Prospective Students
The Second Helpings Culinary Job Training program prepares unemployed and underemployed adults for careers in the foodservice industry. This effort helps eliminate hunger at its source. More than 1,000 adults have graduated from this program, and Second Helpings graduates are now working in central Indiana as cooks, bakers, executive chefs, and business owners.
Program Requirements:
- Pre-Testing: Applicants must score at least 70% on a pre-admission exam measuring math, reading and retention skills.
- Age: Candidate must be at least 18 years of age by the first day of class.
- Residential Status: Candidate must be in a stable living environment (apartment, house, shelter resident, live with friends or relatives, etc.).
- Employment Status: Candidate must be unemployed or underemployed at the time of application. Applicant must be interested in obtaining work in the foodservice industry.
- Substance Abuse: Individuals 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 on the premises of Second Helpings.
- Self-Management: All persons involved in the Second Helpings Culinary Job Training program must be capable of self-management, i.e., able to take care of personal hygiene, eating, and responsible for getting to class each day.
- Literacy: Candidates in the Culinary Job Training program possess basic math and reading skills.
- Expectations/Policies: Candidates accepted into the program must be willing to adhere to the dress, attendance, safe food handling, facility, and other policies of Second Helpings, Inc.
What you get:
Culinary Skills
- Knife Skills
- Classic Cooking Techniques and Preparation
- Breakfast Cookery
- Poultry, Beef, Pork, Fish, and Vegetarian Cooking
- Buffet Set-up and Cook-to-Order Skills
- Job Shadow Opportunities
Skills Beyond The Kitchen
- Food Safety Training – ServSafe® Food Handlers Certification
- Job Interview Skills and Job Readiness
- Time Management
- Financial Literacy
- Life Skills Coaching
- Teambuilding
- Support/Guidance from Staff
Instruction
- Four modules of combined classroom instruction (based on college-level book Intro to Culinary Arts) and intensive food preparation (with instruction from Second Helpings Chefs & Guest Chefs)
- Opportunity for three-week paid internship
- Ivy Tech credit hours — Basic Food Theory, Safety and Sanitation course
- Cook Certification — AHLEI (American Hotel and Lodging Education Institute)
Ready to apply?
Your first step is to complete this Prospective Student online form. Once completed, our team will reach out with more information.