Locating a career in the food and beverage industry can be a tough one, as there are many different options as well as numerous employees vying for the same jobs. Since it's an ever-evolving market, you need to stay abreast of the jobs that are in demand. This can give you an added advantage over others also seeking these jobs.

Depending upon the region and the market, jobs in the food and beverage industry can be feast or famine. Keep tabs on industry newsletters and online publications, and stay current with any changes involving the job market. Since there are so many outlets to investigate, consider the following when locating food and beverage jobs news and trends:

1. Participate in food and beverage industry employment blogs.

2. Subscribe to food industry employment publications.

3. Follow along with food and beverage careers through websites.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Chime in on blogs or forums regarding careers in the food and beverage industry

Take advantage of chatting online with others in the food and beverage market, as this can provide an opportunity to further your career. Feel free to ask questions or even answer a few; these sites can be a great way to network. You might even find search tips that you hadn't thought of before.

I recommend: The Hospitality E-Magazine is a blog that provides up-to-date news regarding the hospitality industry. Join its RSS feed to be notified of any updates by having them sent directly to your e-mail. Look to FoodService.com and its forums. With several topics to choose from, you're bound to find insight there.

Obtain a subscription to a publication regarding jobs in the food and beverage industry

Magazines and e-newsletters are great ways to stay on top of any changes to careers in the food and beverage industry. Take responsibility and educate yourself on any potential job market changes.

I recommend: Food Quality is a magazine geared toward those in the food safety industry. Search through its industry links to find training classes or conferences to attend. It also has a link for its e-newsletter. Food Engineering, from BNP Media, is published monthly and provides information about the world's top 100 food and beverage companies and upcoming conferences.

Search out further food and beverage industry jobs through websites

Associations and organizations can be an excellent stepping stone in finding industry news. Oftentimes these affiliations receive news and updates instantaneously, passing the news onto you if you're part of the association. Also, with conferences and trade shows as part of a membership, you can find insider information not available to others.

I recommend: Look to the American Beverage Association and its news involving beverage industry careers. Consider the American Frozen Food Institute and its top industry news site. If there's a particular trade organization that you're searching for, then look through the list provided by CareersInFood.com. With almost 200 food and beverage trade associations to peruse, you should find one that caters to your specialty.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  For higher-up jobs such as food and beverage director jobs, pay attention to any changes in training or certification. Since these jobs require more knowledge, it's not uncommon that they necessitate further training to keep up with changing national requirements.

Food and beverage careers are great for many people. This is an industry where people often can work their way to the top as they gain experience. While food and beverage jobs may be very physical, the work is usually steady.

There are many different types of jobs in the food and beverage industry, from wait staff to gourmet chefs. There are also managerial positions that do not have as much direct contact with food or customers.

If you are interested in a career in the food and beverage industry:

1. Attend culinary school if you are interested in food and beverage director jobs. This will prepare you from both a food preparation angle and a business angle.

2. Be willing to start at the bottom of food industry employment. Today's fry cook can become tomorrow's executive chef. People in the restaurant industry value experience and you simply need a foot in the door.

3. Don't job-hop. If you constantly change jobs, it will reflect badly on your resume. Additionally, restaurant owners talk with each other and you may get a bad reputation in your town.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Search the job boards to find a basic food and beverage job

If you're just starting out, it's always good to look at online job boards to find that first job. These boards are convenient because they allow you to search for jobs in every state.

I recommend: Foodservice.com is an excellent resource for those looking for food and beverage industry employment. You can search for jobs or post your resume. Hcareers focuses on the entire hospitality industry, which includes the food and beverage industry. It is another great resource for jobs, especially if you are interested in working at gourmet hotel restaurants.

Use a headhunter to find executive food industry employment

Wait staff and fry cook jobs may be a dime a dozen, but if you need an executive chef positions, the options become more limited. By using a recruiter that specializes in the food and beverage industry, you can find jobs that are more suited to your skills.

I recommend: Hospitality Executive specializes in placing high-end hospitality staff. They always have a number of positions that are ideal for an executive chef. If you live outside of California, you may want to check out HospitalityHR.com. They list a number of restaurant recruiters within each state.

Teach others to enter food and beverage industry careers

Food and beverage industry jobs aren't only in the restaurants. If you are a successful chef, you can take those skills to the classroom to teach younger students how to achieve the same success.

