Additional Information
Before you even think about becoming a butcher, you might want to get a
feel for customer service by working in a retail store. This is a good opportunity
to develop very important customer service skills.
"At the retail level, there is lots of customer contact," says Ron Smith,
a professor of meat studies.
Get in touch with a butcher in your area to find out what the job is like.
This is also a good way to make contacts if you decide to do an apprenticeship.
Meat-cutting is a trade where there are apprentices (butchers in training)
and journeymen (expert meat cutters). A meat-cutting apprenticeship is usually
about two to three years long and can be done at any butcher shop willing
to train you.
Many butchers have learned the trade through informal means, thanks to
on-the-job training.
"I married a sausage-maker," says Mary Krolizik, owner and operator of
a meat market. "I had no clue about meats."
While certification isn't required to work in this field, it's a good way
to make sure you know everything you're supposed to know. It can also make
it easier to get a job. According to Smith, many students of meat science
have combined their interest in meat with an education in microbiology, product
development or research.
Finally, realize that before you even pick up a knife you'll be doing a
lot of the less interesting jobs when you're first learning the trade. Expect
to be cleaning up, loading and unloading trucks, wrapping meat and serving
customers.