This article is repurposed from Multibriefs.
By Omari Head
Strategic Relationships Manager, Hospitality and Tourism at American Public University
In May, hundreds of hospitality programs had commencement ceremonies to recognize the accomplishments of their scholars. The hospitality industry will be receiving a fresh crop of management trainees and educated frontline employees. When I taught Introduction to Hospitality, I repeatedly told my class the following: “You can be a student of this class or a student of the industry. I encourage you to become a student of the industry.”
What is the most important consideration for hospitality graduates?
- Networking
- Selecting the right job
- Finding your gift zone
Networking
Another saying I shared with my class was: “Hospitality is an industry built on relationships.” We always heard it’s not “what” but “who” you know. The truth is: it is who knows you.
In addition to social media groups and campus organizations, there are professional associations. Many of them have college student memberships and some have young professional discounts. Seize this opportunity to ensure that somebody knows who you are and what you have to offer.
After graduation, some of us get into the beastly world of operations. The operations life is filled with overnights, back-to-backs, doubles and — my personal favorite — the scheduled sixth day. Make time for associations and professional development. This is why you got your degree.
To read the rest of this article visit, Multibriefs – “Open Letter to 2013 Hospitality Graduates.”
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