Although a career in hospitality sounds tempting, especially with lucrative pay and benefits in store, hospitality jobs are not for the weak-hearted.
According to the latest Tourism Satellite Accounting (TSA) research, released by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the demand for travel and tourism in India is expected to grow by 8.2 % between 2010 and 2019.
Although a career in the hospitality industry sounds fun and tempting, especially with very lucrative pay and benefits in store, this is not a job for the weak-hearted. Getting into this field is not all about perks, benefits and big tips.
Hospitality jobs can be quite an ordeal if you don’t know what you’re getting into. So, before you send in that resume or application to undergo training, consider carefully if this kind of profession is really for you.
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Are You Cut Out For A Career In Hospitality?
Here are some of the skills you require and stressors you’ll encounter when working in the hospitality industry.
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A Large Dose Of Humility
The work in the hospitality industry is service-oriented, and you are the service provider. You need an attitude of humility towards the person you’re serving.
If you are the type of person that cannot manage your ego and pride, this is probably not the job for you. However, if you are the kind who loves to serve and accommodate the needs of other people, this aspect will be pretty easy to get a handle on.
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A Perpetual Smile
Smiling is one way of being hospitable. It is also one good way to make people feel that they are welcome in a new place. Working in this profession means you have to wear a perpetual smile on your face all throughout your working hours.
You can’t grumble or complain about work, especially in front of guests. No matter how bad your day has been, you must be prepared to serve people with a smile.
So, if you doubt your ability to keep that smile plastered on your face, even when you’re not in the mood, this kind of job is not for you.
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Working The Graveyard Shift
Jobs in hospitality usually involve working in hotels, cafes, casinos and restaurants. These establishments are usually open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
You must be ready to work the graveyard shift, since your manager, not you, will be deciding your schedule. Your schedules of working duty may vary and you must be prepared to adjust to the schedule that was given to you.
This doesn’t mean that you only adjust your activities. You also need to be physically and mentally prepared for a stressful day or night schedule.
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Say Goodbye To Holidays
Holidays are the busiest time of the year for employees in the hospitality industry as this is when people go on vacation.
You must be prepared to give up your own holiday celebrations while you serve other people so that they can have the vacation of a lifetime.
This downside of the job affects not only you but also your family, who must be prepared to understand the nature of your job and accommodate holiday celebrations after the date.
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Your Home Away From Home
Travelling is a big part of the job for most positions in this career path. If you’re working in a cruise or airline setting, be prepared to make your ship or aeroplane a home away from home.
If you’re a tour guide, you may be on tour for a number of days and get to go home for a short break, before you’re off on another tour.
The Perks Of A Career In Hospitality
Now that we’ve covered the downside of working in this industry, we need to consider the perks of hospitality and tourism jobs.
According to experts, this is a career where you will enjoy growing and developing your talents. If you want a job that has a lot of benefits, a hospitality job may be just the thing for you.
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Security And Stability
One of the perks of being in this kind of career is the high probability of having a stable job. Once you’re in and prove your worth, your employer will do a great deal to keep you on board.
There is a continuous demand for hospitality jobs and often a high turnover rate of skilled workers makes the ones that stick on even more valuable.
Even if you end your contract with your employer, you can get a new job in a different company in no time since it is pretty easy to find job openings in this industry. You can almost be assured of a stable income no matter what happens.
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Free Lodging And Food
Most jobs in this industry are also inclusive of meals and lodging, although the details of what you get will depend on the position you are in and the company you’re working for.
If your job requires travelling, there’s a good chance that free lodging and food are included in your package. Alternatively, your company may also specify a place where you can stay or may be willing to reimburse your lodging expenses.
For food, companies usually have a separate cafeteria for employees or they may be willing to reimburse your food expenses or give you food allowances.
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Lots Of Tips
Since this is a people and service-oriented career, there is a good chance of getting lucrative tips from customers, especially the big tippers or ones who are pleased with your service.
If you are working in a big hotel or resort, tips alone can provide a nice boost to your salary that can even exceed your basic pay.
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Free Travel
If you’re working on cruise ships or as a flight attendant or cabin crew with an airline, then travelling will definitely be part of your job. The best part here is that you get to do it for free.
You get to see different places and different parts of the world with minimal expenses on your part. If you’re someone who loves to travel and enjoys the sense of freedom this brings, then a hospitality job could be your dream job.
In the Glow & Lovely Career Community on SHEROES, you can take a free career test to learn about careers that match your interests, try an online course to learn a new skill or improve your English, practice for a Government Job exam using online tests or create your own resume with the easy resume builder.
About the author:
Priya Florence Shah is the Group Editor at SHEROES and author of Devi2Diva, an emotional self-care book for women.
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