What are the Necessary Steps to Becoming a Food Service Worker?

The food service industry encompasses many occupations, all with one primary goal: to ensure diner satisfaction in whatever capacity they are responsible for.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), food preparation and serving-related occupations are among the fastest-growing, yet lowest-paid groups in the country. Besides chef or head cook, most non-managerial positions have an annual salary ranging from about $23,000 to $26,000. It’s important to note, though, that this number does not reflect what food service workers also make in tips, so don’t let that deter you, as tips are often a driving force behind some food service jobs and can double your income instantly.

If you are interested in becoming a food service worker, there are a lot of options. It’s important to understand the difference between the types of food service jobs available, as well as what kind of experience and skills you need to succeed.

Food service jobs do not require formal education or a degree. Most workers go through on-the-job training and learn from firsthand experience.

Although not required, aspiring chefs and cooks can opt to go through culinary training at a vocational school, professional culinary institute, an accredited college that offers a culinary certification or degree, or an apprenticeship program. These programs could be anywhere from a few months to a few years and often require a high school diploma or its equivalent.

It is beneficial for bartenders to take some specialized training course that will familiarize them with various kinds of drink preparation, use of garnishes, and proper glassware. There is also an alcohol awareness certification called ServSafe that has been developed by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation to teach and certify bartenders in responsible alcohol service measures.

There are additional training programs for food safety and food handling that may be required by law at the establishment you are applying for. These courses can provide you with extra knowledge about quality control and safety measures within food service. Even if they are not required, it may be worth looking into taking them on your own. It can be beneficial if you are up against another candidate for a food service job who has not gone through the training.

Food service workers can essentially be separated into two categories: front-of-house and back-of-house. As these names suggest, front-of-house employees are those who have face-to-face time with customers, while back-of-house employees handle all of the food preparation, cooking, and cleaning.

Depending on the particular establishment’s size and management style, responsibilities are sometimes shared among food service workers. People most widely recognize food service job titles like bartenders, servers, and chefs, but there are also many levels of chefs and cooks, those who handle bussing and cleaning tables between diners, those who are responsible for reception and host duties, and those who assist bartenders with keeping the bar stocked with supplies.

Let’s take a closer look at each of the categories of food service workers, as outlined by the BLS.

Bartenders are responsible for tending to customers’ drink orders. Bartenders serve their customers directly if they are sitting at the bar, or they work the service bar. This means they make the drinks that customers order from their waiters and waitresses to be served at their tables. Bartenders are also responsible for checking their patrons’ identification to ensure they are of legal drinking age.

Many skills will help you become a successful bartender. Here are a few examples:

• Accuracy to mix cocktails and pour drinks
• Attentiveness to ensure all customers are taken care of in a timely manner
• A good memory to remember regular customers’ names and drink orders, cocktail recipes, special promotions, and what wine or beer is available
• Organized to keep track of where various bottles, garnishes, or glasses are located
• Personable to engage in conversation with customers to create a warm and friendly environment
• Stress management to keep your cool if you start to feel overwhelmed

The chef, also referred to as an executive chef, chef de cuisine, or the head cook, is in charge of overseeing all of the food preparation and approving the final presentation before it goes out to the customers. Additional duties include coordinating and training the kitchen staff, determining food and beverage purchases, and handling some administrative tasks. Sometimes, the chef of a smaller restaurant or dining establishment will also be cooking food alongside their culinary team.

A successful chef must have good business, communication, and leadership skills. Additional important qualities include:

• Creativity to create and develop unique menu items to offer guests
• Stamina to endure long shifts spent mainly on your feet
• Time management to properly expedite dishes so that they are served to the customers on time

A cook takes direction from the head chef or possibly even restaurant management. Depending on the size of the establishment, there may be various groups of line cooks who are assigned to specific stations. Cooks are responsible for preparing, seasoning, and cooking various ingredients for a variety of dishes.

With the right experience, many cooks can work their way up to become head chefs after years of experience in the kitchen. The qualities needed to succeed as a cook, with the potential to advance, include:

• Ability to listen and learn so you can take direction from the head chef and further your knowledge and experience
• Comprehension and coordination to properly prepare recipes both safely and precisely using a variety of kitchen tools
• Stamina to endure long shifts spent mainly on your feet

This category includes jobs that entail customer service tasks, like hostess and counter service, as well as those who help with cleanings, such as bussers and barbacks.

Food and beverage serving and related workers also include food service workers who do not work in a restaurant setting, such as delivering room service in a hotel or providing food to patients in a hospital.

If you are employed in a position that requires customer service action, having good communication skills is the key to success. It’s important that you are friendly, courteous, and willing to assist customers however needed. Additional skills include:

• Stamina to endure long shifts spent mainly on your feet
• Strength to be able to lift and carry equipment up to 50 pounds

Food preparation workers are responsible for the tasks needed to streamline the process for cooks and chefs. These tasks include retrieving pots and pans, cleaning equipment, brewing tea or coffee, slicing meat or produce, unloading supplies, etc.

To succeed as this food service worker, you need to be able to perform the tasks expected of you successfully. Skills needed for this job include:

• Ability to listen and learn so you can take direction from the chefs and properly execute their requests
• Precise knife skills to work quickly and safely while preparing ingredients
• Stamina to endure long shifts spent mainly on your feet
• Strength to be able to lift and carry equipment up to 50 pounds

Waiters and waitresses are responsible for much more than taking and serving orders. They become the face of the establishment, as they act as the bridge between the customer and their full experience. Servers need to be on the same page as their management and chef team at all times. They should be able to answer their customers’ questions regarding ingredients, preparation, taste, drink pairings, and price. They are also responsible for checking patrons’ identification to make sure they are of legal drinking age if ordering alcohol.

It’s important for all wait staff to have good communication skills, which is the backbone of their job description. Other helpful skills include:

• Detail-oriented to remember orders, including any special requests and accommodations that need to be made
• Good customer service to engage with customers and make sure they are satisfied with their dining experience
• Stamina to endure long shifts spent mainly on your feet
• Strength to be able to lift and carry equipment up to 50 pounds

It’s easy to use Joblist to find food service jobs that match your skills, experience, and preference. Simply search through our job openings section in the Hotel, Restaurant, Tourism Management category, and look for job titles related to the food service industry. You can also browse by your preferred city or state to gain access to millions of food service jobs available all over the country.