What do you think hoteliers would like to see included in a degree for new entrants to the industry?
Michael Newnham: Hoteliers like to seek ‘work-ready’ students who can quickly settle in and contribute. In particular, work internships and other part-time work help to prepare students for this. As well as having broad knowledge of the various facets of the industry, employers want graduates who can ‘fit’ in a team and know how to get the job done. Employers also want passionate, service-oriented, conscientious graduates who pay attention to customer satisfaction, but who can also create spreadsheets, write reports, interpret data, investigate and solve problems, manage their time, master technology, carry themselves well, and so on. They need to possess the required attitude and skills for the workplace.
Sneha Rahul: Service is the core of our industry and graduates from a highly service-oriented degree will be more mindful and prepared about what is expected from them. A candidate who is aware about the industry will adapt easily compared to others. He/she has a fair idea about what is happening in each department and this will help you to have better team spirit and corporation. In addition, having an overall picture about all the departments will reduce the burden on learning & development investments for the companies. Moreover, while recruiting, it makes us confident that we are looking at a passionate professional who will put his/her level best to prove themselves and move up the ladder.
Remmie de Graaf: For me, I believe in the application of the knowledge and the development of transferable skills. As an example one may learn how to run different table services at school, but the more important thing to take back from the lesson are: how can one adapt it based on theme and facilities of the outlet, how to manage guests’ expectations, and how to interact with guests.
Andrew Vieira: This really depends on which way the candidate wants to move forward, the time he or she has, and how they wish to start. Most people begin with an undergraduate course and jump into a hospitality career. But nowadays the trend is more towards post-graduates completing their education before they start in this field. I too would recommend the latter, as it is far better and more advantageous to come fully prepared with a complete post-graduation and all the knowledge and skills acquired. That not only gives you a much greater advantage when you start, but also ensures quick and steady growth.
Pamini Hemaprabha: Hotel management graduation is the best choice for any starting candidate as it can give you an early insight and prepares you for the upcoming episodes of the industry. Qualification related to commerce helps us in understanding finance points of view and improves our maths regarding profit and loss.
| Advertisement |