There’s truth in the advice your parents gave you to work hard, always do your best, get along, and be willing to go the extra mile. If you’re a hard worker in the hospitality industry, it’s likely you’ll be rewarded and promoted quickly.
Tips to get promoted quickly:
1. Work hard and gain experience in all the different departments in the hotel. It’s one of the best ways to learn every job and understand how a hotel operates. That knowledge makes you a great candidate for quickly building a management career.
2. Sign up for a hotel’s in-house management program. You’ll gain important manager skills to help you manage other people, and a team and to improve your problem-solving skills. It will also show your manager and higher-ups that you are hoping for a promotion soon and get them thinking about making that happen.
3. Earn some industry-specific certificates. You can expand your knowledge and your network as well as add important skills to your resume to help you stand out in the crowd. Along with a few years of experience, these certificates may open some doors to bigger opportunities.
4. Find a mentor. As with most things, finding someone who can show you the ropes can make it easier to find your path up the ladder. Once you find your mentor, observe carefully. Watch how he/she learns from mistakes, follows through, and goes the extra mile for guests and fellow staff, modeling your own behavior after theirs.
5. Anticipate your manager’s needs. Don’t stop at your current job description, but learn to anticipate what else needs to be done and take the initiative. Take action on your own if you notice a customer needs something or there’s a task you can perform that would save time in your manager’s day.
6. Demonstrate high levels of social skills. Learn to make your customers feel relaxed. Smile and become skilled in the art of warm, personal, competent, and friendly interaction. Be someone your manager can rely on to connect with guests, engage them in conversation, and show great attention to detail in all areas of service.
It’s a great time to be in the hotel business. It’s a dynamic, growing industry that means more jobs and big opportunities for advancement.