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HOW TO GET STARTED IN
From reception jobs at luxury hotels to waitressing and catering, there’s no shortage of employment options in the world of hospitality. Here’s a look at some of the best jobs in this busy, bustling line of work
CHEF
Are you creative, great at multitasking and a whizz with a whisk? Then you might just have what it takes to be an award-winning chef. If you want a long, successful career as a chef (and not be just a flash in the pan) it will take years of skill-building and practise. Luckily, a cookery apprenticeship is the perfect place to build your knowledge and give you a taste of what life as a chef is really like. An apprenticeship in a restaurant or top hotel will teach you the skills you need while working alongside some industry professionals – plus you can work towards a formal qualification and earn a salary while you do it. You’ll be involved in the chopping, prep and presentation of food and be responsible for things like kitchen equipment and stock levels. Before you know it, you’ll be cooking yourself. Watch out, Gordon Ramsay.
Waiting staff
Great at communicating, problemsolving and fast on their feet – being a waiter or waitress is one tough gig. Even if the kitchen is burning down you need to smile and make sure your customers have the time of their lives – so it’s a lot of pressure! On the plus side, being a server is a skill valued all over the world, and it’s a great way to earn money either in your spare time or as a long-term job. You’ll also learn plenty of transferable skills that will come in handy later in life, no matter what you do. Some servers will go on to management roles in the world of catering, while others might choose to open up their own restaurant – so whatever you do in the future, this is a great place to start.
From exclusive boutique hotels and rural B&Bs to holiday parks and youth hostels, there are thousands of places in Scotland where skills in hospitality services and hotel management are required – not to mention in the many luxury hotels and resorts around the globe. If you’re a cracking host and dream of working abroad one day, then training to be a hotel manager could be a great way to get into the exciting travel and tourism industry – and meet lots of great people along the way. Start by researching the big hotel chains – it’s a good place to kick-start your career. Companies like Hilton Worldwide, Premier Inn and Travelodge offer apprentice schemes.
study it
While lots of roles are open as apprenticeships or even straight from school, you can study hospitality in its various guises at colleges Scotland-wide too. Catering and professional cookery, travel and tourism, hospitality management… There’s a course for everyone, from HNC level and up. Check out your local college for more.
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HOTEL MANAGER
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17/02/2017 16:36