For those who have long worked in the hospitality industry, there are endless complaints to make and bond over. The long hours, the bad wages, the sore feet. The narky customers, the horrible bosses, the way that no matter what you do to prevent it you still come home smelling like a parmigiana…
Yet as those people also know, it isn’t all bad. In fact, much of the time it is really pretty fun. And with the right understanding and the right ideas about what you want within the broad and ever-expanding hospitality sector, these tips could steer you in the direction of your next best career move. So here’s why hospitality is great.
1. It is social
It is SO social. You are hosting! You get to talk to people all the time, you are constantly interacting with other humans. Not only do you get to meet people all the time, but you find out some really cool stuff along the way. Society is knowledge!
2. It teaches you a skill
Over time, hospitality work becomes like second nature. Through one or maybe many venues, you continue to learn skills that you then have for life. This gives you a safety net in a field that is always growing and is ever present.
3. You can travel with it
Hospitality exists everywhere in the world, and is a fantastic way to travel around the globe. You can get Visas in many countries and easily gain hospitality experience abroad and further your network and skills. It is a great way to meet people and support yourself while having new experiences.
4. It helps you meet friends
If you are new to a place, travelling, or starting work in a venue where you don’t know anybody, it is a GREAT place to make friends. Hospitality workers HAVE to be friendly, it’s their job! So you’ve come to the right place. You may make friendships for life.
5. It allows you freedom to suit your own lifestyle
Hospitality is flexible when it comes to working around the other parts of your life. Have to study during the day? Work nights. Have to look after your kids at night? Work during the day. Tailor it to suit yourself, it is possible.
6. Wages can be good
It is a fact that in some places hospitality wages are poor. However given the right establishment, venues that are above board and paying award rates should actually be offering a relatively decent wage for your services. Do your research. Find a place that is going to treat their workers fairly. And work hard for each other.
7. You can be creative
There are opportunities to be creative within hospitality, whether or not you prefer cooking, or coffee making, or beer brewing. Perhaps you love to create cocktails! Have a go. There will always be opportunities to be involved.
8. It is unaffected by world changes
Hospitality is one of the few things in the world that will pretty much always exist. From that perspective, it can be a pretty safe career choice.
9. You get opportunities
There are fun opportunities in hospitality a lot. Whether you get the chance to work at a food festival, or perhaps an event or a music festival, there are chances to step outside of your regular surroundings and do something different. Not to mention you get to try food and drinks all the time!
10. It is fun
If you have never worked in a bar before, you probably don’t know how fun it can be. Depending on the venue of course… but you are often working alongside friends, and you are basically at a party, standing right at the front! Be careful you don’t have TOO much fun though …
Featured photo credit: Albumarium via albumarium.com
