Become a globe trotter
The great thing about hospitality is that you can add a dash of international flair to your CV – as well as enjoy new cultures and a bit more sun
While your former schoolmates are beavering away in their nine- to-five jobs, you could be meeting and greeting high-fliers, managing multi-million-pound operations – and working your way around the world. And, happily, as the world
becomes a smaller place, your options are getting bigger. Hospitality skills are in demand not only in the favourite destinations of Australia, Dubai and Europe, but also in some of the most far-flung corners of the globe – China, Russia and the former Soviet countries to name a few. And there is always those most glamorous tourism and business traveller hotspots, such as the Caribbean and the Far East. And it’s not just hotel expertise that is needed. Global brands such as Marriott, Sofitel, Radisson and Mövenpick are all recruiting chefs and restaurant staff at the moment. It’s worth noting, though, that
while the opportunities are growing, the competition for jobs is sharpening. So don’t expect to land a plum job on an idyllic island without getting some experience first. But take heart, English speakers tend to be in demand. So take your pick from sun, sand, sea, snow or cities.
Case study
What a career abroad did for me Rakhee Patel, people and talent lead, Dorchester Collection
You’ve travelled a lot with your job. Talk us through it Well, over three years I gained work experience across the world, including being resort assistant manager trainee at Four Seasons Koh Samui; front desk and reservations agent at Four Seasons Boston; food and beverage in pastry at Mandarin Oriental Macau; and housekeeping at Island Shangri-La in Hong Kong.
And that stood you in good stead to progress in the UK? Yes. I subsequently worked as hotel assistant manager at Four Seasons Park Lane in London. I then joined the Dorchester Collection in 2012 and requested a career change to work in the human resources field at a corporate level – though I had never worked in HR before. I started as people and organisational development co-ordinator and rose to people and talent lead, attracting young individuals and raising their profiles in the industry.
How does your industry offer an exciting career? The diversity and the range of career prospects make it a unique industry. There’s everything from catering to accounts and floristry to bakery. You can start a career in an intimate family-run business, or in an international organisation that employs thousands of people across the globe – the possibilities are endless.
What do you love about it? I am fascinated by the different cultures within hotels and the fact they are a great place to meet people. I studied at the Oxford School of Hospitality Management and instantly loved the challenges it brought. Work has since been more of a hobby than a duty. I like being part of an industry where you get to make people feel happy.
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