Working in the hospitality industry is one of the most satisfying career choices you could make. With so many different sectors within the industry, there is plenty of scope to change and develop your career, so you are never still or stale in one place for too long. But whichever strand you choose, you will be focusing on offering a brilliant service to all your customers, making sure their stay, meal, entertainment and accommodation are superb. There’s nothing to beat the feeling of job satisfaction than when a customer tells you they’ve had a great time staying in your establishment.
The hospitality industry includes hotels, pubs, restaurants, holiday companies, entertainment and leisure and health and fitness, among others. Within each of these lie a number of different, challenging and exciting roles, from front-of-house manager to behind-the-scenes chef. You know best where your talents lie; if you are shy, you probably won’t want to be out singing on a cruise liner, but you may be a whizz in the kitchen preparing a feast for the passengers.
Learn your trade
The first thing to do when you have decided upon a career in hospitality is to get yourself some work experience. This may be paid or unpaid, depending upon the company and the role, but it will give you a good grounding in your chosen area, helping you to decide if it is right for you. Work experience can generally be quite flexible so will fit around your existing work or studies and it will demonstrate that you are committed to your career.
Although you don’t always need a qualification, hospitality recruitment companies will look more favourably on you if you have taken a course in your chosen area. Many places now offer on-the-job training leading to a vocational qualification, or if you are hoping for a management role, you may want to explore the range of diplomas, degrees and postgraduate qualifications on offer.
There are certain skills that go hand in hand with a successful career in hospitality. Teamwork is a must, along with great communication skills and boundless enthusiasm. You will also need to be prepared to work unsociable hours, as hotel, restaurant and bar work will require shifts on evenings and weekends.
Go global
If you like the idea of travel, there are usually plenty of opportunities for taking your career to an international level. From adventure holidays to cruise ships and ski resorts to holiday villages, there is always a high demand for enthusiastic, committed and talented individuals.
The hospitality industry is continuing to boom, both in the UK and abroad, as we become an increasingly globalised society. Being part of this phenomenon is a privilege and you will be setting yourself up for a long-lasting, rewarding and interesting career if you choose hospitality as your profession.