| Studies on the United States' restaurant and food | | | | degree, in institutional food service and restaurant |
| services sector have shown that the industry is | | | | management are greater. It will be easier to climb |
| one of the fastest growing, with the number of | | | | up the ladder if you combine education with solid |
| food managers touted to rise by around 45,000 | | | | on-the-job experience. |
| annually starting the year 2014. | | | | Why Formal Education is Important |
| In fact, data from the National Restaurant | | | | Employment in the food industry is considered a |
| Association attest to the fact that plenty of job | | | | profession. Before, those who simply had ample |
| opportunities are available for people both from | | | | interest and experienced-based know-how and |
| within and outside the industry. It is for this | | | | resources can enter the business. While this is still |
| reason that more and more people are getting | | | | true today, most institutions prefer that you have |
| interested and increasing their investment on | | | | a certificate to back your resume. |
| restaurant and food services training and | | | | Programs related to the restaurant and food |
| education. | | | | services sector include food technology, |
| What the Industry is About | | | | marketing, customer relations, human resources, |
| The foodservice and restaurant sector covers | | | | finance and business management. Institutional |
| areas such as catering, casual family diners, fine | | | | food service facilities also provide courses on |
| dining, chef-owned bistros, resorts and casinos, | | | | nutrition, sanitation, record keeping, understanding |
| motels and hotels, cruise ships, fast food chains, | | | | of policies and procedures, food preparation, |
| theme parks, schools, company cafeterias, | | | | reports preparation, and personnel management. |
| hospitals and just about wherever the preparation | | | | Such hospitality management programs usually run |
| and selling of foodstuff is present. | | | | for two to four years, after which you get a |
| To date, there are about twelve million jobs in this | | | | diploma or a certification. The more credentials |
| sector alone. It is one of the most widespread | | | | you have, the more you will be perceived of as a |
| because food is a basic necessity. That's why | | | | professional who is well-trained, highly skilled and |
| many entrepreneurs say you can never go | | | | motivated. Achieving these credentials only shows |
| wrong when you enter the food business. Food | | | | how serious you are at advancing the industry |
| services exist in every city, state and country, | | | | and growing with your chosen career. |
| from the most metropolitan of environments to | | | | Thus, formal training is important because: |
| the most quait and far-flung locations. Due to | | | | 1. Having specialized qualifications entails that |
| such, employment opportunities in the restaurant | | | | you're entering the restaurant and food services |
| industry is always high. | | | | industry with more than the basic necessary skills |
| A career in the restaurant and foodservices | | | | to professionally advance |
| industry does not mean simply asking the | | | | 2. Specialized training shows prospective |
| customer if he wants a side of coleslaw to go | | | | employers that you are motivated enough and |
| with his chicken. It is more than that. You will also | | | | have an ample level of maturity to move around |
| have to hone your people skills in order to | | | | such a high-pressure and fast-paced environment |
| properly interact with the customer, as well as | | | | 3. People who graduate from hospitality-related |
| practice stellar hygiene and good grooming. A | | | | programs and courses have turned out to be the |
| restaurant that does not demand so from its | | | | ones who do better in their careers, whether |
| employees is no good. | | | | they have actually entered the restaurant |
| In fact, even without the restaurant owner telling | | | | industry or not, according to data from the US |
| you how to conduct yourself on the job, it is your | | | | Bureau of Labor Studies |
| personal responsibility to make sure that | | | | 4. Highly-skilled staff and those with formal |
| customers all satisfied, happy and very much | | | | restaurant training will be in high demand because |
| keen on coming back. | | | | jobs in full-service restaurants are expected to |
| What Sort of Training Do You Need? | | | | rise at a huge rate compared to other food |
| Most hole in the wall restaurants start from | | | | services units. |
| scratch. That is, without the formal education and | | | | Conducting Yourself on the Job |
| training to set up and operate such a business. | | | | People working in the food services industry are |
| Some of the older and pioneering institutions | | | | not robots. Their job is not just to take directions |
| began from owners' very own kitchens, without | | | | and follow t hem to the letter. They must be able |
| so much as a bachelor's degree to their names | | | | to make decisions themselves and have the |
| and, still, their restaurants continue to grow and | | | | initiative to address certain issues. A lot of |
| thrive with the times. | | | | restaurant operators take note of your personal |
| However, the industry is growing at around 12% | | | | qualities, for instance, problem-solving skills and |
| each year and the demands of the customer are | | | | attention to detail, before they decide if they |
| getting more and more cosmopolitan. While zero | | | | want you to be part of their team or not. |
| training can be offset by pure dedication and | | | | Grooming is also crucial. |
| interest in the restaurant and foodservices | | | | A lot of these qualities you will learn while you're |
| business, there also are strong arguments in | | | | receiving formal training. While traits like leadership |
| favor of acquiring the right education and formal | | | | and initiative are ingrained, the right way of |
| training needed for the job. | | | | handling operations and customers if often not |
| Education is useful given the changing times. With | | | | found if you just go it alone and rely on your |
| globalization at an all-time high, it is important for | | | | instincts. Opportunities in the restaurant world will |
| those engaged in the food business to keep | | | | continue to rise as the industry grows in |
| themselves up to date and knowledgeable with | | | | conjunction with the population, leisure times and |
| the latest trends. With travel and communications | | | | personal incomes. |
| booming at an alarming rate, the restaurant | | | | Whether you're eyeing a job at a small restaurant |
| sector has the responsibility to move with it. | | | | or a fine dining place, the amount of dedication |
| Most restaurants provdie in-house training for their | | | | you give out should be the same. It is inevitable |
| personnel, in order for them to more easily | | | | that you'll start at the rank and file level, as you |
| advance to supervisory and managerial positions. | | | | will need the experience to gain solid footing in all |
| Hence, it is not unusual for a former dishwasher | | | | possible restaurant duties. Coupled with a degree, |
| or table service crew member to be the boss | | | | it won't be surprise if you find yourself at one of |
| over a period of time. And though a number of | | | | the top positions in six to twelve months' time. |
| food service staff are promoted to higher posts, | | | | When this happens, relish the moment. You |
| the job opportunities for those with formal | | | | definitely deserve it. |
| training, whether via an associate or bachelor's | | | | |