Hotel careers can be rewarding, challenging, and varied. Yet, regardless of whether you are seeking an entry-level job to get your foot in the door, or hoping to take the next step up the career ladder, there are certain things you can do to maximize your chances of finding a job. In this post, you will find some valuable tips to help you on your way.

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Hotel Careers: 10 Tips to Find a Job in a Hotel

The hotel industry is competitive, but you can take several steps to improve your chances of finding hotel or hospitality jobs. With this in mind, below, you will find 10 tips to remember during your search.

1. Start Your Hotel Career With Proper Education & Training

Hotel careers are popular partly because they allow people to start in entry-level positions and progress up the career ladder by working hard, gaining experience, and learning new skills. Nevertheless, you can still boost your prospects by starting your hotel career with the right education and training.

For instance, if you aim to work in a specific hotel department, such as the finance department or HR, you may benefit greatly from relevant qualifications. Similarly, if you hope to land a management job without slowly working your way up the ladder, you may need a relevant bachelor’s degree.

If you seek a customer-facing role where you will interact with hotel guests, customer service training can be valuable. There are also a number of academic subjects, including travel and tourism, business management, and hospitality management, that can give you a boost and equip you with some of the necessary skills to succeed.

2. Build an Amazing CV or Resume

For most job applications, your CV or resume will likely be the first thing employers will judge you on. This means that, regardless of the skills, personal qualities, and formal qualifications you possess and no matter how well-suited you are to a role, you may not get the job if your CV does not sell you to employers.

Firstly, it is essential to tailor your CV to the job you are applying for. Read the job description and person specification and identify some keywords. Try to target some of these keywords in your CV and use the language the employer uses. For instance, if they refer to “front desk staff” instead of “reception staff“, you should too.

Your CV or resume should be fairly concise and easy to read. Try to focus on information relevant to the position you are applying for and avoid unnecessary details. Talk about your qualifications and experience, but also highlight achievements and successes. Make sure you use a professional font and check your spelling and grammar.

3. Boost Your Hotel Career With Personal Branding

Personal branding can be crucial for those hoping to advance their hotel or hospitality careers to the very top. Essentially, personal branding is the practice of marketing yourself as a brand. This means promoting what you offer, highlighting your unique qualities, and consistently keeping your messages about yourself.

Regarding personal branding, looking after your online presence is of the utmost importance. This is because many recruiters and employers will check online before you are invited to an interview. Personal branding allows you to manage what they see and ensure it presents you in the best possible light.

For instance, you should manage your social media accounts, ensuring that public information on Facebook and Twitter is appropriate and consistent with what you present on LinkedIn. You could also boost your online presence further by creating a personal homepage on a platform like About. Me.

4. Find Your Next Hotel Career Move on Hotel Job Boards

One of the best ways to find a job or take the next step in a hotel career is to check online job boards. Hotels will often use these job boards to advertise vacancies within their properties, and many of these platforms also provide additional services which can assist with your job-seeking efforts.

In “Hotel Jobs: The Best Hotel Job Boards to Boost Your Career”, you can find a breakdown of some of the best-dedicated hotel job boards to use in order to find your ideal role and then apply for it online.

5. Find Your Next Hotel Career Move Directly Via Hotel Websites

It can also be a good idea to adopt a more direct approach; checking hotel websites is one of the best ways to do this. By going to hotels directly, you may be able to find hotel career opportunities that are not advertised on job boards and other platforms, and you can also more easily identify hotel chains that fit what you are looking for.

Our article, “Hotel Vacancies: List of Hotel Chains to Start Your Career,” provides a breakdown of some of the biggest and most popular hotel companies, allowing you to visit their websites and advance your search.

6. Make Effective Use of LinkedIn for Your Hotel Career

The LinkedIn social networking platform can help your hotel career in several key ways, including allowing you to develop your personal brand and build and maintain relationships within the industry. However, it is also important to understand that LinkedIn can help you to find a job too.

For one thing, the platform has a dedicated ‘Jobs‘ section, which further breaks options down into ‘Jobs in Your Network‘ and ‘Jobs You May Be Interested In‘. You can also use the platform to let people know you are looking for a job and receive alerts when advertised jobs match your interests.

7. Let Recruitment Agencies Help You With Your Hotel Career

Another option is to allow recruitment agencies and experts to assist you with your job search. Simply put, a recruitment agency is an intermediary, sourcing suitable candidates for vacant jobs. Although they tend to work primarily on behalf of employers, many also assist candidates too.

It can be beneficial to capitalize on the expertise of recruiters, especially given they will typically have significant experience and excellent industry contacts. They may be able to provide you with information about job vacancies, advice on interview techniques, and tips on making yourself a more attractive prospect for hotels.

