Take up a career in hospitality and you’ll be joining around 1.9 million people who work in the industry in the UK. It’s a great opportunity that offers young people the chance to flourish in an area that they enjoy, and it’s the chance for people to build a valuable career for life.
What else makes desirable career prospect? Here are seven reasons why we think working in our sector makes perfect sense.
It’s creative
As well as being a people-oriented industry, hospitality is creative. You are creating a product — be that food, drink, or an experience — so there’s scope to come up with new ways and new ideas of making it more enjoyable for your customers.
Flexible working hours
Want to avoid working the typical 9-5 shift? You’re in luck. Hospitality workers are busy round the clock, sometimes electing to work day or night shifts, depending on their field, client needs, and their own personal preferences.
Champion your social skills
No matter your position, you’ll be meeting interesting people every day, from local business people to celebrities. Knowing what combination of elements creates the ideal networking environment are just a few bits of social know-how you’ll learn to properly execute. Plus, the people you’ll meet from all over the world will provide you with a wealth of cultural insight.
Make people’s day
This might be the greatest reward. At the end of a long day, there’s simply nothing better than having a client thank you for making their experience special. Every time you come into work, you’re making someone’s day that little bit better, as this is a business all about people. It’s not about widgets or spreadsheets; it’s about making people happy.
Broaden your horizons
We wouldn’t want to lose any of our sector’s talent, but every country in the world has a hospitality industry. The skills you learn here are readily transferable, meaning that a career in hospitality can be the key to discovering new countries, new culture and new people.
Just as there is the potential for rapid horizontal movement, you can also make your way up the ladder very quickly in hospitality. Work hard, acquire your qualifications, get on with customers and colleagues, and show initiative and very soon, you could find yourself in a senior position managing people and projects.
Great atmosphere
In any workplace, there’s always a real mix of people. But we don’t hire people who are unfriendly to our customers, which is why the hospitality industry contains some of the most vibrant, lively and fun people you’ll ever meet.
You’ve got a bright future ahead
It offers job security. People always need food, drink and somewhere to sleep. Even in shaky economic climates like the recent credit crunch, the hospitality industry showed it was relatively secure. So what are you waiting for? Apply here.