The hospitality, leisure, and tourism industries have a vast array of jobs. Whether you’re interested in food service, traveling or even hotel management, the hospitality industry offers more than its fair share of exciting job opportunities.
If you have decided that a job in the hospitality industry is the right one for you, you may have started trying to figure out how to land a job in this competitive industry. However, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, many hotels, restaurants, and most of the tourism industry has had to shut down. Although the industry is starting to pick up again in the USA, there are fewer jobs available. Therefore, if you are seriously considering a role in this industry, you need to do everything you can to make sure you stand out from the crowd.
Here are some of the best tips on how to get a job in the hospitality industry.
Understand the different areas of work
The hospitality industry has a wide variety of different careers and is a worldwide industry. There are a huge amount of different working environments, so when you’re starting to look for a job, you need to know what sort of role appeals to you. Here are some of the most common roles in the hospitality industry (although there are many more):
- Bar, club, or pub staff
- Adventure tourism
- Cruise liners
- Entertainment and leisure
- Hotel and restaurant staff
These are just a few of the many different jobs in the hospitality industry. These roles all vary drastically from each other, so make sure you choose which area of hospitality you want to go into before you start applying for roles.
Get the proper education and training
Although there are some types of jobs in the hospitality industry where you don’t need any official training or education, there are some roles where this is a requirement. For example, if you are thinking about becoming a chef, you will need culinary training if you want to work for high-quality restaurants. If you want to work in a managerial role in the hospitality industry, you may want to consider getting a managerial degree.
There are also several universities and colleges that offer recognized courses related to the hospitality industry. If you have the time, money, and patience, a hospitality degree could be the best way to stand out from the crowd and prove to potential employers that you have the skills necessary for a role in hospitality.
Get some work experience
If you don’t need a degree in the area of hospitality you want to work in, then you should try and get some work experience. Not only will this prove to future employers that you have experience in the field, but it will also help you decide which area of the hospitality industry you want to go into. If you are still at school or college, consider getting a side job in the evenings or at the weekends. Even if you just help out now and then, a little experience goes a long way.
Create the perfect CV
When you are applying for any role, you need to make sure that your CV stands out from the crowd. However, jobs in the hospitality industry are usually competitive, so you need to make sure you do everything you can to get noticed by potential employers. Moreover, the coronavirus pandemic has hit the hospitality industry incredibly hard, and there are fewer jobs, meaning that the job market is more competitive than ever. Therefore, you need to ensure that your resumé is professional, concise, and well-worded. Make sure you use a professional and free online CV builder to make sure that your resumé will allow you to stand out from the crowd.
Here are some of the most important skills you should include on your resumé if you are thinking about a career in hospitality:
- Verbal communication skills: this is probably the most important skill you can have in hospitality, as you will regularly have to communicate with customers. You can get these sorts of skills from presenting work and working in groups.
- Leadership and delegation skills: if you are looking for a managerial role, you will need to make sure you can delegate and lead a brigade. You can gain these skills through group work.
- Problem-solving skills: when you work in hospitality, you will have to deal with several issues (for example if a customer starts complaining). You can develop these skills through researching, evaluating, and presenting arguments.
Sell yourself
Even if you don’t have a degree in hospitality, most people have relevant experience in various fields that can be used as valid experience. Use this experience on your CV, and sell yourself. A lot of people are unwilling to highlight their key skills and show themselves off, fearing that they will appear arrogant. However, you shouldn’t be modest on your CV, as this could hinder you from getting a job. Selling yourself is often the key to getting a job in any industry. You will also stand out if you have a vision for your hospitality career. A long-term strategic plan will show potential employers that you are not entering the hospitality industry for fun.
Understand the ladder
Most people who are high up in the hospitality industry have worked up the ranks and started in entry-level jobs like dishwashing or waitressing. “These entry-level positions are important because they build character and allow you to see the business from the ground up,” says Lara Weiss, global director of sales for K Hotels International.
If you want a high-ranking role in hospitality, you need to understand that you might have to work up the ranks and that it will take a lot of dedication and some long hours. However, it is possible if you follow the above advice.