Graduated with a degree in hospitality management? First of all, congratulations! You’re now full of valuable skills and knowledge about business, hospitality, administration, public relations, finance, and more.
There are lots of different paths open for hospitality management majors. But how do you find the one that will lead to a valuable, meaningful career? To help, here are three tips on finding your way into a lifelong career.
Tip 1. Expand Your Horizons
Lots of hospitality graduates think their futures lie only in restaurant and hotel management. But there are tons more options out there — if you’re willing to broaden your search.
First, you should start looking at different industries. Consider the following places of employment:
- Casinos
- Conference centers
- Private superyachts
- Cruises
- Sports arenas/stadiums
- Luxury retail
- Spas
These are a lot different than hotels and restaurants, right? But all of these places employ hospitality management degree owners. And in the case of events management, luxury retail, and superyacht jobs, employment is rapidly growing. Even if you’ve had your heart set on a certain field, don’t be afraid to try out new things. You might just be surprised where you’ll find your niche.
Some of these industries will require special certifications or training courses, so be sure to get your credentials in order before applying. But if you still want to test the waters of different fields before making a commitment, consider the next tip: getting an internship.
Tip 2. Don’t Neglect Internships
Internships aren’t just for current students. There are plenty for recent grads, too. Don’t leave internships out because they’re not a “real” job.
It’s true that internships tend to be paid less and have fewer benefits than full-time work. But consider your time interning to be an investment. Many companies will hire their best interns full-time after the internship ends.
Even if your internship doesn’t result in full-time work, it’s still an excellent chance to build experience and connections in the industry. You’ll meet a lot of new people, many of whom can act as professional contacts in the future. In the hospitality business, connections are everything — so get interested in all the people you’ll meet.
To combine with Tip 1, look for internships in varied fields. Who knows? Maybe you’ll get lucky and land an internship on a yacht! Check out opportunities overseas to spice up your options.
In the end, remember to have an open mind and be patient.
Tip 3. Use All of Your Experience
During undergrad, you likely picked up a lot of knowledge about a vast array of topics. Those working in hospitality management often have to wear a lot of hats over the course in their careers, so it’s good to use all of your skills and qualifications to your advantage in applications. And yes, you likely do have relevant experience even if all you have is cashiering experience.
Start by thinking about all of your work experience. Include jobs in babysitting, fast food, retail, and so on. Next, think about the skills you’ll need in a prospective job and when in your past you’ve demonstrated those skills.
Don’t necessarily focus on the factual details of the tasks you completed in a job. Lots of people have experience manning a cashier, so that experience in and of itself isn’t particularly impressive. Instead, can you stand out by describing the high level of patience you cultivated while dealing with lunch rush crowds? Can you describe the conflict resolution skills you built while helping kids at summer camp communicate with one another?
Give examples in your cover letter and in interviews. It’ll turn your summer jobs into relevant experience in applications.
