If you have an interest in food and a strong belief in your ability to keep pace with an evolving industry, a career as a Catering Manager could be for you.
Career Overview
No event is truly successful without the right food and beverage service and that is where Catering Managers come in. These are the individuals responsible for providing the perfect food to match the atmosphere for events. If you are looking for help in creating the best menu for your event – a Catering Manager is the person to call. Catering Managers generally work with a team of people to execute the planning and execution of the supply of food and beverage for an event. They work closely with the clients to better understand the needs of the client and then delegate the work to their team and work to deliver a stellar service.
Required School Subjects
You should have taken the following subjects at high school:
- English
- Mathematics/Mathematical Literacy
Recommended subjects:
- Tourism
- Business Studies
Institution and APS
The following institutions are highly recommended for studies in hospitality management:
- University of Pretoria – APS of 28
- Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) – APS of 26 (Pure Mathematics) or 28 (Mathematical Literacy)
- University of Johannesburg (UJ) – APS of 26 (Mathematics) or 28 (Mathematical Literacy)
Required Qualification/s
A Bachelor’s Degree/Higher National Diploma in Hospitality Management are qualifications that help to give individuals assistance in securing a job. However, relevant experience, skills and personal qualities are factors that give individuals an extra edge. Universities and colleges both offer fantastic programmes to individuals who are interested in the catering industry. Degrees such as a Bachelor of Consumer Science and Hospitality Management as well as a National Diploma in Hopitality Management (Food and Beverage, Accommodation, Professional Cookery) will be beneficial qualifications to have behind your name.
Required Skills
The following are commonly found in Catering Managers:
• Communication skills
• Analytical and problem-solving skills
• Business Interest and Awareness
• Organisational and Time Management
• IT skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Leadership skills
• Numeracy Skills
• Customer service
• Flexibility
• Self-motivation and Commitment
• Work under pressure well
Where you can work
As a Catering Manager, you can work in various sectors and some of them include:
• Hotel Chains
• Local Government
• Cruise Ships
• Retail Outlets
• Prisons
• Education Institutions
• Tourist Attractions and Organisations
Working Hours
Catering Managers generally work 8am – 5pm jobs but when events are upcoming then the amount of time worked increases to meet the execution dates.
Expected Salary
The salary for a Catering Manager in South Africa is estimated to range between R92 718 to R300 328 – with the average being R173 281. In this field, experience and the size of the organisation which you work for contribute to the salary package.
What to expect
The following are some of the things one can expect in this career:
• Projects generally require Catering Managers to work closely with independent chefs and chefs from restaurants, which will require work to be completed outside of the office
• Traveling for events is second nature for Catering Managers but depending on the size of the organisation, traveling is generally a daily occurrence and not something that might keep individuals away from home for weeks or months at a time
• The job is physically demanding and requires consistent service – which can be challenging for some
• Job opportunities are available nationally and internationally
• There is a formal dress code that is associated with this field due to it being high profile and high responsible in nature
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