The Positive Aspects of a Career in Hotel Catering

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Hotel caterers anticipate and prepare for all events and meals that happen in the hotel. Event catering for a hotel is a fast-paced field where every detail matters and deadlines are tight, but it is truly rewarding for those students who have creativity and a drive for pleasing people. There are many catering tasks within a day that will need attention, planning, and decorating. Cooking skills are also an important skill the caterer does well to develop. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, and that’s in the rewards you’ll get if you study for catering now and eventually find your dream job. Here are five happy thoughts that are hard to dismiss.

1. You’ll learn a lot and enjoy great diversity

So your client wants a Viking theme feast? It’s time to find out what foods fit a middle ages Scandinavia. Planning on suspending lit Chinese lanterns in the dining area? A good manager is careful to check the local fire code. You need to have a wealth of knowledge to help plan a party that will make the guests content and excited about the hotel, not just the party itself. A client may come to you with only an idea and it’s up to you to see if it’s feasible and then how to execute it. That might mean researching where to find fire dancers in Nebraska, or where to find refreshments for 3,000 comic book fans.

2. It’s never boring

Each event will have its own theme, requests, and restrictions and the hotel caterer’s job is to plan a menu and create a decor that will meet with the client’s wishes. One night might be an Indian themed wedding, the next a convention that wants a Caribbean buffet. The amount of variables you might encounter are limitless and it makes for a career that lets your creativity shine. For some, the thought of a deadline can be little scary, but hotel caterers embrace the rush of making everything perfect for show time. There’s certainly nothing slow or tedious in this job and it’s a lot more enjoyable working with happy people, usually on vacation, rather than in the usual retail context.

3. You get to be a leader

It takes a lot of inner workings to pull off a meal for 100 or more people. The hotel caterer is the one who coordinates them all. You’ll be working with chefs, decorators and other staff who work like composers to ensure your “orchestra” works well together, producing one completed piece. If you relish the leadership role and are not intimidated by a high pressure environment, you can earn respect quickly, earn a name fast, and become a leader in just a few months after graduation.

4. The Option of Independence

Even if you don’t prefer a high and mighty job title, you can still opt for independence, perhaps even opening your own catering business. With the knowledge you have received from working your way up, perhaps working with five star hotels, make for an excellent resume and can help sell your services independently. This allows you total freedom and the ability to pick your own clients.

So, as you can see the job of a hotel caterer is lots of fun and a lucrative career. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that some food service managers make $47,960 per year, even with minimal formal education. Naturally, associate’s or bachelor’s level degree applicants have a higher chance of being placed, given the high expectations of hotel owners.

In the end, you get to be creative, work with interesting people, and make guests happy. What better way to earn a living than cooking and partying?