Higher education
Students wishing to extend their education beyond Parkland’s programs should consult the program director. Articulation agreements are in place with several culinary schools and leading universities.

Employment opportunities
Restaurant/foodservice career opportunities range from fine dining to quick service, from delis to private clubs, from catering to casinos, from airlines to cruise ships, from theme parks to resorts, from hotels to home meal replacement. The restaurant industry also offers opportunities to those aspiring to own or operate their own business.

Job outlook
The thriving restaurant industry will need 100,000 new managers each year for the foreseeable future. The industry employs more women, minorities, and people with disabilities than any other. Locally there are more than 300 commercial restaurants and several large institutions, and all of them need qualified supervisors and managers.

Earning potential
Entry positions in foodservice rarely pay well, but earnings rise sharply with experience. The typical Taco Bell manager earns in excess of $50,000, and energetic people with education and experience can become store managers by age 30. Competition among chains for qualified managers has resulted in both shorter work weeks and increased pay and benefits for restaurant managers today.

Career advancement
In addition to hundreds of store managers, large restaurant corporations need regional training, sales, and operations executives. Global expansion of restaurant concepts offers new opportunities. Experienced managers can transfer their skills to higher paying positions in clubs, hotels, and resorts.

Career choices with your degree or certificate:
• Banquet director
• Catering operator
• Chef
• Foodservice manager
• Restaurant assistant manager

With experience and/or further education you may go on to:
• Club manager
• Executive chef
• Food and beverage director
• Product procurement
• Resort manager
• Restaurant general manager