Being successful in the hospitality industry is about more than just a passion for your craft. Of course, you do need passion, but you'll also need a whole host of other skills if you want to make a career out of it.
Luckily, a hospitality management course that combines work and study (like the ones we offer at Kenvale!) will provide you everything you'll need to make it. In this blog, we look at all the skills that will help you succeed in hospitality in Australia - and anywhere in the world!
There are particular skills that will help you succeed in all sectors of the hospitality industry.People skills
People skills are about much more than customer service. A hospitality career requires you to work with - and perhaps even manage - other people, all of whom will likely come from different backgrounds and have unique ways of working.
Leadership
While you might begin your hospitality career as a waiter or food and beverage attendant, there's ample opportunity to work your way up into leadership roles with more responsibility, such as Head Chef or Operations Manager. To get to these kinds of positions, you'll need to demonstrate you can lead teams of people to great success.
Communication
This is one of the most valuable skills for hospitality employees. It's vital if you're working front-of-house, as you'll be engaging with customers on a daily basis. But it's also critical in back-of-house - after all, the secret to success is great teamwork, of which communication is the foundation.
People skills are essential in the hospitality industry - not only for interactions with customers, but with other members of your team.Dispute resolution
Sometimes you'll receive complaints, encounter difficult customers, or experience communication problems within your team. In these instances, you'll need to be able to show empathy and acknowledge the perspective of others, as well as communicate your own standpoint.
Kenvale's Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management incorporates subjects that will develop your people skills, such as leading and managing people, dealing with conflict and understanding diversity in the workplace. But we know that the only way you'll boost your competency in these areas is applying what you learn, so all our students work at the same time as they study!
Soft skills
If you're aspiring to enter the world of commercial cookery and become a Head Chef, you might think it's all about perfecting the art of cookery. However, working in a kitchen is a high-pressure environment that requires you to think on your feet and deal with various stresses that you won't always be able to control. The same goes for all areas of hospitality.
Ability to work under pressure
Hospitality is a fast-paced profession. While you'll catch the occasional breather, during busy periods you'll be on your feet juggling many tasks, so this skill is not one to take lightly.
Stress and time management
Because you'll be multi-tasking, your stress management and time management skills should be impeccable. You'll need to know what to prioritise, what can be left until later, and how to work to tight schedules to meet customer expectations.
When you work in hospitality, you'll be balancing more than just food and beverages; you'll need to balance your responsibilities, too.Problem-solving and creativity
The ability to come up with new ideas and ways to delight your customers - whether that's through your service, the food you plate up, or the beverages you serve - is always vital in the hospitality industry. It means when you face a problem like an outdated menu, miscommunication or a tricky customer, you'll be able to think on your feet to fix the issue as soon as possible.
Creativity is a very useful skill in the hospitality industry.Kenvale's Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management allows you to work and study at the same time, because we realise that the only way you'll learn the soft skills required to make it in hospitality is by experiencing the challenges of the industry, and learning as you go. When you graduate, you'll have the practical industry experience that will show employers you have what it takes. In fact, we have a 100 per cent employment record, which shows that this practical work experience pays off!
Business skills
If you're looking to have a long-term career in hospitality and reach the stage where you're running your own business, you'll need a whole host of other skills. Even if you don't want to be the boss, hospitality contains many pathways that incorporate business skills which will come in handy.
Want to run your own hospitality business one day? You'll need to arm yourself with valuable business skills.Marketing
Marketing know-how is crucial to running a successful hospitality business. If you're a business owner, you'll need to make sure people know about your business and that you're encouraging them to return through traditional advertising, as well as digital methods like social media, content marketing, Google Adwords and email campaigns.
Finances
Similarly, financial skills like budgeting, accounting and taxation will go a long way towards ensuring business success. The majority of businesses that fail in Australia are small ones, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission has found, which many hospitality businesses like cafes and restaurants are. Having a solid understanding of how to run your business from a financial standpoint before you start will help ensure success.
If you're dreaming of running your own hospitality business one day, you'll need financial skills to make sure you stay up and running.Business law
Hospitality businesses in Australia operate under strict rules and regulations, and you'll need to be aware of them, no matter what role you're in. An understanding of business law and how it operates in relation to your workplace will ensure you are complying with legislation.
Business skills are ones you need to have a solid grounding of before you use them. That's why our Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management includes subjects focused on managing finances, monitoring budgets, developing marketing strategies and complying with regulatory requirements.
You'll gain all of these skills and more with a Diploma of Hospitality Management from Kenvale College! Find out more about our qualifications by contacting a course adviser today.
