Hot jobs in hospitality: if you enjoy meeting people, then a career in hospitality might be right for you - Hot Jobs

Imagine a job that includes travel to faraway locations, activities such as line dancing and crafts, and the opportunity to meet 3,000 new friends every trip. Those were features of Brad Barber's job as a cruise staffer on a cruise line. Brad describes himself as "extroverted--a real people person."

"I work six months on and two months off," he says. "I've been all over the world. But the best part is all the people I've met."

Hospitality is a broad term for an industry that encompasses many types of employers and hundreds of job titles. You're most likely to find a job in a hotel or restaurant, which are the primary employers in hospitality. Resorts, especially golf or spas, are a growing segment. Additional employers include theme parks, cruise ships, convention centers, and state and local tourism boards. According to the Travel Industry Association of America (TIAA), travelers in the U.S. spent $527 billion in 2001, which translates into 7.8 million jobs for the people serving those travelers. TIAA estimates that one out of every 18 workers in the U.S. is employed due to direct spending by travelers.

What's for Dinner?

If you love preparing food, kick your career up a notch by considering food service. Food service is a major component of the hospitality industry. The Restaurant Association of America calculates that the industry generates $399 billion a year in sales and employs 11.6 million people. The good news is that approximately 20 percent of that workforce is between 16 and 19 years old. Entry-level jobs usually don't require much education or experience, so it's not surprising that almost a third of all Americans have worked in the restaurant industry at some point in their lives. Many people who have built successful careers in hospitality credit that first job. For example, 16 percent of people who now own their own restaurants began as dishwashers; 9 percent started as servers.

Employers range from fast-food chains to five-star restaurants. Food service is also provided on cruise ships, in schools and colleges, and in health care facilities. Typical entry-level jobs include bus persons and waitstaff. Waitstaff with experience can progress to the host or hostess job. Restaurants that serve alcohol employ a beverage manager, a wine steward, and bartenders. A general manager oversees the whole operation. Like all businesses, restaurants need accountants, computer specialists, and marketing or public relations people.

In the kitchen, entry-level jobs involve food preparation and progress to actually cooking the food. Fancier restaurants have chefs who specialize in desserts and Pastries, meat and fish, or sours and sauces. A chef's day involves a lot of planning and hard work, so you have to be passionate about what you do. Restaurant owner and chef Jean-Louis Gerin says, "Whenever a customer smiles, I know I've done something good."

More Than Just a Place to Sleep

Lodging forms the other major component of the industry. Like food service, there is a wide range of employers--from small family hotels to roadside chains to major city convention hotels that have 4,000 rooms. It usually takes a small town's worth of employees to keep a hotel operating. Every day when guests check out housekeeping cleans rooms and changes linens and towels.. Maintenance keeps all the mechanical systems working. Bellhops greet guests and carry luggage to the rooms. Desk clerks check guests in and out. Larger hotels have a concierge who assists guests with restaurants and local sights and shopping. Security experts work to provide guests with a safe and secure environment.

Larger hotels often have separate divisions to handle business travelers and conventions and events. A general manager, with help from unit assistant and night managers, oversees the whole business.

Other Opportunities

Lodging and food service aren't the only jobs in hospitality. Theme parks are a growth industry, with attendance increasing every year. America's theme-parks took in $9.6 billion in revenue in 2001, according to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. They employ everyone from maintenance workers to entertainers to concession and gift shop clerks.

Cruise Lines International Association forecasts almost 8 percent growth in 2002 for the cruise industry. Approximately 7.5 million people took cruises in 2001, and that translates into a lot of jobs. In addition to food service and lodging-related jobs on board, cruise ships employ entertainers, salon and shop managers, and medical personnel. Cruise staff like Brad Barber look after and entertain the guests, which sometimes means working 12- to 14-hour days. They also handle the crowds in an emergency, which is a big responsibility. Although working on a cruise ship has lots of perks, Barber says that the job can get monotonous--if it's Monday, it's time for line dancing again. He says, "You have to be creative and add in a little bit extra."

Golf is the second most popular sport in the country, so it follows that employment at golf courses and golf resorts is on the rise. More colleges are offering golf management programs for students who plan a career on the links. There's even a trade association for chefs who work at golf course restaurants.

Tourism is the first, second, or third largest employer in 29 states, according to the TIAA. Most states have a government department whose job is to promote, encourage, and develop travel to the state. Most of the jobs are marketing and public relations based, but there's also a place for statisticians to track the number of visitors and the amount of money they spend.

Keys to Success

Hospitality is one of those increasingly rare fields where you can start with little education, gain experience and move up the career ladder. Many entry-level jobs require no education or experience. The employer provides on-the-job training. To advance or to start at a higher level requires a minimum of a high school diploma and often a two- or four-year college degree. There are over 1,000 post-secondary hospitality programs available. To find out more, see Searching for Scholarships on page 30.

