A very wise person once said, “Hospitality jobs call for hospitable people…and in the ever-present state of the economy, friendly folks are needed more than ever.” (I couldn’t agree more.) With unemployment on the rise, the work force is in desperate need of more hospitable faces to persevere through these tough times.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 12.4 million people work in the hospitality industry nationwide-which translates to 8.6 percent of all employment. The hospitality industry alone has been forecasted to grow 17% between 2004 and 2014. So, what does this mean? More than 2.2 million NEW hospitality jobs to the work force!!
If the hospitality industry peaks your interest (or if it has been your career path, and you are in need of a change), check out my picks for hot hospitality service jobs that offer continued job growth and stability-even after the summer is over…
Hotel Front Desk Agent/Clerk
Responsibilities: Performs an assortment of services for hotel guests, such as guest check-in and check-out, assigning rooms and answering inquiries to hotel services.
Training: A combination of three to six months of directly-related training and/or experience.
U.S. National average salary: $19,710 or $9.00 to $10.00 per hour
Bellhop or Concierges: Escort incoming hotel guests to rooms; assist with luggage; offer information about available services and facilities of hotel and entertainment attractions; inspect guest’s room to make everything is satisfactory. Assist guests with everything from making restaurant reservations, to acquiring tickets to special events, to helping with travel arrangements and tours of interesting places to visit.
Training: Short-term on-the-job training or 6 months of previous work experience in a customer service position.
U.S. average salary: $15,995 or $8.00-$9.00 per hour
Maitre d’ or Restaurant Supervisor: Also known as the head waiter, the maitre d’ assigns customers to tables; makes advance reservations; oversees all aspects of the dining room experience for patrons; makes sure all servers are doing their jobs effectively.
Training: Most start out as food and beverage servers and work their way up to the position. College courses in hotel and restaurant management or business administration are a definite asset.
U.S. average salary: $28,000 – $45,000, depending on the establishment.
Chef or Cook: Prepares various food dishes with different cooking styles and ingredients. Follows recipes and plating design to deliver cooked foods by tasting and smelling them; creates special dishes and recipes. Training: On-the-job training or a combination of 6 months to a year of directly-related training and/or experience.
U.S. average salary: $20,000- $25,000 or $9.00 to $10.00 per hour depending on the establishment.
Bartender: Mixes and serves drinks to patrons and has knowledge of beer, wine, and liquor products along with recipes and techniques. Works with computers and handles money transactions. Training: A high school diploma or its equivalent is the most common educational requirement, but employers prefer applicants who have previous experience and by law must be at least 18 years of age.
U.S. average salary: $40,000 or $100 per night depending on the establishment.
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaner: Cleaning duties such as making beds, replenishing linens, cleaning rooms and halls, vacuuming, emptying wastebaskets and restocking bathroom supplies. Training: No previous experience is needed; short-term on-the-job training.
U.S. average salary: $20,124 or $7.00-8.00 per hour, depending on experience and the establishment.
Hospitality is known as the act of generously providing care and kindness to whoever is in need. [Wikipedia] So, if you have either recently chosen a career path in the hospitality industry or you are looking for a change, I encourage you to take a closer look into these jobs at www.workintexas.com or email me your questions by participating in this blog.
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I’ll go ahead and field this question for Aleesa — and a great question it is, Mike. The Hospitality Industry is definitely a group that encourages growth and promotion from within. The industry relies on people who know daily operations and can carry their skills into different positions to provide more effective hospitality workers within a business operating unit. That said, all of the positions Aleesa discussed, even Restaurant Supervisor, are primed for career growth. The keys to make an entry level or any hospitality industry position a long-term career depend on (1) loyalty to a position and company, (2) dependable and exceptional service, and (3) a desire and demonstration to learn more, do more, and grow.
As a former trainer with a large hotel company and now working with many employers making hiring and promotion decisions, I always look first to the superstars on my current staff. Using the general criteria above, I can look at for example a potential internal candidate for a Housekeeping Supervisor position (depending on the size and scope of the hotel, this can mean a $2 – $6/hr increase in pay OR a move toward a salaried position).
Which housekeepers have been with us the longest? How have they performed on their reviews? Is there demonstrated effort to know their job well, help others, and lead when needed? Are there guest comments on file that speak to his/her success in delivering exceptional service? Finally, how have they expressed interest in learning more to move up within their department?
The industry needs hospitable people that care about quality service and deliver this service consistently. More over, people that seek to improve their service delivery through leadership and stewardship are even more valuable. So, in response to your question, Mike, the best plan of attack is find the job that will lead you to your next job and the opportunity will come. It is, however, up to you to build the career from entry-level to beyond. Thanks for blogging with us!
These look mostly like entry jobs to me. How can I move from one of these jobs to one in the industry paying more money?