Career Options in Food Service Management
If you’re interested in food service management, you probably have a lot of questions about what the job entails and how one can be successful in this field. A food service manager handles the daily operations of restaurants, canteens, and similar food service establishments. They are in charge of making sure that proper customer service is provided, food gets onto everyone's table, and the business makes money.
What do food service managers do?
They work in restaurants, hotels, school cafeterias, etc. Most have a high school diploma and several years of experience working in food service. In limited service establishments - fast food restaurants, coffee bars, cafeterias, etc, the food manager oversees food preparation. In full menu restaurants, the food manager works with the chef.
Often, the food service manager has to be the first to arrive and the last to leave. Working evenings and weekends is normal. It is ultimately their responsibility to ensure that customers are satisfied and the business makes a profit. Food service managers may also find themselves running the cash register, waiting tables, or even working in the kitchen if the restaurant is shorthanded.
Food service managers have to:
- Handle legal issues such as licensing and health code
- Take care of human resources - hire, fire and schedule employees
- Train employees for their jobs
- Understand basic accounting and financial management
- Handle inventory to control costs
What opportunities are there?
Food service management positions are currently growing, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, at about 5% a year - this is close to average. The BLS also states median pay in 2015 was $23.41 an hour or $48,690 per year. Food service management also tends to be reasonably recession-proof. A restaurant meal is a cheap luxury when people may lack the money to buy a new car or an elegant outfit. Companies may be more inclined to contract out catering when times are lean. A food service management position at a successful restaurant or a corporate cafeteria could be a stable and safe career you could hold for years.
How do you get a job in food service management?
Getting these positions can require at least five years of work experience in lower paying jobs. Obtaining a degree in Food Service Management can help shorten that period and improve job prospects in general. With a Bachelor of Science, you may also find you have better opportunities getting work in on and off premise catering, retirement communities and entertainment facilities, as well as restaurants. Many high-end restaurants require their managers to have a degree. So, even though more than 40 percent of managers only have a high school diploma, getting a degree is well worth it, and can give you access to the best paying jobs.
What skills do you need to be a food service manager?
Successful food service management requires skills in many areas, which can be developed through both experience, formal training or, ideally, a combination of the two.
Skills needed include:
- Menu planning and the ability to know where to get the best ingredients
- Good computer skills
- Basic accounting
- Customer service
- The ability to work well with a team
- Knowledge of legal and health code issues surrounding food service in the state
- The ability to handle scheduling and logistics
There can be strong competition, especially as many restaurants hire from their existing staff, so it is important to do whatever it takes to give yourself an edge.
If you are interested in a career in food service management, blending a love of food with management skills and business knowledge, ECPI University offers a Bachelor of Science in Food Service Management. With an accerelated schedule and year-round classes, you might be able to graduate and begin working in the field of food service management sooner. Contact ECPI University today for more information!
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Gainful Employment Information – Food Service Management - Bachelor’s
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