Wrkio Blog

Part time jobs allow you to work and have the time to take care of other areas of your life. That’s just one of the benefits you stand to gain from a part time job.  There are several part time and hourly catering jobs that you can apply for on job sites. However you need to employ a number of tactics in order to zero in on those that pay the best.

Whether you are a student or a professional interested in a part time catering job, this article will help you in your search to find and land one that pays well.

1. Make a list of potential jobs

Start by making a search of potential part time catering jobs or hourly catering jobs that you are interested in. You can find these on job sites, job communities like wrkio.com, student job boards or on sites like LinkedIn. If the option is available, search them based on how much they pay.

Once you have a list of your top picks, research the job functions; check the company’s websites to find out if they are the right fit for you and start the application process.

2. Be willing to start somewhere

Sometimes getting a part time catering job that pays well may require you to start in a position that pays less. You might have your eye on a position that isn’t available at that time but this shouldn’t prevent you from going after a different position within the same organisation. If you can afford to, take the risk and start out at a different position even if it pays less. This will get you in the door and bring you a step closer to your desired job.

Be sure to let your supervisor know that you would like to be considered for your desired job should it become available. In the meantime, you will be working with the team and becoming accustomed to the company culture and customs. This will ensure that if the schedule of the person who does the job changes, you will be first in line to be considered to fill in.

3. Make use of your contacts

Job sites, university job fairs and social media aren’t the only places you can search for catering jobs that pay well. Your friends and professional contacts can be good sources of information about part time catering jobs.

Reach out to them to find out if they know of any open positions. Even if they don’t know of positions at that time, you will be top of mind for when something does open up.

Your contacts can also play the important role of referring you to their own contacts. This widens the pool of jobs that are available to you. In addition, your contacts can act as references on your CV as well as informally. Having someone vouch for you gives employers the assurance that you can be trusted. The right reference can help you to land a catering job that pays well.

4. Polish your CV

Image by Oli Lynch

Just like with most jobs, to secure part time catering jobs you may need to have a professional CV or resume. Take the time to write CVs that make you stand out. Research the do’s and don’ts of CV writing to make sure you get it right.

As a general rule, have your regular CV which you can tailor to specific jobs as they arise. If a job requires someone with great interpersonal skills, edit your CV to reflect how you embody this characteristic. Go beyond just pointing out jobs where you worked in that capacity and share short anecdotes that clearly demonstrate the required skills. You can expound on these in the cover letter and interview.

Having a good CV helps you to filter jobs and go for those that you have the highest chance of getting. Look at the responsibilities needed for part time catering jobs you are interested in and compare them with your skills. Those that are the best fit are the ones you should go for. Applying in a targeted way will save you time.

5. Use a recruiter

Recruiters help to match your skills and interests to available jobs. They have access to information about exclusive job opportunities, they save you time and they can make it easier to find a job.

Recruiters are also invested in you getting the job because they sometimes work on commission. This means that you will not be alone in the job search.

Beyond matching you to available jobs based on your specifications and skills, recruiters can serve an advisory role. They can help you improve your CV, tell you which skills to highlight, let you know which other job areas you should think of branching into and even help prepare you for an interview.

6. Look at your social profiles

Social media has gone beyond just being a place for fun to being a recruitment tool. Companies will post job listings and recruit from LinkedIn, Instagram and the rest. As a result, employers today don’t only rely on resumes to assess job candidates. They will do research on you just like you will do on them. They may very well look at the social profiles of candidates to get a better understanding of who they are.

Update professional profiles to include any new skills or work you have done. Likewise, look through your social profiles and remove or hide posts that could hurt your chances of getting the job. If you prefer, you can keep some social pages private and leave the professional ones public.

7. Highlight your skills

In some cases, hourly catering jobs will not require applicants to have previous work experience. This however shouldn’t prevent you from highlighting any experience or skills that you bring to the job.

These can be job specific skills or soft skills that will make you an asset when dealing with clients as well as colleagues.

Don’t neglect to list the obvious ones either. If you are looking for a job in the transport arm of a business, highlight that you have a valid drivers’ license and have been driving for a given number of years.

If you are wondering where to get the experience needed to build your skills, you can start by volunteering. Cultivate skills by being involved with organisations that put up food events or by helping out a friend with catering at a party.

8. Get some training

When looking for a part time catering job that pays well you need to make sure you stand out from the competition. One of the ways you can do this is by getting some professional catering training. Certificates in food safety and handling, for instance, can help you secure a job that pays well.

An online cooking class can also earn you some skills and a certification that will look great on your application.

9. Apply to your preferred jobs

Image by Gerd Altmann

Send a CV and a customized cover letter to every position if you are asked for it. The cover letter serves to show potential employers how you will contribute and how you match the desired skills and requirements.

Describe how you have demonstrated the requirements. If you have been a good team player before, share how in a previous position you helped colleagues meet a target.

Part time jobs are often a stop point for people before they find a full time position or go back to school. For this reason, they have a high turnover. For other candidates though, part time and hourly jobs are more rewarding. If you prefer a part time job, let employees know this in your cover letter. This gives the assurance that you are not just looking for a temporary solution and it could push your application to the top.

In your application, make sure to mention your availability. If you only have mornings or nights free, do mention that. If you have a more flexible schedule, mention that. Doing this will help you get jobs that pay well but that also suit your schedule.

10. Follow up on your applications

Once you are done with the applications, keep track of them and follow up. Reaching out to companies to check on the status of your application will show that you are proactive and eager. This quality will make you more attractive to employers and it could just contribute to helping you land that catering job that pays well.

11. Start the job search early

It is a good idea to start looking for hourly catering jobs before you will need them. Starting early will give you enough time to follow up on as many job postings as you need to. It will also put you in a position to choose those offers which pay the most.  If left to the last minute you will be forced to take any job that is available, likely missing out on catering jobs that pay well.

At the interview stage

Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

Finding a job posting and applying for it is only quarter the journey to finding catering jobs that pay well. Another hurdle is the interview. There is a need to prepare and represent yourself well in the interview if you are to be hired.

Do your homework

Just like with any job, if you are a candidate for an hourly catering job, make sure you research the company. Find out about their values, mission and goals. Know what their specialty is and why. This information will help you answer questions with clarity and is sure to impress the interviewer.

If they are involved in any partnerships or charitable causes it would be good to know. Bringing this up in an interview will make you stand out from other candidates.

Polish your practical skills

A lot of catering jobs require practical expertise. In some part time catering job interviews you may be asked to showcase your skills.

If you are a chef, you may be asked to prepare a dish. If you are a server, you might be asked to do a dry run of tending to guests. Do a little practice before the interview so that when you are in front of the interviewer you are confident and ready to put your best foot forward.

Take the interview seriously

You might be interviewing for an hourly catering job, but you should take the interview process seriously. Dress formally and arrive a few moments early. This will show that you are professional and are serious about the job. Be confident, ask questions, and respond respectfully.

The interview is your chance to showcase your personality. If you are interviewing for a front-facing job, the interviewer will be gauging if you will be a good fit to interact with customers. Once the interview is concluded thank the interviewer for their time and ask when you can hope to hear from them.

Wrapping up

Part time work has become more and more attractive to people, leading to an increase in demand for part time jobs. Amongst its many benefits is the flexibility it offers.

In order to compete and get the top paying jobs in fields like catering, candidates need to be proactive and prepared. They need to invest efforts in both searching for a job and in doing well at the interview stage.