Finally we plug them into a personal development plan I look at where our holidays can be sold through tactical distribution channels such as Thomas Cook TV, Teletext and over the internet.I love doing something I've always wanted to do and really enjoy the variety and, ultimately, matching the right holidays with the right people.. I took on increasing responsibility and finally became a commercial manager, which involved negotiating terms with third-party tour operators sold through Thomas Cook shops.I was keen to move between functions, however, and last October became a trading manager within the tour operator business. I applied to Thomas Cook because it was one of the biggest names in the industry.At that time, the graduate scheme was UK-based and my placements were very much in retail. The final role I worked in on the scheme was commercial now known as trade relations. "Generally, they find the work enormously satisfying and great fun." 'I have always been passionate about travel'Julie Berry, 28, works for the Thomas Cook tour operator, having joined the graduate recruitment scheme five years agoI did a business studies and tourism degree with a travel focus because I'd always been passionate about travel. "The role of product executive," explains Nicky Cook, HR advisor, "is to work closely with the product teams, ensuring that the holidays we offer are right for the market, meet customer expectations and deliver the targeted sales and profits."Whatever role and company graduates end up in, they are offered varied, challenging and exciting career opportunities, according to ABTA. 'I got into a management role very quickly'I joined Compass as a trainee graduate manager in 2000, having studied hotel catering and institutional management. Then they move into a more structured year in which they take up a permanent role in a junior manager capacity. The graduates who come here therefore very much take ownership and responsibility for decision making quite early on. Indeed, we want them to become the future leaders of our organisation."Compass Group, the world's largest contract food-service company, has a similar attitude towards its graduates, of which they take on around 75 a year. "In fact, we have a 12 to 15 year window to take them through to junior executive in the company," explains Mike Stapleton, corporate affairs director "Year one is about an induction to the company.
But graduates within the industry, for the most part, find plenty of career opportunities available and enjoy the ultimate aim of creating a happy environment. Finally, we plug them into a personal development plan."There is no doubt that the hospitality industry requires a lot of hard work and can be pressurised and stressful. So graduates move across our operating companies and around the different operations themselves, such as marketing, IT and accounting. "We have a very flat hierarchy, with frontline people running the organisation, supported by a team of senior management and discipline leaders. "What's interesting is that many graduates come to us wanting a career in, say, sales and marketing, but end up in finance because they become focused on different areas."Radisson Edwardian Hotels also offers a comprehensive graduate programme lasting 18 months to two years, with a fast-track to senior roles. But Leonie Frieda is so successful at making the long story intelligible that it is hard to remember this is her first book.Not only has her industry been formidable; she avoids getting bogged down in detail, and keeps the story moving. The reader seldom loses sight of the Queen's talents in dealing with innumerable, often insoluble problems This is a masterly biography, and a fascinating one.. Careers fairs start from February, with the majority held in June and October. |
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