Looking for a way to read the
stars to find out what the hot trends are in the hospitality industry? You
don’t need a psychic to understand the rapidly-changing world of hospitality
jobs. Hcareers consulted our own experts to interpret the messages from the
crystal ball. Here are eight hot trends changing the face of the hospitality
industry for job seekers.
1.
Employers are raising the
educational bar
“On the hiring side, there’s a distinct
trend in employers looking for candidates with post-secondary degrees and
diplomas in hospitality and foodservice-related disciplines,” says Jordan
Romoff of
Lecours Wolfson, a North American recruiter of hospitality executives, managers
and chefs. Now many community colleges, which used to offer traditional
hands-on, practical learning, are moving to degree programs as part of the drive to industry
professionalism.
As an
adjunct, coop programs are on the rise. Says Romoff, “If
you’re serious about the business, it’s important to work in areas and test
them out while you’re at school to provide you with glimpses of different
aspects, so when you leave school you have a better idea of where to
concentrate your career efforts.”
2.
Higher tech training is supplementing
traditional approaches
Remember when you had to physically attend
classes to upgrade your skills? Those courses still exist at bricks and mortar
institutions, but today’s harder and faster-working employees are getting their
skills updated using the media they’re most familiar with.
CEC Entertainment, for instance, decided to
use the iPod to deliver video training to the front line. CEC’s Todd Horchner
piloted a project to offer training “where it’s needed and when it’s needed.”
He found employees responded to the quick hits of interactive training.
3.
The blogosphere is taking over
The internet has taken over as the
marketplace of choice for getting sound hospitality industry advice. Now more
and more recruiters are posting blogs offering advice to job seekers on
everything from writing a first-rate resume to finding your ideal career. Some
popular HR-related blogs for job seekers are YourHRGuy.com, www.cheezhead.com,
resumehell.blogspot.com, www.employmentblawg.com,
and blog.penelopetrunk.com.
4.
Internet job boards are the
place to go, but you have to be on top of them
If you thought a one-time posting of your
resume to the internet would be enough, think again. Recruiters now visit sites
like hcareers.com daily to find new talent, and you have to keep your
information refreshed 24/7.
Says Romoff, “The candidates with the most
up-to-date resumes are typically the most motivated. You must learn how to
manage your career via the net and job boards now. People aren’t talking
anymore, they’re emailing. All communication is going electronic. There’s a
much higher degree of mechanical filtering of candidates through the net. You
might not have the opportunity to speak to a human at the beginning of the
process, so you need to learn the new style of communications.”
5.
Employers are offering more
benefits
With many centers experiencing record low
unemployment, employers are sweetening the reasons for job seekers to choose
their operation. U.S. specialty staffing and recruiting services firm Ajilon
Office has found that one of the top five reasons workers stay in a job is
access to medical and dental insurance. As the hospitality industry struggles
to attract and retain hourly, part-time and seasonal employees, savvy employers
are sweetening their benefits to attract candidates.
6.
Salaries are going up, up, up for
management track job seekers
The average salary for general managers of
some upscale resorts is now more than $100,000, plus a handsome annual bonus. John T.
O’Hara, general manager of the
195-unit Rio Rico Resort and Country Club in Rio Rico, Arizona, was quoted as saying, “You know it
will cost you in the long run if you lose a person to the competition because
of compensation issues.” Hospitality companies are bending over backwards to
attract, train and retain these high fliers.
7.
Job seekers don’t want to be
workaholics
Employees today are looking for a better
life-work balance, and employers are responding with more flexible work
environments. “Issues like family and lifestyle are playing a more important
role, even at the early stages of one’s career,” says Romoff. “In the past, you
got into the hospitality industry knowing there weren’t going to be the same lifestyle
advantages as a job, let’s say, in banking. Employers are now offering better
lifestyle and career opportunities to attract good candidates.” They’re also
allowing more employees to work from home at least part-time, especially in the
sales and marketing area.
8.
Go green or go home
The hospitality industry is greening, and
employees will be expected to go green, too. Hotels and resorts are at the
forefront of incorporating more environmentally friendly materials in their
operations. Ashville, Ohio, for instance, now boasts the Cooks
Creek Golf Club, an environmentally sustainable golf course featuring
alternative energy sources and conservation techniques. Many of the big hotel
chains are actively reducing their “carbon footprint.”
So how do you become a crystal-ball reader
and trend-spotter? Job seekers need to look beyond the hospitality industry to
see the next big thing. Says Romoff, “Look at what manufacturers, retailers, and
the top 500 organizations in the world are doing to get a handle on new trends.
They’re bound to trickle down to the foodservice and hospitality industry.”
Combine research with networking and you’re bound to see the trends clearly.