Although shorter weeks often meant smaller paychecks in recent months, the flexible scheduling tactics that kept many companies afloat during the recession may soon find a permanent spot in the workplace (without the sting of that reduced paycheck). That’s because flexible work arrangements, which include flex time, telecommuting, and job sharing, allow employees to manage their own schedules, work from home, and have a better work/life balance. That means happier employees, which in turn means higher productivity (and happier bosses). And offering FWAs are an attractive alternative to companies who want to increase employee benefits, but are still feeling cash-strapped and can’t offer the huge bonuses of yesteryear.

“If there’s a silver lining to the recession, it’s that smart companies are beginning to turn time into a tool to attract, retain and engage high-performing talent of both sexes,” Sylvia Ann Hewlett wrote in her New York Times article “Making Flex Time a Win-Win.”

If you’ve been stuck in a 1950s, 9-to-5 schedule, now’s the perfect time to rethink your work week. During your next job search, consider a flexible work schedule as part of your compensation package. Or if you’re happy in your current position, but would like to work more flexibly, ask your boss for a flexible work arrangement. Not sure how to get started? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Read on for the ins and outs of FWAs.

Flexible Work Arrangements: The Basics
So you want a flexible work schedule, but you don’t know what the options are (or what to ask for)? Here’s a rundown of the basic offerings you can expect to find in a flexible work environment:

Compressed work weeks: You log in your 40 hours each week, but you do it in fewer days. That may mean a few 10- or 12-hour work days, but the bonus is an extra day off at the beginning or end of the week. (Hello, 3-day ski weekend!)

Flextime: You choose what time you start work and go home. Early birds can come in at 7:00 a.m. and leave at 3:00 p.m.; night owls can sleep in and work later. Usually there’s a mandatory “core” time in the middle of the day, say from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., during which employees are expected to be in the office.

Flexplace (aka telecommuting): In this scenario, you can choose to work in an office that’s closer to home, or in some cases, you can even work from home (aka in your pajamas).

Part-time Work or Job Sharing: You work less than 40 hours per week, or you share a position with a co-worker, splitting the responsibility (so the company essentially has a full-time employee, but you both work part-time).  

Hot desking: is related to flexplace and telecommuting. You might work from home some days, and on the days you come into the office, you work at whatever desk/work station is available. Rather than have a dedicated desk or cubicle, you’ll share space with your fellow employees. This concept hinges on the fact that most employees have their own laptop, blackberry, and other technological devices to get the job done.

Benefits for you
There are the obvious benefits to flexible work arrangements, like having longer weekends or working from home. But if you look a little deeper, you’ll see that the benefits are endless. Working from home, for example, means less time spent commuting, which means less miles on your car, less money spent on gas, less money spent on daycare, less money spent on lunch at the Subway across from your office, less time spent in gridlock, and so on. FWAs a great for working parents, working students, workers with dogs, workers with hobbies, or anyone else who wants to work hard, work smart, save money, and have a life outside of the office.

Benefits for your employer
Ok, so you’re ready to pitch the idea of a flexible schedule for your boss, but you’re not sure how she’s going to react. Let her know that in the Society for Human Resource Management’s June 2009 study“Workplace Flexibility in the 21st Century: Meeting the Needs of the Changing Workforce”  reported that companies with formal FWAs saw an increase in employee morale and job satisfaction paired with increased employee retention, increased productivity and a decrease in absenteeism. Having a flexible work environment will also give your employer an edge in recruiting top talent, can actually increase office coverage, and reduce office space and overhead expenses. And heaven forbid your office or building falls prey to a natural disaster, the company’s workforce will already be trained to operate outside of the workplace.

 The recession may have changed the way we do business, but it doesn’t all have to be negative. FWAs offer benefits for employees, employers, companies and stockholders alike—what could be better than that?

Here are some of the services you may want to consider at your school:

Class Advising
Chances are you met with an adviser when you looked into your school, and this same adviser may have helped you pick your first few classes.  Many students don’t realize how important it is to see this adviser every time you sign up for classes.  They can look at the classes you’ve taken so far, recommend what classes you should take right away and which ones can wait, and let you know about any changes to your program that can save you time and money.  Most advisers work on an appointment basis, but this is a very helpful step to make sure you attain your career goals quickly and completely.

