Should I be a food service manager?

Do you have a passion for gourmet food and beverages?

Do you love working in a fast-paced environment?

Do you take pride in providing great customer service?

This is the environment that food service managers work in every day!

A food service manager is a person responsible for the day-to-day operations of a food service establishment.

They:

• supervise preparation of food and beverages

• assign work to servers

Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash

Food service managers work in restaurants, hotels, school cafeterias, and other establishments where food is prepared and served.

Some food service managers who have a passion for cooking and a flair for management eventually open their own restaurant businesses.

What are the cons to being a food service worker?

• You may often work evenings, weekends, and holidays

• The work can be hectic

• Dealing with dissatisfied customers can be stressful

Photo by Gift Habeshaw on Unsplash

• Hire, train, oversee, and sometimes fire food service employees

• Order food and beverages, equipment, and supplies

• Oversee food preparation, portion sizes, and the overall presentation of food and drinks

• Inspect supplies, equipment, and work areas

• Ensure that employees comply with health and food safety standards

• Address complaints regarding food quality or service

• Schedule staff hours and assign duties

• Manage budgets and payroll records

• Establish standards for personnel performance and customer service

In the U.S, the average salary for a food service manager is $47,679 USD.

In Canada, the average salary for a food service manager is $50,105 CAD.

• High school diploma or GED

• Bachelor’s degree in hotel and restaurant management, food service management, or related field is preferred

• Accreditation is advantageous (for more information, check the Official CIFS Food Handler Certification for Canada and The American National Accreditation Board for the US)

• Proven experience working in the food service industry

• Sound knowledge of labor laws as well as food health and safety regulations

• Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills

• Outstanding leadership and management skills

• Great communication and customer service skills

• Attention to detail

• The ability to stand for extended periods

Jessica

• An introverted-extrovert, needs time to unwind from lots of interactions

• Self-motivated leader

• Not interested in hygiene

Shaun

• Flexible in his day-to-day life

• Strong communication and problem-solving skills

• Very outgoing and patient

Tylor

• Can be shy when meeting people at first

• Young and energetic

• Sometimes rude and careless

Duke

• Strong leadership skills

• Loves to eat gourmet food

• Unable to stand for extended periods

If being a food service manager sounds like a good path for you: