If there’s one rule of thumb that should apply to the work force, it’s this: Pleasant jobs call for pleasant people. And as of late, one industry needs friendly folks more than ever.
The hospitality industry, including but not limited to hotels, restaurants and meeting venues, is growing exponentially. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 12.4 million people work in the hospitality industry today, making about 8.6 percent of all employment. The hospitality industry is predicted to grow 17 percent between 2004 and 2014, adding more than 2.2 million new jobs to the work force.
“When economic times are good, there is a lot of money out there, which can be devoted to travel. People are more informed about things like wine or travel destinations than they were 20 years ago,” says Jeffrey Catrett, dean of Kendall College’s Les Roches School of Hospitality Management. “That has developed a much larger hospitality leisure market.”
Some people shy away from the hospitality industry for reasons such as long hours for little pay, often unaware of benefits including opportunities for advancement and six-figure incomes.
“The hospitality industry is a vibrant and glamorous field. A career in hospitality opens up opportunities to earn a very good living with six-figure incomes, almost all-expenses-paid and it offers a more dynamic work environment than most professions,” Catrett says. “If you consider the level of accommodation that companies provide for top managers, or even the day-to-day perks that hotel and restaurant managers get for free, you find that the salaries are very competitive with other industries.”
If you’re looking for a job in an industry with continued job growth, here are 10 jobs to try your hand at:
1. Hotel general manager
Responsibilities: Directs everything involved in the operation and financial result of the property; creates standards for personnel administration and performance, service to patrons, room rates, advertising, publicity and food selection.
Training: A combination of more than two years of directly-related training and/or experience.
U.S. average salary: $149,456
2. Hotel clerk
Responsibilities: Performs an assortment of services for hotel guests, such as guest check-in and check-out, assigning rooms and answering inquiries to hotel services.
Training: A combination of three to six months of directly-related training and/or experience.
U.S. National average salary: $19,710
3. Bellhop
Responsibilities: Escorts incoming hotel guests to rooms; assists with luggage; offers information about available services and facilities of hotel and entertainment attractions; inspects guest’s room to make sure things are satisfactory.
Training: Short-term on-the-job training.
U.S. average salary: $15,995
4. Meeting and convention planner
Responsibilities: Plans meetings and special events of various sizes. Coordinates such logistics as budgets, speakers, entertainment, transportation, facilities, technology, equipment, logistical requirements, printing, food and beverage, and other related issues.
Training: A combination of six to 12 months of directly-related training and/or experience.
U.S. average salary: $60,245
5. Concierge
Responsibilities: Assists guests with everything from making restaurant reservations to acquiring tickets to special events to helping with travel arrangements and tours of interesting places to visit.
Training: Short-term on-the-job training.
U.S. average salary: $16,262
6. Maitre d’
Responsibilities: Also known as the head waiter, the maitre d’ assigns customers to tables; makes advance reservations; oversees all aspects of the dining room experience for patrons; makes sure all waiters are doing their jobs effectively.
Training: Most start out as food and beverage servers and work their way up to the position. College courses in hotel and restaurant management or business administration are also a definite asset.
U.S. average salary: $28,000 – $45,000, depending on establishment.
7. Executive chef
Responsibilities: Oversees all kitchen activity, such as menu creation and staff management; utilizes food surpluses and leftovers; tracks popularity of various dishes; estimates customer food consumption; tests cooked foods by tasting and smelling them; creates special dishes and recipes.
Training: A combination of more than four years of directly-related training and/or experience.
U.S. average salary: $46,206
8. Reservation ticket agent
Responsibilities: Answers phone or e-mail inquiries; offers suggestions and information about travel arrangements, such as schedules, rates and types of accommodation; quotes fares and room rates; makes and confirms transportation and hotel reservations.
Training: A high school diploma or its equivalent is the most common educational requirement, but some employers prefer applicants who have completed college coursework in management or business.
U.S. average salary: $27,750
9. Maids and housekeeping cleaner
Responsibilities: Such light cleaning duties as making beds, replenishing linens, cleaning rooms and halls, vacuuming, emptying wastebaskets and restocking bathroom supplies.
