The necessary process to become a confectioner can differ depending on exactly what you want out of the career. If you want to work for an established confectioner, restaurant or other company, you may need to attend culinary school and then obtain some work experience through internships. It is possible to become a self-taught confectioner though, especially if your goal is to start your own business. If this is your goal, then you will want to read and study everything you can while you practice your craft. Once your confections are of a high enough quality, you can look into selling them to local restaurants, cafes and other businesses.
There are a few different types of confectionery jobs that require differing skill sets. A basic confectioner typically does batch work, following a recipe created by someone else and turning out a set product. More advanced confectioners create their own recipes and often work for restaurants or other food service companies. Other confectioners work for large candy companies and are charged with designing new products. There are also amateur confectioners who simply enjoy creating sweets, some of whom eventually move into professional careers.
If you want to become a confectioner, there are a few different ways to go about it. You may be able to get a job doing batch work with little more than a high school education and the ability to follow a recipe, but it can also be helpful to seek further education. Attending a culinary school is often the first step to become a confectioner, as you will learn many of the skills necessary to excel in the profession. You may also be able to obtain real world experience as a result of attending such a school, which can be helpful when looking for work.
After you have completed culinary school, you may want to look for initial work as an intern. This is typically the next step to become a confectioner, as you will be able to work under real professionals in the field. Many large candy companies offer food science internships where you can gain a great deal of insight into the methods of creating confections.
If you are a skilled amateur, you may want to take a different path to become a confectioner. Many people skip culinary school and the traditional path altogether by learning at their own pace and experimenting at home. You may have more difficulty finding work at a restaurant or a candy company if you lack a culinary education, though those are not the only options open to a confectioner. If your creations are good enough, you may want to start your own business and either sell them to local restaurants or even directly to the general public.
