Cater for Yourself Starting in the Hospitality Sector - CareerAlley

Cater for Yourself Starting in the Hospitality Sector - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. If you have always had a passion for helping people and providing them with a high level of service, it could be that a career in the hospitality sector is the perfect one for you. Perhaps you see yourself as a chef at a 5-star restaurant, a manager at a big hotel or a master cocktail mixer at a fancy bar. Whatever the case, you may be wondering how to get into this sector. Well, this article is here to give you a bit of a helping hand and an overview of the approach that you can take. The service sector is one that has expanded rapidly over the past few years, and it shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. And it has always been the kind of place that welcomes newcomers who are willing to work hard and advance their skill set. There is also a more clearly defined career ladder than in a lot of other sectors in which it has become more blurred. So, lets go into more detail about starting off in this fast-paced field. Start Small You cant simply accelerate your way to the top with no experience. A lot of people work their way up from humble beginnings. So, if you want to be a head chef in a Michelin-star restaurant, you may need to start by getting into the kitchen at a greasy spoon diner. A lot of the learning in the hospitality sector is done on the job, so be prepared for long hours and a challenging working environment. Once you get your foot in the door, it will be much easier to work your way up from there. Obtain Qualifications There are plenty of advanced qualifications that you could obtain such as a degree in the hospitality sector. However, these take a significant amount of time and if you dont have the time to spare, you may be better off going straight into the job. Alongside the basic training that you do, you may also need to do courses such as americansafetycouncil.com/content/texas-food-handler-card-online which ensures that you know the basics of food hygiene. Commit to expanding your skillset and this will stand you in good stead in the hospitality sector. Prepare for Interviews Photo Credit If you are making a career change, you need to focus on the transferable skills that you have obtained rather than your lack of experience in this sector. If you are just starting out in the working world, you should make it clear that you have the level of drive and determination needed to make a success of your new path. Research the most common interview questions and have your answers prepared. Whether you have a big presentation at work tomorrow or youre running a marathon, friends and family are quick to tell you to get a good nights sleep. Sayings like these exist because, deep down, we all know how important sleep is to our performance. Yet for some reason, were all trying to figure out how to squeeze in more productivity on less sleep. Thats the opposite solution. To get more productivity, you have to sleep better not the other way around. Keep reading to learn how poor sleep hurts your productivity, while good sleep enhances it, and how you can ensure the sleep you do get is productive as well. tuck.com If you can demonstrate that you have a genuine passion for getting into this sector, you should be able to win an employer over. While other candidates may have more experience, can they match the level of enthusiasm that you are bringing to the job role? A lot of managers would prefer to work with someone who has the drive and determination to advance in their field rather than someone who has been in hospitality for a long time and is just going through the motions to get a paycheck. Be Prepared to Pay Your Dues Photo Credit Very few people are able to start in an advanced role in the hospitality sector if they have never worked in it before. So, you need to be prepared to pay your dues when you do get your foot in the door especially if you have been given an opportunity ahead of more experienced candidates. If you can show that you are willing to go the extra mile by volunteering for extra shifts, taking additional training programs, and taking on other responsibilities, you will clearly demonstrate to your employer that you are taking your new job role seriously. Once you have gained their trust, you are much more likely to be able to advance to the next level in your career. Be Prepared to Move The hospitality sector is one that tends to have high staff turnover, and you need to be prepared to move around to get the advancement that you are looking for. Perhaps you have started off as a chef in a small restaurant to get some experience, but if the management is already set in place and there is little chance of moving upwards, you may need to move to a place with a bigger kitchen and more fast-paced environment. Once you have some experience, you will find it much easier to find people who are willing to give you an opportunity. Maybe at some point in the future, you will even want to strike out on your own. Photo by Samuel Zeller on Unsplash Stay Realistic in Achieving Your Goals Patience is a virtue and it is unlikely that you will rush to the top of your field without a lot of time and energy being expended. But if you keep your goals firmly in mind and you stay focused in what you are trying to achieve, you are much more likely to achieve your aims. People restart or refocus their careers all of the time. Some are successful, but most are not. Some of the key factors that determine success are a solid plan and commitment to get it done. Your goals do need to be reasonable and achievable. Tweet This Each day, you should try to commit to learning something new, whether this is something small or big. The hospitality sector is one that is continually advancing at a rapid rate, and though the basics of many of the jobs stay the same, there are always going to be changes that you need to keep up with. New technology continues to come into play with the aim of making life easier for both workers and guests. So, if you are looking to get into the hospitality sector, hopefully, this guide has provided you with a basic overview of just how you can do this. Essentially, it involves getting your foot in the door, working your way up from the bottom and being prepared to take the opportunities that present themselves to you. What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. 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