sign in sign up
<<
Home , Restaurant

, , AND What can I do with this major?

AREAS EMPLOYERS STRATEGIES

MANAGEMENT Lodging Management Including: Lodging: /, , bed and , Work in a restaurant, facility, campus dining Operations Management timeshares, RV parks, and campgrounds hall, or local hotel to gain relevant experience. Property Management , dining clubs, , and fast Acquire supervisory skills and experience by taking Facility Management operators on roles such as Assistant Manager or Student Rooms Management Food providers: catering companies, Manager. and Catering Management schools, universities, hospitals, and military Join student professional associations or organizations Human Resources Amusement centers and theme parks and seek leadership positions. Restaurant/Food Service Management Including: Historical, cultural, and natural attractions Build a strong foundation in customer service and Operations Management Special event and festival organizations management. Learn to communicate well with a Food Quality and Food Safety Conference centers and banquet facilities wide variety of people. Design Entertainment : casinos, theaters, arenas, Learn to work well in teams. Production and Service of Food and stadiums Develop the ability to make quick decisions Cost Control Leisure organizations: sporting clubs, recreation independently and to handle stress all while Human Resources centers, fitness facilities, and country clubs meeting deadlines. General Management of Other Related Facilities companies and outdoor outfitters Prepare to work "from the bottom up" to gain industry Property management companies experience and to relocate for promotions.

CUSTOMER SERVICES Office Operations Lodging: hotels/motels, resorts, bed and breakfasts, Demonstrate enthusiasm for working with the public. Reservations timeshares, RV parks, and campgrounds To succeed in this area, develop an orientation toward Sales Tour operators and guide services service and attention to detail. Learn effective Planning Reservation companies problem solving tools. Guest Relations Historical, cultural, and natural attractions Gain experience in sales through part-time or summer Amusement centers, theme parks, and attractions jobs. Conference centers and banquet facilities Start in reservations or telephone sales. Master the Entertainment industry: casinos, theaters, arenas, product line and learn to give excellent service. and stadiums Hone interpersonal communication skills and become Food service providers: catering companies, adept at communicating with people from diverse schools, universities, hospitals, and military backgrounds. Transportation/travel industry: airlines, cruise Take courses in a second language. companies, car rental agencies, travel Learn about world geography and international travel agencies, airports, motor coach/tour carriers regulations. Ecotourism companies and outdoor outfitters Research government job application processes. Federal, state, and local government: tourism Intern with government agencies to increase offices, visitor bureaus, centers, and chances of full-time employment. park systems (Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism, Page 2)

AREAS EMPLOYERS STRATEGIES

SPECIAL EVENTS Convention and Trade Show Planning Large hotels Take classes in , commercial recreation, Convention Services Management Resorts advertising, and public relations. Meeting Planning Amusement centers, theme parks, and attractions Gain experience through planning activities and Entertainment/Event Planning Special event and festival organizations events for campus and community organizations. Athletic Event Planning Conference centers and banquet facilities Work with summer conferences and youth groups Programs and Activities Planning Entertainment industry: casinos, theaters, arenas, that your university may host. Children's Programming/Planning and stadiums Complete internships or work part-times jobs with Athletic teams and organizations local hotels, conference centers, and banquet Cruise companies facilities. Leisure organizations: sporting clubs, recreation Develop the ability to make quick decisions centers, fitness facilities, and country clubs independently. Trade and professional associations Display good planning, organizational, interpersonal, State, federal, and local government: tourism and public speaking skills. offices, visitor bureaus, convention centers, and Learn to think creatively. park systems Attend conferences for student organizations and Large corporations professional associations. SALES/MARKETING General Sales Tour operators and guide services Take additional courses in marketing and advertising. Meeting and Convention Sales Historical, cultural, and natural attractions Gain experience in sales and customer service Incentive Travel Sales Lodging: hotels/motels, resorts, bed and breakfasts, through part-time or summer jobs and internships. Media Planning and Development timeshares, RV parks, and campgrounds Develop excellent interpersonal and public speaking Public Relations Reservation companies skills. Publicity/Promotions Amusement centers, theme parks, and attractions Learn to think creatively in order to develop unique Market Research Special event and festival organizations marketing campaigns and sales techniques. Conference centers and banquet facilities Join student organizations and professional associa- Food service providers: catering companies, tions and volunteer for publicity committees. schools, universities, hospitals, and military Attend conferences and trade shows. Entertainment industry: casinos, theaters, arenas Start in reservations or telephone sales. Learn the and stadiums product line and how to deal with travel agents Transportation/travel industry: airlines, cruise and customers. companies, car rental agencies, travel agencies, Be willing to relocate to a major city like New York airports, motor coach/tour carriers, and rapid City, Los Angeles, Chicago, or Miami for more transit (AMTRAK) opportunities. Leisure organizations: sporting clubs, fitness/ recreation facilities, and country clubs Ecotourism companies and outdoor outfitters Trade and professional associations Federal, state, and local government: tourism offices, visitor bureaus, convention centers, and park systems Public or private corporations (Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism, Page 3)

