Career Comparison: Chef vs Food & Beverage Manager
Career Comparison: Chef vs Food & Beverage Manager- You want to work at a restaurant, but you can't decide whether it's better to pursue a career as a chef or food and beverage manager. Well both of these job profiles provide exceptional opportunities. Chefs and food and beverage managers play an integral role in the operations of a restaurant business. Generally, the three major differentiating factors for culinary artists or chefs and food and beverage service managers are the type of training, the specific college programs, and experience involved and the actual duties associated with each job. To pan out in both careers, a formal training is required. While their responsibilities vary greatly, job competition will remain tough for head chef positions or jobs at higher paying, upscale establishments. This article outlines the training, job duties and career outlook for both chef and food beverage manager so that you can differentiate which is the right career for you.
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Chef vs Food and Beverage Manager: Essential Information
In order to be a successful chef, you need to take a culinary arts program from one of the best culinary arts colleges in India. The culinary arts refer to professions that involve preparing and cooking food. Chefs are often compared with food and beverage managers in both education and career scope. Generally, the three major differentiating factors for culinary artists and restaurant managers are the specific college programs, the type of training and experience involved and the actual duties associated with each job. Culinary arts programs focus on building exceptional preparation and cooking skills, while food services programs focus on administrative tasks. A culinary arts program may contain content in nutrition and sensory evaluation, American cuisine, indian cuisine, international cuisine and meat science. Management programs, in contrast, focus on educating individuals on how to operate the restaurant from a business management perspective.
Chef vs Food & Beverage Manager: Educational Requirements
Chef | Food & Beverage Manager |
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Read here-Important Chef Qualification and Skills
Chef vs Food & Beverage Manager: Required Skill set
S. No. | Chef | Food & Beverage Manager |
1. | Passion for food | Adaptability |
2. | Keen sense of taste and smell | Flexibility |
3. | Instinct for mixing flavors | Good organisational skills |
4. | Willingness to work long hours | Problem solving attitude |
5. | Perfection and accuracy to the needs | Proactiveness |
6. | Good organisational skills | Inventory management |
7. | Grit, determination | Ability to multitask |
8. | Urge to innovate/ experiment | Leadership skills |
Courses: Chef vs Food & Beverage Manager
In order to become a chef, candidates can pursue any of the following programmes:
Programmes Required to be a chef
BA (Hons) in Culinary Arts | Diploma in Chef's Management |
BA in Hotel Management | |
BA (Hons) in Hotel Management | Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Culinary Arts |
Craft Course Certificate in Food Production and patisserie | Bachelor of Hotel Management |
BBA in Hospitality | Bachelor in Hotel Management and Catering Technology |
Bachelor of Catering Technology & Culinary Arts | Costa Crociere Cruise Chef Course |
Aspirants who wish to become a Food and Beverage (F&B) Manager can enroll for any of the below mentioned programmes:
Food & Beverage Manager- Courses
Bachelor of Hotel Management (BHM) | |
BSc in Hospitality and Hotel Administration | |
BA (Hons) in Hotel Management | BA in Hotel Management |
Bachelor in Hotel Management and Catering Technology |
Career Comparison: Chef vs Food & Beverage Manager
Individuals with a background in the culinary arts or restaurant management have the skills necessary to succeed in several different careers. Below are two of the options, food and beverage service manager and chef, that highlight the main roles and responsibilities in each field.
Food & Beverage Manager
There are a huge number of career opportunities in the food and beverage service sector. F&B managers require extensive training in administrative responsibilities and making sure a restaurant image is desirable. Food and Beverage (F&B) Manager in a hotel is part of the management team responsible for managing restaurants, bars and banquet halls of the hotel. F&B manager handles the overall operations of F&B outlet including maximizing profits, maintaining quality standards and managing staff The image of the restaurant is somewhat tied to how well the manager who is responsible for food and beverages can make the staff, customers and food suppliers work together effectively. Managers are often also in charge of hiring and interviewing potential employees. The F&B Manager is responsible for hiring as well as training other staff members. Their work profile also involves ordering supplies and to assist/advise on budgeting, determining cost of dishes on the menu as well as producing financial reports.In larger restaurants, these administrative duties are often spread out among a management team usually composed of the executive chef and general manager.
Chef
Culinary artists, or chefs, in comparison, rarely need to perform administrative tasks in the restaurant. Culinary artists often have ranges of experience and training and may only be responsible for a certain aspect of the food preparation, such as slicing meat or stocking ingredients. It is important to note that while higher-tier chefs (such as executive chefs) may share some of the restaurant manager's responsibilities and training, the scope of this duty is commonly restrained to the kitchen. An Executive Chef oversees the complete culinary operations of the restaurant/food service establishment. They are also responsible for creating the menu as well as the theme of the establishment. On the other hand, the Sous Chef is typically the administrative assistant and works to ensure that the tasks listed by the head chef are carried out effectively. A Sous Chef may also be in-charge of hiring/firing lower chefs, along with maintaining their work schedules. Next, the Line Chefs are often given specialised duties which include baking, prepping food ingredients and the likes. They usually report to the executive chef or the sous chef.