Training: No previous work-related skill, knowledge or experience is needed; short-term on-the-job training.
U.S. average salary: $20,124
10. Gaming dealer
Responsibilities: Operates table games such as craps, blackjack and roulette; provides dice and dispenses cards to players; determines winners, calculates and pays winning bets, and collects losing bets.
Training: Most employers prefer at least a high school diploma or GED. Each casino establishes its own requirements for education, training and experience. Many institutions give training toward certificates in gaming, as well as offering an associate, bachelor’s or master’s degree in a hospitality-related field.
U.S. average salary: $14,340
Salary information obtained from CBSalary.com and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Rachel Zupek is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.
Being your own boss is easier than you think. Top-notch entrepreneurial skills paired with the right profession can help you establish yourself as a freelancer.
Of course, having a freelance career requires tremendous self-discipline (no sleeping in on workdays!) but many workers have brought in a stable income by expanding their network and landing a constant stream of assignments. Here are 10 jobs where you can comfortably navigate as a freelancer.
Photographer
Many freelance photographers differentiate themselves with their work. Anyone who photographs weddings to those who travel to remote regions to pursue news stories can call themselves a freelance photographer, so it’s important to really hone your craft. Fees are often paid per diem and travel is sometimes reimbursed.
Writer
Writing for a variety of needs including news, ghostwriting, or even grant proposals is all part of the freelance writing umbrella. Many writers are focused on building their expertise and work hard to develop a distinct brand and voice. Assignments are given on a project basis and depend largely on previous experience and published works. Some writers are freelance journalists and must report their stories as well as write them.
Graphic designer
Working in print or online, graphic designers put together drawings or layouts of the visual page. Companies often hire designers to put their words into effective visuals and further the identity of specific brands. Designers work on a company’s visual materials and can design anything from simple company logos to promotional displays. Freelance designers are often paid by the hour.
Interior designer
A dream job for many, some interior designers focus on commercial spaces, while others design for private homes. Interior designers may also acquire specialized accreditation (like green living) and often find new clients through word-of-mouth referrals. Most interior designers balance designing several spaces at once and workload can be unsteady.
Web developer
With a steady stream of new companies or existing firms simply wanting a new look, building websites can be a great way to get constant freelance work. Many web developers are contracted by companies to work on specific projects.
IT consultant
With companies cutting down budgets, many IT specialists who once worked in-house have taken the freelance route. Most consultants work on helping firms stay ahead of current tech trends by implementing new software and IT systems like SAP and PeopleSoft. Some assignments can be for just a few months, while others can last up to a year or longer. Consultants focus on one project at a time, before jumping to the next.
Recruiter
A slowly improving economy means many recruiters are taking on small consulting assignments to find valuable candidates for specific roles. Depending on the recruiter’s expertise — such as finance or engineering — companies are willing to invest in outside help in order to find the perfect candidate.
Translator
As companies become more global, many work with translators on a project basis. Freelance translators need to have great language skills and turn work around quickly in order to land more opportunities. Many have full-time work experience before going out on their own.
Online community manager
As companies place a greater focus on social networking, they are also looking for freelancers to direct their brand online. Community managers update accounts like Facebook or Twitter on behalf of the company, as well as browse discussion boards to help build these marketing platforms. Managing communities can be fun but requires odd hours and significant computer screen time.
Copywriter
Creating powerful advertising copy takes talent and many firms give these tasks to expert copywriters who can make the company shine. Many copywriters have a marketing or journalism background and work on a consulting basis to produce web, broadcast or advertising copy.
The employment market is still extremely tough, even for highly skilled individuals. The level of competition among job seekers has caused many professionals to consider applying for positions for which they may consider themselves overqualified. Sometimes, this approach may seem like the only way to land a job at all.
