If you like helping others with their food, wine, or lodging, perhaps a hospitality job or even hospitality career is for you. Let’s explore a few options.
Hospitality job descriptions range far and wide—it’s up to you to decide which one suits you best. Your hospitality career might lead you to a job as banquet captain at a conference center, sales director for a hotel chain, assistant food and beverage manager at a big-city airport hotel, office manager at a hotel and conference center, dishwasher at a Miami eatery, or housekeeper at a Hawaiian resort.
As you can see, these openings range from entry-level jobs to positions that require previous skills and experience. The entry-level hospitality jobs are a way to get into the industry and discover whether you like it. Taking a job in an exotic location like Miami or Hawaii gives you the opportunity to live in a desirable environment while you test the waters, both literally and figuratively.
There is a wealth of lodging options in the hospitality industry for those considering a career in this area. Travelers don’t just stay at hotels and motels anymore. You can find hospitality jobs with cruise ships, spas, resorts, conference centers, RV parks and campgrounds, B&Bs, and guesthouses, to name a few.
Hospitality jobs in food service include waiters and waitresses, hosts and hostesses, table captains, busboys, cooks, chefs, food preparers, and office and administrative support.
Keep in mind that many hospitality jobs require odd hours and weekend work. Additionally, you may be on your feet a lot, or all the time, so wear comfortable shoes. The good news is that more people are traveling for business and leisure again, after a slump during the past few years. This means the prospects look good for hospitality jobs and careers.
Miriam Kasdan specializes in writing marketing, culinary, and home improvement features. She earned a B.A. in Sociology from the University of California at Berkeley.