Food Service Manager Resume Tips: Why Formal Education Should Be on Your Resume

Everyone needs to eat. That might explain why there are more than 660,000 restaurants in the United States, according to Statista. It may also explain why there are so many jobs available for food service managers.

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the population is growing, along with the demand for a variety of dining establishments. All of this adds up to a projected growth in employment opportunities for food service managers of 9 percent.

That's good news for people who have the training, skills, knowledge, and experience to run the day-to-day operations of a restaurant or establishment that prepares meals for the masses.

It's exceptionally good news for those with really good resumes. Here's a look at seven ways you can make your resume sizzle:

1) Get in the kitchen

Food service managers have a lot of responsibility. They hire, train, and manage the staff. They work with chefs to order food and equipment. And they are responsible for quality control.

That means you're going to want to know with precision what goes into making good food. The best way to do that is to get into a kitchen and gain real-world experience cutting, searing, slicing, plating, and participating in the food preparation process.

2) Learn the business

Running a restaurant is about more than just the food. Sure, the food is the star of the show, but if it's not making money, the restaurant probably won't be in business for very long.

So learn as much as you possibly can about the business. After you've spent some time in the kitchen, find a way to start working on budgets, interacting with vendors, and studying staffing.

The food service industry tends to run on tight margins, so the more you can do to learn how to maximize profits, the more attractive your resume will be to prospective employers.

3) Understand the "front of the house"

When it comes to making money in the food service business, the customer is all that matters. This means you want to keep customers happy and appreciative of both the food and the overall dining experience. And that's where the "front of the house" comes into play.

It refers to everything the customers see and experience--from the way the greeting to the seating to the service. Yes, the food is still the star, but if the staff doesn't deliver a good experience, people will find another place to eat.

Make sure you understand how to establish high standards for staff, customer service, cleanliness, and more.

4) Connect with culinary professionals

This could actually be one of the most important part of the job-landing process, and it will happen organically as you get yourself into the kitchen, learn the business, seek an education, and start developing an understanding of the front of the house.

But you definitely need to build a network of culinary professionals. Cast a wide net so it includes chefs, cooks, servers, bar tenders, and food service managers who have been working in the industry for a while.

They'll be able to help you gain real-world experience, answer questions, and provide valuable advice along the way.

5) Hone your leadership skills

There is a difference between managing and leading. As a food service manager, you will be expected to do both. Management has more to do with running the daily operations. Leadership is about motivating your staff, making strategic decisions that are in the best interest of the organization, and dealing with difficult situations--whether it's too many customers on any given day or not enough.

There are many ways to develop your skills as a leader, including studying other leaders, studying books, and studying in the classroom.

6) Learn marketing

The restaurant industry is constantly evolving. These days, customers are looking for hyper-local foods, natural ingredients, environmental sustainability, and back-to-the-basic dining options, according to the National Restaurant Association.

Next year there are sure to be other trends that affect the business. Your job as a food service manager is to stay on top of what customers want--and then market your organization's efforts to meet those expectations.

It means understanding advertising, the power of social media, and public relations. Knowing how to market your organization will make you more attractive to prospective employers.

7) Get a formal education

While some food service managers rise to their positions after years of toiling away in the industry, others take a more direct route: They get a formal education.

Earning a degree allows you to learn a lot in a short amount of time. You'll probably study finance, leadership, operations, facility management, and more. You'll build connections and a network. And you'll build your resume.

Are you interested in becoming a food service manager? If you want to earn of Bachelor of Science Degree in Food Service Management, ECPI University's Culinary Institute of Virginia offers this course at an accelerated pace. For more information regarding this exciting opportunity, connect today with a friendly admissions advisor.

It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

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