Culinary Externship

HEI Hotels & Resorts; Fairfield (CT); On-site; USD 21,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and Dental programs

Vision insurance

Paid time off & holidays

Pet insurance

Life and disability coverage

401(k) matching

Hotel room discounts

Job summary

HEI Hotels & Resorts seeks a Culinary Extern in Connecticut to gain hands-on experience in a professional hotel kitchen alongside our culinary team. The role supports high-quality food preparation aligned with brand standards and CIA academic requirements.

The externship emphasizes practical learning, collaboration with chefs, and exposure to daily kitchen operations while meeting graduation requirements.

Qualifications

• The candidate is a current student at The Culinary Institute of America and externship is required for graduation.
• Kitchen experience is preferred but not mandatory.
• Grounded knowledge of culinary fundamentals and sanitation practices.
• Ability to stand for extended periods and lift up to 50 lbs.
• Dexterity to safely operate kitchen tools and equipment.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Clear verbal communication and teamwork skills.
• Willingness to learn and adapt in a fast-paced setting.

Responsibilities

• Prepare food according to recipes, production methods, and presentation standards.
• Assist in mise en place, prepping vegetables, proteins, sauces, and garnishes.
• Maintain proper food handling, sanitation, and safety procedures.
• Label, date, and rotate food following FIFO.
• Support line cooks during service for timely plate execution.
• Learn knife skills, butchery fundamentals, and sauce preparation.
• Assist with inventory control and minimizing waste.
• Operate and maintain kitchen equipment and clean workstation.
• Participate in tastings and culinary meetings when applicable.
• Perform additional culinary duties to support learning objectives.

Skills

Kitchen skills

Sanitation knowledge

Attention to detail

Team communication

Willingness to learn

Dexterity with tools

Physical endurance

Food safety awareness

Education

CIA externship student

Job description

About Us

HEI manages an unparalleled portfolio of leading full-service branded hotels and luxury and lifestyle independent hotels across the U.S. We are the acknowledged experts on upper-upscale, luxury, and premium select-serve hotels in urban, super-suburban, and destination locations. At HEI, we recognize that our enormous success is solely the result of our greatest asset: Our People. Where people work is a choice. Against that choice, our greatest obligation is to ensure day in and day out that our associates have the compensation and benefits they deserve and industry leading tools, training and support that they need to excel. At HEI, simply said, we honor the privilege of our associates choosing us by investing in and making them more valuable.

Don't meet every single requirement of this job? At HEI we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to still send in your information. You may be the perfect candidate for this or for other roles within our organization!
We value U.S. military experience and invite all qualified military candidates to apply.

Compensation

Salary Range: $15.00 - $25.00 HourlyTipped/Service Charge Eligible? NoDiscretionary Performance Bonus Eligible? No

Overview

Job Description Summary
The Culinary Extern will gain hands-on experience in a professional hotel kitchen environment while supporting the culinary team in preparing high-quality food in accordance with brand standards. This externship is designed to provide practical learning aligned with Culinary Institute of America academic requirements.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The following competencies and skills will be developed during the externship program in order to successfully complete academic requirements and demonstrate readiness for continued professional growth:

• Prepare food items according to standardized recipes, production methods, and presentation standards.
• Assist in daily mise en place, including prepping vegetables, proteins, sauces, and garnishes.
• Maintain proper food handling, sanitation, and safety procedures in accordance with local health regulations and company standards.
• Label, date, and rotate food products following FIFO (First In, First Out) procedures.
• Support line cooks and chefs during service periods to ensure timely and consistent plate execution.
• Learn proper knife skills, butchery fundamentals, sauce preparation, and station organization.
• Assist with inventory management, portion control, and minimizing food waste.
• Properly operate and maintain kitchen equipment including ovens, ranges, grills, fryers, mixers, slicers, and food processors.
• Maintain a clean and organized workstation throughout each shift.
• Participate in menu tastings, culinary meetings, and feedback sessions when applicable.
• Perform additional culinary-related duties as assigned to support learning objectives.

Qualifications and Skills

• Current student enrolled at The Culinary Institute of America (externship required for graduation).
• Prior kitchen experience preferred but not required.
• Basic understanding of culinary fundamentals and sanitation practices.
• Ability to stand for extended periods and lift up to 50 lbs. with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Finger and hand dexterity to safely operate kitchen tools and equipment.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Effective verbal communication skills and ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.
• Willingness to learn, accept feedback, and adapt in a fast-paced setting.

Benefits

• HEI Hotels and Resorts is committed to providing a comprehensive benefit program that offers you choices for your physical, mental and financial wellness, creating value in your most important investment - you!
• For your physical and mental wellness we offer competitive Medical and Dental programs through Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield as well as Vision insurance programs through EyeMed.
• Our Vacation, Sick and Holiday programs are available for you to rejuvenate with time off.
• HEI also provides pet insurance through the ASPCA.
• For your financial wellness, HEI provides a wide array of coverage, including Supplemental, Spousal and Child Life insurance as well as Short and Long-Term Disability plans.
• Our 401(k) Savings Plan with matching funds, and discounts through our 'YouDecide' and Hotel Room Discount programs provide additional incentives for choosing HEI as the employer of your future.
• Specific details and eligibility of these programs vary by location and employment status.

HEI Hotels and Resorts is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.