Position Overview
Catering sales assistants provide support to catering sales managers by generating new catering business leads and servicing existing contracts.
They are responsible for generating leads and converting them into appointments and sales. The concentration of these activities are usually on large events such as weddings, corporate functions and funerals. However, a catering sales manager may also attempt to bring business from baby and wedding showers, birthdays, christenings and private parties.
The work of a catering sales assistant is spread across many things including marketing, sales, inventory management and even food preparation to a certain degree. So basically, you will need to know everything there is to know about all these as they relate to the hospitality industry.
Position Requirements
While a formal degree is not usually required to work as a catering sales assistant, it does help if you have a bachelor’s degree in hospitality services.
If you enjoy a team sales approach, possess clear communication skills, can handle follow-up dutifully and have strong customer orientation, this may be just the job for you!
Additional skills that you will need to qualify as a catering sales assistant include ability to prioritize your work, attention to detail and ability to work on a flexible schedule.
Catering Sales Assistant Job Description Sample
• Attend to incoming calls for information and quotes on catering services and associated costs.
• Reply to emails by providing prospective and existing customers with information regarding available slots and timelines.
• Produce sales based on leads via incoming and outgoing calls and set up appointments to meet with interested parties.
• Gather necessary information such from clients, wedding planners and meeting planners to assist in menu planning, floor plans, room setup and décor.
• Coordinate each event’s pre-planning details to ensure that it is successfully completed.
• Confer with clients to determine their specific choices of food and beverages and provide them with an umbrella cost.
• Assist event managers in conducting tastings, handling layouts of food stations and design of menu that befits company standards.
• Coordinate menus, staffing requirements and implementation of all food and beverage events, including preparation and distribution of specifications sheets and catering schedules.
• Review and approve all group banquet checks and ensure that any additional costs are timely added.
• Interact with sales, kitchen, vendors and competitors to ensure constant guest satisfaction.
• Monitor status of event files on a daily basis and notify managers of any past due accounts.