In the food and beverage service industry, there are a number of different types of jobs one can have. Depending on your interests and skill set, you may be interested in getting into the food and beverage industry as a career. We used to think that getting a job at a restaurant was something that only happened if you had friends or family who owned one. But things have changed, especially with the advent of online job applications and databases. Now you can apply for any job you like with just a couple of clicks of your mouse! However, it’s not always that easy. The world of gastronomy is fairly niche, so whenever you’re searching for places to apply for work, you may find there aren’t many opportunities available to you – especially if you’re looking for entry-level jobs or internship opportunities.
Gastronomy is a scientific study of food and beverage that looks at the plant and animal products we use to make them, as well as the methods and techniques we use to harvest, prepare, and preserve them. The term Gastronomy was coined by a French scientist in the 19th century, named Prosper Montagné. Montagné was the editor of a culinary encyclopedia called ‘The Encyclopedia of Gastronomy’, which, at the time, was an entirely new concept. Gastronomy as a field of study is important because it helps us understand how to use our natural resources to feed ourselves and make the most of them. It’s also important because it gives us a framework for understanding the cultural significance of food and beverage, in addition to how they affect our health.
How to Find a Job in Gastronomy
Luckily, as we’ve already established, there are plenty of ways to find job openings in the culinary industry even if you don’t have connections or know someone who can help you get in. You can start your job application search online by typing “culinary jobs” into Google, or searching for “restaurant jobs” in your city. You can also try the following resources for job listings:
- Job boards: You can also look for job openings in gastronomy on general job boards like Indeed, Monster, or the Careers site at the New York Times. Be sure to use the search function to find jobs in your area, as well as in the type of environment and industry you want to work in.
- Social media: Don’t forget to check social media sites like LinkedIn and Facebook, where you can join groups, follow companies, and add yourself to lists of people seeking work in the industry. You can also try the following sites to search for gastronomy-related job openings: Indeed, Craigslist, and Simply Hired.
- Local resources: If you’re interested in working in food service, you shouldn’t forget to check local resources like your city’s board of health, food and restaurant health departments, local newspapers and magazines, or culinary schools in your area that may be expanding their staff or hosting job fairs.
What Skills Do You Need to Work in Gastronomy?
The best way to find out what skills you should have for a particular job in gastronomy is to look at the job postings themselves. You can also read online job descriptions to find out what skills are most desirable in different positions. Here are some skills that are useful for most jobs in the food and beverage industry:
- Cooking: The most obvious skill to have is an ability to cook. You don’t have to be an expert chef, but you should be able to make a variety of different dishes, and understand how to pair different ingredients to make delicious meals. If you’re applying for a cooking-related job, you should be able to create a variety of different dishes, as well as understand their nutritional content.
- Resourcefulness: There are a lot of chemical reactions that go into cooking and food preparation. Many people don’t realize this; they just think you mix a few ingredients together and voila – you have a delicious meal. But there’s a lot more behind it than that! Having a basic knowledge of chemistry will help you understand how to properly prepare food, in addition to making sure it’s safe to eat.
- Customer service: If you work in any type of food or beverage-related job, you will have to interact with customers. In most cases, being nice is a skill that anyone can learn. You don’t have to be a born extrovert to deal with people – but you do have to be prepared to be polite, patient, and friendly even when you’re stressed or tired.