Want to Work in Catering? Get Your Catering Professional Certification!
Do you love to cook? Can you thrive in fast-paced environments? Do you need variety in your day-to-day schedule? You should consider a career as a catering professional!
Catering is much more than a service some restaurants provide on the side. It is a highly specialized industry that fills an important niche in hospitality and event planning. It’s also a highly lucrative industry; market research group IBISWorld reports that United States caterers generated $12 billion in revenue this past year. This number is expected to increase as economy grows. As the industry grows, so does the demand for skilled catering professionals.
Catering requires a uniquely broad skillset, including elements of event planning, marketing, food management, cooking, and logistics. While that may seem like an intimidating list, getting the skills you need to become a successful catering professional is easier than you think. Gaining a catering professional certification is the first step to entering the catering world.
An online catering professional training course can help you gain Certified Professional in Catering and Events (CPCE) through the National Association for Catering and Events, the industry-preferred catering certification. You will also pick up the knowledge needed to succeed in this growing industry. Coupled with the experience gained from a seasonal or entry-level catering position, you will be on your way to a career as a catering professional in no time!
If catering sounds like it’s up your alley, these are some of the top reasons to get your catering professional certification:
Low Barrier to Entry
One of the main reasons to consider catering is its sheer accessibility for inexperienced individuals. While profitable, the industry tends to be very seasonal. For instance, New York City catering companies report that in the Fall and Winter, they often have more work than staff on-hand. As a result, many caterers hire entry-level, seasonal staff to assist with events in the busier parts of the year. For the aspiring caterer, these short-term positions are low-commitment opportunity to gain experience and get a taste of the industry.
However, catering job opportunities are hardly limited to temporary positions. Indeed.com currently lists more than 1,800 catering openings in New York City. Approximately 1,500 of these openings are full-time permanent and more than 1,100 are entry-level.
Job Flexibility
The footloose nature of the catering business means that caterers enjoy a unique amount of freedom and flexibility for a foodservice industry. To keep costs down, some caterers choose to operate from a certified home kitchen and deal with prospective customers exclusively online or by phone. When you operate from a certified home kitchen, having a catering professional certification gives your customers ease of my mind.
Conversely, some businesses operate catering restaurants, where they augment their catering services with a storefront offering anything from baked goods to fine dining or small plates and drinks. Catering companies bringing their work directly to their customers. This helps them avoid many of the obstacles experienced by traditional brick-and-mortar businesses. This flexibility leaves them more resources to worry about what matters: selling the best food and customer experience that they can.
Day-to-Day Variety
Do you get bored doing the same thing every day? If you crave a career with more variety, then a job in catering could be perfect for you! Like many hospitality industries, catering is a fast-paced, challenging business that rewards skill, personality, and attention to detail. Each event that you cater will present you with new faces and new preferences. Each event also presents a new opportunity to make somebody’s day and earn loyal business. If you love cooking, meeting new people, and learning new skills, catering could be the perfect field for you.
Ready to start your career in the exciting world of catering? You can prepare for the Certified Professional in Catering and Events exam and gain the skills you need with our Catering Professional course!
Register for Catering Professional today!