There’s almost no end to the range of ‘front of house’ food and beverage jobs that involve working directly with customers. Waiting and tending the bar are the most obvious of these, but there are many other jobs and specialisations in this area that offer great career options.

In restaurants and cafes, jobs also include sommelier (wine specialist) and barista (espresso coffee expert). In pubs and clubs and the many bars and food outlets you can be a waiter, bar attendant or functions coordinator. In catering firms, besides waiting, there are function or event assistants and organisers; in hotels and resorts, room service attendants and managers. Supervisory and management positions are available in all of these job areas as well. So food and beverage service within the hospitality industry offers you heaps of scope to find a career that suits you.

The wide range of hospitality venues that provide food and beverage services operate at different times, offering flexibility in the hours you can work. You could work breakfast shifts in a hospital, day shifts in a café, dinners in a restaurant or pub or evenings in a club or nightclub.

If you like meeting people, the buzz of a busy place and working directly with customers, then you are likely to enjoy working in food and beverage. You will need the right technical skills and knowledge as well as good customer service and communication skills, but the work in this front of house area is challenging and rewarding and will give you the opportunity to show off your skills.