(more…)
When you first lost your job, you spent your time wallowing in your sorrows — eating ice cream in your pajamas and watching Judge Judy all afternoon. Then, your determination kicked in, and you decided to find a new job. You perused job boards, polished up your résumé, searched for old co-workers on LinkedIn … and occasionally watched Judge Judy all afternoon. (more…)
According to a 2009 study by Internet security firm Proofpoint, 8 percent of companies with over 1,000 employees have fired someone for their social media actions — a figure that is double what was reported in 2008. Yet it probably comes as no surprise that Facebook firings are on the rise. Cases of employers firing employees for social media slipups have been consistent in the news over the past few years.
Just in case you need a refresher of what not to say online, here’s a timeline of 12 ridiculous examples of how Facebook can get you fired.
1. November 4, 2008: New England Patriots cheerleader Caitlin Davis was cut from the squad over controversial pictures that were posted on her Facebook page. Then eighteen-year-old Davis was at a Halloween party when she posed for photos with a passed out man who was covered in graffiti, including swastikas, anti-Semitic remarks and profanity. Davis was fired from the squad after the pictures appeared on various Internet websites and caught the attention of the Patriot’s management team. She had been the youngest cheerleader ever to make an NFL squad.
2. February 26, 2009: A U.K. teenager was fired for calling her job “boring.” According to The Daily Mail, Kimberley Swann posted comments like “First day at work. Omg (oh my god)!! So dull!!” and “All I do is shred holepunch and scan paper!!!” [sic]. Swann was canned after her boss discovered the comments.
3. March 9, 2009: Dan Leone, a stadium operations employee for the Philadelphia Eagles, was fired for voicing his opinion on the team’s trading practices via Facebook. Leone reportedly updated his Facebook status with “Dan is [expletive] devastated about Dawkins signing with Denver … Dam Eagles R Retarted!!” [sic].
4. April 27, 2009: A Swiss woman was let-go after calling in sick, and then logging into Facebook on her “sick day.” Apparently the women had a migraine and called out of work because she thought the light from a computer would bother her and she needed to lie in a dark room. When her employer caught her surfing Facebook, it was presumed that she was indeed well enough to sit in front of a computer, and she was let go.
5. April 28, 2009: A Minnesota nursing home employee was fired after rumors spread that she had posted photos of herself with nude patients on her Facebook page. Though no nude pictures were found, the employee did have pictures of herself with clothed patients, which violated the home’s privacy policy and lead to her termination.
6. August 27, 2009: Ashley Payne, a Georgia high school teacher, was forced to resign after the local school board came across pictures of her sipping beer and wine. The pictures, which appeared on Payne’s Facebook page, were from a vacation she had taken that summer, which included a trip to the Guinness Brewery in Ireland. Payne was quoted as saying “I did not think that any of this could jeopardize my job because I was just doing what adults do and have drinks on vacation and being responsible about it.” She sued the school district last November.
7. February 11, 2010: South Carolina firefighter and paramedic Jason Brown was fired for creating a three minute long animated video and posting it on Facebook. The video, which showed a cartoon doctor and paramedic responding to an emergency in a hospital, was meant to be a spoof, according to Brown. However, his department didn’t find the video to be funny, calling it “an embarrassment,” and Brown was fired.
8. March 3, 2010: Gloria Gadsden, a professor at East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania, was fired after updating her Facebook status with things like “Does anyone know where I can find a very discrete hitman? Yes, it’s been that kind of day.” The school said it was being overcautious due to the then- recent Amy Bishop case, in which the University of Alabama professor went on a shooting spree and killed three of her fellow professors.
9. May 17, 2010: North Carolina waitress Ashley Johnson was fired from her job at a Brixx pizzeria after posting a negative comment about two of her customers. Johnson called the customers — who left her a $5 tip after sitting at their table for three hours — “cheap.” Though she did not mention the names of the customers, Johnson did include the name of the pizzeria in her post. A few days later, management called her to tell her she was fired for violating the restaurant’s social media policy.
10. May 24, 2010: The city of West Allis, Wis. fired a veteran police dispatcher of 21 years over a status update. Dana Kuchler was terminated after posting that she was “addicted to vicodin, adderall, quality marijuana, MD 20/20 grape and absinthe,” on her Facebook page. Kuchler, who said the post was meant to be a joke, filed a lawsuit against the city.