Employment Outlook and Salary Information
According to the statistics, food service managers and chefs and head cooks can expect an increase much faster than average from 2020-2028. The pay scale offered to chefs depends on their position in the kitchen as well as the hotel/establishment at which they work. Payscale.com reveals that a Sous Chef can earn a salary ranging from Rs 2,29,000 to Rs 10,00,000 whereas the average salary of an Executive Chef is 8,27,473. On the other hand, Payscale.com shared that the average salary earned by a Food and Beverage Manager is Rs 5,71,328 per year. The salary of F&B Manager ranges from Rs 2,38,000 - Rs 18,00,000.
Some popular hotels like Marriott International and The Taj Group of Hotels offer freshers (1-4 years of experience), a salary package of around Rs 373,689 and Rs 254,500 respectively.
And while chefs can expect more growth in available positions, job competition will remain tough for Head Chef positions or jobs at higher paying, upscale establishments. While not necessary for employment, obtaining postsecondary education may benefit jobseekers who aspire to more responsibilities and higher financial compensation.
Also read - Top Hotels that offer Highest Packages to Hotel Management Graduates
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Explore Career Options (By Industry)
Food Scientist
A career as a food scientist requires working full-time in the laboratory. He or she analyses data, works on computer programmes, and monitors the processors involved in food production. He or she examines raw materials and surroundings to detect problems. A food scientist is employed in research universities, government agencies, departments, and private entities such as food production facilities in order to do research work in terms of studying food production, storage, and transportation facilities.
Food Inspector
A career as a food inspector comes with the responsibility to ensure the food is healthy for human consumption. A food inspector inspects the food processing entities, manufacturing companies, restaurants, and dairy farms to collect samples for investigating the quality of food ingredients and preservatives being used in the food product to be sold in the market. Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about how to become a food inspector.
Food Engineer
A Food Engineer is a professional who is responsible for processing, packaging, and improving food products. He or she either works in the agricultural or food processing industry holding the responsibility of ensuring higher quality of food products including safety, supply, nutrition, and value.
Food Technologist
Food technologists are responsible for developing healthy and safe food. They ensure the food being produced is hygienic and tastes the finished product. A Food technologist's career requires working in product development and with food product suppliers. This study is a blend of principles of management, science, and marketing to produce or develop quality and hygienic food.
Family Social Worker
In a career as family social worker, an individual help those people who grow up in dysfunctional families and suffer from mild to extreme dysfunction. Some people are able to overcome the obstacles that childhood brought them and have a positive impact on the future. This negative behavior brings great pressure on family members. Sometimes they need help to learn how to deal with certain family situations or problems faced on a personal level. Individuals who opt for a career as family social worker can help restore harmony by providing services to families in crisis.
Chef
Individuals in chef career path work responsibilities include planning the menu, observing the kitchen, and supervising the entire kitchen staff. In the beginning, a trainee chef might be asked to wash dishes, clean the kitchen, and chop vegetables. There is a gradual process of learning and growth to reach the final destination ‘head chef’.
Every restaurant needs a culinarian and the country has a thousand great restaurant chains. So, there are immense career opportunities as well. In this article, we will discuss Chef roles and responsibilities, how to become a Chef in India, Chef skills, Chef eligibility, how to become chef after 12th and Chef qualification.
Linguist
Linguistic meaning is related to language or Linguistics which is the study of languages. A career as a linguistic meaning, a profession that is based on the scientific study of language, and it's a very broad field with many specialities. Famous linguists work in academia, researching and teaching different areas of language, such as phonetics (sounds), syntax (word order) and semantics (meaning).
Other researchers focus on specialities like computational linguistics, which seeks to better match human and computer language capacities, or applied linguistics, which is concerned with improving language education. Still, others work as language experts for the government, advertising companies, dictionary publishers and various other private enterprises. Some might work from home as freelance linguists. Philologist, phonologist, and dialectician are some of Linguist synonym. Linguists can study French, German, Italian.
Event Manager
Event Managers are professionals responsible for planning, organising, and executing various types of events, ensuring they run smoothly and meet the desired objectives. They coordinate all aspects, from selecting venues and managing budgets to overseeing logistics and collaborating with suppliers. Event Managers work closely with clients to understand their goals and tailor events accordingly.
Event Managers manage teams, delegate tasks, and handle unexpected challenges to ensure events are successful. Strong organisational, communication, and problem-solving skills are vital in this role. They operate in diverse settings, including corporate, social, and entertainment events, and may work independently or for event management companies.
