Careering along
So what kind of career might you seek out in hospitality? Tessa Fox outlines some starting points as well as opportunities and salaries further along the industry's path.
If this is your first look at a career in the hospitality industry, or if you would like to know more about various jobs, we've spoken to companies exhibiting at Opportunities 2001 to find out exactly what kind of positions are on offer. This guide provides a snapshot of typical first jobs available and the career opportunities that lie ahead.
The salaries quoted are all gross and for guidance only. Certain companies offer additional benefits, such as company pension schemes, private medical health, life assurance, bonuses at management level, and in-house discounts. For more information on benefits.
First jobs
Trainee managers
This is a way in if you don't have a hospitality-related degree and have no practical experience of the industry. As a trainee manager you could find yourself in a small neighbourhood eaterie or a top-flight fine-dining restaurant, a budget hotel or a five-star establishment. The work environments will clearly be very different, but as a trainee manager the same broad skills apply. "The first weeks will be learning about the company, then you'll be trained in all aspects of running an establishment over the course of a year," says consultant Helen Bowater, of Action Recruitment Europe.
Jurys Doyle Hotel Group is promoting its 18-month graduate programme: nine months are spent in general training and nine months specialising in either an operational role or in a department such as accounts, human resources or sales and marketing. The company offers a starting salary of £12,100 for trainees at its London properties.
If you embark on the Radisson Edwardian Hotels in-house training scheme you'll come away with a foundation degree from Thames Valley University. According to Radisson's human resources manager Steven d'Souza, the company is the first in hospitality to offer such a scheme. But don't expect to become a general manager, because the company doesn't have them: properties are managed by all the heads of department working as a team.
Starting salaries for trainees are around £12,000 but by the end of the first year, when you can look to specialise, you could be earning £16,000-£20,000.
Waiter You'll be expected to provide friendly, professional and attentive service to restaurant customers and be able to assimilate a lot of information about the menu and wine list. Typical starting salaries are £250 per week if you have at least six months' experience.
With less experience you could come in as a commis waiter and earn from £230 per week. You must still be confident enough to carry three plates at a time and open a bottle of wine in front of customers.
Barista This is the title of the coffee makers at Starbucks coffee company. But an outgoing personality, rather than expert coffee-making, is the essential attribute for a would-be barista. "The secret of the perfect espresso can be taught, but attitude and personality can't," says human resources officer Jackie Skinner.
An ideal candidate will also have three months' experience in a customer-focused area. The company pays a typical starting salary of £4.20 per hour, rising quickly to £4.50. Six months on, a committed barista could train for a supervisory position (see opposite).
Receptionist Receptionists are the first line of guest contact in a hotel and are therefore key members of staff. You'll be greeting guests, checking them in and out, and handling complaints, so you have to have excellent customer-focused skills and attention to detail.
Radisson Edwardian Hotels offers a starting salary of £10,000, and careers can progress to shift leader, reception manager and front office manager. For the most dedicated, the role of front of house manager awaits after three to four years, with a salary from £20,000.
At Hilton you'll be looking at a similar starting salary (£9,500-£12,500) and the possibility of becoming a shift leader with a salary of up to £15,000 after a couple of years.
Restaurants offer similar positions. Groupe Chez Gérard looks for good written and spoken English and an excellent telephone manner as well as six months' relevant experience. You'll be responsible for taking and managing table reservations and greeting customers. The starting salary is £250 per week.
Commis chef If you have basic food-preparation skills, you can start as a commis chef, where you'll be doing mise en place, making soups, salads or sandwiches, and earning about £10,000.
Demi chef For those with a formal qualification and knowledge of food preparation this could be their first job in the industry. Salaries start at about £14,500.
After a year or two
Supervisory assistant manager If you have a year's placement in the industry and some management experience, you could look at this step up from trainee management. After a year you could be deputy manager of a budget hotel or a pub, earning up to £18,000. Accommodation is often provided and starting salaries are usually £14,000-£15,000.
Shift supervisor As a shift supervisor for Starbucks you could be in charge of up to 10 baristas. You'll also have some responsibility for building sales.
A minimum of six months' experience in a supervisory role is necessary to come in at this level, and pay would rise from £5.30 per hour during Starbucks' in-house training to £6 per hour. Motivated employees could look for promotion to assistant store manager (see below).
If you have two years' supervisory experience in similar operations, you could land this role at Groupe Chez Gérard with a starting salary of £18,000. You'll be responsible for all front of house staff, be able to run shifts, and monitor the quality of service, food and drink.
At Accor, basic pay for a team leader in one of its three economy-brand hotels is £14,500-£15,500. In the three-star Novotel hotel, restaurant supervisors could expect £14,000-£16,000.
Assistant store manager There's quite a jump from shift supervisor to assistant store manager at Starbucks, says Jackie Skinner, and salaries at this level rise to between £15,000 and £17,000 depending on experience, skills and personality. You'll be responsible for motivating a team and improving the efficiency and profitability of your outlet.
You need about 18 months' experience in a retail environment to come in at this level.
Assistant manager (restaurant) A step down from general manager, you'll need two years as an assistant manager in a quality restaurant to go for this position within Groupe Chez Gérard. The company looks for similar qualities and skills to a general manager but doesn't expect the same degree of financial ability. Salaries run from £20,000, plus benefits.
Conference and banqueting coordinator The conference and banqueting (C&B) department deals with all aspects of function management, including taking bookings and co-ordinating the diary, making sure rooms are correctly equipped, managing the catering, and even handling presentations to prospective clients.
Hilton looks for graduates with enthusiasm and some understanding of the department for this role and will pay from £11,000-£15,000. Radisson Edwardian Hotels offers a minimum starting salary for graduates of £13,000. "We don't look for specific C&B experience," says Steven d'Souza, "but experience in a customer-related environment is useful."
Chef de partie A chef de partie works in a specific area of the kitchen. It might be larder, sauce, grill, fryer or pastry. Groupe Chez G‚rard looks for two years' experience at this level and an NVQ-level formal qualification or equivalent and will pay from £17,000.
Experienced candidates only
General manager (restaurant)
Two years' experience as general manager of a quality restaurant in the UK could lead you to apply for a general manager position at Groupe Chez Gérard. Financial acumen is essential, so that you can work within budgets and grow the business. Salaries at Groupe Chez Gérard start at £25,000, plus benefits.
Front of house manager (hotel) If you've got at least five years' experience in four- or five-star hotels and are currently an assistant front of house manager, you could look at this position at Hilton, where you'd be overseeing the whole front office and earning between £20,000 and £30,000, depending on the size of the property.
Sous chef This job can be divided into senior and junior roles, supporting the head chef and running the kitchen in his or her absence. You'd earn from £20,000 plus benefits at Groupe Chez Gérard, while Hilton pays between £17,000 and £25,000 depending on the property.
Head chef You'll need proven experience at this level to secure a head chef's position at Groupe Chez Gérard, for example. The company is typical in expecting broad supervisory experience, knowledge of food and payroll cost control, as well as culinary skills. Salaries start at £24,000, plus benefits.
Store manager A store manager with Starbucks will ideally have at least two years' retail, restaurant or hospitality management experience. You will be responsible for motivating the team and improving efficiency and profitability, but the buck stops with you. Salaries, start at about £17,000 and you could set your sights on becoming a district manager, earning £30,000.
