Getting into pubs

Question

"I would like some advice on what qualifications and experience (if any) would be needed when looking for a trainee position in public house management. I trained for two years in hotel-catering and institutional operations at Blackpool and the Fylde college and have one year chef and two years' hotel reception experience. I am looking for a career change back into the service industry after ten years in another area."

What the expert says

Kim Parish, human resources director, Scottish & Newcastle Retail <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /?>

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"One of the great things about the hospitality industry as it continues to thrive is that you can work in a lot of different companies and fields. Much of your college education and your experience as a chef and hotel receptionist will have developed the people and service skills you need to be successful in pub management. But what is more important is your experience in the last ten years and mapping that against the competencies required for pub management. When we recruit trainee unit managers we assess individuals against the following competencies: - Looking after and meeting customers' needs - - Maintaining and improving operational standards - Making sound decisions and problem solving - Controlling your business and managing your margins - Growing your sales - Communicating effectively. These skills could have been developed in your last job or as part of your leisure interests. For example, many people learn about ways of growing sales through involvement in charities or school fund raising. And you can develop skills in coaching and developing people through involvement in sports.  Your next step is to review how you match against these areas. At interview, employers will ask you for specific examples, so it's important that you start thinking about concrete examples now. We would expect anyone applying to us to have some bar experience even if it's part-time. While you finalise your career ambitions you should get a part-time bar job. When you choose this job, it's important that it's part of a company that invests in training. All the large pub chains make a big investment in training and have training courses aimed at people just like you. You might find that you can move pretty seamlessly from part-time bar person into an internal management training programme. Of course what's really important is that you can demonstrate that you would really love working in a pub environment - very social, dynamic and challenging. You need to be very clear that this career change is what you want. You left the industry 10 years ago, and employers will want to know why you want to switch back. Of course things have changed a lot and there are great career opportunities in exciting environments, so it shouldn't be hard to convince your future employer. Good luck!" Do you have a question for our experts? [E-mail us now, help is at hand.