Hospitality Careers

Jobs for undergraduates are abundant in the various hospitality industries. These include travel, tourism, food service, cooking and hotel management. These industries focus on providing excellent customer service. People in hospitality careers interact with people on a daily basis. Some hospitality careers may allow you to travel often and meet new people. Many jobs don't even require a college degree.

Travel agents are in popular, hospitality careers; and may work for individuals or businesses. They determine their clients’ travel needs and take care of all the arrangements, from booking hotels and cruises, to arranging for rental cars and coordinating airfare. Some may recommend dining options and activities in the clients’ destination. Hospitality careers in the travel industry often require at least a bachelor’s degree. Jobs are limited and very competitive, as many travelers opt for the convenience of booking travel online. Travel agent students can expect to take courses such as communications, geography and foreign languages. Computers are used heavily and so computer skills are a must.

Hospitality career opportunities in food service are plentiful. Most of these jobs are held by teenagers and young adults; and most hospitality careers are as waiters or waitresses. These jobs involve taking food orders and serving customers as quickly as possible. Also, they may clean tables and use the cash registers. These types of positions require no schooling and are perfect for those looking for a part-time job.

The hotel and lodging industries also hire people for hospitality careers. These careers include housekeepers, front office managers, general managers and assistant managers. People in these types of hospitality careers are responsible for ensuring that the hotel is run smoothly. They handle complaints, provide customer service, make sure guests have enough supplies and handle any billing issues. Those in management positions take care of emergencies, hire and manage staff and take care of paperwork. More often, employers are looking for employees with at least a bachelor’s degree and hotel management education and experience.