The field of culinary arts offers candidates an array of career opportunities. There are three basic types of culinary degrees offered by colleges and universities - Associate's degree in culinary arts, Bachelor's degree in culinary arts and Certifications in culinary arts. Job opportunities depend on the degrees you are equipped with and skills you have. Jobs in the culinary industry are not only profitable, but they also demand a lot dedication, attention and commitment. While you are considering a culinary career and are ready to get enrolled in a culinary program of your interest, it is also essential to be aware of the various job categories available in the field of culinary art. After graduating from a culinary school, candidates may find themselves in a sea of career options and job opportunities, without being able to decide which direction they should head in. It is important to do an extensive research regarding the multiple types of culinary job opportunities and choose a career which is right for you. The culinary job must fit in with your specific requirements and interest. Given below are various job fields you can step into to establish your career in culinary arts. Let's have a look at the job opportunities available.

 
Restaurants Jobs
The food service industry provides candidates with a number of places where they can land jobs. With a culinary degree in hand, restaurants happen to be the most obvious choice for candidates. What inspire people to take up the career of a chef are actually these restaurants and chefs who work there. Restaurants, however, come in all shapes and sizes. There are small restaurants and individually owned restaurants. There are high end restaurants and fine dining establishments owned and operated by a chef. Apart from that, there are large restaurant chains with branches across the nation. These restaurants provide excellent job openings for jobseekers.

Hotels & Resorts Jobs
Candidates with a culinary degree can also kick start and establish their career in hotels and resorts. Many of the large hotels have more than one restaurant within the hotel premises. These hotels and luxury resorts offer candidates good growth and promotion opportunities. Candidates can look forward to advancing their culinary careers at these hotels without changing employers. Working in hotels also provides candidates with the opportunity to experience and learn a host of managerial and administrative tasks. Candidates who land jobs in popular hotel chains can also enjoy traveling from one place to another or one country to another without changing jobs.

Catering & Institutional Jobs
Various catering companies and institutions also provide good job openings and benefits. Though most catering companies hire full time culinary professionals, part time jobs are also available in this field. In terms of institutions, candidates can choose to join at schools, hospitals and corporate lunch rooms among others. Though institutional culinary jobs are not on the cutting edge of culinary, they bring professionals good working hours and excellent employee benefits.

Personal Chef Jobs
The personal chef industry has been growing quite well for the last few years. Earlier, a personal chef used to work for only a person or a family. Today, the scenario has completely changed. Chefs can cater to multiple clients on a regular basis. Meals are prepared in a centralized kitchen from where they are packed and delivered to clients. Personal chefs have the flexibility to decide their own schedule.

Other Culinary Careers
Job and career opportunities are available in plenty in the field of culinary arts. Culinary professionals can also land jobs at food research and development centers. Corporate facilities also provide excellent job opportunities. A culinary career does not necessarily mean you need to cook. With relevant experience and expertise, you can also acquire positions like restaurant manager, food and beverage director, sommelier. Depending upon your personal interests, you can also establish you career in the field of food writing and photography. Newspapers, magazines and cookbooks offer excellent work opportunities for food critic and food writers.

The more career opportunities culinary industry offers, the more work challenges it sets forth. A profitable career option in the culinary field is to become a restaurant manager. Anyone who manages the floor, the kitchen or the administration is referred to as a restaurant manager. The difference in the roles of restaurant managers actually depends on whether they are working for local family-run restaurant or a high-end restaurant. While visiting small restaurants, you must have noticed that restaurant owners also look after the overall business operation. They are also restaurant managers. Large restaurants have definitive roles for restaurant managers. In large or high-end restaurants, restaurant manager (also called general managers) take care of the administrative division whereas the executive chef is responsible for kitchen management.

While the executive chef takes care of the food preparation in kitchen, the restaurant manager directs the rest of the staff and supervises their work. During this administrative career, the restaurant manager is responsible for smooth functioning of the whole operation and handling the business end, thereby bringing profit to the restaurant. Looking at the job responsibilities that the restaurant manager is required to perform, they must possess a thorough understanding of budgeting, accounting, banking methods and credit policies.

It is only a skilled restaurant manager who knows how to motivate the staff to always work for the better. Whether it is the service standard or the safety guidelines, the general manager ensures that the restaurant staff strictly abides by them. Not only professionally, but the responsibilities of a restaurant manager also include seeing to the well being of staff and providing them job satisfaction. Recruitment of new kitchen staff, maintenance of kitchen equipment, budgeting, work scheduling and surveying are the other responsibilities that these professionals have to shoulder during their career as restaurant manager or general manager in a large kitchen.

Educational Background
A high school diploma is the minimum educational requirement to apply for the post of a restaurant manager. A number of junior colleges and universities in the United States offer associate degrees, bachelor degrees and other graduate programs in restaurant management. Career opportunities become more fruitful for candidates who have both college education as well as some previous work experience in business administration. Besides earning a degree in restaurant management, candidates can also opt for various courses in hotel and restaurant administration. The restaurant manager must have strong communication skills, team playing spirit and motivating potential.

To kick-start their career, candidates can also enroll themselves in restaurant manager trainee programs. Restaurant managers can join as prospective managers too. These positions may include account manager, food and beverage manager and sales manager among. After spending a couple of years in these fields, professionals can finally become general managers.

Career Outlook
Though candidates may need to face tough competition, job opportunities are greater and the employment growth rate is expected to grow as fast as average through 2014. Candidates can easily land a job at small restaurants first. Later with a few years of experience, you can apply at large or high-end restaurants. Those who join leading restaurant chain can be promoted to the position of regional manager or executive manager. The job of a restaurant manager does not only require physical effort, but it gives you mental pressures as well.

Most of the time restaurant managers will be on their feet, attending to customers and dealing with employees. While dealing with customers, patience is the key requirement with restaurant managers or general managers. Working hours of a restaurant manager may vary between 40 and 48 hours a week. Restaurant managers should also be ready to work on weekends and at nights, depending on the type and chain of restaurant they join.

Earning from Your Career as Restaurant Manager
The salary you get will depend on the type of restaurant you join and responsibilities you are assigned. Metropolitan cities offer better restaurant manager career opportunities, both in terms of professional and personal growth. Average annual salary of a restaurant manager can be around $42,000. Restaurant managers also receive yearly bonuses. Those employed in leading restaurant chains will be entitled to some exclusive benefits like paid vacations, retirement benefits and health insurances among others.