There are some common factors such as long shifts and demanding customers that apply to all hospitality jobs. But there are also certain jobs that offer unique opportunities, like night jobs. Taking a night job in hospitality allows you to grow your skills in ways that many day jobs do not. Here’s why:
You work independently
During the day, you have supervisors monitoring your work and giving you instructions, and you have co-workers around to help you out. At night, there are fewer people working with you. You have to make more decisions and figure out how to solve problems. For example, if you’re working a night maintenance shift, and an appliance breaks, you’ll need to diagnose the problem and come up with a plan to fix it without input from the manager who’s around during the day. This gives you the chance to prove that you can handle new responsibilities and that you aren’t just relying on other staff members to take the lead. You’re then an excellent candidate for a promotion because your employer knows you can work independently and take charge of a situation.
You can work more carefully
During the day, guests are constantly coming and going. At night, things are usually a little slower. For example, if you’re a guest service agent, you may find yourself answering one phone call or conducting one check-in at a time, rather than assisting a whole line of people while numerous phone calls come in simultaneously. This allows you to give your complete attention to each person, which is rarely possible in the daytime.
You have an essential role
At the busiest times of the day, you’re one of many team members working as a group. At night, you may be the only person guests can turn to for help with getting an extra pillow or transportation to the airport. Thus, guests are counting on you to solve their problems. And guests are sometimes nervous about being away from home at a late hour and may have concerns about personal safety or keeping track of their luggage. You have the opportunity to reassure people and make them feel at ease again.
You prepare for the next day
When most employees leave in the evening, there’s still a lot of work to be done before the following morning. Some areas need to be cleaned, and breakfast has to be set up. A night auditor needs to reconcile the accounts and make sure the front desk has the correct amount of cash for the start of the day. Nighttime employees are crucial to keeping a business running smoothly and on time.
The responsibilities of night shifts are different from those of a daytime job, so working at night is a good way to expand your skills. And you get to show your strengths as a leader and problem solver because you work with less oversight. Night work isn’t a less desirable version of a day shift; it actually presents unique opportunities to advance your career.