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Food service directors can come from various backgrounds, but increasingly require a degree in restaurant and hospitality management or food service management. Hands-on training programs and internships can also help, as well as obtaining certifications such as FMP. Personal qualifications include leadership, customer relationship skills, and flexibility.
An individual can take one of several paths to becoming a food service director. For example, someone might work as a cook, server, beverage maker, or bartender. While restaurant experience is important, food service directors are increasingly required to have a two- or four-year degree in a field such as restaurant and hospitality management or food service management. When trying to become a food service director, a person can often stand out from other applicants by completing internships and other types of specialized training. Certain business skills and personality traits are also needed that will help you succeed in food service management.
Completing a hands-on training program is one way for someone to become a food service director. This program may be limited to on-the-job training or may involve a special program that typically provides two components: classroom work and hands-on experience. Typical courses might include nutrition, sanitation and food safety, along with customer satisfaction and other human resource topics. Many aspiring food service directors also study personnel management in addition to learning computer and other technical skills.
One can also pursue an academic degree to become a food service director. Many community colleges, for example, offer an associate’s degree or other form of certification in this field. For more advanced training, one can obtain a bachelor’s degree in institutional food service management or restaurant and hospitality management. In the US, several graduate programs are also available in these fields. In addition to traditional classroom training, a practical internship can help someone become a food service director.
In most areas, a business owner must first acquire a business license along with a food and beverage preparation license. To become a food service director in the US, he can also obtain voluntary certification as a Food Service Management Professional (FMP). After achieving a certain level of hands-on experience and passing a written exam, a food service employee is awarded FMP certification by the National Educational Association Educational Foundation.
Some personal qualifications needed to become a food service director include leadership ability and good customer relationship skills. It usually takes good people skills for someone to market and promote their business. Flexibility is also often cited as a necessary characteristic, as advancing in the field may require relocating to pursue other opportunities, such as opening one’s own franchise.
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