From attention to detail to ability to multitask and more, do you have what it takes to make it in the hospitality industry?
The hospitality sector is growing exponentially, and no wonder, what with the future of AI looming and poised to take most of our jobs. One thing a robot simply cannot compete with is some good, old fashioned hospitality. As the industry gets more and more competitive, you might be wondering if you have what it takes to have a great career in hospitality. Here are some skills and personality traits that will stand out to your future employer.
Good at Building Connections
Have you always been a sort of a social butterfly? Are you good at reading people and anticipating how to best get them to like you? Are you a people pleaser who knows who to make and keep connections?
If you want to be successful in the industry, it’s going to take more than a hospitality certification. Auckland is a big city, and if you want to make a name for yourself in it, you’ll have to be very good at making positive connections with clients, guests, vendors, etc. This is a service business, and you must be prepared to live to serve. In hospitality, serving others really means that you’re serving yourself by building up your reputation and digital rolodex.
Great Attention to Detail
Those who succeed at making a career for themselves in hospitality are slightly anal retentive. You must have an annoying attention to detail that will raise you up in the eyes of your employer and, eventually, make your future employees hate, fear and awe you. Hospitality is all about catering to the guest’s experience and making sure that that experience is perfect, from the way the tablecloths are draped over the tables to making sure there isn’t a single dead flower in the bouquet to being military-strict about the busboy’s uniform. You don’t just want to meet expectations. You aren’t trying to be “good enough.” You are aiming to exceed your guest’s expectations and be extraordinary.
Ability to Work Flexible Hours
You don’t get into a career in hospitality because you want something ordinary. Hospitality managers are almost always expected to work long hours that are outside the standard 9 to 5 grind. Hospitality jobs are not monotonous. You must be ready to think quickly and switch gears at a moment’s notice. Being resourceful, charming and strong on your feet for many hours at a time is a serious plus.
Technical and Language Skills
Good with computers? Have a second or third language up your sleeve? Even better. If you have experience with a range of different POS and computer programs, then you’ll be able to excel faster. In addition, the more languages you speak, the more customers you’ll be able to accommodate. Sure, English is the most widely spoken language in Auckland. But New Zealand also sees about 3.7 percent (or 148,395 people) speaking te reo Māori.
Ability to Multitask
Obviously, you’ll have to be able to multitask. No matter what sector of hospitality you work in or what you studied, whether you have a hospitality certificate in accommodation or a hospitality diploma in management, you’re going to need to be able to juggle many requests, not only from guests, but also from staff and vendors. On a typical day, a General Manager of a restaurant might have to open up shop, accept orders of casks of beer while making new orders of produce for next week, confirm the day’s menu specials with the chef, handle a dissatisfied guest, fill out paperwork for an employee that has reported an incident and keep a smile on his or her face through it all.
If you want to be a success in the hospitality industry, you first need to learn about what goes on behind the scenes. Call Crown Institute in Auckland for more information on 0800 357 316 or enquire online.
