Choosing Hospitality as a Career

Over the years (37 to be precise!) in the Hospitality industry, I have many times relayed stories to friends and family after a particular event and gushed about how amazing the theme was or the scenery only to be brought down to earth as they couldn’t really get exactly what I meant…you had to BE there to understand.

Most people comment and say what a glamourous life you lead and it must be so easy serving food and drink..they don’t actually see or consider Hospitality  as a “Trade” in fact a highly skilled trade which can be far from glamourous and extremely hard work!

There are several qualities you need to have the stamina to survive in the Hospitality industry and with the increasing millennial & snowflake generation joining the workforce, our job as a Hospitality Manager gets even harder by the day.

(I can hear the echoes of oh yes resounding as many of you read this blog)

Listed here are a few I think you need to forge a successful career in Hospitality ;

1.

A thick skin..

As events can be fast and furious, managers have to think quick and usually on their feet, therefore sometimes a manager may have to raise their voice to a level they can be heard or just to emphasise the importance of the next task.

There is no time to worry about hurting a member of staffs feelings as the very nature of our job is putting aside our egos and needs to SERVE and deliver.

I always say in my brief before the job starts “I may be sharp or short at some point, I apologize now so please do not take it personally, move on and understand what it is we are here for and doing”.

Now and then, yes, a member of staff does and will get hurt or upset (unintentionaly) if it is a recurring problem to be honest they need to look at whether they are in the right industry to be working in in the first place.

2.

Ability to put others first..

Egos get left at the door, mobile phones switched off (Yes  some think it is ok to be texting while working!)

People that are paying money for you to serve them food & drink deserve your attention and willingness to assist and that is what is expected.

Recently a member of staff told me that at precisely 1.30 they had to ring their partner to remind them to do something and I had to explain that at precisely 1.30 we would be in the thick of it, our busiest time, so they will have to ring them before we start and turn their phone off, well you should have seen their face!

3.

Ability to work with others and in a team.

Communication is the most important factor in Hospitality, there are so many departments that are involved in what you are putting down on the table in front of your guests.

Listening to your managers and talking to your team mates is crucial to get through a day as usually there is a lot of information being put to you and if you have missed something you need to ask someone.

If you are a quiet and inward type of person or think you can do it all on your own and not take any notice of others around you or the manager even, you will find it hard until you learn to work with others

There is no I in Team

I will leave it there and ask you to add your comments below as there are many qualities needed to take up Hospitality as your chosen career and probably a lot of Managers reading this may want to add their comments too.

If you do, it can be the most rewarding and satisfying job in the world, hard work, but lots of fun too.

always remember….

We are all a customer at some point too.