Thursday, January 30, 2014

Food Service Training For Hospitality Professionals

By Serena Price


Food service training is necessary for individuals to work in the hospitality industry. It is an ever-growing field as hospitals, hotels, airports, restaurants, country clubs and many other industries need employees trained in this profession. There are specific courses and classes an aspiring worker must take to be successful in this fast-paced and highly competitive field.

A food handler's certification will teach specifics such as cooking and holding perishable goods at the proper temps, rotating stocked items, cleaning methods, sanitation requirements and symptoms of illnesses from improper preparation. Almost all establishments must undergo health inspections, some of which are unscheduled. Being prepared for these inspections can make the difference between a reputable business - one that does not pay attention to detail will be subject to fines and possible shut-down.

You may plan on working in a club or bar - if so, an alcohol awareness class is necessary. This teaches the importance of being sure that guests are not over served and also gives guidance as to how to handle situations where a guest has had too much to drink. This reduces the liability and risk of the facility and the employees.

Nutrition is also a vital course, especially in schools, day cares, nursing homes and assisted living establishments. Learning how to provide proper and balanced amounts of essential servings from the main food groups is essential to the health of children and the elderly. Having this ability to ensure the health and well-being of the customers and guests at your facility will give you upward mobility and a strong reputation in the industry.

On-the-job training is the most vital because it actually teaches you what a specific position is all about. Every job in individual businesses is different and this education will prepare you to do the work on your own with no supervision. Learning how to take initiative, go the extra mile, and give attention to detail will make you stand out as an exemplary employee. Jobs in hospitality are also notorious for long hours of heavy work so it is important to develop stamina and stay healthy and strong.

If you have the opportunity to work as an apprentice under a mentor, the knowledge you will receive will help you for years to come. You may still need to take some courses to round out your education, but the chance to work with a master in the field will give you much more information and many more skills.

Focusing on what you want out of this profession and the areas of expertise you need for a particular job will guide you in choosing the right courses. For example, working in a nursing home would not require alcohol awareness courses but you would definitely need to be schooled on nutrition and the different dietary needs of the geriatric set. An employee in the kitchen would not necessarily need to be trained on customer service although it would still benefit him in that he would have a basic understanding of what servers must go through when orders are late or incorrect.

Food service training will allow you to progress in your career at an accelerated rate. Being informed on current trends, sanitation developments and customer satisfaction will push you to the top of your competitors. Having a propensity to learn new and advanced techniques and having a knowledge of many areas of food service will give you limitless careers to choose from, now and in the future.




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