The importance of operations and management skills for food service supervisors

Resume Skills Advice

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, food-service occupations will grow 7 percent over the next seven years, and food-service management jobs will grow 5 percent. Need more proof? An estimated 1.6 million new restaurant jobs will be created by 2027, and the food-service industry is expected to overtake retail growth this year.

It's clear that the food-service industry is heating up — and career growth opportunities are even hotter. According to the BLS, the annual salary for food service managers averaged $45,600 in 2015.

The demand for qualified food service supervisors and managers will continue to increase over the next decade. However, job seekers in the industry often sell themselves short when it comes to properly packaging relevant skills on resumes. Employers in this industry are looking for food service supervisors who can clearly demonstrate operations and management skills; however, even experienced food service applicants fail to adequately highlight their experience and skills in these areas, robbing themselves of opportunities for growth and promotion. What skills aren't showing up on your resume?

Operations and Management Skills to Mention

Food service supervisors handle a variety of managerial tasks on daily basis without actually holding a manager title. As you prepare your resume, think about the tasks that you regularly execute and how those tasks can be translated into clear skills on your resume. For example:

Performance Monitoring and Assessment
While your supervisor position may not involve direct managerial duties, chances are you've spent some of your time assessing the performance of other team members. Highlight specific projects you may have led that involved managing other employees or monitoring tasks other than those you regularly perform.

Time Management
Bosses expect outstanding time management skills from every member of the team. If you've implemented a new technology or process to improve efficiency, be sure to include it on your resume; for example, perhaps you suggested a better way to schedule employee rosters or fill out and place bulk orders. It's important to show potential employers that you value efficiency and good time management because you can bet that they do.

Cost Effectiveness
If you're committed to taking your food service career to the next level, you're probably already the type of employee who constantly seeks out cost-savings measures at work. Perhaps you noticed a new way to conserve electricity in the kitchen or researched a technique to decrease food wastage. Demonstrating that you care about saving money as much as a potential manager does will go a long way toward increasing your chances of being hired.

Problem Solving
Food service operations are fast-paced with little room for error, and superstar supervisors need to be able to solve complex problems on the fly, creating solutions that improve workflow while maintaining also ensuring a high-quality customer experience. If you've solved a problem at work (or even thought about ways to solve one), highlight it on your resume, and include specific examples if possible.

Technological Expertise
When technology breaks down at your food-service operation, do people look to you for solutions? If your tech skills make you the unofficial go-to person for fixes, that shows that you're not only a team player, but also an employee who understands the importance of evolving technology in the food service workplace. List specific technological skills, but also make clear that you're able and willing to learn and adapt to new technology. Many managers and supervisors are actually behind their employees when it comes to understanding technology, so you'll already have a leg up.

Food service employers are looking for confident, motivated employees with excellent operations and management skills. If you already have what it takes, be sure to include these skills in your resume. But if not, don't worry: employers also value applicants who actively seek out training opportunities, such as CareerBuilder's Right Skill Program Assistant Restaurant Manager course.

Remember, many food-service job openings can attract hundreds or even thousands of resumes. Employers are looking for solid examples of operations and management skills, rather than empty statements and vague promises. Leverage your past accomplishments into tangible resume skills and experience to set yourself apart from the pack.