If you are thinking about applying for a job in the hospitality industry, it is worth knowing both the benefits and the pitfalls of working in the sector before taking the next steps. Being able to go into a new job or industry, having made an informed decision as to whether that position [in hospitality] is right for you can make all the difference and could ultimately be one of the defining factors in your future career. We take a look at some of the main advantages and disadvantages of working in this field, provided by hospitality job recruitment agency Rota.
The advantages of working in hospitality
A wealth of opportunities – One of the biggest advantages of working in the hospitality sector is that you can almost guarantee that there is never a dull moment. This means that while you might find yourself very busy, it always remains interesting, with the opportunity to meet people from all over the world. There is also a higher chance that will be able travel, as hospitality jobs exist in almost every part of the world, which is great if you consider yourself to be a bit of a traveller.
Growing employment rates – One advantage is that it couldn’t be a better time to find a job in hospitality in the UK; over the last two years the sector has been booming. It has been growing at the fastest rate compared to any other sector in the country since the 2008 financial crisis. This is largely down to the weak pound as a result of the Brexit outcome, making the UK a much more appealing holiday destination for tourists now. This has led the industry to bring in a staggering £73 billion to the UK economy in just 2016 alone, helping to make it the UK’s fourth-largest employer.
Creativity – Working in the hospitality industry is about always thinking of new ideas and ways to make the customer experience better. This means that a role in the sector gives you the opportunity to be creative, which isn’t something all that easy to find in many other industries.
Progression opportunities – A great thing about the fact the hospitality industry is booming, is that it facilitates the chance for progression for you in the industry in the future. As the hospitality industry is continuously expanding, it means that it makes it far easier to change positions within the sector. Furthermore, with such ample opportunities in the industry, more and more people are moving up in employment towards management and more senior positions with transferable skills, meaning that the UK economy as a whole is seeing many of the benefits of hospitality’s success, with increased numbers of employees moving from otherwise unskilled into skilled, ‘professional’ work (source: Stepstone Credit)
Tips and bonuses – Another perk of working in hospitality is the potential of getting excellent tips and bonuses on top of your salary. This is particularly the case if you work at a resort, luxury hotel or travel on a cruise, where you can often benefit from the service charge that customers pay. This is then distributed to the members of staff as a reward for excellent customer service.
Flexible hours – Many jobs in the hospitality industry offer flexible hours. This is especially the case when it comes to waiter positions, where you can often work on a temporary basis as hospitality staff should you wish to do so, which can be great if you are just looking to gain a little bit of extra cash in the short-term or are interested in simply doing seasonal work. In summary, the hospitality sector offers its employees a considerable amount of freedom that you wouldn’t get elsewhere. You can usually find this type of work easily by applying online for temporary hospitality jobs through sites such as rota.com.
Disadvantages of the hospitality industry
Long hours – Unfortunately, while hours tend to be flexible in the hospitality industry, they can be very long hours too. While it can be an extremely rewarding career, the hours can be very long as many hospitality businesses will operate around the clock.
High-pressure environment – Working in the hospitality industry tends to involve working in a fast-paced environment while maintaining high standards, making sure that the customer always receives the very best possible service. This means that the job can at times prove very stressful; especially if you find yourself dealing with numerous demanding customers whilst trying to keep the managers and your superiors pleased. If you do not necessarily deal too well with pressure and the expectations it could end up feeling like a job in the hospitality industry is too overwhelming.