Career Placement
It’s always a good idea to keep your eye on the job market while you’re a student.  Hiring trends and “hot” jobs can change dramatically from one moment to the next, and this information can help you as you make your plans.  Career placement is also the place where most companies will post opportunities for job shadowing or internships.  These are perfect opportunities to try out a career and see if it’s for you.  It’s good to stop by placement services once every 4-6 weeks, just to stay in tune with current trends.  We also have some great articles about top fields and top careers for the next decade that can spur some ideas on your career.

Career Services
It’s also important to keep your job seeking skills sharp, and that’s where career services come in handy.  From resume preparation to job interview techniques to how to present yourself at a job fair, these skills show you how to take the training you’ve received and turn it into a rewarding career—and these services are also usually free.  These services may be offered in career placement or in the advising center.  Either way, be sure to make the most of them.   You may also want to review our job preparation tips to help you hone your approach for an upcoming interview.

Career and Life Decisions
It’s not uncommon for students to get through a few classes and think twice about a career—is this really for you?  Are the jobs really out there?  Is this something you want to do for the rest of your life?  Counselors and advisers at your school can help you find answers to these questions, and help you build a career path that may include one job or many.  In addition, counselors can help you look at the choices you’ve made and see if it’s time to pursue another option—and if it is, you’d be amazed at how freely counselors will recommend programs at other schools, if that’s what’s best for you!  Trained, licensed counselors are some of the best listeners in the world, and their only goal is to help you.

It’s not always easy to pick a goal or get there—either way, there is a support team waiting to help you build a plan or two.  Reach out to them, and you’ll be pleased to see how much they have to offer.

Interested in information on a degree program?   You can always talk to one of our educational advisors here at myFootpath by calling 1-866-305-8525.

Athletic trainers are different than the personal trainers who help you lift, squat and lunge your way to fitness at your local gym. While athletic trainers do focus on fitness and helping their clients get in the best shape of their lives, their job is also to prevent, diagnose, and treat and rehabilitate medical conditions or injuries. Think about your favorite baseball or basketball player. Let’s say he or she strained his or her patella (also known as your kneecap) during practice. It would be the team’s athletic trainer’s job to consult with doctors and design a workout program that would not only help the injury heal, but to help make it stronger for the future.

If you’re considering a career as an athletic trainer, the timing has never been better. Insurance companies are seeing the light and finally realizing it makes more sense, financially and otherwise, to pay for preventative care rather than reconstructive surgery. That means that the number of wellness and preventative programs in schools, hospitals, and care facilities will increase; the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts 37 percent job growth between 2008 and 2018 for athletic trainers.

One thing to note: the majority of the job growth will be in the health care industry (the professional and college sports positions will remain very competitive). Athletic trainers are actually recognized by the American Medical Association as allied health professionals, and in order to prepare them for that designation, they are required to earn a bachelor’s degree from an accredited program before they can practice.

For more information about becoming an Athletic Trainer, visit our athletic trainer career profile. 

Catering Careers
Maybe you’re more of a big picture/event planning kind of person. Maybe you like the excitement and hype behind a wedding, anniversary, or other milestone event. Starting a career as a caterer might be right for you. Caterers are responsible for every detail of event planning, from napkin color to hors d’oeuvres selection to dish washing, leaving their clients with nothing to do but enjoy the event.  (Oh and by the way, did you know Martha Stewart herself got started by running a catering business out of her basement?) For more information, visit our caterer career profile.

Food Service Manager Careers
At the end of the day, a successful business is about more than just great steaks and vintage wines, it’s a business. And even with the best culinary talent in the world, a restaurant can’t run without a good business foundation. That’s the job of a food service manager—to hire the right people, purchase the right inventory, and handle the bills and accounts so that the restaurant can turn a profit. For more information about becoming a food service manager, see our career profile.

Pastry Chef Careers
Seriously, who doesn’t want to spend their day surrounded by the sweet smell and tastes of cookies, brownies, and other pastries? Pastry chefs are knowledgeable about the history and preparation of our favorite desserts, and use their creative skills to keep these tastes new and exciting. (If you’ve heard about the recent chocolate-bacon-cupcake craze, you know what I mean). For more information, visit our pastry chef career profile.

Recipe/Cookbook Editor Careers
Have you ever added a tablespoon of salt to a recipe when you only needed a teaspoon? If so, you know the result, and your meal probably ended up in the garbage. It’s a recipe editor’s job to catch these kinds of mistakes before they end up in published cookbooks. They may also help determine which cookbooks are the most marketable, and weed out the good recipes (white chocolate raspberry mousse . . . mmm) from the bad (road kill soufflé a la mode . . . not so much). To get started on a recipe editor career path, click here.

