Hospitality Career

If you think a nine-to-five job is not meant for you because you love meeting people and entertaining them, a career in hospitality could be a good idea. This career is best suited to those who are ready to take up everyday challenges and work in high-pressure zones. However, there is more to the hospitality sector than pressure. It is a 24X7 entertaining job that lets you enjoy on the job.
India is a booming economy and upcoming tourist destination. In the current scenario, hospitality is a promising industry. According to reports, presently tourism and hospitality are the third largest net earners of foreign exchange. By 2010, they are expected to be number one. Thus, there are bright job opportunities in this field. The ninth five year plan predicts a shortage of 30,000 trained professionals every year.
Demand for hospitality professionals exists at many places such as hotels, resorts, restaurants, catering companies, guest houses and lodges, fast-food outlets, casinos and clubs, spas etc. Considering the flourishing tourism sector and the increasing spending capacity of the Indian middle-class, hospitality is set to be the next big thing in India.
High job opportunities and attractive salaries are making it a very sought after industry. Another attractions of this field is that, with a minimum academic qualification, one can find employment anywhere in the world.
There are various branches under Hospitality. These are Housekeeping, Bakery, Kitchen Stewarding and Cookery. Housekeeping has come a long way from being a job for illiterates to a high-profile job that requires people who hold diplomas, hold diplomas, have technical qualifications and are fluent in English. Housekeepers take care of housekeeping, horticulture, laundry, interiors and even guest relations. Private housekeeping businesses are also flourishing these days. There are both part-time and full-time options in this field.
Next comes cookery. A chef is the most important staff member at any restaurant or eating joint. A good chef can really raise the standard of place he is working at. For being a cook, one requires creativity, shrewdness, knowledge and willingness to learn through trial and error. The pay of a chef largely depends on his/her prowess, experience and skill-sets. These days, chefs can look beyond restaurants to work in sectors like in-flight catering, hospital catering, food styling, catering, restaurants, cruise liners and as entrepreneurs and consultants.
Bakery is a branch separate from cookery. Within baking, one could specialise in fields like bread-baking, pastry baking, cookie baking, demonstrating, R&D, marketing etc. There are good opportunities for bakers, decorators, trainers, process managers and distributors in this field. Kitchen stewarding requires maintenance of the kitchens of an eatery or hotel. Earlier, this used to be Head Chef's job but now it is a separate branch of work. A kitchen steward looks after cleaning and organising dishes, taking stock of inventory, maintaining hygiene and quality in the kitchen, keeping a tab on breakage and replacements. One can become a kitchen steward without any specific qualifications.. It is the attitude that matters here.
Those who are looking to pursue a course in hospitality have good options in India and abroad. One can either go for a course straight after 12th or a post graduate diploma. Institutes of Hotel Management are based across India in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Aurangabad. The institute offers degree as well as diploma courses in hotel management, catering technology and applied nutrition.
The Oberoi School of Hotel Management based in Delhi is amongst the premier Hotel management institutes. It offers various courses such as : 2-year Management Training Programme, 2-year Senior Kitchen Training Programme, 2-year Housekeeping Training Programme. The institute also gives stipend and other facilities to students during the course of study.
Dr. Ambedkar Institute of Hotel Management, Catering and Nutrition, Chandigarh train students to fill the skill gap in the hospitality industry. The institute offers a Three Year Diploma Course in Hotel Management, Catering and Nutrition. It is a professional full time regular course recognized by National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology, New Delhi.
Another good institute is FHRAI Institute of Hospitality Management based in Greater Noida. It offers a BA in International Culinary Administration (BIA) BA in International Culinary Administration (BIA), Diploma in Hotel Operations Diploma in Hotel Operations, BSc in Hospitality and catering Management (BHCM BSc in International Hospitality Administration (BIHA), and BSc in International Hospitality Administration (BIHA).
Those who can afford to spend can also pursue courses in international universities. One can get an edge in the international market with a degree or diploma from a good hotel management school. Most of the reputed schools adhere to international standards and offer good facilities and learning environment to students.
Depending on one's qualification and interest, one could find a good job in the hospitality industry. It is a good time to join this sector as it is growing fast and promises good job options to youngsters.