Joanna James
A career in hospitality will allow you to work anywhere in the world. It is also known to be the largest employment sector globally. There are a few essential things everyone should know to get ahead as a professional in the hospitality industry.
The hospitality sector is extremely diverse and broad. There is a range of jobs you can do when you are starting. However, if you are truly interested in getting ahead of the rest you must choose a niche specialisation that is ideal for you. For example, your expertise could be in Food and Beverage Management or Front Office management. Once you've figured out your passion and which area you think you'll excel in, contact a hospitality and tourism college. They will be able to guide you on any added qualifications that you may need to excel in that area. They may also be able to help you figure out hotels and establishments that can offer your work experience Once you've got your specialisation and start working towards it, it'll be much easier to climb up the ladder.
Hospitality is something that is thriving in almost any country anywhere in the world. Therefore, if you do get offers to work in a city you've never heard of or even abroad, don't hesitate to take it. The Asian Institute of Hospitality Management might be able to give you an idea of how much value such a place would add to your career. If such a place is relatively smaller in scale and size you may also have more opportunities to get ahead. Therefore, be open to the unknown and take chances. This is crucial during the early stages of your career to understand the range of opportunities that are out there.
Hospitality is a rapidly evolving industry, so staying in touch is vital. While back in the day having good hospitality skills was sufficient to get ahead in the business, now you need a range of additional skills. For example, most hotels and resorts now do their marketing, customer handling, etc. via social media and phone applications. Being savvy on how to use such platforms and exploit their potential to help the business grow will be extremely beneficial. If you currently don't have such knowledge it is best to enroll in free online courses or even watch and read material to self-teach yourself some basic aspects.
No matter how skilled and specialised you are, if you don't have experience, it won't matter. From the day you decide that hospitality is your career aspiration, getting as much experience as possible is key. To do this, always be on the lookout for opportunities. Know that simple bartending jobs that you did while in college won't count. You will need full-time professional experience to show for yourself if you want to be ahead of the crowd. So make connections with people in the industry and grab any opportunity that comes your way.
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