Specialty Food Shop Owner Careers
Have you ever been to one of those amazing corner shops that onlysells cheese and has brands you’ve never heard of from Argentina and Nova Scotia? If so, you’ve entered the realm of the specialty food shop. These stores won’t sell mass market products from Kraft or Velveeta; instead, specialty food shop owners use their extensive knowledge of a particular product to treat their customers to tastes from around the world. In a market full of big box superstores, specialty food shop owners are carving out a nice niche for themselves. For information on how to get started, visit our specialty food shop owner career profile. 

While there are many difference specialties nurses can enter into, there are two primary kinds of nurses:

• Licensed practical or licensed vocational nurses work directly with patients under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN) or physician. They are involved in direct, hands-on interaction with their patients. They often feed them, bathe them, help them dress, take vital signs, perform routine tests and monitor their recovery.

• Registered nurses, also known as RNs, treat patients by taking their histories and symptoms, performing tests, analyzing results, establishing a care plan, administering treatment, and following up with patients and their families regarding rehabilitation.

Once you decide which kind of nurse you want to be, you can choose the nursing program that’s right for you.

Types of Nursing Degree Programs Available

To become a licensed practical or licensed vocational nurse, you need to complete a state-approved nursing program. These types of programs are offered by technical and vocational schools or community and junior colleges and should take approximately one year.

Once you complete the program, you’ll need to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) to get your license.

Featured Schools for an LPN/LVN Degree:

• Brown Mackie – Request Information
• Everest College – Request Information
  

To become a registered nurse, you must either have your bachelor’s of science in nursing (BSN), an Associate’s degree in nursing, or a diploma. The Bachelor’s of Science in nursing is offered at certain colleges and takes roughly 4 years to complete. An Associate’s degree in nursing takes between 2-3 years to complete. Nursing diploma programs are offered by hospitals and take about 3 years to complete.

Featured Schools for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing:

• Chamberlain School of Nursing – Request Information

Featured Schools for an Associate Degree in Nursing:

• Brown Mackie College – Request Information
• Everest College – Request Information
• Rasmussen College – Request Information
• Virginia College – Request Information

Registered nurses must also take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN).

If you’re a registered nurse with a nursing diploma or an Associate’s degree in nursing, you can earn your Bachelor’s of science in nursing through an RN-BSN program. These classes are typically offered online, so you can work and pursue your degree simultaneously.

Featured Online Schools for an RN-BSN Degree Program:

• Chamberlain School of Nursing – Request Information
• Kaplan University – Request Information
• South University Online – Request Information
• Loyola University Online, New Orleans – Request Information

Registered nurses who have their BSN can choose to pursue a Master’s in Nursing, which normally takes 18 to 24 months to complete. A Master’s in nursing allows a registered nurse to enter new specialized fields and become an advanced practice nurse (APN). APNs typically become nurse practitioners, certified nurse anesthetists, clinical nurse specialists, or certified nurse midwives.

Featured Schools for a Master’s Degree in Nursing:

• South University Online – Request Information
• Loyola University Online, New Orleans – Request Information
• Chamberlain School of Nursing – Request Information

What a Nursing Degree Teachers You
What you learn will depend partially on which degree you choose to pursue. In general, nursing programs will cover anatomy, chemistry, nutrition, psychology, and nursing theory to help prepare you for your career.

Featured Careers
Clinical Nurse Specialist
LPN/LVN
Nurse Anesthetist
Nurse Practitioner
Physician Assistant
Registered Nurse

Questions to ask about a Nursing Degree:

1. Do you enjoy working with and helping people?

2. Can you work in a fast-paced environment?

3. Can you handle human suffering, emergencies, and other stressors?

4. Are you able to work nights, weekends and holidays?

5. Are you patient and compassionate?

With books like Fast Food Nation and films like Supersize Me making us more aware of what we eat and how it affects our bodies, diet and nutrition are becoming important tools in the fight against malnutrition, obesity, and disease. And the cavalry that’s leading the charge are registered dietitians and nutritionists.

March 1 kicked off National Nutrition Month, a nutrition education campaign that’s been sponsored by the American Dietetic Association since 1973. If you’ve ever thought about becoming a dietitian or nutritionist, there’s no time like the present.

Part of the ever-growing health care industry, these professionals do everything from creating special meal plans for patients suffering from diabetes to educating elementary students on the importance of a balanced diet. They combine their unique knowledge of food makeup and chemistry with their understanding of the human body and different diseases to not only treat illness, but to prevent it.

