Tourism : Entry and progression

How do I find a job?

Around a quarter of all vacancies are advertised at jobcentres. For regional jobs, for example within a travel agency or tourism office, check the local papers and internet job boards.

It is also worth keeping an eye on social media sites such as Twitter, Flickr and Facebook for jobs and networking opportunities. Industry-specific media sites such as Visit Britain Media Centre  can help keep you informed with regular industry related news updates.

Graduate schemes are not common, but do exist within most of the larger, hotel chains. Many graduates that enter these schemes have completed a tourism and hospitality degree, although most of these companies accept any degree subject.

Company websites are useful job sources. They tell you how to apply for different jobs, whether they have graduate schemes and how to apply for them. Your university careers centre has a variety of directories that you may use to search for companies. See Graduate Employers  for a list of potential recruiters.

Unlike hospitality where recruitment drives tend to be seasonal, recruitment in travel and tourism is fairly constant throughout the year.

What skills do I need?

Application forms, CVs and covering letters should reflect a mix of skills from subject-related to technical skills that you have developed during your studies.

As well as your academic qualifications, it is important to be able to demonstrate skills such as teamwork, communication and customer service skills. Work experience, experience abroad and language skills may also be helpful.

Your application should show you have an understanding of the tourism industry, including infrastructure, services, and political, social and economic issues. You should also demonstrate an awareness of current trends within the industry and the reasons behind them. 

Where can I find work experience?

Any work experience you have acquired in the hospitality services industry as a student will be useful. This might be hotel or bar work where you will have gained valuable experience working face-to-face with clients.

Another way of gaining experience within this industry is through a work placement. The process of finding a placement is very similar to finding a permanent job. Many companies advertise available placements on their websites, job boards and at university careers services. Ask at your university careers office where they advertise their placement vacancies. Also, consider approaching companies speculatively and not just waiting until they advertise.

Many employers, though they may not specify a need for a degree in tourism or a related subject, ask you to demonstrate knowledge and experience in this field. So examples of how you have gained such experience, either as part of your degree, through any work experience or gap travelling that you have done, strengthens your application. You may find, though, that salaries are lower compared with those for traditional graduate occupations.

The Institute of Travel and Tourism (ITT) has an employment and careers section on their website for students.

Is postgraduate study useful?

Postgraduate qualifications are not necessary to enter the sector, but some graduates find that once they have industry experience, a postgraduate qualification helps develop the skills needed in order to enhance their promotion prospects. A postgraduate qualification in for example, communications, public relations or management may be seen as very relevant within this sector.

How can my career develop?

The sector is generally well qualified and has a comprehensive training structure (NVQ Levels 1-5 or equivalent, a degree being regarded as Level 4 and postgraduate qualifications as Level 5). Over a third of the sector workforce is qualified to Level 4 and above (People 1st Industry Report, 2009).

Career development in tourism is through experience and in-service training. Many senior executives in this industry started their careers at entry level.

Because of the mobility between tour operators, airlines and travel agents there is significant scope for career development and networking opportunities can be very useful. Staff in smaller organisations may find that they need to move to larger organisations in order to gain more responsibility or to specialise.