Some Of The Best Careers In The Food Service Industry
Food industry careers span traditional jobs such as chefs to new roles such as food foragers or even careers in food science and manufacturing. If food is your passion, there is a multitude of career options in it for you to pursue.
Food service managers oversee restaurants, diners, school cafeterias and other food-service establishments. Their responsibilities often include hiring and training staff members as well as keeping work areas tidy while managing customer complaints.
1. Food Service Manager
Food service management careers cover an expansive spectrum. Some managers specialize in meal preparation while others ensure operations meet health and safety regulations. Furthermore, these managers may also be responsible for hiring staff members, training them on specific procedures or processes, creating schedules, processing payroll or recording inventory.
Food industry careers provide valuable occupational skills applicable across many business areas, such as customer service, kitchen management and food production. Furthermore, these positions are ideal for people who enjoy social interaction; working in a restaurant can allow you to build friendships among customers, employees and locals alike.
A well-written job description can help weed out candidates who don’t fit your ideal role. A concise list of core responsibilities will make the role easier to comprehend for jobseekers while emphasizing what qualifications are most essential for the position.
2. Cook
People often associate food industry careers with chefs; those stoic professionals with white jackets that grace magazine covers or seem to yell at their staff in commercials. However, numerous food-related jobs offer rewarding career paths as well.
Cooking at a restaurant is an ideal way to develop customer service skills and learn to manage under pressure. By providing top-quality service, there’s a greater chance that customers will tip you for their excellent work.
For an under-the-radar role, consider becoming a food and beverage director. These positions can often be found within hotels and 4-5 star restaurants and require you to create budgets, meet with suppliers, manage a team of managers, as well as have some culinary arts training (you may require instructor for this step). Superprof offers several chef instructors who can help guide you towards starting this job of your dreams!
3. Bartender
As bartenders, front-of-house (FOH) staff can influence every guest experience at a restaurant. They shape its beverage program’s reputation, implement responsible service practices and oversee costs management for alcohol sales.
Bars and restaurants offering table service typically utilize two separate bartenders for table orders from servers; one serves bar patrons while a separate “service bartender” takes orders for dining room tables from servers. To be effective at their job while adhering to state and local alcohol regulations.
FOH workers typically earn significant tips from their service, so they should strive to be friendly and approachable when greeting customers and taking food orders from diners. Furthermore, working as part of a team includes barbacks and hosts who may help facilitate simpler drink orders.
4. Waitstaff
Waiters and waitresses work in restaurants to provide customers with food and beverages. They accept customer orders, relaying them directly to kitchen staff so that their meals can be created exactly to customers’ specifications.
Most restaurant waiters receive on-the-job training for several weeks at their respective restaurant, during which they learn the operating philosophy, basic serving techniques, as well as any applicable state and local laws regarding alcohol sales.
Waiters must be adept at handling customers’ complaints and requests in a friendly, accommodating way, even under pressure. In addition, they are responsible for recording food and beverage prices on customers’ checks as well as refilling coffee cups and water glasses as needed, checking IDs to make sure customers meet minimum age requirements for purchasing alcohol, taking orders from patrons as they come through, as well as recording what was ordered by customers. In many states waiters must possess a food handler permit or card in order to work within this industry.
5. Hostess
An exceptional hostess will know how to provide top-notch service and keep the food flowing smoothly, as well as be knowledgeable of the menu and answer questions about it. These individuals often receive tips depending on how well they perform during their shift.
Food service workers will have a daily opportunity to interact with new people. Social interaction is one of the primary draws to food-related careers like restaurant service and front of house management; other careers that provide this benefit include server, bartender and bed and breakfast owner.
Working in the restaurant industry can be rewarding and exciting, but it is essential that you research all available career paths before diving in headfirst.
6. Barista
Do You want to Break into the Food Industry as a Barista? Starting as a Barista Can Be the Key! Working as a barista allows you to enter any number of environments like coffee shops, restaurants and even grocery stores! Working as a Barista requires excellent customer service skills as well as organization so customers are served quickly.
Baristas often receive many tips and are paid well. However, it’s important to recognize that certain customers may be difficult to deal with; rude customers may cause you to lose business.
Your barista skills can be improved through researching coffee trends, experimenting with various bean types and brewing methods, competing in latte art competitions and joining online coffee communities. Furthermore, some restaurants provide training programs designed to further your career goals.
Benefits of working in this position include competitive pay and referral bonuses. Furthermore, some hotels may even provide employee discounts such as free meals or discounted room rates; providing another opportunity to save money while enjoying working in the restaurant industry.
7. Server
A Server job involves greeting customers, taking orders, serving food and beverages and ensuring a satisfying dining experience for guests. They work in restaurants, cafes, bars, hotels or events – often earning tips based on service levels – without necessarily needing formal education or prior experience to earn this profession.
Average hourly rates for waiters depend on the industry, though experienced servers can often command higher wages and tips. Furthermore, those specializing in certain forms of service – like silver service or wine delivery – may earn even more.
Food service industry jobs offer many exciting and fulfilling career options that can be both fun and fulfilling. Ranging from traditional culinary roles to emerging fields like food forager or molecular gastronomy, there’s something suitable for everyone here. So if you’re searching for your next food-industry career look no further! Check out one of these 10 Best Careers In Food Service Industry for inspiration.