International Catering Services Education and Training

How to fulfill your dream of successful international catering
By Kristina Seleshanko Catering is a million-dollar business both in and outside the United States, making this field ripe for those with international catering services education and training. It doesn't matter whether or not you're a chef. To enter international catering, you just need the right knowledge and necessary business skills.
 

Although hands-on experience with an international catering company is useful, there are several other ways to obtain the education you need to have a successful career catering outside the United States:

1. Attend college to prepare for an international catering service career.

2. Immerse yourself in publications for international catering companies.

3. Become active in catering organizations.

Attend college to learn about international catering

One way to prepare yourself for a career in catering is to get a formal education at a college. This typically means going to a culinary school, which Includes courses in catering, but you may also find valuable online courses with an emphasis on international catering.
Try: The CollegeBound Network has a free search engine for culinary schools, including those focusing on catering careers. Or find a culinary school by state at Culinary Ed or an online course at Online Degrees.

Read publications for catering services international

Any good trade publication will enhance your career in international catering, but there are also periodicals specifically targeted to international caterers. Use them as a way to keep up to date with the latest trends and resources.
Try: Penton Media publishes "Special Events" and G.P. Publishing offers "Catering Magazine," two important magazines about the catering business. Culinaire publishes "Art Culinaire," specifically for international caterers.

Join an international catering association

There are many organizations for caterers; some are general, offering educational opportunities to those who work in the United States or abroad, and others focus specifically on international catering.
Try: The National Association of Catering Executives is the oldest and largest catering association in the world, offering a host of continuing education opportunities. Association of Catering and Event Professionals provides a library of reference materials online, plus monthly meetings.

• Remember that an international food catering service must be run by someone with more than basic cooking knowledge. Caterers should have great business sense, work well with customers, understand safe food handling and be able to deal well with stress.