Pop quiz: Which one of these professionals most likely works in hospitality?
A) a chef
B) an HR director
C) an accountant
D) a software engineer
E) a massage therapist
In fact, the answer is all of them! You might be surprised by the huge diversity of roles in this industry—many of which have nothing to do with food. If you’re looking for a non-culinary job in hospitality, check out four great options.
Personal Trainer/Fitness Instructor
Many wellness centers, resorts, luxury hotels, sports clubs, and retreats offer exercise classes to their guests—so if you love leading workouts, look into a fitness position.
In addition to being dynamic and energetic, you should also be in good physical shape. Knowing CPR and injury prevention will also improve your chances of landing the job. Finally, the majority of employers will be looking for candidates with previous experience in the exercise or fitness industry—for example, maybe you taught classes for two years at your local gym or received your yoga certification.
Salesperson
There’s definitely a high demand for talented sales representatives in hospitality. The product or service they sell obviously depends on their specific niche; to give you an idea, a hotel sales associate might sell bookings for their convention space, while a cruise sales manager could be working to sell cabin upgrades and loyalty packages.
Across the board, it’s crucial to have excellent written verbal communication skills, as you’ll be spending a lot of time calling and emailing potential customers. A strong work ethic is also key—and if you’ve got a healthy sense of competition, you should say so (it’ll come in handy.) Some hiring managers will want associate’s or bachelor’s degrees, while others will prioritize your drive to succeed.
Massage Therapist
If you think putting guests in a state of comfort and relaxation sounds extremely rewarding, good news: Many hospitality venues hire massage therapists to work either in a facility spa or on-call.
First, you’ll need to have your massage therapy license for the state in which you want to work. Employers are also generally seeking one year of experience—although if you seem like an ideal culture fit and you emphasize your professionalism, you could be hired with less experience. In terms of personality, it’s beneficial to be cooperative, flexible, friendly, and courteous.
Maintenance Engineer
Delivering an exceptional guest experience doesn’t stop with good customer service. You also need everything to be in good order: from the heating and air-conditioning within a hotel room to the TV in a bar lounge.
This job usually requires a high school diploma (or its equivalent). Your chances of getting the job will increase if you have five or more years of experience with electrical, painting, plumbing, A/C, and refrigeration repairs. The ability to use and move heavy machinery and equipment is a must.
Finally, if you’re a relatively capable leader, you may end up being promoted from this job into a supervisory position.
As you can see, the hospitality industry has plenty of opportunities that have nothing to do with food. In fact, these four roles are just scratching the surface.