Jobs in the catering industry - this is what you need to be prepared for!
The new semester has just started and you are still looking for a suitable part-time job? You want to get out of the dull daily routine in the office and simply socialize more - and not just in the evening when you go out to dinner with your friends? Especially for career changers, students and for vacation jobs, working in the gastronomy. But also the full-time job in the catering trade has something for itself: Despite the actually same work routines each day is special by the different characters at guests.
Unfortunately, it has to be said that not everyone is comfortable working with hungry and thirsty people. So if you're looking for interesting jobs as a service employee in the Service employee here are a few things you should be prepared for:
Unfortunately, it has to be said that not everyone is comfortable working with hungry and thirsty people. So if you're looking for interesting jobs as a service employee in the Service employee here are a few things you should be prepared for:
1. The working hours
In any of the job ads, you're sure to find the hint that working in the restaurant business involves shift work on the one hand and not exactly family-friendly working hours on the other - probably in slightly different words. But you definitely shouldn't embellish anything here.
While others are taking a well-deserved lunch to fortify themselves or stopping by for a meal or a drink at the end of the day after a hard day's work, the service worker in the restaurant business is just standing and running up and down. With a stomach that starts growling at noon on the dot every day, or if you go to bed at the same time every night, a job in the food service industry is not for you. Your working hours depend on the number of guests, which can vary depending on the day of the week, time of day and also seasonally.
While others are taking a well-deserved lunch to fortify themselves or stopping by for a meal or a drink at the end of the day after a hard day's work, the service worker in the restaurant business is just standing and running up and down. With a stomach that starts growling at noon on the dot every day, or if you go to bed at the same time every night, a job in the food service industry is not for you. Your working hours depend on the number of guests, which can vary depending on the day of the week, time of day and also seasonally.
2. The communication
Unlike an office job, where most of the working time takes place in front of a computer screen or sometimes on the phone, working in the catering trade requires empathy, a fair amount of sales talent and control of one's own facial expressions and gestures.
Communication determines the daily work routine here. Whether it is greeting guests, taking their order, passing on information to the kitchen or saying goodbye. Each sentence should be adapted to the situation, the counterpart and the mood as a whole. Thus, you should not only be able to greet the guests in the friendliest way, but also to react appropriately to complaints or even to unfriendly behavior and not let it get too close to you.
Communication determines the daily work routine here. Whether it is greeting guests, taking their order, passing on information to the kitchen or saying goodbye. Each sentence should be adapted to the situation, the counterpart and the mood as a whole. Thus, you should not only be able to greet the guests in the friendliest way, but also to react appropriately to complaints or even to unfriendly behavior and not let it get too close to you.
3. The movement
Of course, the daily work routine does not only consist of small talk with the guests when opening the door and on the way to their table. Most of the time, service staff in a restaurant are on the move. Whether it's taking orders, serving - which also requires a bit of skill and a sense of balance - or even clearing the table, the pedometer will almost certainly break the 10,000 mark on a normal working day.
4. The guests and colleagues
If you feel fit enough to deal with customers, compete with colleagues for the best tables and also work at different times of the day and night, you certainly have a good chance of both successfully entering the profession and finding a small new family. Teamwork with colleagues is a must in order for the restaurant to run smoothly and to the complete satisfaction of the guests.
This late-night teamwork is only possible if you feel comfortable with and among your colleagues and can also have the odd bit of fun with them. Even the regulars become part of the family after a good while, and so you don't really go to work anymore, but almost come home.
This late-night teamwork is only possible if you feel comfortable with and among your colleagues and can also have the odd bit of fun with them. Even the regulars become part of the family after a good while, and so you don't really go to work anymore, but almost come home.
5. The tip
What would the evening or night be without all the dear and sometimes really spendy guests. Not only the pure hourly wage will make your own life more beautiful at the end of the day. The tip - in addition to the wage - can also give you the one or other small luxury good or the one or other vacation.
Well, curious now? Then check out a hospitality job board for your first entry-level service opportunities. You'd rather work behind the scenes? No problem! What would a restaurant be without a cook or even pastry chef...