The restaurant and food industry is a faced paced and rewarding career field for many individuals. There are a wide variety of options available to individual who enjoy working with food and people. These jobs require a passion for hospitality and quality service. Here are the top 5 hottest jobs in the food industry.

1. The first food industry profession many people think of is a chef. A chef is an extremely respected position that requires a lot of passion, education, and dedication. A chef works with food hands-on in the kitchen of a restaurant. At first, you will need to develop your skills and experiences with a strong education. Many individuals choose to attend a culinary school or to major in tourism and hospitality programs at a university or college. Once you have a strong background, you will have to work your way up into a prestigious position because becoming a chef is a very competitive industry to break into. You will likely work under a head chef with many other cooks at once. Eventually you may be able to run your own kitchen.
2. Working with food in a hands-on manner isn’t for everyone, but you can still work in the food industry. Another excellent option is to work in the human resources department of a restaurant or a restaurant chain. Every company, food related or not, needs a human resources department to improve work conditions, employee and customer satisfaction and to boost morale. Working in human resources may also involved keeping track of state and local food and restaurant requirements to be sure that you are within restrictions and mandates in regard to how food and drink is handled and managed.
3. If you like the restaurant industry and are also great with numbers and money, a career as a controller may be ideal. Controllers oversee expenses and income within a restaurant to help with the business and its functioning. These individuals are responsible for monthly statements, filling out balance sheets, keeping track of money coming in and going out, and so much more. A controller can help a restaurant owner in various ways in order to help him or her make smart, business-savvy financial and investment decisions over the long term.
4. Another popular career is to become a restaurant’s general manager. A general manager is required to oversee the day-to-day operations of a business. They delegate tasks and schedules to employees, ensure customers are satisfied with their service and the quality of their meals, and act as a liaison between employees and the restaurant owners for improved communication.
5. If a manager position entices you, but you aren’t so interested in being in a restaurant setting, you may consider a career path as a banquet manager. A banquet manager helps plan and execute the meal options at large events such as parties, weddings, or business events. They organize an event and oversee the entire production from set up to clean up. A banquet manager designs the food display and presentation, chooses menu options, ensures food quality, and makes sure guests are provided with optimal service from their waiters. These individuals also hire the staff who will wait, serve, and cook for these events. Therefore, banquet managers are responsible for training staff properly. Most banquet managers attend a 2 or 4 year college program in order to be prepared and able to compete with others in the market, however is in not always necessary to go to school in order to become a banquet manager.

A career in the food industry is a great way to interact with people on a regular basis and provide quality food and services. Whether you work with food service supplies in human resources, with ingredients as a chef, or as a manager, you will be able to find a rewarding career in the food industry.