After settling on a career in the hospitality industry, the first step is to join the right school. Most employers will require you to produce a valid educational certificate before landing any job. In most cases, qualification from a reputable school goes a long way in improving your chances of employment. Consider factors like the school’s contact with the industry and students’ employability rate. Here are how these factors play out.
Accreditation
It will be worthless to go through a hospitality course, yet the school is not certified by the relevant authorities. Note that there are numerous accreditation institutions in different jurisdictions. When looking at accreditation, check who issued the license to operate and which courses are offered.
Simply check the school’s website for any mentioned accreditation. Most schools will have this information on the front page. You can also look at the specific pages of schools or departments for details on particular programs. In most jurisdictions, regulators usually maintain a database of schools and their related accreditation.
Industry Contacts
Contact with leading industry players can offer useful advice on the hospitality curriculum. Along with checking for hospitality courses offered, enquire if the school regularly invites industry players to provide presentations or attend classes as expert guest lecturers. Such practices are an enriching experience for both students and faculty.
Practicals
While theory is integral to the learning process, practical work will help with understanding while offering real field experience. Check to ensure the practical experience combines basic hospitality skills and overall business subjects, like accounting, finance, marketing, and human resources. Practical work will also assist you in gaining useful experience for landing your dream job in the industry. Additionally, the school should have a well-structured internship program with a partner institution.
Alumni Network
A strong alumni network lasts a lifetime with several opportunities. The school should offer an enabling environment for graduates to build developed alumni associations with chapters worldwide. Joining an alumni association can pay off in significant ways, like networking activities, connecting fresh graduates with established professionals, and helping people pursue different careers. Other alumni groups offer career support for graduates, which can help professionals shape their career paths and transition into a new field. Remember that some alumni associations come with a fee.
Employability Rate
The institution you select should emphasize work-related skills and knowledge, which translates to turning out graduates who are ready for the employment market. A high graduate employment rate is a positive indicator of how a school’s graduates compete in the general hospitality industry. The school should have a wide range of recruitment partners, both within and outside the hospitality industry.
Internships
Some hospitality schools claim to offer placements and internships after completing your course. However, only a handful offer their students placements at reputable hotels. The best hospitality colleges will help their students get placements globally. This way, the students are exposed to the hospitality industry on an international level.
Endnote
The key to success in the hospitality industry can narrow down to your school of choice. Graduates from specific schools might be favored by employers, especially if their student training is of high quality.
Blog by Austin Dease