11. June 10, 2010: Five California nurses were terminated after it was discovered that they were discussing patient cases on the site. The situation was investigated for weeks by both the nurses‘ employer (Tri City Medical Center in San Diego) and the California Department of Health, before the nurses were fired for allegedly violating privacy laws.
12. June 21, 2010: A Pittsburgh Pirates’ mascot was let go earlier this summer, after posting a comment about the team’s choice to extend the contracts of two of its managers. Andrew Kurtz, 24, was fired within hours of posting the comment “Coonelly extended the contracts of Russell and Huntington through the 2011 season. That means a 19-straight losing streak. Way to go Pirates,” to his Facebook page.
Whether you think the above are examples of employees exercising free speech or simple stupidity, it seems as if Facebook postings are fair grounds for termination at many employers. With that in mind, post at your own risk.
Kaitlin Madden is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow @CBForJobSeekers on Twitter.
When you think of the term “executive,” what comes to mind? Most likely, words like successful, professional, hardworking, composed, smart, admired and well-spoken pop into your head.
Want your co-workers to associate those same terms with you? Then follow these tips for being taken seriously at work. (more…)
You’ve finally scheduled a meeting with that manager you want to impress, and she asks if you can have your discussion over lunch. Sounds simple, right? All you have to do is mind your manners — no elbows on the table, sit up straight, avoid talking with your mouth full — and it’s like a normal business meeting.
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The truth is, you may be stuck in that less than ideal job for a while.
Though jobs are being added to the economy, the U.S. unemployment rate is holding strong at almost 10 percent and new jobs are still hard to come by.
Being stuck in a job that is below your skill level and outside of your career path can be as stressful as not being employed at all.
As bad as the job is, however, you may be making it harder on yourself.
Any of these behaviors sound familiar? If so, don’t worry. Simple changes to your attitude will get you back on track.
1. Complaining constantly: Let’s face it, it feels good to talk about how much you don’t like something, so you do. A lot. But pointless complaining can also reinforce negative feelings Instead of helping you find a solution.
Instead: Turn your lamenting into solution-oriented conversations. Talking positively about issues can help ease stress and lead you to find ways to make your workdays better.
2. Doing your job badly: To save yourself from the stress of doing what you don’t like doing, you may simply slack off or not do it at all. That kind of passive-aggressive rebellion may feel good in the moment, but it will only create resentment toward you, extra work for co-workers and a higher likelihood that you won’t have that much-needed job much longer.
Instead: Keep up with your work. Working efficiently and professionally will make you more eligible for a better job when your company expands again.
3. Avoiding company functions: If you’re already bummed to be there, why not skip out on group lunch, the weekend retreat or the non-mandatory meeting?
Because being absent sends a message that you are not interested in the company, and that won’t win you any favors. You also miss out on valuable time with the boss where you can show your support and petition for a better situation.
Instead: Make it to some company events, even if you only attend for a little while. Be friendly and to chat with as many people as possible to boost your reputation and keep you abreast of better opportunities.
4. No longer looking for new employment: It can be very discouraging to keep looking for a new job when you’re just not getting what you need; so you decide to take a break for a month or two.
Instead: Keep looking for work (not in front of your boss, of course) in a variety of ways. Apply online, send your resume to friends and family, attend alumni or special interest events — basically network, network, network!
5. Not enjoying your time off: You just want out of this job, so you devote every second off the clock to looking for a better position. Too bad all work and no play makes Jane or Joe Jobseeker very dull indeed.
Instead: Enjoy yourself when you’re not at work! A weekend away, a relaxing night with movies or indulging in a hobby can fill your soul while you work to fill your wallet. This will make you more relaxed and give you more energy to face your workweek.
6. Getting fired: As much as you don’t want to be doing it, you need this job. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t still be there.
Instead: Do what you can to keep your job. Show up on time, do the work required of you, don’t burn a coffee cup statue of your boss in effigy. With a firing on your record, it may be difficult to impossible for you to collect unemployment or get your next job. You will also lose out on contacts and a good reference.
