Are You Interested In A Career In Catering Services?

Catering has become big business. With so many special functions and events occurring and people that are far too busy more people are relying on catering services to make their party or event a hit. Are you interested in a career in catering services?

If you enjoy the kitchen, enjoy preparing and serving food, and are comfortable around large groups of people a career in one of the many catering areas might be just perfect for you.

When people think about catering services they generally think about prepared food sitting on banquet tables but somewhere that food has to be prepared by a Chef after all those hiring the catering services are expecting the very best in food services.

The Chef is responsible for both preparing and cooking the food. A variety of foods are prepared and a variety of techniques used depending on the menu that is being served. The Chef in charge of the kitchen is called the chef de partie or section chef and he or she is responsible for the sous chef who is experienced in all departments and is capable of running the kitchen for the chef.

As a chef in training your title is commis chef and you will spend your time learning all aspects of the kitchen, food preparation, food presentation, and serving. This includes appetizers, main courses, and deserts.

Your hours of work will depend on your place of employment. Generally you would work a 40 hour week and there is usually lots of overtime especially in a busy catering firm. You can also expect to work evenings, weekends, and holidays.

To be a chef you need to have a keen interest in food preparation and cooking. You also must be able to multi task and work under pressure while instructing and directing your team. You should be creative and have an imagination when it comes to food preparation.

The kitchen assistant or kitchen porter works in the kitchen doing basic food prep tasks, and assisting the chef as directed. You will also be responsible for unloading food orders and organizing storage space. Keeping the kitchen clean and hygienic is an important part of your duties and this includes appliances, floors, walls, work surfaces, and other equipment.

Hours of work are dependant on the place of employment but you should expect to work weekends, holidays, and evenings on a regular basis.

To excel in a career as a kitchen assistant or kitchen porter you will need to be flexible, have the ability to multi task, and be able to work quickly and efficiently without direct supervision. You’ll need good communication skills and a desire to work as part of a team.

The bartender is hired out as part of the catering package. You will be responsible for pouring drinks throughout the event as well as collecting payment if applicable. You will also need to keep the bar well stocked and clean which includes washing glasses, storing empty bottles, and emptying ashtrays.

As a bartender you are expected to be cheerful and friendly and interact with the customers. You also need to keep your eyes open for trouble that looks to be brewing and try to prevent it from happening by speaking with the host or designated person.

There are several other employment opportunities in catering services. It’s an interesting and rewarding career choice if you love the kitchen and love meeting people. You can expect an every changing work environment as you never know where the next catering event will occur.

If you are interested in a career in catering be sure to check online. There are several post secondary institutes offering the training you need. So are you ready to get busy in the kitchen?

Deon Melchior is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit ArticleClick.com. Article Click is a free content article directory. This means that as a publisher you may reprint the articles that are included in our site, as long as the article is unedited and the author box is included with it's live hyperlinks.