Hospitality Job Offers

Hospitality offers a wide array of job opportunities depending on the sector you wish to pursue. The industry is often referred to as an umbrella that encompasses several different paths, which include lodging (hotels, motels, and resorts), restaurants, gaming, airlines, cruises, spa management, event management, culinary, and anything else that revolves around customer satisfaction and selling an intangible product. A great candidate for the industry is someone who is personable, friendly, and outgoing by nature. Someone who seeks adventure and is searching for a career that is never dull because every day is one that cannot be predicted. Hospitality is in a constant state of exciting, innovative transformation-it is never monotonous, no matter which course you choose. This is not an industry that sleeps either; there are positions that require shifts during all times of the day, some more demanding than others. One variable remains constant, and that is a challenging and exhilarating atmosphere. Yet another incentive is the profitability of the travel and tourism industry. It is one of the biggest revenue generators of the world. Just a figure to ponder-this industry produces $1.3 trillion in economic activity in the U.S. every year. That equates to $3.4 billion a day, $148 million an hour, $2.4 million a minute and $40,000 a second (Travel Industry Association of America, 2006).

For those of you who graduate from college with a major in hospitality or one of its variations, and are anxious to pursue the real world, do not underestimate the power of this bachelor's degree. There are plenty of positions, and room to become quite successful with just that. What is going to delegate a person's success is how well they can demonstrate the knowledge learned in school. Also, you will always exceed the expectations of your employers proving that you can get the job done, and taking the initiative to continue the learning process (this applies to any career). For those of you interested in restaurants, positions as shift supervisors, and managers always exist, along with the opportunity to become an owner of your own restaurant. Or perhaps you would be more productive in the back of the house operations, which involve different culinary positions. Hotels offer supervisor positions in all departments including front desk, accounting, events management, kitchen operations, human resources, housekeeping, and concierge. You must keep in mind that there are two distinctions within hotels-people travel either for business or leisure, so the type of atmosphere that you are most comfortable working in will ultimately delegate which type to pursue.

The airline industry is for those who look to travel the world, unless you choose to work within the airport itself or in corporate headquarters. Flight attendants are always needed, along with customer service representatives.

Spa and resort management is quite straightforward in that this is a profession in spas and resorts. Supervisor positions also are available in the different departments. Spas cater to those looking for massages, facials, wellness training, and holistic healing. It is important to mention that for if you are interested in the actual services a spa provides, you will probably need further training.

Event management involves the coordination of events either for business or leisure, once again it depends on preference. Positions right out of college could include working as an assistant manager for the event management department of a hotel, starting a business, or working for an independent company. The events vary, but they include everything from planning weddings to corporate meetings to coordinating huge sports events.

If a student is anxious to travel and work for only part of the year, cruise ships are a booming sector in hospitality. Yet, keep in mind that the service industry and all of its sectors offer the opportunity to travel. Like a hotel, there are the different departments, but on a much smaller scale. In all likelihood, starting out on a cruise ship will probably give you an entry level position, but with the bachelor's degree, there will be a quick advance to higher positions.

Another rising star within hospitality is senior community living, which caters to retired people who no longer wish to live in a house, but feel more comfortable in a setting with their peers. This will become one of the largest sectors due to the baby boomer generation that is approaching senior citizenship. These types of organizations offer a more traditional work schedule, and the demand for employees is rapidly growing.

Last is the gaming industry. Casinos operate like other establishments, especially hotels, since most offer these accommodations, but on top of that there is the introduction of the actual entertainment aspect. One could work on the floor of a casino, or within the amusement factor (shows and concerts). Many of the departments are indeed the same as hotels.

Before you complete college, you must evaluate which sector to pursue, and what type of position to apply for. If you have a thirst for knowledge, a masters program or further education are always options. If you do opt to major in hospitality throughout your undergraduate degree, then an MBA (Masters in Business and Administration) program is likely to be the most valuable. This type of degree stands out on a resume to organizations, but it also provides critical training of skills that will be necessary as a manager and leader in the business world. In addition to higher education, there are certification programs. These tend to run approximately a year to two years, and allow a person to concentrate on one particular field of hospitality. Essentially, any certification is a way to pursue a passion that perhaps was not fully developed during an undergraduate study. In addition, it is important to mention that some organizations actually offer financial assistance to further an employee's skill set. This tends to be for a person who excels within their position, and is looked upon as an irreplaceable asset to the company.

Some final thoughts to keep in mind when contemplating what type of career to choose: the hospitality industry will always provide a chance to shine, and it offers involvement in a fast-changing environment. Hospitality is an industry that offers so many exciting opportunities and career choices that it can never become lifeless or dull. It will keep you on your toes!