Travel & Hospitality Jobs and Graduate Schemes

Working in Travel & hospitality

The Travel & Hospitality sector is extremely varied, and includes positions in tourism, air and ground travel, and accommodations, as well as pub and restaurant jobs. It offers many fantastic careers which can take graduates all over the world.

In such a broad sector, there is room for everyone, with some roles requiring specialist skills and qualifications, and others providing all the necessary training on the job. Many of the skills applicable in Travel are also applicable in Hospitality, such as customer service, business nous and language skills. Graduates looking to go into Travel & Hospitality should be versatile, eager to take on new challenges and prepared to work from the ground up.

How to Get a Job in Travel & Hospitality

While many of the skills required to work in Travel & Hospitality are the same as other sectors, there are some special skills which will help candidates get ahead:

1. Customer service

Many roles in Travel & Hospitality are customer-facing, requiring good customer service sills. Candidates should highlight any previous experience working in customer service, and maintain a friendly, professional and helpful manner through all their interactions with prospective employers.

2. Good communication

Clarity of expression, an appropriate tone and a tactful approach to problems or issues are all essential for good client and customer relations in Travel & Hospitality. Graduates should maintain excellent communication through every stage of the application process, and make sure to list their experience working with others at previous jobs, as part of a school society or team, or on group projects.

3. Brand understanding

Close interaction with customers requires the workers to accurately and consistently represent the company's brand. Candidates should make sure they understand the company's place in the industry and how they want to be perceived. Employers will be impressed if a candidate can demonstrate that they have done some research into the company and have thought about how to relate to customers.

4. Language skills

This sector often requires either travelling abroad or working closely with companies and customers from other countries. Any foreign language skills will be a real asset for graduates looking to work in the field. Candidates may want to brush up on a language they did at GCSE, and make sure to highlight any languages they studied at a higher level.

5. Time spent studying or living abroad

While certainly not a necessity to work in Travel & Hospitality, any time spent studying or living abroad shows employers that a candidate is familiar with the requirements of travel, can adapt to new environments and is comfortable with new people and places—all important qualities in this sector.

6. Business nous

Many entry-level jobs in Travel & Hospitality are in a business function role. These include Sales, Marketing, Communications and Press Teams. Many skills learned in university are applicable to these office-based roles, and graduates should make sure to provide evidence of good written communication, strong analytical skills and a logical approach to problems. Many of these positions can offer an entry point into more highly sought-after positions down the line.

7. Specialist knowledge

Travel & Hospitality can require extensive specialisation, and candidates should make the most of any unique knowledge. For example, a History graduate may want to emphasize their historic understanding of a foreign locale, while a graduate who worked at a restaurant during their studies may want to apply their knowledge of fine wines to a career working in Hospitality. Any evidence that a candidate understands the product or service offered by the company is advantageous.