Being underemployed or stuck in a job that’s sucking you dry is an incredibly difficult place to be. But you can work to make the most of it and make yourself ready for when the right opportunity comes along.
Aydrea Walden ten Bosch is a writer and author of the book “How to get the Raise You Want in 90 Days or Less.” In the lean times between her last steady job and the one she currently has, she worked as a driving instructor.
Chances are you’ve prepared answers to a variety of questions an interviewer might throw your way, but have you spent equal time considering the questions you want to pose to a potential employer? What you ask (and sometimes when) can speak volumes about your interest and work ethic. Keep interviewers from cringing — and possibly questioning your suitability for the position — by avoiding these seven questions:
1. What does your company do?
Sure, an interview is a two-way street designed for both parties to learn about one another. Yet how can a job seeker prove he is the person for the position if he doesn’t even know the basics about where he wants to work?
“I feel that if someone is coming to an interview he should have some background about who we are and what we do,” says Tina Kummelman, human resources business partner for Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital in Baltimore, Md. “Specific questions are great, but the overall blanketed question tells me someone did not do his homework.”
Bottom line: Don’t waste the interviewer’s time by having her recite what could have been learned beforehand on the company’s website.
2. How much does the role pay?
It may be the answer you’re dying to know, but seeking this information too soon can make you look like you’re jumping the gun.
“Just don’t ask it. It sends the wrong message,” says Chris Brabec, director of leadership talent acquisition for Western Union. Adds colleague Julie Rulis, senior recruiter with the talent acquisition team, “I believe this question should be saved for later stages in the interview process. Asking about salary or benefits in the first interview isn’t the impression you want to leave with an employer.”
A better idea: Do some research ahead of time to get a feel for what similar jobs are paying.
3. What are the hours of this position?
“This one question makes me cringe more than any other,” says Paul Solomon, president of Solo Management, a New York-based executive recruitment firm that specializes in financial industry recruitment. “Wall Street managers don’t want a clock watcher, so when I hear that question I know the candidate will not be the right fit.”
Rulis agrees. “Although I understand why candidates are eager to know this up front, it
can raise a question regarding their work ethic if asked too early in the process.”
4. How many sick days do I get?
What goes through the interviewer’s mind when hearing this question?
“We are in the business of developing leaders, not slouchers!” states Gary Rich, president of Rich Leadership, an executive coaching firm in New York City.
Keep a potential employer from questioning your motivation (or your health) by looking this up in the employee handbook at a later time.
5. How much time do I get off?
Like numbers three and four, this question can make a potential employer wonder if a candidate is more interested in getting out of work than actually contributing. It is especially frowned upon in fields requiring significant motivation from the get-go.
“A career as a financial representative is what you make of it. Your hard work helps determine your rewards. You have the ability to be your own boss, build your own practice and arrange your own schedule, while making a positive impact on your clients’ lives,” states Randi Michaelson, a director of recruitment and selection for The McTigue Financial Group in Chicago who recruits career changers to work as Northwestern Mutual financial representatives. ”In the beginning, it takes time, energy and commitment, but successful financial representatives — like successful entrepreneurs — are able to enjoy work-life balance among other rewards.”
6. If I’m hired, when can I begin applying for other roles within the company?
“This question makes it seem like the candidate isn’t really interested in the job she is currently interviewing for — that she really just wants a foot in the door,” Rulis says.
While ultimately you might have higher aspirations than the position for which you are applying, remember that an employer is looking for the best person to fill an opening for what the company needs now, not in the future.
7. Do you do background checks?
If you don’t have something to hide, you probably aren’t going to bother asking this one. If you do …
Rich sums up the feelings most interviewers have after hearing this question, “I definitely don’t want this person on my payroll!”
What to consider before you make the move.
To anyone who works in an office, it may seem as if the answer to life’s happiness lies in working from home. After all, the hours are flexible, you can wear sweatpants while you work, and you can avoid being manhandled onto the subway every morning during rush hour — what’s not to love?