8. Prepare For Your Job Interview Properly

Before you attend your interview, and preferably before you even apply for a job, you need to do some research. Find out as much information about the hotel you are applying to work at and the nature of the job role itself. You should be able to explain the hotel’s core brand values and demonstrate that you have taken an active interest.

If you have been given the names of those conducting the interview, you may be able to find information about them online, which can help you build rapport. You should also go through some common interview questions and practice answering them, focusing on ways to link questions to things you have done in your career.

9. Make Sure You Give a Great Interview On the Day

Once you have applied for a job and received an invitation to an interview, you need to make sure you perform well on the day. Plan your route ahead of time, and do not be late. Come equipped with some basic questions to ask, and make sure you are dressed appropriately. If you have any doubts about this, play it safe and wear something smart.

When you are in the interview, try to relax as much as possible and avoid falling into the trap of rushing your answers. Make eye contact with the interviewer(s), demonstrate positive body language, and make sure you turn your phone off. It can also be a good idea to bring extra copies of your CV.

10. Network Over the Course of Your Hotel Career

Finally, to get the absolute most out of a hotel career, you must take the time to network. Often, landing the job of your dreams can be as much about who you know as what you know. Over the course of your career, you can make valuable contacts who may be able to recommend you to other employers or other departments in your current hotel.

Generally, it is best to avoid asking anyone for a job outright and to let people read between the lines instead. Let people know you want to move into a particular job role and ask questions or seek advice. It is also important to understand that networking is a two-way street; if you want help, you must help others.

Both online and offline networking can be effective for boosting career prospects, so make use of both. Speak to people in the workplace, at work functions, and industry events. However, you should not overlook the value of social networking sites like LinkedIn and Twitter, as these can expand your network internationally.

Video: Tips to Improve Your Job Interview Skills

Below is a video with practical tips to improve your job interview skills and the most common interview questions and answers.

 

Understanding the Key Hotel Positions

Hotel careers can offer a lot of variety because a typical hotel will have people working in a number of different departments and job roles. To maximize your long-term prospects, it can be beneficial to understand the different hotel positions, what each job role entails, and what the requirements may be.

Read “Understanding the Key Hotel Positions” for more information about the various job roles that exist within a typical hotel, as this can make it easier to identify the best position for you.

Channels for Finding Hotel Management Jobs

For many people pursuing careers in the industry, hotel management jobs represent the dream end goal. If you are exploring your options or attempting to move into a managerial role, it is best to use the full range of available channels, as this can allow you to find vacancies more easily and ultimately boost your chances.

In “Channels for Finding Hotel Management Jobs”, you will find a breakdown of the key channels you can utilize in order to source the hotel manager job you have always wanted.

Advice for Finding the Best Hotel Staff

If you own a hotel, you will need to find a sufficient number of people who are interested in hotel careers and who have the relevant skills and qualities to succeed. This will require you to use the right channels to source candidates and the right techniques to narrow down applicants to those most suitable.

Our “Advice for Finding the Best Hotel Staff” article provides more information on some methods to identify and attract the best candidates to your property.

Tips for Finding a Job As a Hotel Manager

Whether you are aiming to take the next step in your hotel career by becoming a hotel manager for the first time, or whether you already are a hotel manager and you are seeking a change of scenery, there are a number of practical tips that you should keep on mind, as they will help to elevate your prospects.

Read “Tips for Finding a Job As a Hotel Manager” to gain insight into securing such a role.

Hotel Industry; Everything You Need to Know About Hotels!

Anyone seriously pursuing a hospitality or hotel career should try to develop a rounded understanding of the industry itself. This includes the different types of properties that fall under the hotel industry umbrella, the main technology and consumer trends, and the key strategies that hotels use to stay competitive.

Check out “Hotel Industry; Everything You Need to Know About Hotels!” for more information.

Hotel Management: Everything You Need to Know About Managing a Hotel

Management positions represent the pinnacle of many hotel careers, but succeeding in such a role requires a comprehensive knowledge of the industry and what management actually entails. Moreover, it is vital to understand the entry requirements for such a position and some of the emerging trends.

The “Hotel Management: Everything You Need to Know About Managing a Hotel” article will explain more.

The hotel industry is able to offer varied career options, providing unique, challenging, and rewarding experiences. Following the tips in this article can enhance your chances of finding a job within the industry.

More Tips to Grow Your Business

Revfine.com is a knowledge platform for the hospitality & travel industry. Professionals use our insights, strategies and actionable tips to get inspired, optimise revenue, innovate processes and improve customer experience. You can find all hotel & hospitality tips in the categories Revenue Management, Marketing & Distribution, Hotel Operations, Staffing & Career, Technology and Software.

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This article is written by:

Martijn Barten

Hi, I am Martijn Barten, founder of Revfine.com. With 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, I specialize in optimizing revenue by combining revenue management with marketing strategies. I have successfully developed, implemented, and managed revenue management and marketing strategies for individual properties and multi-property portfolios.