Become a Catering Manager

Start out your food service career by taking a job as a cook, chef or another position for which you are qualified. Become familiar with the day-to-day duties involved in working in a kitchen or catering company before you decide to go into management. Apply to an accredited hospitality and restaurant management program. Students in this type of program learn the business side of catering management and benefit from hands-on training in the kitchen and bar area. Most positions for a catering manager require applicants to have at least a bachelor's--if not a master's--degree in the hospitality field.

Update your resume to reflect your management degree as well as relevant on-the-job training that you received at your previous job. Write a cover letter that tells prospective employers why you want to become a catering manager and why they should hire you. Create a sample plan for a catering event for your portfolio. Attend to all of the details, such as budget, workflow and menu. Have copies available to hand out to your interviewers when you apply for catering manager positions.

Take advantage of your hospitality management program's career center when you are ready to search for internships and jobs. Network with alumni of the program to get leads about available positions. Be ready to put in very long hours as a catering manager, especially at the beginning of your career when you are expected to prove yourself as you learn the ins and outs of the job. Find the balance between taking your job seriously and having a sense of humor when things go wrong.