While dietitians have traditionally worked in venues like hospitals, schools, or nursing homes, with today’s emphasis on preventative medicine they’re also finding employment in food manufacturing, advertising, and marketing. Here are a few dietitian career paths to consider:

• Clinical dietitians help create menus for ailing or recovering patients in hospitals or nursing homes.
• Community dietitians work to promote the health of a community though nutrition education.
• Management dietitians are in charge of menu planning and preparation for large-scale organizations such as schools, prisons, and company cafeterias.
• Consultant dietitians work one-on-one with clients to help them meet their nutritional goals, such as reducing salt intake or increasing calcium intake.

For more information on becoming a registered dietitian or nutritionist, visit our full career profile.

Unlike other editors, however, recipe editors also need to understand cooking well enough to know when a direction is incorrect. Thanks to the work of recipe editors, anyone with a kitchen can make an assortment of meals with relative ease.

Recipe editors can fulfill a few different roles in the editing process and, depending on the size of the project, they may perform one or many of them. Like copy editors, they may simply be hired to catch typos and obvious mistakes, such as mixing up tablespoon and teaspoon measures.

Recipe editors may also make suggestions for revisions in order to make the directions clearer to the intended audience. For instance, overly technical directions may not be suitable for a cookbook meant for the average person cooking at home. This work is especially important considering the fact that most cookbook authors are primarily chefs and cooks, not writers.

In a similar vein, some cookbook editors are charged with sorting through manuscripts and deciding which ones may be profitable in the marketplace and therefore worth working on. They may encourage popular chefs to produce personalized cookbooks and help them do so.

Recipe editors may be a type of research chef as well. These editors make each recipe in the book or work closely with those who do in order to make sure each recipe produces a good meal. They will tweak the recipe as needed—a little less of this, a little more of that—until it produces consistently good results.

Where Do I Begin?
Recipe editors, as a mixture of two professions, may take a couple of paths. Most editors have at least a Bachelor’s degree, often in English. Recipe editors should have strong writing skills at the very least.

Unlike regular editors, however, cookbook editors also need to have a solid foundation in cooking. They must not only be able to make meals, but also accurately record the steps and the amounts of each ingredient.

Therefore, recipe editors may earn culinary degrees or at the very least have a great deal of experience preparing food. Regardless of the path she takes—an English major who loves to cook or a culinary student who writes well—a recipe editor should work to be a clear and concise communicator.

Featured Schools for a Communications Degree:

• Kaplan University – Request Information

Compatible Personality Traits
Highly analytical, excellent written communicator, attention to detail, patient, critical thinker, inquisitive, meticulous, works well under pressure of deadline, project oriented, works well with others.

Salary Expectations for a Recipe Editor
As a type of editor, recipe editors may expect to earn an average yearly salary of $49,990, with the middle fifty percent earning between $36,690 and $69,140. Of course, two key things may affect these figures. One is that the special expertise of recipe editors—having technical knowledge of cooking—may help them earn more money.

The second is that because many editors, of all stripes, are paid by the hour/page/project, their average yearly pay greatly depends on the number and size of the projects they complete. Cookbook editors with excellent credentials in both editing and cooking and who have a reputation for good worth should have the best chance of finding work.

Job Outlook for a Recipe Editor
Competition for recipe editors should be high. As with most editing/writing positions, there are often many more qualified people than open positions. This may be less true, however, for recipe editors considering their unique skill set.

Also, with the recent popularity increase of all things cooking, with famous personalities, television shows, and even entire networks dedicated to cooking, many more cookbooks may be published, thereby increasing demand for those with the skill to edit them.

Recipe editors with better education, excellent writing skills, and a record for completing successful projects on time and within budget should have the best chance of finding work.

Slightly off the Footpath
Editor
Writer
Chef
Dietitian/Nutritionist

Source: bls.gov/oco/ocos320.htm; bls.gov/ooq/2002/fall/yawhat.pdf

Food service managers perform tasks that allow their kitchen staff to concentrate on meals and not have to worry whether or not they have the proper equipment and ingredients.

Food service managers have many responsibilities. Most importantly, they must make sure the food is well prepared and consistent from plate to plate. This means they must keep an eye on their employees’ cooking methods and make corrections as necessary. This also means they must provide their employees with the tools and ingredients required to do their jobs.

Food service managers must monitor inventory—the contents of the freezer and pantry—and make orders from wholesale food suppliers when supplies are low; when equipment breaks, it is up to them to have it repaired in a timely manner. In each situation, they need to negotiate the best prices they can so they can keep profit margins up.

