Catering services jobs are some of the most enjoyable careers if you like being around people and making sure they are taken care of with the best service available. The catering business can be anything from a simple dinner to an all-out extravaganza. There are many catering services available, and the work that is done by those who work for this type of business will entail many chores.
Carrying trays laden with food and drinks are one of the jobs of food service workers. The ability to stay cheerful and friendly even when customers become rude is another requirement. The busy time of the day can be quite stressful if you do not do well under pressure.
There are many people who do quite well with this type of work. However, you must be an individual who is very comfortable around people and able to work many different shifts. Being on your feet for hours at a time is sometimes another requirement of the food service industry.
Food Services of America jobs are another option if you are looking for a career in this industry. There are other types of jobs besides actually being involved in the food serving or catering. There are district sales representatives who are responsible for the sales in their assigned areas. This may encompass one state or several. There are also delivery drivers, sales assistants, and buyer assistants.
If this type of career appeals to you, the choices of many different aspects of the food service business are one of the benefits of this career choice. If you are considering this career, many times students will begin part time or during a holiday season to get the work experience. This can help immensely if this is the career choice you make.
Usually the catering business would prefer to hire a high school graduate although this is not a requirement. The other food-related industries do not usually have this requirement either. There are many students that start working part time in these establishments and advance to management after graduation. The different positions in food service can include the following, which consist of mainly on-the-job training:
- Waiter and waitress
- Bartender
- Host and hostess
- Dishwasher
- Counter attendants
- Dining room attendants
- Fast food workers
- Cooks
- Bakery workers
There are countless jobs that are part of the food service industry and the number of sales and other types of jobs that do not necessarily encompass the actual preparation of food. Advancement is quite possible in certain companies and the more you learn about this industry, the better the chances for advancement when something is available.
According to statistics in 2006, the food industry and related fields employed 7.4 million people. About 56,000 were employed in non-typical jobs in the food service business. The majority of food and beverage jobs were in restaurants, smaller shops that sell mostly sandwiches, and catering services. There are food-service-related jobs all over the country, but usually more are located in larger cities and areas that cater to tourists. This is where there is more money to be made as well.
The outlook for these types of jobs are expected to have a 13% increase over the period from 2006 to 2016. The growth is about average compared to other jobs. The exception is the fast food industry which is expected to grow faster than average. This is due to the way that we live today. The fast paced life is getting even more so and the call for more restaurants that cater to this lifestyle are going to increase.
The food service industry workers normally earn their money by hourly wages and the tips they receive. The amount they earn will vary by the location and the type of job they have. There are also higher end establishments that will pay more than a typical food service job. This may include the tips that are received because often they may be higher than the actual wage the worker is earning.
The normal wages for waiters and waitresses is about $7.00 per hour which includes tips. The highest 10% earned about $13.00 per hour while the lowest earned approximately $6.00 per hour. As with any industry the wages are normally higher in areas that are more heavily populated. There are many types of food service related jobs that will pay more than others, but if you are interested in catering you may find that starting with an established firm and learning all you can will be the best way to get started.
