What hospitality or tourism career suits you?

Tourism and hospitality roles are often the ones that sound the most exciting and interesting. Do you want to travel the world, work in amazing locations, be in an industry that’s lively and always on trend? While the hours aren’t for everyone, if the thought of sitting at an office desk from 9 to 5 makes you pass out from boredom then maybe it’s for you. Let’s explore 5 careers in hospitality and tourism to see what would suit you! 

Barista

For some people coffee is an essential part of life, like breathing or showering.  Whether it’s grabbing a quick cup as you pass a cafe or meeting up with a group of friends at your favourite spot, the quality of the coffee and how it’s made is a hotly debated topic.  Barista’s prepare each coffee or hot drink, made to order to the customers exact preference. Often barista’s will take orders, prepare food and take payments from customers too. Usually it is a very busy role with the barista expected to remember people’s orders, have a friendly chat with locals and make beverages all at once.  Usually barista’s are trained up on the job, having started in other areas of the cafe. There are lots of short coffee courses offered by training organisations which may be of interest.

To learn more click here: https://www.careerhq.com.au/blog/2017/11/06/how_to_become_a_barista-161

Tour guide

Whether you’re leading a group through the backstreets of Paris or showing them around a famous building close to home, being a tour guide requires you to have an understanding and deep knowledge of the relevant history and stories of a place.  As you show your group around you need to engage them in why pictures, places or objects are significant. You also need to be very patient and plan your tour around the capabilities of your group, whether that’s language, mobility or age considerations.  If you’re leading a tour that last more than a few hours you need to have your itinerary planned including all timings and meals. You also need to deal with any requests or special needs of the group. Tour guide qualifications vary depending on where you are working, you may have a history degree and be showing groups around a historic monument or a VET in guiding and giving tours through a local museum.

To learn more click here: https://www.careerhq.com.au/blog/2017/11/06/how_to_become_a_tourtourist_guide-162

Hotel & Resort Receptionist

Usually the first person you meet when you get to a hotel is the receptionist.  Whether it’s a small boutique hotel or a large resort, reception is your first stop.  Receptionists greet guests as they arrive and arrange their check in. The allocate rooms, deal with bookings, and also look after guests during the check out and paying process.  Often receptionist are asked to assist guests with special requests such as dinner reservations, theatre tickets or finding a doctor if required. Hotel receptionists also address guest concerns and deal with any complaints that may arise.  To be working at reception you must have excellent customer service and communication skills. You don’t have to have formal qualifications to work in this area however if you want to work within the larger hotel chains generally a degree or VET in hospitality, business or business administration is expected.

To learn more click here: https://www.careerhq.com.au/blog/2017/11/07/how_to_become_a_hotel_resort_receptionist-163

Chef

Almost everyone loves to eat out. To choose from a menu of carefully prepared food that a chef has made for you is a luxury.  Chef’s have a busy life. They plan menus and the budgets associated with the food needed. They prep, cook and plate up the food for customers.  They have to ensure they have all the relevant stock needed and all the staff they need to help them cook, serve and clean. Chef’s also need to make sure the kitchen follow the strict health and safety guidelines for food preparation and storage as well as hygiene.  Chef’s must be calm under pressure and multitaskers to run a busy kitchen. However they also need to be creative and imaginative to create new and exciting dishes. To become a chef requires an apprenticeship in commercial cookery which means completing at least a Certificate III but usually a Certificate IV is desired by employers.

To learn more click here: https://www.careerhq.com.au/blog/2017/11/07/how_to_become_a_chef-164

Publican or Licensee

For anyone interested in running a bar, a club or even a restaurant, if you want to sell alcohol on your premises you need a licensee.  There are strict laws around being able to sell alcohol in Australia that mean not everyone can become a licensee. Usually you would manage the bar area and oversee the selling of all alcoholic beverages.  You would also be responsible for liaising with suppliers, overseeing deliveries and doing stock-taking. You may do some administrative tasks such as bookkeeping and managing staff wages. Your most important role is to make sure all staff enforce the laws around the sale of alcohol.  To be a licensee you need to run the business and manage the staff, but also chat with customers and serve them when required. The hours can be long and require good stamina. To become a licensee you would usually have experience running a restaurant or bar previously and often have relevant qualifications or strong industry experience.

To learn more click here: https://www.careerhq.com.au/blog/2017/11/08/how_to_become_a_publican_or_licensee-165