Career Information: What Can I Do With a Restaurant and Hotel Management Degree?
Hospitality is a great industry if you get satisfaction from making sure other people have the best possible experience. The industry is also well-know for promoting from within which means that you will continue to have growth and professional development opportunities through out your career. While many entry level positions do not require advanced education, most management jobs in the industry require a hospitality management degree.
Another great advantage in selecting a career in this industry is the variety of work environments it offers. From resorts to convention centers to restaurants to tourist attractions, you’ll be able to find the right fit for your personality, schedule and interest. Despite these variances there are some similarities between certain types of management jobs in the industry. Below are overviews of two different management jobs in the lodging and restaurant industry.
Lodging Manager – If you are a manager in a hotel, motel or bed and breakfast you have double duty in taking care of hotel guests as well as the daily operations of the business. You’ll be expected to ensure that all is set with accommodations for guests as well as the cleanliness, operations and profitability of the hotel. Duties might include registering guests, inspecting rooms for cleanliness, hiring, training and managing (and sometimes firing) staff, setting room rates and monitoring the financial stability of the business. You may also have the opportunity to develop a specialization in revenue, convention services or another area. The job outlook is positive for this position and favors individuals who earn a hospitality management degree.
Restaurant Manager – Working in the restaurant industry can be stressful but rewarding. As a restaurant manager you will likely work long days (up to 15 hours sometimes!) making sure everything is running smoothly in the daily operations and that your customers have a pleasurable dining experience. Not only will you be in charge of the staff, you will also need to make sure your restaurant meets all health and food safety codes, oversee all the ordering of food and beverages, handle the scheduling and handle customer complaints. Many food service managers start as waiters, waitresses or cooks and work their way up after earning a college degree in restaurant management. While fewer restaurants are opening on a national scale, many retail stores are beginning to offer food service, which is creating opportunities for employment.
No matter what environment you choose, a college degree and attention to employability skills like critical thinking, good communication, creative problem solving and customer service will be important in the restaurant and hospitality industry. If you’re interested in earning a restaurant and hospitality degree contact Bryant & Stratton College Online today.
Sources:
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/lodging-managers.htm#tab-1
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/food-service-managers.htm#tab-1
Here are some helpful tips and suggestions for how to handle job interview jitters from Alison Doyle’s Job Searching blog on About.com.
Why Paper Still Counts in the Job Search
You’ve emailed your network, created a personalized and professional blog, completed every aspect of your LinkedIn profiles and responded to two dozen online job postings. Everything about your job search is efficiently executed electronically. But, in a world where technology is stitched into every aspect of our lives, is there a purpose for paper?
The answer is a resounding yes! While nearly everything can be accomplished electronically there is still an advantage to doing some things the old fashioned way.
First, next time you have a job interview bring hard copies of your resume. Yes, you’ve emailed the hiring manager a copy but they may forget it or not have time to print a copy off before your interview. If you are able to provide a copy, you’ve already proven you a responsible, organized candidate. Additionally, the hiring manager is not the only person you’ll likely meet during an interview. If there are other members of the team or people from other departments, having a copy of your resume to hand to them will help them quickly get up to speed on your experience. Finally, a printed resume is a good “leave behind” that the people interviewing you can take notes on and review as they are making the decision on whether to hire you.
Speaking of leaving something behind, consider having business cards made. This gives you another opportunity to remind the people you meet who you are. Include your name, contact information and any links to professional online profiles or portfolios. You could even include a short career objective or summary. Business cards are very affordable to make as there are several sites that offer low cost or free options for job seekers.
Finally, don’t forget to mail a thank you note. While many people have opted for the speedy delivery of an emailed follow up to say thank you, handwriting a note and referencing something specific about the interview is a great way to stand out. Taking the time to handwrite the note will also show that you are invested in the company and the job. But, make sure you write the note and mail it on the same day as the interview otherwise it could arrive after a potential employer has made their decision.
As you complete your online degree or on-campus program, keep in mind that in the job search the little things matter. And, just because it’s faster or easier to do something electronically, doesn’t mean it’s better.
