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If you're looking for a career in the hospitality industry, then getting a degree in the subject can give you a great head start.
But getting in some work experience whilst you are studying can really help you stand out from the crowd when it comes to getting a job.
We spoke to Calum Wilson (left), who recently graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in international hospitality management specialising in international hotel development and finance from Glion Institute of Higher Education, to find out how beneficial internships have been for him.
Why did you choose your course and university?
I chose Glion for the diverse and multicultural environment and the unique hospitality-specialised courses they offer.
Plus, I really like the opportunity I got to study across different locations – it’s a multi-campus programme, which gave me the chance to study in both in Switzerland and London – as well as to undertake two professional internships worldwide.
What are you doing in your career after uni?
I’m currently on a Graduate Management Trainee Programme at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, based out of their flagship property in Hyde Park, London.
How did your university support your employability?
Glion had a career and internship platform, where companies post positions and contact details for students to find placements and job opportunities.
They also had on-campus company visits and a bi-annual career and recruitment day, with over 90 global companies attending, where students can meet prospective employers and apply for internships, graduate programmes, and entry-level positions.
The sectors coming to these events include hotels, food and beverage groups, luxury brands, banking and finance companies, events companies, sports brands and technology companies.
What internship(s) did you do during your studies?
I completed my first internship at Grosvenor House Hotel in Dubai, where I did a Front Office cross-training. The second internship was at the Hilton Paris Opéra, as Assistant Food and Beverage Manager.
Internships at Glion need to last five to six months. Students are encouraged to do their first internship in an operational role within a hospitality company in order to build a solid foundation and put into practice the skills they have gained from their first semester practical classes.
For the second internship, students are encouraged to aim for supervisory or junior management levels within operations, or for a role in an administrative field, such as finance, human resources, or sales and marketing.
During my time at Glion I was also able to work a summer season at the Jumeirah Port Soller, Mallorca, in the food and beverage department.
What kinds of tasks did you do during your internship?
In Dubai, the Grosvenor House Hotel was a complex with two hotel brands, 2,000 employees, over 1,000 rooms, and around 24 unique dining concepts. I was given the opportunity to cross-train in the following Front Office departments: Reception, Guest Services, Concierge and Butler. This gave me a variety of experience in dealing with the general public, responding to their needs and requests.
When I was at the Hilton in Paris, I spent part of the time overseeing the management of the three restaurants, bar, room service and large banqueting operations. The rest was spent doing administrative tasks, including recruitment, scheduling, supplier relations, budget and strategy, as well as exciting projects, such as the launch of a “pop-up Champagne bar” with esteemed house Champagne Collet.
What skills did you pick up? And how will they help you in your future career?
I learnt a lot of important soft skills – like communication; time management; and organisational skills. I also spent a lot of time learning new software and IT systems.
The projects and tasks I did in my time in Paris helped me to develop my managerial skills – working with and leading a team.
Why do you think internships are important?
They provide an excellent opportunity to have greater understanding of the hospitality industry and enable you to witness different areas of the industry to see where you would best fit it or in which roles you would most enjoy working in. You also gain insight into the ways in which large multinational companies operate across regions and understand growing trends.
They also give you the opportunity to apply the theoretical practices learned during classes at Glion in a real-world setting, and help you learn new skills, and you get to meet and work with colleagues from a variety of backgrounds, countries and cultures – and start building your professional network.
Finally, it gives you real experience within the industry to add to your CV, plus references – which can help you when you apply for jobs after graduation.
I would advise anyone looking for a career in the hospitality industry to choose a course that offers internships as part of the course or, if your course doesn’t, to apply for internships directly with employers yourself during your summer breaks.
Want a career in the hospitality industry, like Calum? Start your search for hospitality management courses with placement years.
