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Unit 2 Exploring Careers in Family and Consumer Sciences
lodging. There are many marketing and human
resources positions in hospitality fields. A college
degree and related work experience best prepare
you for a position in hospitality management.
How can you know if a career in this field
is right for you? Evaluate your strengths,
weaknesses, skills, and interests in the field of
hospitality. If you are considering a career in the
field, contemplate increasing your knowledge of
the profession by observing people in their work
environment or by studying opportunities in the
field. Even if you decide that hospitality is not a
career path for you, the exercises/activities will
give you an appreciation for the importance of
excellent customer service, meeting the needs of
people away from home, and fulfilling plans for a
special occasion.
Pursuing a Career in
Hospitality
1. Interview a professional. The hospitality
field offers an array of professional
opportunities. To get a practical view of the
daily workings, interview a professional in
your chosen field. For example, interview a
commercial food service manager at your
university, the executive chef at a restaurant,
a hotel manager at a five-star hotel, a
restaurant reviewer for your local newspaper,
or an entrepreneur of a small bed-and-
breakfast or inn. Ask the person how she or
he entered the field, what the advantages and
disadvantages are, and what a typical day
entails. Be sure to solicit advice for your career
decision making. What personal qualities are
needed to be successful in the field?
2. Shadow a professional. Seek permission
to shadow a hospitality industry professional.
Often, you can arrange this through your
university. The more you observe, the more
you will become familiar with this diverse and
complex industry. Observations could range
from a few hours to several days. Internships,
part-time and summer employment, and
volunteer experiences also will help you
decide if hospitality management is the field
for you.
3. Become acquainted with professional
organizations. Professional organizations
provide a wealth of industry information
since their mission is to educate and support
professionals. They also provide relevant
industry research and review innovations.
Many professional organizations include
job placement services for prospective
employers and employees. Generally, they
do not try to sell anything to members. Look
up each of the websites listed in Figure 7-2.
Do they provide opportunities to students,
such as student memberships, internships,
scholarships, or competitions?
4. Become acquainted with professional
publications. Review recent issues of
journals in your field, selecting from the list
at the end of the chapter. What are current
topics of interest in hospitality management?
How can these publications be useful to you
as a student and in the future?
Questions for Thought
1. Access the United States Department of Labor,
Bureau of Labor Statistics website. Choose two
related career profiles listed here and report
on the career description, typical working
conditions, job outlook, and expected earnings:
• caterer
• chef
• restaurateur
2. Review major trends that are described in
Chapter 4. How do you predict these changes
will affect the hospitality industry?
3. Have safety and security concerns in recent
years changed your views about travel? Do
you know anyone who will not travel due
to safety or security concerns? What do
you believe will be the long-term effects of
these terrorism and safety concerns on the
hospitality industry?
4. Consider your best experience as a guest
at a lodging facility such as a hotel or inn.
What made this experience superior? How
much of your positive evaluation was based
on interactions or services provided by
employees?