9781422276662

• One of the greatest aspects of the hospitality industry is that there are plenty of oppor- tunities to run your own business. Many careers profiled in the chapters of this book can lead to management or ownership positions if you stick it out and work hard. At many hospitality jobs, the managers value experience as much as—if not more than—a college education. The industry is built on ambition and hard work, which is part of the reason why it attracts so many entrepreneurs and go-getters. It is not uncommon to hear of young people taking the money that they would have spent on college and investing it in their own restaurant, bar, bed-and-breakfast, or florist shop. If you’re interested in opening your own business, keep in mind that it requires more than just “people skills.” You must be sharp, good with numbers, and have excellent leader- ship and management skills. These skills can be hard to develop without any guidance, which is why this book gives you advice on how to sharpen your business acumen through classes, seminars, internships, certifications, and part-time work. Although some of the jobs call for more formal training, every job in this volume essentially requires the same thing: hard work and gumption. If travel interests you, then you should definitely read the profile on flight attendants in Chapter 1. This is one of the more exciting and cosmopolitan jobs featured in this volume. You get to travel and meet new people, and it’s hard to beat the benefits—free flights to wherever you want and an excellent health and retirement program. That said, the actual job is not as easy as most smiling flight attendants make it look. The hours are long, you’re away from home a lot, and the safety of every passenger is in your hands. In addition, the application and training process is intense, so if you’re really considering the job, be sure to carefully read the section “Training and How to Get It.” If you would prefer a job that’s closer to home and doesn’t require as much training, you might want to read Chapter 2, which profiles desk clerks, concierges, and reservation agents. Like flight attendants, these three jobs require you to deal with a revolving door of interna- tional customers, many of whom have been traveling all day and are tired or irritable. Their satisfaction and safety is one of your primary responsibilities. However, unlike flight attendants, these three positions require little or no experience and training. More important, employers in these fields often hire high school students on a part-time basis. So even if these jobs are not the perfect fit for you, working as a desk clerk, concierge, or reservation agent is a great stepping-stone to other jobs in and outside of the hospitality industry. If it’s high stakes, suspense, and spontaneity that you’re after, then take a look at Chapter 8, which presents the work of professional umpires. More so than the other jobs in this volume, this profession carries a tremendous amount of on-the-spot Introduction 9