Next you’ll probably move up to garde manger, (gahrd mahn-ZHAY), i.e., composing appetizers, soups, salads, shrimp cocktails and other cold preparations. How long you remain here depends on restaurant and your skills. Eventually, if all goes well, you will be groomed for working line, i.e., cooking main items. Some restaurants divvy up line positions by type of cooking, (the sauté cook, grill cook, etc.), or by type of food, (the meat cook, fish cook, etc.) Even though being a line cook is more prestigious, hours remain grueling and you are under even more pressure to get food out. Line cooks can work non-stop for hours during height of service with no chance for even a bathroom break.

If you’re good you’ll eventually become a sous chef. This is second in command, right under executive chef. The hours are still long, you’ll still sweat your you-know-what off working line, and now you have added responsibility of policing everyone else in kitchen. Of course this position brings more prestige and money. Performance and Maintenance

A sous chef’s ultimate goal is to become an executive chef. Hard work, better than average ability, and sometimes a little bit of luck are all needed to reach that plateau. Sometimes executive chef is also owner, ultimate goal in chefdom: owning your own restaurant. But always remember, no matter where you are on totem pole in restaurant business, it is never a nine to five proposition. It is your life. Security and Administration

Of course there are other culinary occupations. There are cooking school teachers, food stylists, caterers, and restaurant consultants to name a few. But inevitably, these people have spent years paying their dues in front of hot stoves when everybody else was out having fun or being with their family. Or you could become, HA, a food writer. You probably have a better chance of ending up on Food Network than being able to support yourself, (let alone a family), by food writing alone. At risk of sounding discouraging, stars in people’s eyes are ultimately result of being beat over head with reality.

5) Cherry Picking vs. Filters

Cherry picking is a nice feature, and a very popular one, it allows you to go into a site and view a lead before you purchase it, some sites even let you know how many times it has been sold. Filters are also very nice features, they allow you to predetermine what kind of lead you want, and when a lead comes in matching your filter criteria, it is sent directly to you via e-mail or fax.

6) Customer service

As in all business’, customer service is key, and way they handle themselves on phone can be perceived as a good indication as to how their company is run. If you are struggling to get a hold of someone, or your phone calls are not being returned, they are most likely not worth doing business with.

7) Referral

One of best ways to find a mortgage lead company, is to have one referred to you by a co-worker, or by someone within you organization who has had success with a lead company. Ask around and see what you can come up with.

8) Exclusive vs. Nonexclusive

If you want to receive leads exclusively, you will pay a steeper price, however this lead will be sold to you only, doing away with your competition. Non exclusives leads are sold on average three to five times, it usually will cut cost of lead in half, but keep in mind, you are now competing with other loan officers. Remember, you get what you pay for.

One last thing..

By considering these eight features of mortgage lead companies, you are well on your way to choosing best lead company for you, and at right price. But don’t stop here, continue to gather as much information as you can before you invest, I can’t stress enough just how valuable lead review sites are, check them out, it will be worth your time.

Jay Conners has more than fifteen years of sales and marketing experience in banking and mortgage industry, and is owner of J. Conners, Mortgage leads reviews a mortgage resource center for mortgage brokers, loan officers, and lenders. He is also owner of Www.callprospect.com a mortgage lead company, specializing in fresh leads. Jay Conners can be contacted via e-mail at conn1229@yahoo.com

Jay Conners is the owner of J. Conners, Mortgage leads reviews a mortgage resource center for mortgage brokers, loan officers, and lenders. He is also the owner of Www.callprospect.com a mortgage lead company, specializing in fresh leads. Jay Conners can be contacted via e-mail at conn1229@yahoo.com