Thanks for the Hospitality

By Joe Cooper
Learning & Life Columnist
October 6, 2006

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There's no doubt about it, careers in hotels and restaurants aren't for the faint of heart. Long hours, weekend and night shifts, and providing excellent customer service can make for tough challenges. But with these challenges come many opportunities to move up and build a truly exciting career.

The Industry is Growing--So Can You

The restaurant industry is expanding. According to the National Restaurant Association, almost half the money Americans spend on food is spent in restaurants. This is a 25% increase over the last 50 years.

What does this mean for you? Now is a great time to start the next step in your hospitality career. New responsibilities, a title that carries more authority, and a higher salary are some of the potential benefits of moving up in the hotel and restaurant world.

Serve Up Success

A career path in the hospitality industry can start from any position. Consider this example of a career path within the hospitality industry:

Server or Hotel Clerk
Supervisor
Assistant Manager
Restaurant or Hotel Manager
Regional Director

Each job is preparation for the next. It takes more than just experience, though: it takes education. Moving from a server position to a manager position can be a lot easier with a degree.

Learn a Thing or Two

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that professionals with a degree in hotel or hospitality management are eligible for the best job opportunities in the industry. The great thing about building your career in hospitality is the number of educational options available.

Earning a bachelor's degree in restaurant management, for instance, can put you ahead of the game. Add this to some real restaurant experience, and you can qualify for assistant manager or manager jobs.

A degree in hotel management or hospitality can have the same effect. But it doesn't stop there. Here are a few other degrees that are great for careers in hospitality:

Bachelor's Degree in Business
Bachelor's Degree in International Business
MBA (Master’s in Business Administration)
Master's Degree in Food and Retail Management
Master's Degree in Hospitality Management

Your education will serve as the major career booster. It's what sets you apart. There's a lot of competition for the best jobs in restaurants and hotels, and earning a distinction from your peers can pay off in the end.

Sources

About the Author
Joe Cooper is a freelance education and technology writer and edits medical literature. He holds a bachelor's in American Literature from UCLA.

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