Is my management training scheme right for me?

Question

I graduated from the hospitality school of Lausanne in June with a degree in hospitality management. I have been working for three months for a well-known five-star hotel chain as a management trainee. This training scheme is to last 18 months. At the moment I am working in the F&B department and am supposed to move round three departments (room service, restaurant and lounge) to get a good overview of the business.

I am not sure if this is the right program for me. I mainly do a front-line job and am not using my skills. I already have two years' experience in this kind of job. After the training period ends, all the company can offer me is a supervisory position. I am starting to lose my trust in the chain, but mainly in myself.

Should I should try to find more suitable work, and if so, which kind of job would I be able to apply for? Or is the training program what I should expect with my experience? I am not sure what my value on the market is and what the norm is.

What the expert says

Chris Sheppardson, managing director, Chess Partnership

!	-

Joining a management training scheme in a major hotel chain after graduation is certainly normal. It is also not unusual that graduates feel that their strengths are not being fully utilised. The company needs to justify its investment in you and enable you to gain respect from staff through this basic training. Remind yourself of the reasons you joined this company. Clearly there was something about the company's culture that attracted you. Of course, your initial perception could have changed when you began to work for the company. I would perhaps advise you to volunteer to take on extra duties, responsibilities and projects in your hotel. Even if this is unpaid, it would increase your knowledge and value in the company. Is the company aware of your frustrations? If not, you should consider discussing this with them. If they don't know, they can't help. It is important that you receive frequent assessments of your performance from your employers. At these appraisals, ask what you could do to forward your career and accelerate your development. If you have tried all of the above and feel that your are not maximising your potential, you need to look at other employers.