My employment record has been tarnished

Question

I have been in the hotel industry for a total of 10 years, working in low-paid jobs such as receptionist, night auditor and porter in three- and four-star hotels. I also became a member of the prestigious concierge association, Clef d'Or (Golden Keys).

I moved from France to the UK some seven years ago and started studying for the HCIMA certificate in hospitality studies. I decided to get a job while studying.

I had an interview for the job of head concierge at a 650-bedroom airport hotel. After the interview, I was told that I could have the job but would have to wait two months until the position was vacant. In the meantime I was offered the job of porter. As I was running out of money I decided to take the job. After two months, the head concierge position was not given to me but to another head concierge from the same hotel chain.

After the HCIMA certificate I decided to study for a post-graduate diploma in management studies. I was still working at the hotel as a porter but resigned after three years. I'd had enough when the general manager remarked that I'd be the most educated porter in the country.

I then started a sightseeing business, but this collapsed following 11 September.

Now at the age of 46, I am about to finish my MBA in a few months' time and am seeking a hospitality managerial position such as front office manager or deputy general manager, but haven't had any luck yet. I feel that my employment record has been tarnished due to those three years as a porter and have also had a few interview hiccups.

It seems that I get interviewed by people who probably don't even have a degree and have a limited approach. People always look at the junior-level positions I've had rather than the most recent ones, and the fact that I am hard-working and committed doesn't seem as important. What can I do to get a suitable job?

What the expert says

Hannah Bailey, chief operating officer, Chess partnership

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It sounds like you have had a bit of unfortunate luck. It's a shame that the job you took while studying has had an effect on you finding suitable managerial employment. There seems to have been a bit of short-sightedness among employers. However, I have to make the point that more often than not it is experience a lot of companies look for rather than qualifications. Perhaps it would've been wiser if you had found a different job instead of waiting for the promise of the head concierge position to be honoured. Still, this did not happen, so what can you do now? The hotel sector can be the most traditional one, so looking out of that sector may be the better option for you. Visiting a well-known recruitment consultancy may also help as most of them have a hand on most sectors of the industry and can offer advice.Á‚Â