Hospitality careers can be amazing opportunities for personal development and financial remuneration. With successful hospitality careers, you have the right toolkit to travel the world, to hand-pick a company that you like the vibe of, and to have lots of fun. If you think you’ve got what it takes to work in hospitality, here are four questions to ask yourself, and the skills you’ll need!
1) Can You Keep Your Cool Under Pressure?
Whether you’re in a palm-tree hotel or in the rain-lashed countryside, customers are going to turn on the heat. If it’s because they are having a bad day, or because you are having a bad day, a potential argument brewing into a zero-star trip-advisor review is never far away in the hospitality industry. Managers and waiters get the blunt force of grumpy customers, so this career demands a high level of self-control.
What’s needed?
Dealing with rude customers requires several communication and stress management skills, all of which can be learned. Employees need to have a strong mindset, and to be rapid and creative problem solvers. Successful waiters and managers not only have to work on their feet, but to think on their feet too.
2) Can You Handle Pain?
Despite extensive health and safety legislation, hospitality environments are a hotbed of hazards. If you work in a kitchen or around hot water machines, minor burns are inevitable. Chefs will often rack up a catalogue of injuries ranging from scalds to cuts, and anyone working in a bar will encounter broken glass.
What’s needed?
Some people can shrug off pain, some can’t. If you require a day off work for a stubbed toe, hospitality might not be the industry for you. However, if you’re naturally very careful and self-aware, the likelihood of accidents is greatly reduced.
3) Are You a Team Player?
It’s five minutes before the end of your shift, and a coach load of tourists arrive. Your colleagues will be swamped unless you stay and do a bit of unscheduled overtime. What do you do? If you’re the sort of person who will run home, run away from a career in hospitality. More than in any other industry, hospitality involves covering shifts, doing extra hours here and there, and supporting the team, often at very short notice.
What’s needed?
There’s actually a technical term for this: intrinsic motivation. If you’re doing your job because you love it, you’ll be the kind of person who ensures that your hotel or restaurant maintains an excellent reputation. The good news is that intrinsically motivated employees will always be rewarded, valued, and respected by their employers and colleagues.
4) Do You Have The Energy?
Unless you’re a lifeguard, it’s rare to find a hospitality role that gives your feet a break. Most hospitality roles require a lot of walking, lifting, and moving, which can be exhausting. Hospitality employees also have to spend time with customers, and some people find this emotionally draining.
What’s needed?
In your first hospitality job, the experience can be a shock to the system. However, it doesn’t take long before your mind and body get used to the pace and being on your feet becomes enjoyable and even stimulating. It also helps to focus on nutrition, exercise, and a healthy balance of rest and sleep, ensuring that you eat a healthy diet so that you’re not running on empty.
What Next?
If you’re looking for a hospitality career in the UK, Spayse Recruitment would love to hear from you. Our friendly team can help you to find the ideal role, so for more information please call 020 3011 0550 today.
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