If you really want the job, here is helpful advice that will put you on the right track for getting it
3 Reasons Why You Need an Online Portfolio
You’ve got your suit freshly ironed, resume polished, interview answers down pat but if you’re not prepared to show the kind of work you can do, that job opportunity could slip through your fingers. If you want to catch the eye of an interviewer, having an portfolio that highlights your work from your online degree and communicates the value you’ll bring to their team is critical. An online portfolio can even help you call out the skills and qualities that differentiate you from other candidates. Luckily, if you’re a Bryant & Stratton College students you are required to create a portfolio and have it reviewed by an outside professional who works in your industry of interest. For all you other job seekers, here are three reasons why you should create a professional online portfolio.
Expanding the Limitations of Resumes – A resume is a great tool for giving an overview of your past experience. When coupled with a portfolio that allows you to point to physical outcomes you’ll be able to give the interviewer a more three-dimensional view of your capabilities. It’s one thing to talk about the successes you’ve had but it’s much more powerful to show a potential employer what you can do.
Communicate Employability Skills – We all know employers are looking for a few key soft skills like critical thinking, ability to work in a team and verbal and written communication but it’s often hard to showcase your own soft skills in an interview. A portfolio is a perfect pathway to bring soft skills into the conversation. Did you have to pull team members together to finish a difficult assignment? Run into a roadblock and have to figure out an alternative solution during a class project? Having examples of your work allows you to talk about the situations you’ve faced and highlight some of those intangible employability skills.
Showcase your Personal Brand – Creating a personal brand in your job search can help you stand out among the crowd. Make sure to infuse that brand into your portfolio and really make it your own. You can bring in links to blog posts, list groups and associations you are part or your twitter account (only if you tweet about professional items). Just remember to include items that will compliment your resume and stories you want to highlight during your interview.
As a college student or new graduate it can be difficult to overcome the job experience Catch-22 (needing a job to get experience and needing experience to get a job) but with an online portfolio you’ll be able to better show a potential employer how your classroom work is applicable to their open position.
Are you ready for your close-up? More and more companies are using video interviews during initial rounds of screening. Check out these tips from Career Rookie to find out how to prepare for a video (or phone) interview.
4 Steps to Asking for a Referral
Referrals are a valuable, often over-looked part of a job search. Many job hunters are uncomfortable with asking for a referral or unsure of just how to do it. To help you navigate the process we’ve outlined a few steps to take that may open the door to new job opportunities.
Step 1: Start with social media. You are connected to more people than you realize. Whether you are earning an accounting degree or an online IT degree, when thinking about whom to ask for a referral, social media can be an invaluable place to start. Do you know anyone who is connected to a company you are interested in working for or a career path you’ve always dreamed of? You can find out through social media sites like LinkedIn. And, as you start looking on social media for referrals, take the time to make sure your own profiles are “career-ready.” Update your LinkedIn profile with your latest information. Manage your privacy settings to hide any posts that aren’t employer-friendly. Finally, make sure to provide links to any professional websites or online portfolios that demonstrate your abilities.
Step 2: Ask these 3 questions. Now that you’ve identified potential referrers, don’t immediately rush forward with a request. Asking for someone to recommend you for a job or even an informational interview is delicate. Before proceeding, ask yourself a few questions. How well does this person know you? Do you have a positive relationship? What position does your contact hold at his or her company? The answers to these questions can tell you a lot about whether asking for a referral will be successful. You want to make sure that you have a healthy relationship with the person you are asking and that they know you well enough to make an insightful personal recommendation. Also, keep in mind just because someone is employed at your dream company doesn’t mean they have access to the people in charge of hiring.
Step 3: Write it out. It’s pretty intimidating to be at the receiving end of a referral request. Help ease the tension for your contact by making the request in writing. An email, text or direct message is a great way to give your contact the opportunity to consider the request. Giving them time to think over your question means the people who say yes will really mean it (and it’s a stress-free way for people to decline).
Step 4: Supply all they’ll need. Just because someone knows you well and agrees to provide a referral does not mean they’ll be able to share all the pertinent details of your expertise. Help your contacts out by giving them a brief explanation of your career goals (or details on the job you want to apply for) and your resume or a link to your LinkedIn profile. This will help your contact articulate why you might be good for the company when they make the referral.
As you work to earn an online degree and take that next step in your career, remember in today’s interconnected world who you know can be just as important as what you know.
Sources:
http://jobsearch.about.com/od/referrals/a/how-to-ask-for-a-referral.htm
http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-2926-Interviewing-How-and-whom-to-ask-for-a-referral/