I recommend: The Culinary Institute of America is one of the best schools for the culinary arts. If that's not right for you, CulinarySchools.com can lead you to other culinary schools throughout the world.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Always look your best when applying for food and beverage industry jobs. Because people view these jobs as casual, some people make the mistake of not properly dressing for the interview. You should still wear a suit and carry a copy of your resume.

You can often begin jobs in the food and beverage industry at an early age with little or no training. However, if you plan to make your career with food industry employment, you need to know what your training options are. Many restaurants train their wait staff and kitchen help on site.

Food and beverage jobs education and training can follow a number of paths. Typically, if you want to make more money with food and beverage industry jobs you need to take more training classes. And at some point you may decide that you want to specialize in beverage industry employment exclusively. When you look at obtaining advanced training for a career in the food and beverage industry, you may want to consider the following options:

1. An associate’s degree that may prepare you for a specific type of food industry employment.

2. A bachelor’s degree that may add the business classes to prepare you for food and beverage director jobs.

3. A culinary school degree that trains you to be a chef.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find out more about food and beverage jobs education and training

Get the basic information you need about a career in the food hospitality business. Know what you can expect to make and know what the job expectations are. There's no need to train for a job that you find you have no talent for or interest in doing.

I recommend: For an overall glimpse into the education and training needed for food and beverage jobs, check out the website for the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. This gives detailed information on specific training you need for food industry employment and also lists projected numbers of food and beverage industry careers, as well as what kind of salary you can expect to earn. You can get a good idea of the variety of food and beverage careers and the requisite education and training needed by looking at Vault.com. This information comes from personnel in charge of hiring individuals for food and beverage industry employment.

Seek food and beverage jobs education and training through professional organizations

The hospitality industry has a number of professional groups and trade groups that help train people interested in advancing their food and beverage careers. Some workshops are available online.

I recommend: The Professional Chefs Association offers continuing education credits to help individuals further their careers in the food and beverage industry. The Hospitality Resource Group can provide food and beverage jobs education and training for entry-level jobs in the food and beverage industry all the way to food and beverage director jobs.

Find specialized jobs in the food and beverage industry

The beverage industry is a rapidly growing sector within the food and beverage industry. Specialized training can open a number of career doors for you.

I recommend: Beverage jobs training is available through Vino 101. It offers courses in serving wines, beer and other spirits. WineQuest training can help make a food and beverage job into a profession with its professional training for wait staff.

Many people begin their work career in some type of food industry employment. This is a career path that can take you in many directions if you decide to pursue it. A career in the food and beverage industry can begin in the kitchen as a fry cook or kitchen assistant, and end as an executive chef or restaurant owner.

Just like any job, people with food and beverage careers have to start somewhere. As you look at food and beverage jobs for beginners you can see a number of places to begin your career, even without any formal training. Common places to begin include:

1. Beverage industry jobs, making specialty coffees in a coffee house.

2. Food and beverage jobs in a fast food restaurant.

3. Kitchen assistant in a restaurant.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get basic information about food and beverage jobs for beginners

Read websites about the many food and beverage industry jobs available in today's workplace. You may want to look for a job that gives you on-the-job training, or you may want to get your basic education first. Good background information about careers in the food and beverage industry can help you make wise decisions about your future.

I recommend: Find out about food and beverage careers at the Student Center of Junior Achievement. This site includes a listing of different kinds of jobs in the food and beverage industry, from beginner to experienced workers. The United State Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a number of opportunities in food industry employment. It also discusses the types of education you might need for certain food and beverage jobs.

Study job descriptions for food and beverage jobs for beginners

Before you apply for your first food and beverage job, you need to make sure it's something you really want to do. You can expect to work long hours on your feet. Often the pace in a kitchen is busy. You must be willing and able to listen and follow directions carefully.

I recommend: Food and Beverage has a great description of a server's job responsibilities. The Olive Garden describes its management, service manager and culinary manager positions.

Consider specialized training in food and beverage careers

Many local trade schools offer cooking classes. You can get specialized training in culinary schools as well as bartending schools. With business training, you can find food and beverage director jobs. The list of education options for careers in the food and beverage industry is endless.

I recommend: For information about food and beverage industry careers and the education needed to advance, read the information from AllCulinarySchools. Find out more about the role of culinary education in food and beverage industry employment at CulinarySchools.com.