The right recipe for a catering career
Josh Catalano inspires Cyril Jackson students. Picture: Barry Baker
It wasn't long ago when working in hospitality was considered something you did until a "real" job came along but, according to managing director of Australian School of Tourism and Hotel Management Alan Williams, this is no longer the case.
"The hospitality and tourism industry is a dynamic and sought-after industry to get into these days," he said.
"There are so many jobs available in all types of establishments from the local supermarket to international hotels and resorts."
With the success of shows like MasterChef, My Kitchen Rules, The Best in Australia and Food Safari, donning an apron has become cool and the hottest place (pardon the pun) to hang out is the kitchen. But how does one go about it full time?
"The recipe for a successful career in this industry is a dash of inspiration, a healthy measure of aptitude, a large dose of positive attitude, a dollop of passion and a sprinkle of sweat," Mr Williams said.
"To become a chef for instance you need passion, motivation and quality training in order to meet commercial industry standards.
"In doing this cooks will develop unique techniques in order to prepare and present a wide variety of dishes for all types of tastes."
He recommends having core skills like creativity, teamwork, organisation and a heightened sense of taste along with entering into an apprenticeship program as the best place to start.
"This will give you a great head start to your career," he said.
"You can also start by learning some basic kitchen skills through a pre-apprenticeship course and proceed to become an apprentice afterwards; there are a number of private and public education providers that offer these programs."
Another popular role in the restaurant and catering industry, according to Mr Williams, is a food and beverage attendant.
"This job is a multi-functional role requiring the ability to provide prompt, courteous and efficient food and beverage service," he said.
"It's also where the kitchen and the restaurant join forces to ensure the artistic creation of the chef, displayed on a plate, is presented to the guest with an equal level of craft and skill."
If food and beverage is not your style but you still want to be part of the industry other courses including event management, hotel management and resort management are options to consider.
"There are a number of institutions providing a range of training and education options leading to formal qualifications for the hospitality and tourism industry," Mr Williams said.
"These include certificates, diplomas and university degrees.
"Most qualifications for the industry include work experience which is also an added advantage to gaining employment in this vibrant industry."
