Catering & Events Intern
Are you applying to the internship?
Job Description
About Compass Group
Compass Group is the world’s leading food and support services company, headquartered in the United Kingdom. It operates in over 50 countries and employs over 600,000 people. Compass Group provides a wide range of services to clients in the food, retail, healthcare, education, and business sectors.
Job Description
The Catering & Events Intern will work closely with the Senior Catering Manager at the University of Arkansas to learn the intricacies of catering from both a sales and operations standpoint. In this role, you will have the opportunity to work directly with catering clients to coordinate the details of their events, including but not limited to:
• Menu selections
• Tastings
• Linen rental
• Set up
• Floral design
Additionally, in this role you will learn how to properly set up and execute events following the specific timeline and guidelines for each event.
Qualifications
• Excellent communication skills, written and verbal
• Customer service experience/knowledge
• Must be an undergraduate student
• Availability to work evenings and weekends, if needed
• Enjoy building relationships
• Professional attitude and appearance
• Ability to operate multiple computer programs and office equipment
• Experience working with MAC’s and PC’s
• Interest in one or more of the following:
• Sustainability
• Farm to Fork
• Quality Assurance
• Current Catering Trends
• Menu Development
• Contract Food Service Management
Responsibilities
• Aid in planning and organizing events
• Assist with set up and break down of events, when needed
• Complete safety training for proper lifting techniques
• Assist the culinary team in developing custom menus for events
• Work closely with vendor partners (I.E: rentals, florists, bakeries, etc.) in arranging services
• Assist in staff scheduling
• Marketing catering services both on and off campus
• Assist with inventory management
• Aid in staff training on catering standards
• Assist in keeping staff motivated to provide the highest standard of service
Learning Objectives
• Demonstrate awareness, understanding, and skills necessary to work in a diverse environment.
• Experience opportunities to learn, observe, and practice a variety of experiences in the world of hospitality.
• Sales: Spend time cultivating outside sales with the director of catering, looking for new opportunities and venues.
• Process: Understanding the process of event planning from the initial contact with the client and the steps that are taken to execute the event.
• Booking: Providing prices and fees; tailoring the event to any special needs or wants.
• Communication: Communicating the expectations and meeting the goals, keeping on the same page.
• Negotiation: This will enable the intern to undergo the contract portion of the event, fine-tuning the details of the event; the blueprint.
• Contracts: Discussing the terms of the contract, the services being provided, solidifying dates and deadlines, necessary staffing, policies of the event/cancelations, parking, etc.
• Closing: Examining the financials, collecting payment, menu costing, etc.
• Follow Up: This will enable the planner to understand the strengths of the event and anything necessary for improvement; keeps an ongoing relationship with the client(s).
