Whether you have found yourself at a crossroads during this crazy season we are all living through, you’re thinking about a change in career, or you’re wondering what the next step for you after school is, this blog is here to tell a love story about the sector that employs about 10% of our nation’s workers. Hospitality can be a fulfilling, lifelong career path, a temporary stopover, or a step on the way to your dream. It really is what you make it. By all accounts, it’s one of the most versatile, fun, inclusive and consistent ways to make money. It doesn’t matter what stage of life you’re in!
Perks
Flexibility
Hospitality is really one of the most flexible industries for working hours. Depending on the specific venue, you could fill a role that could work around school hours, education requirements, or other family commitments. It can also be a social outlet if you’re stuck at home with the kids all day. Getting out to work for a few hours in the evening could be a welcome change! This flexibility is why some people work it as a second job.
Social interaction
If you’re an extrovert, hospitality is the industry for you! Most roles within the sector require social interaction with customers, fellow staff, suppliers and other stakeholders. Making connections and forming diverse relationships is a really important part of a successful career in hospitality. If that sounds like you, you’re in the right place!
Job prospects
Hospitality, like any career, can be what you make it. The beauty of the industry is that it is full of diversity and opportunity – from entry level roles to executive career progression. There is always room to grow, a different experience to gain and new challenges to face. Hospitality is also known for having full time roles available which is against the trend in Australia of increasing part time and casual work.
Work anywhere
Hospitality is definitely full of jobs that will allow you to travel and work, or simply take the plunge and move to a new place! There are restaurants, bars, cafes, pubs, clubs and hotels everywhere you go, which makes finding yourself a job a fun and exciting process, rather than a scary or daunting one. The term ‘working holiday’ has got to have been coined by someone in the hospitality industry!
Tips to land a hospitality job in Australia
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Set a goal
Where do you want to be in 5 years? 10 years? Thinking about the future can help you take the right steps now to ensure you achieve your goals. If you want to work in a particular part of the hospitality industry, start looking for entrance level positions that relate to your dream role and apply! You can also start to research the qualifications that could contribute to your development as an employee.
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Get your RSA & RCG
This is a really important step to set you apart in a list of applicants. Most venues will require you to have at least an RSA, so having both under your belt prior to looking for a position will put you in a good spot. Great news – you can now get your RSA qualification online! Take a few hours whenever it suits you and follow the course content from the comfort of your own home. Your RCG is still a facilitated course, however it’s just one day and you walk out qualified.
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Educate yourself in industry trends
Hospitality is a really broad industry, so there are lots of options that could grab your interest! For example, if you want to work in a cafe, it’s important you understand the way that coffee has evolved and integrated itself into Australian culture over the past two decades. Similarly, in food, the American burger/barbeque trend has well and truly arrived in Australia and is influencing the way we eat – keep your finger on the pulse and be interested!
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Get a mentor
Once you have decided on a goal and what interests you about hospitality – connect with someone who can help you get there! It could be a friend, a family member, or someone you admire professionally. Be respectful and understand that it isn’t all about what they can do for you. You could even volunteer to help them somehow in return for their wisdom and guidance!
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Try it all
Opportunities within the hospitality sector are vast and varied in nature. From administration to waitressing, if you aren’t 100% happy with what you’re doing, it’s fairly likely that your current experience could be helping you work towards the next role you’d like to try. Be available and enthusiastic about trying new things – you never know where you might end up!
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Enroll in a course
If you’ve decided that a specific role is for you, but don’t feel confident in your experience or qualifications, find a course that will change that! There are so many out there, try asking your employer or mentor for their input before taking the plunge – the last thing you need is a useless piece of paper.
Opportunities at your favourite Club
The roles that exist within our Club are extensive. From customer facing roles such as those in our cafe, restaurant, bar, reception and gaming, to support roles such as maintenance, marketing, events, IT, greens keeping and human resources; our employment reach allows us to extend a diverse and challenging work environment.
If career progression is important to you then The Westport Club is a wonderful place to start. Not only do we support cross functional training, we also have a range of leadership roles either within a specific area of interest or more broadly operationally across the club. The Westport Club is one destination in a portfolio of five clubs owned by the Mingara Group. This means spreading your wings outside of Port Macquarie can be an option also.
You can see all our available employment opportunities here.