Hospitality & tourism

Whether you’ve worked in a bar, restaurant or club, many graduates would have some experience of working in the hospitality sector. This can stand you in great stead, as many recruiters require previous experience.

A staggering 8.3 billion is spent on out-of-home meals every year, according to the British Hospitality Association. For graduates, hospitality offers excellent management opportunities.

Graduates need excellent interpersonal skills, be able to multi-task, motivate large teams and be prepared to work unsociable hours. The must also have business acumen and be financially astute.

The job opportunities include bars, clubs and pubs, conference and events, foodservice management, health and fitness, hotels, restaurant managements, tour operators, travel agents and visitor attractions.

Some of the bigger food and hospitality companies, such as McDonald’s and Mitchells & Butler offers structured graduate training courses. McDonald’s offers trainee business manager positions, which involves a 20-week management development programme that covers all the training in the operational side of the business. On completion, graduates will become qualifies assistant managers, whereby they will be setting targets, managing business, controlling stock and recruiting.

Mitchells & Butler, as an example, offers both retail and corporate management schemes. With retail, this places graduates on fast-track development to manage a Mitchells & Butler pub or restaurant. The next step from this would be to become an area manager, whereby you could manage up to 15 bars or restaurants.

For the corporate management schemes, graduates will be office based where they can later specialise in general operations, human resources, operations, marketing, IT, purchasing, finance and accountancy, property – asset & building management.

 

Key articles for hospitality/tourism job seekers

Recruiters in this sector:

AdMore Recruitment

AdMore Recruitment is a specialist, award winning recruitment company with a supportive, strongly values-based culture.

BUNAC

With work, travel and volunteering opportunities around the world, travelling with BUNAC will be one of the most fun, challenging and rewarding experiences you'll ever have!

Camp America

Camp america summer camp work experience opportunities.

Compass Group

We are the largest, leading catering and support services company in the world in around 45 countries worldwide and employ around 60,000 people in our UK and Ireland business.

Echo Education

Echo Education helps to create a better education for kids in China through excellent English teachers from all over the world.

Exsus Travel

Exsus is one of the UK's leading luxury tour operators, specialising in bespoke, tailor-made holidays worldwide for almost 20 years

Go Abroad China

Go Abroad China is an established and leading provider of paid internships in China and Chinese language programme in China.

Immigration Advice Service

Immigration Advice Service offer expert advice to students and recent graduates who require a visa to work in the UK.

KFC

Our brand was born out of passion, determination, innovation and pride. The "Colonel" Harland Sanders has left a lasting impact on our business and 50 years on we are still doing things the way the Colonel meant for them to be done

Le Cordon Bleu

Le Cordon Bleu is the leading global network of culinary arts and hospitality management institutes steeped in history with a rich heritage spanning over 120 years.

Mark Warner

Mark Warner specialise in superb activity holidays to top ski resorts in Europe and beautiful beach locations in the Mediterranean.

Marriott

Marriott is the most popular graduate recruiter in hospitality, leisure and tourism as voted for by graduates

NOVA

The NOVA brand delivers high-quality instruction and other language services to those who wish to improve their communicative proficiency in foreign languages.

Parkdean Resorts

Parkdean Resorts was formed in November 2015 through the merger of Parkdean Holidays (formed in 1999) and Park Resorts (established in 2001). Parkdean Resorts own and operate 67 holiday parks across the UK, selling over 500,000 holidays and short breaks.

SchoolPod

Our motto is simple - listen to schools for the best solution!

Short on Staff

Short on Staff Provide hospitality jobs direct to your inbox. We will match these jobs to you free online profile.

The China Teaching Experience

We enable graduates (in any subject area) to live and work in China, for 10 months, experiencing first-hand all that China has to offer.

The Event Academy

The Event Academy was created to deliver accredited event management training that works.

The Royal Household

With the Royal Household, everyday jobs become exceptional.

Trailfinders

Experts in tailor-making itineraries worldwide, Trailfinders offers unbeatable value and exceptional service.

TUI UK and Ireland

TUI UK and Ireland is the UK's largest tour operator with key brands including Thomson and First Choice.