In this article we’ll take a close look at the hospitality industry and focus on six fantastic career paths that could help you travel the world, or just engage your extroverted personality and love of helping people.
Hospitality professionals are the people who cook the food, pour the drinks, book the cruises, or otherwise assist a customer maximise their holiday and leisure time. They rarely work routine hours and (more often than not) are rostered for duty during nights, weekends, and public holidays.
Hospitality is a dynamic industry and there are amazing opportunities for hospitality professionals within Australia as well as abroad. The Australian government has tagged the hospitality sector as a high-growth employment area.
1. Beverage Service — Barista and Bar Steward
Baristas and bar stewards are those special people who can make a perfect espresso and margarita and can calmly open a bottle of vintage red without killing the cork. It’s such a versatile career, because you can get started at your local coffee shop or RSL club — and before you know it, you’re working at a luxury European resort or a hot NY nightclub.
Cruise ships, restaurants, cafes, bars, sports clubs, casinos, taverns, licensed events and festivals, hotels — just about every city, village, and town in the world has an opening for a skilled barista and bar steward. Enrol in a Certificate III in Hospitality (SIT30616) for the essentials in customer service, workplace hygiene, and responsible services of alcohol (RSA).
2. Event Management — Events Planner
Event Planners assist with the planning and coordination of conferences, festivals, weddings and parties and usually work onsite during an event. Event planners can be found reassuring the bride on their wedding day, or making sure the security guards are properly licensed before a concert. The Diploma of Event Management (SIT50316) will give you skills in budgeting, risk management, compliance, and customer service — so you can cost-out and run a profitable (and safe) public event or private party.
3. Food Service — Catering Business Owner
Working in hospitality doesn’t mean you have to always be working for someone else. As a catering business owner you could be sharing your delicious culinary creations at birthday parties, weddings, or a fancy office soiree. Enrol in a Certificate IV in Hospitality (SIT40416) and a Certificate II in Kitchen Operations (SIT20416) to start a rewarding new career.
4. Management — Venue Operations Manager
Venue Operations Managers are responsible for running a dynamic, safe, compliant and profitable hospitality outlet. Sporting and RSL Clubs, resorts, casinos, and licensed hotels all need skilled and versatile Operations Managers.
The Operations Manager oversees each departmental area (food service, gaming, bar and beverage, functions, entertainment) and liaises with line managers, floor staff (and customers) to make sure the venue opens on time — and the patrons are happy. The Diploma of Hospitality Management (SIT50416) is the minimum qualification for an Operations Manager in the Hospitality industry.
5. Commercial Cookery — Chef de Partie
The Chef de Partie runs a department or station in a commercial kitchen and often manages a small team of qualified chefs and kitchen hands. Depending on the size of the kitchen, a Chef de Partie might be assigned to desserts, vegetables, or soup — and they make sure that the meals delivered to the customer are expertly prepared and delicious. Complete your Certificate III in Commercial Cookery (SIT30816) and you’re on a direct path to being an internationally acclaimed Chef de Partie.
6. Travel — Corporate Travel Consultant
Corporate travel consultants book (and budget) trips for business clients and their VIPs. Some corporate travel consultants operate their own booking agency, but many corporate enterprises hire their own in-house travel consultants to manage international and domestic flights, car rentals, accommodation and tours for travelling (and visiting) dignitaries. Get started with a Certificate III in Travel (SIT30216).