Things You'll Need:
- Cooking School Catalogs
- Cooking And Catering Magazine Subscriptions
- Informational Interviews
- Online Career Search
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Step 1
Interview managers of local restaurants or existing catering services for advice on beginning your catering career. Consider offering to become an assistant as a way of learning the basics, especially if you have had any type of cooking experience.
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Step 2
Understand that cooking delicious food for large numbers of people is a skill that cannot be acquired overnight. Many caterers first attend cooking schools and/or restaurant management schools. They will be your future competition in a very competitive field.
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Step 3
Be prepared to have just a few helpers in your early years. Since their work can make or break your catering service, check all references carefully.
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Step 4
Find out whether your local health department allows catering services to be run out of an individual's kitchen. Many require that you have separate cooking facilities, but sometimes they allow the additional kitchen to be located elsewhere in your home.
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Step 5
Expect to take courses dealing with health laws before the board of health will certify you. Such certification is mandatory.
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Step 6
Keep up-to-date about the field by subscribing to food and catering publications.