Since hospitality is a service business, attitude is especially important, regardless of education or training. Barber stresses the importance of putting yourself in the customer's place: "When you know people have saved their money for this vacation, you want to make it the absolute best," says Barber.

Personality also plays a role. "You have to have charm and pizzazz," says Barber. "Actually, I think they hired me because of my southern accent." Executive chef Phillipe Boulot looks for "lots of energy" when he hires employees. Anita Lo says she looks for "someone who wants to work here and is really hungry for the job."

Looking to the Future

Overall outlook for the industry is positive. Entry-level jobs are plentiful. In part this is because of growth in the industry. However, it's also because of the low-skill, low-pay nature of the work, which often leads to high turnover.

Demand for higher-level jobs has slowed slightly, because the whole industry has slowed. Some of the slowdown is due to general economic conditions. When the economy turns down, people tend to spend less on vacations. When the economy improves, as it always does, the hospitality industry improves along with it.

Another reason for slowdown in the whole hospitality industry is September 11. Travel dropped significantly in the weeks after the tragedy. However, most of the businesses have recovered and are on track for the future. Industry experts say the industry is "resilient" because people need their vacations. In addition, the industry has heavily promoted travel with special advertising and big discounts.

Hot Jobs in Hospitality

If you genuinely like people are service-oriented, and have excellent
communication skills check out these careers.

Jobs and                                  Minimum
Responsibilities                          Education

Waitstaff                                 None
seats customers, describes menu items,
takes orders, serves food, accepts
payment

Chef                                      Better opportunities with
purchases food, plans menus, prepares     associate's degree or
food, trains and supervises other cooks    culinary diploma

Restaurant Manager                        Associate's or bachelor's
estimates costs; purchases supplies;      degree. Some restaurants
hires, trains, and terminates personnel   will promote experienced
                                          employees.

Desk Clerk                                High School
takes guest reservations, registers
guests, assigns rooms, takes payment

Hotel Manager                             Bachelor's degree
oversees all personnel, plans budgets
and marketing

Cruise Staff                              Bachelor's degree
is responsible for guest relations,
helps guests solve problems, leads
activities, oversees embarcation and
debarcation

Cruise Director                           Bachelor's degree and
hires and supervises cruise staff and     2-5 years experience
entertainers, handles guest-related
problems

Jobs and
Responsibilities                               Salary *

Waitstaff                                 Minimum wage + tips
seats customers, describes menu items,
takes orders, serves food, accepts
payment

Chef                                       $35,000 (median)
purchases food, plans menus, prepares
food trains and supervises other cooks

Restaurant Manager                         $36,460 (median)
estimates costs; purchases supplies;
hires, trains, and terminates personnel


Desk Clerk                                 $16,380 (median)
takes guest reservations, registers
guests, assigns rooms, takes payment

Hotel Manager                              $30,770 (median)
oversees all personnel, plans budgets
and marketing

Cruise Staff                                 $1,800-$2,100
is responsible for guest relations,            per month
helps guests solve problems, leads
activities, oversees embarcation and
debarcation

Cruise Director                              $3,000-$7,500
hires and supervises cruise staff and          per month
entertainers, handles guest-related
problems

* Salaries are approximate and may vary depending on experience and
place of employment.

Sources: Occupational Outlook Handlook, National Restaurant Association,
Seamax International, Inc. (www.cruiselinejob.com)

RELATED ARTICLE

REVIEW/DISCUSS

Students will recognize the unique features of jobs in the hospitality industry.

* What are the main areas of the hospitality industry? (hotels, restaurants, resorts, theme parks, spas, convention centers, and tourism bureaus)

* What type of person is best suited for most hospitality jobs? (someone with a pleasant attitude and outgoing personality)

* What types of jobs in the hospitality industry appeal to you most?

* How do you think the current economy is affecting the hospitality industry?

ACTIVITIES

* Ask groups of students to draw up lists of the advantages and disadvantages of working in the hospitality industry. Have groups share their lists.

* Point out that the hospitality industry is unique in that many jobs require little education, and experience leads to advancement. Ask students to

a. List entry-level positions.

b. Develop career ladders for two of these jobs.

* Invite students to observe hospitality jobs close up through an informational interview at a restaurant, hotel, resort, convention center, etc. Ask students to report on the types of jobs, the qualities valued by the employer, the work environment, and the stresses and satisfactions of the work.

* Have students code these jobs to identify them as available on a cruise ship (S), at a hotel (H), at a resort (R), theme park (T), convention center (C), or tourism bureau (B). Discuss the results with students.

___waitstaff

___cook/chef

___entertainer

___marketing manager

___housekeeper

___lifeguard

___nurse

___statistician

___secretary

___mechanic

___shop clerk

___teacher

teacher resource

"Hotels & Tourism," video, $99; "Careers in the Hospitality Industry," video, $74; "Professional Careers in the Food Industry," video, $74; Meridian, 1-800-727-5507. "Behind the Scenes-Hospitality/Hotels," video, $89.95; Cambridge Educational, 1-800-468-4227.

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