I also enjoy having several brands to promote And with leisure time and disposable income on the rise, businesses are continuing to grow. The resulting competition has led many to invest heavily in graduate careers, with large numbers having introduced graduate recruitment schemes within the past few years. "New recruits therefore find themselves able to progress quickly within our business areas and many find themselves with large amounts of responsibility very early on."The problem is that bad experiences of working in hospitality are responsible for putting many graduates off. "Our research has found that a poor work experience makes students highly unlikely to ever consider the industry as a career option," says Ann Walker, managing director of Springboard UK, the specialist careers and education service for the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism industries. "This is serious because the study also found that even formal work placements have often been poorly organised and consequently disappointing for many students."Apart from putting together best practice guidelines for employers in the hope of improving future placements, Springboard is also working hard to promote the industry to university leavers. "It has traditionally been lax about marketing its career opportunities, rarely getting involved in the milk rounds - another reason for the shortage of graduates," admits Walker.So what does hospitality really have to offer graduates? Wayne Topley, 30, is general manager of the York Marriott, and agrees with Whitbread that the opportunity for a fast-track to management is a major appeal. "The best thing about my job is the impact I can have on the business," he says. "I can make decisions that affect strategy, the guests and staff."The variety is also attractive, with over 26,000 hotels, restaurants, caf? pubs and clubs, and an estimated 100,000 catering outlets. Andrea Walton, 28, adds that variety can be found within jobs, too. The marketing manager at the government services division at contract caterer Compass explains, "I can spend one day in a prison and the next giving cuddly toys to kids in a primary school. I also enjoy having several brands to promote."Many graduates boast about the buzz of the hospitality industry - the fast-paced, sociable and entertainment-based environment. Others enjoy the flexibility of the sector - the ability to move around departments and locations, particularly in big chains, as well as the welcome alternative to the nine-to-five treadmill.
Indeed, part-time, full-time, freelance and flexible hours are all available.The exact set of skills and qualifications you need will differ from company to company, but most employers welcome a range of degree subjects and there are a few personal qualities that are important in all careers. You should, for example, be able to work both independently and as part of a team, and be committed, energetic, a good communicator, resourceful and able to keep calm in a crisis."You need to be outgoing and able to think fast on your feet," adds Edward Gallier, development and training manager for the UK and Ireland at Jurys Doyle Hotel Group. Jurys Doyle has openings for graduates of all disciplines in the areas of hotel operations, sales and marketing, accounting, human resources and information technology as part of its 18-month graduate opportunities programme. The American West has become part of a global mythology, not just America's mythology.". It's a classic - not to say stereotypical - scenario. |
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