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Career
In Sales And Marketing
Dear
Sir,
I am currently working in Le Meridien Hotel, Middex, London, as
a group coordinator. I want to enter into sales and marketing. Kindly
advise me on courses that will enable me gain skills in this department.
Awaiting your response.
Alisha
Arora,
By e-mail
Hi
Alisha,
Sales and marketing is definitely an interesting field, especially
in the case of hospitality industry as you get to learn a lot from
it. The experience thus gathered will benefit you through out your
life. You have not mentioned about you profile as a group coordinator.
From what we understand is, this job profile covers most of the
aspects associated with the sales and marketing department. What
we suggest is, try and speak to your senior manager or training
manager of the property about your desire to make a career in this
field and that whether it is possible for you to get some exposure
in the respective department continuing your current job profile.
I am quite sure they would react positively. If successful, try
to learn the skills and qualities that play a major role to be successful
in this field. Interact with the people, working in that department,
about the working of their respective department and how can you
be a part of the same. After some time you’ll be able to understand
the operations better and then you can request the HR manager for
a permanent posting in the sales and marketing department. This
is the best possible way to start off.
In case you wish to pursue any specific course in sales and marketing,
try out local universities in London offering part time diploma/degree.
You can also do it through correspondence and for that you can take
a course from the Educational Institute of American Hotel and Motel
Association (EI-AH&LA). You can visit their website at www.ei-ahla.org
or e-mail Mr K V Simon, regional vice-president, EI-AH&LA at
eiahmas@vsnl.com.
Advice
On Career In Hotel Industry
Dear
Sir,
I have completed my graduation in commerce and have been working
as front office assistant for the last two years in a three-star
property in Kodaikanal, south India. Since I don’t have any
formal education as far as hospitality industry is concerned, I
feel that my career is at stake.
My
friend who is the authorised representative of nearly 10 universities
in Australia has suggested to take up an MBA programme in hospitality
management in Australia. Presently I am 23 years and feel that this
is the ideal time to go abroad to pursue further studies.
Kindly
advice me as to what should I do. Should I take up my friend’s
suggestion and pursue further studies in Australia. Please help
me to arrive at a right decision. Expecting your reply at the earliest.
Srinivasan Rajesh
By E-mail
Dear
Srinivasan,
Education is both perspective and power. There is nothing more positive
at your age than the determination to sharpen your axe. This not
only helps you do your job better but also provides you with confidence
and the ability to share your knowledge with others.
There are four issues that I would like to appraise you of. In my
opinion, these are pertinent for a person in your shoes, given the
options you have available today.
1. You are in a good position to pursue further education. Your
two years of work experience will hold you in good stead and help
you apply your learning better. This, coupled with quality work
can help you do wonders in your future career.
2. Why abroad? We have some wonderful institutions in India that
can rival the best. As far as the three-year hotel management programmes
go, I have had the privilege to interact with some high quality
potential hoteliers from colleges in Ooty, Aurangabad, Manipal and
Mumbai.
At the post graduate level, the Oberoi Centre of Learning and Development
(OCLD) diploma commands a stamp of class and quality, worldwide.
This does prove that quality hospitality grooming is available in
this country too.
3. While the fundamental principles of hospitality are universally
applicable, a segment of what you learn abroad, may or may not apply
to Indian conditions, laws and people. Education abroad, a little
later in one’s management career is much more useful, as by
then you have a good perspective on what you can apply and what
you can not.
4. However, if you are still focused on going overseas, it would
not hurt to do substantial homework on the institutes you wish to
join. Very often we live in belief that just because an institute
is in Australia or USA, a degree from there will open doors. This
is not always the case.
I would only advise people to join foreign universities when they
aspire to join the very best. Both the learning content as well
as the cost benefit analysis of joining a mediocre college may not
hold water. The golden rule is to research these universities well
and try and study their placement quality statistics.
I do appreciate that you are passionate to see your career move
on a steeper incline. You are on the right track. Remember, we can
never discover new oceans, unless we have the courage to loose sight
of the shore!
Wishing you good luck.
By Gyan Nagpal
(The advisor is working as training manager with the Oberoi Hotels
& Resorts, Mumbai)
Clarifying
Doubts
Dear
Sir,
I
am in the final year of the hotel management degree programme which
will complete in May 2001. I intend to pursue further studies after
my degree. I have a few questions in mind for which I need clarification.
-
Where can I pursue post graduation or related courses in hospitality
management?
-
Is it advisable to go for further studies immediately after completing
graduation?
-
Is there a possibility for me to work part time abroad?
-
would be grateful to you if you could clarify my doubts and guide
me in the right direction. Looking forward to your reply.
Harpreet
Singh
By e-mail
Dear
Harpreet,
I guess it all stems from where you want to begin your career from.