AREAS EMPLOYERS STRATEGIES

CORPORATE ADMINISTRATION Property Acquisition and Development Parent corporations for large chains of: Assume leadership roles in student organizations and Legal Services Hotels, motels, and resorts professional associations. Attend their meetings Research/Market Analysis Restaurants and operators and conferences. Marketing Food service providers Study the industry leaders and trends by reading Finance and Accounting Casinos trade journals. Human Resources: Amusement centers and theme parks Gain experience in decision-making, planning, Human Resource Management Attractions budgeting, and human resources through intern- Recruiting and Training Fitness facilities ships and summer jobs. Employee Support Services Airlines Develop excellent interpersonal and public speaking Labor Relations Cruise companies skills. Compensation and Benefits Motor coach/tour carriers Prepare to work "from the bottom up" to gain Rapid transit companies industry experience. Be geographically flexible and willing to relocate for promotions. Create a network of contacts. Obtain a graduate degree in business, law, or a related field to increase opportunities for advancement.

COMMUNICATIONS Writing Self-employment/Freelance Study and gain an in-depth knowledge of industry Editing Newspapers, magazines, and trade journals trends. Research Publishers: guide and travel books, travel newsletters Take journalism or English classes to hone writing Electronic Media Internet sites skills. Video producers Work for campus newspapers and other publications Tour operators or write for organizational or departmental Federal, state, and local government: tourism newsletters. offices and visitor bureaus Develop effective research methods and computer skills. Practice paying attention to detail and meeting deadlines. Study or work abroad while in school. Travel as much as possible in the and beyond. (Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism, Page 4)

AREAS EMPLOYERS STRATEGIES

EDUCATION Teaching Colleges and universities Gain professional industry experience. Attend and Research speak at conferences, trade shows and Administration professional associations. Network in the indus- try for professional contacts. Determine an area of expertise. Gain an in-depth knowledge of that industry, its leaders and trends by reading recent books, journals, and annual reports. Develop strong writing and research skills. Maintain a high grade point average and secure strong recommendations for graduate school admission. Obtain a Ph.D. to teach at the university level. Some community colleges may hire candidates with master's degrees.

GENERAL INFORMATION • Bachelor's degree qualifies you for entry-level industry and government positions. Master's degree qualifies you for community college teaching and advancement in industry and government. A doctoral degree is required for advanced research or teaching positions in colleges and universities and senior positions in government. • Join professional organizations such as The National Tour Association, The American Hotel and Association, or The National Restaurant Association to stay abreast of current issues in the field and to increase networking contacts. • Obtain volunteer, part-time, summer, and/or internship experience at related organizations such as restaurants, catering companies, campus dining facilities, hotels, conference centers, recreational venues, and attractions. • Get involved with student travel groups or campus recreation committees that plan trips for other students. • Prepare to work your way up from the bottom. Gaining industry knowledge though work experience is highly valued. It may be necessary to move geographically to earn promotions. • Be willing to work on weekends, holidays, evenings, and long or unusual hours. • Develop strong communication and customer service skills. The ability to work well with all kinds of people in all kinds of situations is necessary to succeed. • Learn to pay attention to details and to demonstrate enthusiasm. Hotel guests and restaurant patrons expect excellent service. • Other important qualities for this field include working well in teams, handling stress, and meeting deadlines. • Take additional courses and/or travel abroad to gain a better understanding of world history, geography, customs, and international relations. Learn a second language. This will help you relate to more guests.

© 1995 The University of Tennessee Prepared by the Career Planning staff of Career Services at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. (1995, Revised 2000, 2005, 2009) UTK is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA Employer