The food service industry is one of the most active industries in Greece due to the rich culinary culture and hospitality industry in the country. Greece is famous because of its olive oil, fresh seafood and Mediterranean flavours, and millions of tourists visit the country each year in search of the best dining experience. This increasing need has greatly increased the food service sector and this has also increased the number of labourers being employed. Whether it is busy cafes in Athens or taverns by the sea on the islands, the industry has a lot to offer to people with different levels of skills and experience.
This blog will give a detailed analysis of opportunities that exist in the food service industry in Greece to labourers. We will discuss the nature of jobs, skills, advantages, and disadvantages as well as some tips on how to get a job in this booming business.
The Expansion of Greek Food Service Industry
Greek food service industry has been experiencing steady growth during the last decade due to the local demand and international tourism. Greece is also among the best tourist destinations in Europe with Athens, Santorini, and Mykonos cities being the most visited by tourists across the world. In the recent years, the country received about 30 million tourists and the number is increasing each year.
In addition to tourism, local demand also plays a great role. Greeks attach great value to dining out and this has resulted in people visiting restaurants, cafes and bakeries all year round. The industry has changed in line with the modern trends and there are establishments that offer fine-dining restaurants to the casual restaurants and fast-food restaurants. This has resulted in numerous opportunities to the labourers in different settings.
The requirement of the stable quality of services guarantees the constant demand of the posts of both entry-level workers and highly-qualified experts. To the labourers, the ever-growing nature of the industry gives them job security and a thrilling avenue to advance their career.
The Kinds of Labour Jobs that the Food Service Sector in Greece Offers
The food service industry depends on different positions to provide quality experience to customers. The labour positions at this industry are usually physical, group-oriented, and customer-service oriented. The most popular positions are the following:
1. Kitchen Staff
Dishwashers keep the kitchen activities flowing by keeping it clean and hygienic.
Prep Workers, as the name suggests, help the chefs chop vegetables, divide the ingredients or arrange the cooking materials.
Line Cooks assume certain stations in the kitchen and assist in the preparation and plating of food as per the restaurant standards.
2. Waitstaff
Waiters/Waitresses deal directly with customers and they take orders, serve food and beverages and make sure that customers are satisfied.
Baristas are experts in making coffee and other drinks, which are common in the Greek busy cafe culture.
3. Cleaning workers and Maintenance workers
Janitorial workers are needed in restaurants to clean and keep the eating areas, bathrooms and other facilities in the restaurant clean and presentable.
4. Delivery Personnel
As food delivery services become more popular, most restaurants employ labourers to work as delivery drivers and deliver food to the doorstep of customers.
5. Front-of-House Assistants
Jobs such as hosts/hostesses entail seating customers, booking, and making the place friendly.
6. Stocks and Inventory Staff
Workers who are to accept deliveries, restock the supplies, and arrange the storage facilities are also important in ensuring that the operations run smoothly.
The variety of jobs in the industry provides employees with a chance to secure jobs that suit their interests and abilities.
Food Service Jobs Requirements Skills and Qualifications
The food service jobs are usually entry level friendlies and therefore many people can be able to get them. Nevertheless, some skills or qualifications might be needed in some positions. This is in greater detail:
1. Physical Stamina
Food service industry labour work may be physically taxing, and requires many hours of standing, lifting and walking. It is essential to have a decent level of physical fitness.
2. Teamwork
Effective food businesses depend mostly on teamwork. As a dishwasher or a line cook, you have to be able to work as a part of a team.
3. Customer Services Skills
In the case of a customer-based job such as a waiter or a delivery person, effective communication and interpersonal skills will create a good experience to the customers.
4. Time Management
Working in a busy place implies sticking to tight schedules. Time management skills are also much appreciated, whether when cooking or in delivering orders.
5. Language Skills
It is usually crucial to speak Greek, in particular, when dealing with local customers. Nevertheless, speaking other languages such as English may be beneficial in foreign tourism destinations.
6. Simple training or Certifications
The basic food safety trainings or certifications may be required in some positions like that of food preparation or stock management.
Although most jobs are on-the-job trained, the competition in the market favors those applicants who have experience or formal qualifications.
Advantages and Disadvantages of the Food Service industry in Greece
Working in the food service industry, as any other profession, has its benefits and problems. This is what can be expected:
Benefits
- Labour Demand: The industry is active throughout the year and its turnover rate is high, so there is always a labour demand.
- Career Development: The employees are able to climb up the ladder as they grow and become supervisors or managers.
- Flexible Schedules: There are a lot of positions that have flexible working hours, part-time or otherwise, including those who have to attend to students or seasonal workers.
- Skill development: Acquire skills that can be transferred to other jobs like communication, problem-solving, and multitasking.
- Cultural Immersion: Foreign workers find it authentic to work in the rich culinary culture in Greece.
Challenges
- Strenuous Work: Long working hours, high tempo workplaces and physical work may be tiresome.
- Seasonal Variability: There can be a lot of work during the tourism seasons which means a lot of jobs as well as a lot of work.
- Unstable Hours: There are some places that might demand late nights or even working weekends and this interferes with the work-life balance.
- Nevertheless, the rewards (both monetary and personal) are worth the effort to many workers.
- Advice on How to locate Job Openings in the Greek Food Service Industry
One has to take initiative in order to land a labour job in the food service industry in Greece. These are practical tips that will enable you to get the right job:
1. Job Portal Search
Food service jobs are often posted on websites such as JobFind.gr, Kariera.gr and Ergasioulis.gr.
Greece-based opportunities can be also found in international portals like Indeed or LinkedIn.
2. Go to local facilities Visit Local Establishments
Restaurants, cafes and taverns usually have hiring signs placed in their premises. Personal visits to establishments may result in instant opportunities.
3. Cooperation with Recruitment Agencies
Hospitality and tourism agencies will be able to find you the right job that fits your skills and availability.
4. Make a good CV
Point out any prior customer service, food handling or teamwork experience. Make your CV specific to the position you are applying.
5. Leverage Networking
In Greece word-of-mouth can be strong. Sharing the information with friends, acquaintances, or local contacts that you are job hunting may reveal some hidden opportunities.
6. Study the Language
As a foreigner, the more you learn the Greek language, the more committed you would be and the more you would be noticed in the local places.
The most important thing in this competitive sector is to be persistent and proactive to get the job of your choice.
Final Thoughts
The food service industry in Greece is a flourishing business with plenty of opportunities to labourers willing to work in an active and fast paced industry. Whatever your interest is in kitchens, customer service or logistics, the sector has a broad range of jobs with the opportunity to develop a career.
With practice, customization of your applications and utilization of the available resources, you will be able to obtain a satisfying job in this crucial sector. Start now and you might be one of those who will make Greece known as a place of great hospitality and memorable gastronomic experiences.
