How to Start a Career in Hospitality

The hospitality industry has always performed well in the United Kingdom due to its diverse nature. Covering areas such as holidays, restaurants and event planning, the fact of the matter is that there are roles which can satisfy even the most demanding of needs. Still, there are some basics to keep in mind before and during the application process. Let us attempt to take the guesswork out of the equation by highlighting some basic facts involving the hospitality sector alongside some important personal traits that you should exhibit.

Ready to land your first job in hospitality? Here’s how you can start your career.

Job Basics

It should already be obvious that your ultimate salary will depend upon your exact title as well as how long you have worked within this sector. There are nonetheless some basic figures that are important to note:

Average yearly salary: Between £17,000 and £32,000 pounds.
Bonuses: Up to £5,000 pounds per year.
Median salary: £24,500 pounds.

Please note that we have not included overtime within these observations, so your actual take-home pay could be much higher. All estimates are based off of the role of a hospitality supervisor.

Primary Roles, Responsibilities and Duties

From a general perspective, most hospitality experts oversee the day-to-day operations involving customer-related activities. These include checking into a hotel, dealing with complaints, making travel reservations and possibly training employees. Additional responsibilities may include:

• Basic accounting and bookkeeping.
• Attending hospitality seminars and similar trade exhibitions.
• Inspecting any service-related areas (such as kitchens and dining rooms) to make certain that they meet regulations.
• Marketing and other promotional activities.

What Talents Should You Possess?

Anyone who is considering hospitality as a profession should possess excellent communication skills and they need to be comfortable working under pressure on occasion. Managers and shift supervisors should likewise be able to delegate responsibilities to their subordinates while liaising with customers. Hours are variable, so a flexible work schedule is always wise. There could also be times when you are required to travel to other venues and reliable transportation is therefore an understandable bonus.

How to Obtain the Proper Certification

Those with a university-level degree such as a diploma in hospitality management will normally be provided with a higher salary and they are also likely to encounter the greatest number of job offers. It is still a good idea to obtain certifications in similar areas such as a certification in food hygiene and safety from the City & Guilds organisation. Anyone who opts to become a member of the British Hospitality Association (BHA) will enjoy further recognition. There could even be times when such a qualification is required in order to work with some customers.

A career in hospitality management can be a great choice if you enjoy challenges and you are keen on working with other people. This sense of variety will keep you on your toes and if you have the motivation, a substantial yearly salary could be much closer than you think.

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