Yet if you’re considering turning your kitchen table into your home office, make sure you are prepared to address the challenges that come with the territory of working from home, before leaving office life behind.
Consider the following:
How will you separate work life from home life?
If you’ve ever read “The Shining” by Stephen King, you know what a bad case of cabin fever can do to a person. Consider whether it will bother you to live and work in the same space, and how you will create a separation between the two functions of your home.
Keeping a professional routine and breaking up your day will help in making a distinction between the time that you’re at “work” and the time that you’re at “home.” For example, in the morning, get dressed, have coffee, read the paper and check your e-mail, just as you might do if you were going to work in an office. At the end of the day, pack up your work space, close the door to your office and change out of your work clothes.
Melinda Emerson, author of “Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months,” also suggests starting a small business support group. “It’s good to have regular conversations with a small group of entrepreneurs who know what it’s like to be working from home,” Emerson says. “Your friends who still work 9-to-5 jobs can’t relate to you as much as they used to. Having a network of other home-based business owners can help you get back on task when you get the urge to turn on Oprah, spend a few hours on Twitter or take a nap.”
Do you have children who may interrupt your work?
Working at home can be a great solution for busy parents. You’ll be home when your kids get out of school, and your flexible schedule will make it easy to hold up your end of the car-pool deal.
However, if you think that working from home will eliminate your need for child care, you may want to think again. It can be difficult to balance the needs of your kids with the needs of your work, and young children often won’t understand that even though you are at home, you are still working.
If your children are school-aged, arrange your work hours to coincide with the school day. During school vacations, enroll them in a local day camp or arrange for a baby sitter. If your children are too young for school, hire an in-home sitter to help you during the day, or look into a day care program.
How will you create a sense of professionalism?
Whether you’re running a home-based law firm, financial consultancy or event-planning service, you’ll want your business to appear professional on all fronts. Having an address in a residential neighborhood or rural area, or hosting conference calls while your parakeet squawks in the background may present a challenge in establishing credibility.
Fortunately, a variety of services exist for small business owners looking to pack a professional punch. For example, consider looking into a mail-forwarding system, often provided by executive office-space companies like Regus. Mail forwarding assigns home-business owners a prominent business address (i.e., in a city or office park), which can then be used on stationary, websites and business cards — while all your mail is automatically forwarded to your home address.
Where will you hold client meetings?
Another issue to take into account when setting up a home office is where client meetings will be held. Do you have a space in your home that is appropriate for meetings? Meeting space should not only look professional, but should also have computer access and telephone-conferencing ability, and should occupy a quiet space in your home where you won’t be interrupted.
If no such place exists in your home, there are other options. Consider having meetings at the client’s office or off-site at a hotel or coffee shop.
Will you be lonely?
Laments such as, “The only person I talk to all day is my mailman” or, “I test all my best ideas out on a focus group of me, myself and I before presenting them to my client” are common for those who work at home. On one hand, you won’t have to deal with the various neuroses that co-workers can serve up; on the other, it can also be tough to leave the camaraderie of office life behind.
To combat any loneliness, make sure you plan social activities in your free time. For example, while you may have looked forward to a solitary treadmill workout while you worked in an office, you might want to consider taking a kickboxing class or joining a recreational sports league now that you work from home.
Additionally, says Emerson, “Schedule breakfast meetings, go to networking functions and try to find yourself a place to work outside of your home with your laptop. Bookstores or libraries are good options. Some coffee shops and bakeries even offer free Wi-Fi. These are great ways to be around people and get real work done.”
Still can’t wait to start working from home? Consider this final piece of advice: “Having a home-based business is like opening any other business except that your enterprise happens to be headquartered in your home. Treat it just like you did your paycheck job and you’ll get even more done,” Emerson says.
Kaitlin Madden is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow @CBForJobSeekers on Twitter.
With the recession resulting in smaller staffs and bigger workloads, it’s easy for companies and their employees to become strained and stressed. Typically, vacation has been seen as one of the best stress relievers for the overworked — which is why when people say they need a vacation, it’s usually not an exaggeration. (more…)