Food service managers also take care of the financial aspects of the business. They keep the accounting books for the restaurant or supervise the person who does. Managers organize payroll, pay taxes, and track sales. Unless the restaurant is part of a chain, they will set prices according to their costs and what the market will bear and decide upon the menu.

At finer restaurants, they will consult with the head chef on such decisions. Food service managers are also in charge of the hiring, firing, and training of employees. It is up to them to make sure their kitchen not only has quality chefs and cooks, but also people who can work well together.

Where Do I Begin?
In the past food service managers have only had to have a high school diploma or G.E.D.  Many employers today, however, look to hire managers who have an Associate’s degree or a Bachelor’s degree.

Food service managers typically start as a member of the staff and move up after gaining experience and proving themselves to be hardworking and capable. Some large companies that own many restaurants will pay for additional training for their best employees so they can eventually step up to run a successful franchise restaurant.

Featured Schools for Culinary Arts Degrees:

• Virginia College – Request Information

Featured Online Schools for Business Administration Degrees:

• Colorado Technical University – Request Information
• Kaplan University – Request Information
• South University – Request Information

Compatible Personality Traits
Hardworking, problem-solver, willing to work long and odd hours, diplomatic, people person, very organized, good with juggling many simultaneous tasks, willing to relocate, conscientious of personal hygiene.

Salary Expectations for a Food Service Manager
The average salary for a food service manager is $43,020 a year, with the middle fifty percent earning between $34,210 and $55,100. Of course, a food service manager who owns her own restaurant may earn much less or much more, depending on the success of the establishment. Aside from salary, food service managers often have the benefit of free meals and sometimes earn bonuses for increased sale volumes.

Job Outlook for a Food Service Manager
Job outlook is good for food service managers in the coming years as populations grow and demand more eating establishments. Furthermore, new food service managers will be needed to replace those who move up or leave the industry altogether.

Food service managers with a post-secondary degree in restaurant management or foodservice will be most likely to find work, especially at higher end establishments and in the growing food service industry that caters to schools and retirement communities.

Slightly off the Footpath
Chef
Restaurant Management
Hotel Management
Customer Service Management
Dietitian/Nutritionist

Source: bls.gov/oco/ocos024.htm

Though today it is easier than ever for the average person to find certain types of information by means of internet search engines, other kinds of necessary information remain obscured by the mass of useless data. Librarians today use traditional research and organizational skills in conjunction with technological training to help people find the exact information they need.

Librarians may specialize in particular fields of knowledge, such as literature, science, reference, or music, and use this specialization to run particular library sections in larger libraries. In smaller libraries, however, a librarian will typically have to work in many or all sections.

Librarians most often work for school libraries, from elementary to college, or general public libraries. Librarians, however, may also be employed by businesses to keep track of their records and/or to help their employees conduct research: a common example would be employment in a large law firm.

Librarians who work for businesses tend to have additional education and/or experience in the law and business.

But no matter the position, librarians perform many of the same functions. They are charged with acquiring and organizing materials of informational, literary, or artistic value. Such items may include books, CDs, DVDs, film, brochures, pamphlets, and periodicals.

Increasingly, librarians must also organize and even sometimes build computerized databases of information. Some librarians specialize in archives and primary source collections. Because much of this information is unorganized and unavailable to the general public, librarians who manage these collections serve as very important gatekeepers of the knowledge they contain.

Finally, some librarians work in preservation, using their skills to maintain and repair first editions and priceless manuscripts as well as convert information found on older technologies to newer formats (i.e. from reel to reel tapes to digital files). With their work, information does not die when its medium fails or becomes obsolete; rather, it is made available for generations to come.

Where Do I Begin?
Librarians most often need a Master’s degree in library science (MLS). Usually, any Bachelor’s degree is fine for entering an MLS program, though many librarians who specialize in a given field will have their Bachelor’s degree in that field (i.e. a science reference librarian with a chemistry degree or a fine art librarian with a degree in art history).

Most MLS degrees take 1 to 2 years and require classes in library organization, research techniques, and censorship. Those who specialize may take further classes in children’s literature, preservation, or archival organization depending on their specialty.

A PhD should be earned by those who wish to teach or work at the highest levels in large libraries. For those who wish to become school librarians, some states require teacher certification.

Compatible Personality Traits
Excellent oral and written communicator, highly organized, eye for detail, patient, critical thinker, technologically savvy, works well with others, patient, inquisitive.