Also read: Bachelor of Event Management (BEM) Course
Travel Agent
A travel agent works in the tour and travel industry. His or her work responsibility involves arranging travel for the end clients such as individuals, corporations, or groups on behalf of suppliers such as hotels, airlines, package tours, and other facilities. A travel agent involves working for an independent travel agency or can be a part of a travel agency.
Individuals who opt for a career as a travel agent are involved in planning trips for their clients in their day-to-day life. Travel agents stay updated about the hospitality and travel industry. Students can pursue some travel agent courses, such as BTTM (Bachelor of Tourism and Travel Management), and MTHM (Master in Tourism and Hotel Management) to become a travel agent.
Hotel Manager
A hotel manager manages the hotel staff and services provided to clients and guests. Individuals in the hotel management career path, negotiate on contracts with vendors providing various services in the hotel. He or she coordinates with different departments to ensure that the best services and facilities are provided to guests.
The hotel manager manages the hotel's budget. He or she supervises staff and maintains rules and regulations. The hotel manager handles customer relationships and solves their issues. Here, in this article, we will discuss the details of a hotel management career, and how to get into a hotel management career.
Food Stylist
A food stylist is a culinary art specialist who is responsible for making the food look arranged in a presentable way decked up with accessories for a close shot. He or she works with chefs, photographers and editors.
Bartender
The bartender is the person who mixes and serves drinks at the bar. He or she helps the people to serve drinks at parties which adds to the glamour of the event or the night and makes the environment like a party mood. It is difficult to plan parties without the help of a bartender serving beers and alcohol with all the mixing techniques.
Students can pursue BHM (Bachelor of Hotel Management), or other related courses to opt for a bartender career in India. Here, in this article, we will discuss the details of how to become a Bartender in India, bartending a good job, bartender career growth, bartender roles and responsibilities, bartender courses in India, and bartender skills.
Station Master
A Station Master is also known as SM in its abbreviated form. He or she is an executive employed by Indian Railway Recruitment Board responsible for running trains at a station. The role of Station Master comes with the responsibility of being in charge of running trains at the station assigned to him or her.
A career as Station Master requires to holds the responsibility to operate signals and ensure everything is as per the railway rules and regulations. The primary responsibility of the Station Master is ensuring that all the passenger amenities are fit and fine at his or her station so that travellers do not face any problems.
Linguist
Linguistic meaning is related to language or Linguistics which is the study of languages. A career as a linguistic meaning, a profession that is based on the scientific study of language, and it's a very broad field with many specialities. Famous linguists work in academia, researching and teaching different areas of language, such as phonetics (sounds), syntax (word order) and semantics (meaning).
Other researchers focus on specialities like computational linguistics, which seeks to better match human and computer language capacities, or applied linguistics, which is concerned with improving language education. Still, others work as language experts for the government, advertising companies, dictionary publishers and various other private enterprises. Some might work from home as freelance linguists. Philologist, phonologist, and dialectician are some of Linguist synonym. Linguists can study French, German, Italian.
Travel Agent
A travel agent works in the tour and travel industry. His or her work responsibility involves arranging travel for the end clients such as individuals, corporations, or groups on behalf of suppliers such as hotels, airlines, package tours, and other facilities. A travel agent involves working for an independent travel agency or can be a part of a travel agency.
Individuals who opt for a career as a travel agent are involved in planning trips for their clients in their day-to-day life. Travel agents stay updated about the hospitality and travel industry. Students can pursue some travel agent courses, such as BTTM (Bachelor of Tourism and Travel Management), and MTHM (Master in Tourism and Hotel Management) to become a travel agent.
Travel Journalist
A travel journalist is one who travels to different locations, explores them, and researches their history and cultural heritage. The travel journalist plans and organises the trip and looks after factors such as bookings, routes, destinations to visit, expenses, and other logistics. The travel journalist writes about the experience throughout the journey on various social media platforms, magazines, or even blogs.
He or she might also create travel guidebooks or memoirs to guide other tourists through his or her experience. Here, in this article, we will be discussing what a travel journalist does, travel journalist's salary is, how to become a travel journalist, how a travel journalist is in India, what a travel journalist's job description is, and what is travel journalism.
Travel Planner
A travel planner is a professional who assists clients or people in planning and organising their trips. He or she is responsible for making arrangements for the client's travel requirements such as reservations, booking flights, and arranging transport. A travel planner may also visit the holiday destinations and resorts to help the clients make informed decisions.
In a career as a travel planner, he or she must design cost-effective travel packages according to the client's needs and budget and provide the best recommendations to them. The travel planner oversees the negotiations for the accommodation, transportation, rental companies, tour guides and restaurants for the clients to get the maximum benefits of trips.