Is college really worth it if your goal is to be an area manager for a mid-large size chain? From what I have seen many many other AGMs, GMs, and DMs don't have degrees. It would take me 2 years to graduate with an associates. Is it worth demoteing myself for 2 years in order to get a degree or is the experiance more valuable? I could also do 1 year and get a certificate, which shows I did SOMETHING extra. What are some of your educational backgrounds? Sorry guys I am just young trying to figure this all out on my own!

Depending on the company, they may even spring for the education; if not 100% a portion of it.  Besides, the degree is something you can take from place to place and it shows that you have done the work.  It's not impossible to work and go to school simultaneously.  It does, however, require commitment.

Remember, you might decide sometime in your future that the restaurant business isn't for you.  The education is still education.  It'll transfer with you.

Ciao,

Go to school.

I have a master's degree in Hotel Restaurant and Travel Administration, got it back in the days when the majority of restaurant owners were from the school of hard knocks or the greek restaurant education system.  Most people asked - why.  My response - it will come in handy some day.

You need the degree - doesn't matter if you are going to work in a restaurant or not, but now an A.S. or A.A. is the high school degree of a few years ago.  You need to polish your writing, learn critical evaluation skills, how to read and condense and synthesize information, do some math beyond high school algebra (it teaches you logic at the same time), as well as some class in the fine arts - which will help you understand why certain colors, patterns, and designs go well together.

Right now, with this economy, I am seeing alot of regional managers who had "some" college - returning to finish their degrees.  They have to.  Companies used to be fine with someone with a high school or a couple of college credit courses run a region.  Now, with the sophisticated accounting and legal environment, that is just not possible.  So, the majority of them are going back to school to complete their B.S. degrees. 

For college - you don't have to take a demotion - there are other options available now to go to school.  If you want to work in the restaurant field, a culinary, hospitality management or a geneeral business degree would give you about a 2 year advantage over a liberal arts major.  But, regardless of what you study, make sure you take a wide variety of courses - it will help you at some point.  Believe me on that one.

I have heard that the average person changes their career at least six times in a lifetime.  A college degree is a key  - one that opens those doors to other careers.  Without it, your options are more limited.

Food Write
The Responsible Serving of Alcoholic Beverages

I agree with what was said go to school it could and will pay out over all. My case I got a culinary degree 35 yrs ago and after I lost my chef job because United Airlines sold the kitchens I really did not work in the arts again. Its been years that I been in the kitchen but now starting my own business the first thing the lenders asked me was if I had formal schooling. It still paid off today. So go to school.

Henry

Thank you Henry- and may I quote you on this.........

Food Write
The Responsible Serving of Alcoholic Beverages

Ditto to what everyone else has said!  I also have a chef's degree from the CIA (AOS) from 30+ years ago and wish I had gone back and gotten my bachelors.  Start out with an Associates degree, work in management for a couple of years to gain the experience, then start working part time on getting your bachelor's.  I believe a minimum of 2yrs of college is mandatory in this day and age.  It also gives you a leg up on the competition for that job you've always wanted when it comes along - and believe me, someday the dream job will come along!

Good Luck!

Mark

Hi Wilnix!

I agree with everybody else.  Definitely do it!  I have a BS in Business Administration, (I majored in Hospitality Mgt), and an MBA. 

I also agree that no demotion is needed - I had two jobs during my undergrad, although I finished in 9 semesters instead of 8.  I did my MBA at night over 3 years, with minimal disruption to my 60-hour-a-week day job. 

Good luck!

Quote (original post by: Beth Food Write)

Please go ahead.  

Henry

In the current state of the economy, I would say goto college as well. Take this time to develop yourself. Personally I don't think that a degree is as important as experience. A degree says you are able to set a goal for 4 years and stick to it and that you have the aptitude to learn. That's about as far as it'll get you. At the end of the day, people hire for experience and personality, not whether or not you have a degree. I should add that I say this because it's a chain restaurant. In other fields such as law, where you get the degree is more important than the gpa.

You're right, most AGM, GM, DM don't have degrees because they have stuck with the company. I don't know where you're located, but in any major metropolitan city, walk into any major chain restaurants and I will gurantee that you will find someone with a degree (maybe not related to hospitality) working as a server or a cook. I have people with degrees applying for entry positions since the credit crisis started. It really pains me to see someone who's put in 4 years of their life to goto college and get paid the same as a high school drop out.

Jack,

I think you've got it wrong.  A degree means a LOT.  Someone earlier made the note that an AA/AS is the old high school diploma.  That's VERY TRUE.  But it still means someone put some effort and forethought into their education.

Sure people hire for experience, but that degree's going to give you the trump card when it comes down to "qualified candidates."  I know for a fact that when I hired people, the people who usually made the cut either had a degree (or were working on it), were ex-military, quite often both.  People also hire for attitude and train for skill/experience.  That degree also sets a point towards the attitude of the holder.  As the employer, I'd take the person with the degree and military experience -- regardless of field -- before I chose someone off the street with "experience."

Most major corporations want educated employees.  That's why so many of them offer either tuition reimbursement programs or outright payment towards education.  It's a win-win scenario.  Actually, it's better for the employee.  A corporation cannot remove the knowledge from you if you should decide to leave them.

I believe anyone who thinks experience only will get the job is only fooling themselves.  It's only part of the criteria.

I'm off my soapbox now.  I hope you don't take that personally.

Ciao,