Q&A
Question:  Why do you need a degree to be a librarian?
Answer:  Libraries are complex environments and many of the systems we use would be very challenging without proper training. You need to be computer savvy and learn specific databases and systems… Read More Q&A

Salary Expectations for a Librarian
The average salary for librarians is $52,530 a year, with the middle fifty percent earning between $42,240 and $65,300. Those employed by the federal government average $84,796 a year.

Most librarians are employed by schools, from the elementary to the university level; of these, the average salary is in the mid-$50,000 range. With a Ph.D. and/or more experience, a librarian may be able to move into a supervisory position with more responsibility and a higher salary.

Job Outlook for a Librarian
The job outlook for librarians in the coming years is generally good. Though people are more likely to try to conduct their own research through electronic means, new librarians are well versed in electronic information systems and remain essential to higher levels of research.

Furthermore, many current librarians will be retiring soon, and though some positions may go away when they do, many new librarians will still be needed. Librarians who have training in the latest digital information technologies should have the best chance of finding a good position.

Slightly off the Footpath
Teacher
Archivist
Research Analyst
Teaching Assistant
Early Childhood Educator

Source: bls.gov/oco/ocos068.htm

Their shelves may have hard-to-find ingredients for foreign recipes or products made for people with dietary restrictions. Though their products are sometimes a little more expensive, specialty food shops give their customers a lot for their money by stocking a unique inventory and offering personal service.

Specialty food shop owners, like other small business owners, need to be aware of the local demand for their products. When starting their business, they need make sure the surrounding area will support such a store.

Many owners who open stores that cater to particular types of foreign cuisine, such as Mexican food or Asian food, choose to locate them in areas where there are significant populations from these cultures; this is especially true in urban areas where large immigrant communities flourish.

Similarly, owners who want to sell only vegan or organic foods need to make sure people in the area will both want and be able to afford the generally more expensive products. Once their store is operational, food shop owners must manage inventories, taxes, and payroll like any other grocery store. Because their stores tend to be smaller than the average supermarket, specialty food shop owners can build a loyal customer following by taking special orders and creating personal relationships with their customers.

Though it is not necessary for them to exclusively live on a diet provided by their stores’ products, specialty food shop owners need to be highly knowledgeable of the products they sell and able to teach new customers about their products.

Where Do I Begin?
A Bachelor’s degree is a great start for a business owner.  A Master’s degree with coursework in business, accounting, and/or marketing may also be helpful for the business aspects of running the store, but they are not required.

Perhaps the best education for a food shop owner is found by working in the industry, either for a more traditional grocery store or for another specialty shop. Since specialty food shops stock uncommon items, its owner should be very knowledgeable about the products she sells. This knowledge may obtained through study, personal experience, and/or experience working in with such products in the past.

Featured Online Schools for Business Administration Degrees:

• Colorado Technical University – Request Information
• Kaplan University – Request Information
• South University – Request Information
• Westwood College – Request Information
  

Featured Campus Schools for Business Administration Degrees:

• Argosy University – Request Information
• South University – Request Information
• Westwood College – Request Information
• YTI Career Institute – Request Information
  

Compatible Personality Traits
Excellent written and oral communicator, people person, good with numbers, multi-tasker, highly organized, good manager of people, diplomatic, teacher, invested in the product (not simply the money to be made).

Salary Expectations for a Small Business Owner/Specialty Food Shop Owner
Like other small business owners, the owner of a specialty food shop has no income guarantee. Managers of regular grocery stores earn an average salary of $35,152 a year, though they may take home more if they earn a bonus based on how much the store sells.

As the owner of the business, a specialty food store owners might expect to earn this, though there is the potential to earn much more or less, again, depending on the region of the country, the type of food products sold, and the health of the business.

Specialty food shop owners who really do their research and open stores in areas with a high demand for their products and services are likely to be the most successful.

Job Outlook for a Specialty Food Shop Owner
The job outlook for specialty food shop owners is good in the coming years. While it is true that people are usually happy to have a one-stop shopping experience, many miss the personalized nature of the corner market.

Also, people are increasingly open to trying new cuisines and following restricted diets for health reasons. Oftentimes, they are not able to find all the ingredients and products they need at larger stores to make their special meals and so must visit specialty shops.

Like other small businesses, specialty food shops may face tougher times during economic downturns. But specialty food shop owners who locate their store well, offer products that larger stores cannot, and build customer loyalty through personalized service have the best chance of running a profitable business.

Slightly off the Footpath
Chef
Restaurant Management
Dietitian/Nutritionist
Food Critic

Source: bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs024.htm