Students Complete Internship, Begin Job Search

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06.30.2009 --

DC Central Kitchen works hard to prepare our Culinary Job Training students for success. This week, the students participated in two of the most important parts of that effort: the week-long internship placement, and a coordinated job search.

During the internship, students spend 40 hours under a mentoring chef at a local foodservice business, preparing for a real working environment.

Our internship site partnerships include:

1. Centerplate @ the Washington Convention Center
2. Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center
3. Sodexo @ Marriott International
4. Marriott Metro Center
5. Holiday Inn Capitol
6. Fairmont Hotel
7. Eurest Dining Services @ National Institutes of Health
8. Sodexo @ National Geographic Society
9. Sodexo @ Canadian Embassy

"My internship has shown me many aspects of the culinary field. I have learned so many different food preparations and Chef Manning and Chef Oscar, as well as all the employees, are truly helping me to better my culinary skills," commented Jule, a student interning at Marriott International in Bethesda, MD.

After completing their internship, students are evaluated by their site supervisor. Class 75 has received the best intern evaluations in the history of the Training Program.

We continually strive to improve our programs, so that our students are confident and fully equipped to work in the foodservice industry. "The improved intern evaluations are a direct result of our enhanced skills training," said Marianne Ali, Director of the Culinary Job Training Program.

Following their internship, students participate in a coordinated job search. They receive guidance in resume development and practice for job interviews.

"I have had nothing but great experiences working with DC Central Kitchen’s graduates. They are hard working and have an intense desire to give back to the community. The skills they learn in and out of the kitchen during their time at DCCK not only benefit our day-to-day operations, but the people we serve. I will continue to hire them for this very reason,” says Demetrios Recachinas, Manager of Food Programs at Martha’s Table.

I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to be a student at DCCK. It not only taught me the essential culinary skills, but it helped me learn to be responsible for my actions and confirmed that I can achieve the goals that I previously only dreamed of," said Jule, Culinary Job Training student.

Special thanks to all of our internship sites, especially Marriott International in Bethesda, a new site that began through the efforts of Jim Burke, a DCCK Board Member. Thanks to Tom Fletcher and Chef Manning at Marriott, who enabled the program at Marriott International to get started right away! We would also like to acknowledge the Culinary Job Training Advisory Council, a council of local industry professionals who provided feedback for the enhanced skills training.