If your sights are set on a hospitality career within India, the
best option would be to work hard at preparing for one of the management
training programmes offered by the large hotel chains in the country.
These programmes will play a wonderful role in making you a good
all-round hotelier who can excel in the hospitality environment.
There are institutes in India like OCLD and IIMT in Delhi, IIHM
in Aurangabad and a few others which have achieved a perfect blend
of the knowledge/skill ratio. I personally remember my tenure with
OCLD and it was a great experience.
If you are absolutely sure about carving a career abroad, though,
then a qualification from a good university abroad would not be
wasted. Hotel management is one unique technical field where theoretical
and practical knowledge is rivalled equally by the ability to understand
and manage people. Work styles, languages, management patterns and
organisation structure vary from country to country.
Learning
the foundations of business in the region you wish to practice it
is always a logical option.
I feel you should work for a few years before pursuing further studies.
This is mainly because much of what you will learn during your management
education, can never be applied immediately if you are starting
out in your first job. Once you are a seasoned professional, application
of learning is much easier and can be tempered by sound judgment.
Gyan
Nagpal
(The advisor is working as training manager with the Oberoi Hotels
& Resorts)
Specialising
In Ancillary Areas
Dear
Sir,
Does joining a sub-stream like multinational companies, airlines,
cruiseliners or a fast food chain like McDonalds, after a three
year diploma in hotel management, restrict us from returning to
the main stream ie five-star hotels? Please explain.
Himanshu Dev
IHM Ahmedabad
himanshu-dev@yahoo.com
Dear
Himanshu,
Definitely not. In fact, at times it certainly is a plus point as
it helps to hone skills which may otherwise not get the adequate
exposure when your diploma focuses solely on hotel operations. You
can always come back into the industry after learning specialised
skills and this will probably help your grow faster in the area
of your choice. If you find that the ancillary areas are not for
you, the hotel industry would still offer you unexplored avenues
which may fit you more adequately. It is only a matter of finding
the right aptitude for the right job.
Project
On HRD
Dear
Sir,
I am a degree holder in hotel management and am also doing an MBA
in human resources development (a full-time course). My problem
is that I am currently in the third semester, and for the fourth
semester, I have to do a project. Hope you will guide me on which
industry I should do the project. If I do my project work in the
hotel industry, will it be useful to my career or should I do it
on some other industry? I will be highly obliged if you could please
send me your suggestions at the earliest.
T Rajan
rajan41@yahoo.com
Dear
Rajan,
Since you are doing a major in HR, we presume that you would want
to be employed in HRD. Rajan, we would suggest that you first decide
the industry you want to work in. If it is the hospitality industry,
doing your project work in the same will not only give you an insight
into the industry but also help further your career in the same.
Jobs
On The Net
Dear
Sir,
I am a regular reader of EH&C for the past three years. I never
leave a single copy unread. Some time back I had asked a question
and I am happy and I appreciate that you printed it. Thank you very
much. I would like to congratulate you on you venture on the net.
I appreciate your efforts. Your website will be of great use for
the Net generation. Please keep up the good work.
I am
a final year BHM degree student and will graduate in May. The last
time I had asked you whether I should go abroad for further studies
or start working you suggested to start working. Now, I have started
to think in one direction that is to get a job. For this I need
to know the sources from which I can get a job. A magazine like
yours and other newspapers and employment magazines are a great
source but there is one source which is outnumbering all of these
which is jobs on the Net. Now, my queries are as follows:
1.
Which are the sites where I can find jobs in hotels for entry level
posts?
2. Can I apply for a job abroad through the Net and get selected
for a hotel there?
3. What are the different ways of applying for a job through the
Net?
4. Also can placement consultants also be of any help for getting
this job and, if yes, can you get me some of the addresses?
I would
be grateful to you if you can answer all my above queries and please
share with me any information that you feel is necessary for me
to know at this time. I hope to have a reply from you soon and would
we very grateful for that.
Vikas
Wadhwani
vikaswadhwani@yahoo.com
Dear
Vikas,
Please find below answers as requested by you:
1. The sites for jobs are as follows:
- Hospitalitycareernet.com
- hoteljobresource.com
- resortjobs.com
- marriott.com
- careershop.com
- naukri.com
- indiajobs.com
- jobsdb.com
-
enet.promus.com/jobs/careers.asp
- collegegrad.com
- careerlab.com
2.
You can apply for a job abroad but it depends upon the position
you are applying for, the experience you possess and how you represent
it on your resume. The country you are applying to and their visa
regulations is also important.
3. For applying for a job through the Net you have to upload your
resume usually in ascii format (plain text).
4. Yes, placement consultants can be of help. Log on to hoteljobsindia.com
for more information on placement consultants.
-
By Minakshi Singhal
(The
advisor has studied hotel management in India and abroad and is
currently working on developing a website for hospitality students)
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