degree is not learning how to cook, but about Food and Beverage Management, HACCP control as well as Food Production Areas Planning and Installation.

Anyway,


What? Then maybe?
Sorry, but I find that extremely unlikely, if we were talking about France I would believe in you, but Poland doesn't even have a Michelin starred restaurant and you tell me that only chefs from high end kitchens can get a job as a cook in Poland?!? Please...

Maybe I didn't explain myself correctly...
I want to find an internship in Poland... do you think it's easy enough or not? And besides that, how is the job market in Poland? Is it difficult do get a job? As I know there is a crisis going on in all over the world and I would like to know how it is affecting Poland.