Joseph Paul had no idea where he'd work and what he'd do
when he fled a war and immigrated from his native Sri Lanka 10 years ago. A timely
tip from a friend led him to The Firkin Group, a fast-growing North American
chain of pubs and family-style restaurants?and he's never left.
Armed with a Bachelor of Science from Sri Lanka, Paul started as a line
cook and is now the kitchen manager at the Owl & Firkin, where he oversees
most aspects of kitchen operations, from hiring staff to ordering food and
buying equipment. "Before I came here, I had no idea what I'd do,"
says the 41-year-old. "But if you want to learn, you can do
everything."
The Numbers are Clear
Paul is part of a growing trend of job seekers pursuing
careers in the restaurant and hospitality industry and finding ample
advancement opportunities. Whether working as temporary seasonal staff or
taking permanent jobs as new citizens, these workers are becoming an integral
part of a vibrant industry.
In 2005, according to the United States Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics, foreign-born workers made up about 15% of the US
civilian labor force aged 16 and over. The restaurant industry is the largest
private-sector employee, with 12.5 million employees, according to the National
Restaurant Association. Of these, 1.5 million are foreign-born workers, more
than are employed in any other industry. The association notes that three out
of five quick service restaurant operators and one out of five "white
tablecloth" establishment operators expected the demographics of their
workforce to become more diverse in 2006.
How To Get Ahead
This is good news for immigrants looking for a home for
their talents. As Joseph Paul has found, with the right training and skills
upgrading, you can rise in the hospitality and restaurant industry. Paul had
already learned English in university in Sri Lanka, but continued to take
language classes when he began working in a largely English-speaking
environment. He also took mandatory certification courses in all aspects of
food handling, safety and health regulations. But he also makes a point of
constantly upgrading his knowledge through online business courses.
"I have pretty well created my own job and used
independent learning to get ahead," he says. "If you want to learn to
work in the kitchen, it's easy. You can even do it part-time because it's easy
to fit this in while you're working. There are lots of opportunities in this
industry."
Paul's positive experience mirrors that of Maria Biasotti,
who immigrated from Argentina
and now works as a front desk manager at a four and half star hotel. She is the
first point of contact for guests checking into their rooms, so her skills must
be polished at all times.
Biasotti already had relevant experience working in
reception at hotels in Buenos Aires, Italy, France,
and Mexico,
but she had no formal hotel training or accreditation. She realized that if she
wanted to pursue a serious career in the hospitality industry, she'd need to
upgrade her skills.
In addition to on-the-job training, Biasotti took courses in
all aspects of service excellence, continued to hone her language skills, and
constantly explores other hospitality upgrading opportunities. "I have
become interested in taking more courses," she says. "I would love to
learn more about catering, so I will try to take courses in this area. I want
to explore more options in hospitality because I like to work with
people."
Tips for Advancement
- Build
a network of contacts. When immigrants arrive in a new country, they often
turn to their own community for support and referrals. You can expand your
network by becoming part of community groups and cultural centres.
- Study
targeted online jobs boards, like hcareers, which focus on opportunities
of interest to those in the hospitality industry. These jobs boards
supplement the information you gain from your cultural network.
- Look
for opportunities to advance in your job. Don't be afraid to speak to your
employer about opportunities to move up the ladder in the company.
- Access
continuing training, constantly upgrade your language skills.
- Supplement
formal training with online courses. You can benefit from a variety of
useful business courses you can fit into your schedule and take in your
own time.
- Become
part of the team at work. Language can be a barrier, not only to
communication but also to friendship. If you can overcome this barrier,
you'll move ahead more quickly and enjoy real career satisfaction.