Food and beverage
service managers supervise the daily operations of a dining establishment or
bar. In addition to overseeing wait staff and kitchen workers, managers order
supplies, ensure customer satisfaction, create schedules, and train new
employees. Food and beverage service managers also handle administrative
duties, including payroll, employee records, and customer complaints. Food and
beverage service managers work at upscale restaurants, fast food chains, or
even school cafeterias. The job often requires long hours, and many
establishments are busiest on evenings and weekends. Managers also have to deal
with customer problems.
No specific
educational requirements exist to become a food and beverage service manager;
however, obtaining a postsecondary certificate or degree helps with career
opportunities and is preferred by employers. Experience in a restaurant or bar
is necessary, and, while not required, certification is available.
Career Requirements
|
Education
Required
|
High school diploma
|
|
Certification
|
Voluntary; the National Restaurant
Association Educational Foundation offers the Foodservice Management
Professional (FMP) designation
|
|
Experience
|
2-4 years of experience working in
a restaurant or bar setting is typically required
|
|
Key
Skills
|
Food and beverage service managers
must have strong customer service skills, be very detail oriented, have the
ability to solve problems, and work well with others
|
|
Salary
(2014)
|
$48,560 per year (Median salary
for all food service managers)
|
Sources: U.S. Bureau
of Labor Statistics (BLS); Monster.com job listings (October 2012).
Step 1: Earn a High
School Diploma
While experience is
often valued as much as education, employers prefer to hire managers with at
least a high school diploma. Courses at the high school level will not cover
topics related to food and beverage management; however, math and business
classes help students with the administrative tasks they will have as managers.
Success Tip:
- Work
part time in a restaurant or cafe. Experience
in the field can begin while in high school, and part-time jobs for
teenagers are available, such as dishwasher or host.
Step 2: Gain Food
Service Experience
Food and beverage
service managers have specific work or educational experience in the food and
beverage industry. According to the BLS, it's common for individuals to have
positions as waiters, cooks, or hosts before being promoted to managerial
positions in restaurants, bakeries, hotels, bars, and other food service
establishments.
Success Tip:
- Look
into a postsecondary program. Food
and beverage certificate and degree programs are offered through colleges
and universities. Pursuing a degree while working in a restaurant or bar
is an option for prospective managers. Coursework covers sanitation, food
production, personnel management, and nutrition. Applicants with a
postsecondary credential are looked upon more favorably in the job market.
Step 3: Pursue
Managerial Positions for Career Advancement
While earning a
promotion within a restaurant or bar is one way to earn a managerial position,
applying for jobs with other establishments is another option. An applicant
with a completed postsecondary program and work experience in a restaurant can
begin applying for managerial positions.
Success Tip:
Earn certification. The National
Restaurant Association Educational Foundation offers the Foodservice Management
Professional (FMP) designation. This is a voluntary credential demonstrating
professional competence in the field.
