Discover everything you need to know to start a graduate career in hospitality, leisure and tourism, from how to find work experience to the salary you could earn in a graduate role.
The hospitality, leisure and tourism industry has a great deal to offer graduates both in the UK and abroad, and it’s still growing. The industry covers areas ranging from accommodation and food services to health and fitness, entertainment, and bars, clubs and pubs. Whatever area you choose, there are plenty of jobs to choose from and management opportunities galore.
How can I get a graduate job in hospitality, leisure and tourism?
There are many routes into careers in hospitality and you don’t always need qualifications to start. You might start with on-the-job training, undertaking a graduate scheme or taking a postgraduate qualification to boost your career opportunities. Small employers tend to have less formal schemes but you might have more opportunities for early responsibility.
Employers accept a variety of applications. Some prefer application forms, whether paper or online, because they are guaranteed to include all the information they need to assess your application. Others like to receive a CV and covering letter, because this lets your personality shine through better.
Each organisation has its own recruitment process ranging from a single interview to a complex series of interviews and assessments if you’re applying for a graduate scheme. Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation and the role, and do your best to impress on the day. You can also practise for psychometric tests.
You don’t necessarily need a degree, but gaining a relevant qualification in hospitality, leisure and tourism will prove your commitment to recruiters and might enable you to start off on a higher rung of the career ladder. Qualifications range from foundation degrees and national diplomas to undergraduate and masters degrees, with modern apprenticeships aimed at non-graduates offering on-the-job training towards a vocational qualification. It is also possible to gain chartered status through the relevant professional bodies.
What are the salaries like in hospitality, leisure and tourism?
Graduate starting salaries greatly vary in the hospitality industry but career progression is often rapid and can bring with it an increase in earnings. As your career develops, your salary is likely to reflect the type of establishment you work for and your experience. The general manager of a small, budget hotel might earn £20,000 a year, whereas a manager at a large five-star hotel could receive up to £90,000. A junior manager at a health club might be paid between £18,000 and £28,000, while a leisure club manager could earn up to £50,000, and restaurant managers can earn anything from £19,000 to £60,000 a year.
Work experience is vital for getting a taste of the industry and helping you decide which area is best for you. It impresses employers and shows that you are committed to the sector. You can improve your career prospects by getting experience while still studying, either in the evenings, at weekends or during the holidays. Getting experience in any part of the business early on in your career provides an ideal grounding for your future. Whether you decide to go into management, set up your own business or take another path, mastering the basics can help you along the way.
What’s the competition for graduate programmes like?
There are plenty of opportunities at management and supervisory level, and currently not enough applicants to fill them all. However, graduate training schemes with large employers will always be competitive, so you’ll need to stand out from the crowd.
The leisure industry accounts for the employment of around 2.5 million people in the UK, 10% of the working population.
The UK restaurant industry is worth over £40 billion with 614,000 people working in the industry.
The UK has more than 45,000 hotels and guest houses, 226,000 eating out outlets and 49,400 pubs.
The tourism industry generates around £130 billion per year for the UK and employs 2.7 million people.