School leavers
Do I work or do I study?
Everyone is different so don’t make this decision based on what your friends are doing. For many people, tertiary study is the next step and for others, getting into the workforce is a priority. Whatever your decision, the hospitality industry is there for you.
Unlike many other industries, there are lots of opportunities and great flexibility of jobs so consider getting a job to learn what it’s like in the industry and then supplement your learning with study. If you do decide to study, there are many courses and qualifications available for hospitality roles.
Am I ready to start work?
You may have had a part time job while you were still at school. This would have given you valuable experience and an understanding of what a workplace is like. If you haven’t worked before, that’s ok. Everyone starts somewhere.
The hospitality industry is like no other. It is exciting, fun, and fast paced and you will get amazing opportunities to meet new people and perhaps even to travel. Many jobs are typical day time hours but there are also evening, weekend and some overnight jobs because this industry runs 24/7. So get ready to jump in and enjoy a fantastic ride. Be open to change, ready to learn, listen, and work hard. Be a sponge for everything you are trained in and show your boss that you are their next superstar. (Sharing a secret here – bosses absolutely love superstars!!)
I don’t know the job so I’m a bit scared
That’s completely understandable. When you get your first job, you won’t know what to do or how to do it – that’s what training is for. In many hospitality jobs, the best way to learn is on the job. This means you will get a combination of initial training then supervised ‘doing the job’ and then ‘doing the job’ on your own when you are confident. But for everyone, the list below shows many of the general skills that are important to ensure success:
- ● Be ready for work on time;
- ● Be dependable and organised;
- ● Have a positive attitude;
- ● Complete tasks accurately, and on time;
- ● Be open to feedback;
- ● Be flexible, and
- ● Be trustworthy.
In any industry it is important that you can work well in a team. In the hospitality industry, it is super important because for a lot of jobs, you are part of a team that is on display with guests in a hotel or patrons in a pub or club. Here are some traits of great team players.
Check yourself against them:
Am I..?
- ● Friendly and polite;
- ● Respectful;
- ● Sensitive to people from different backgrounds;
- ● Responsible for my work, and
- ● Contributing to the success of my team.
I don’t know what I want to do when I leave school
Your first job, or even your second, may not be the perfect one – it is about getting your work life and career started. The beauty of the hospitality industry is that there are great chances to progress and the opportunities are so diverse. Your first job might be behind the bar but you may end up running a food and beverage operation or perhaps you might move into a sales and events role.
Keep an open mind – where you start will very likely not be your final career destination.
