6 Tips to Help You Break into Hospitality Management

It’s more than about a change of scenery. Studying abroad is a great way to tap into the various global hospitality markets, giving you exposure and experience in more than just one market.

In fact, why not study hospitality management in the gastronomic and tourism capital of the Mediterranean?

The University College of Hospitality Management Sant Pol de Mar is just over a 30-minute drive away from Barcelona, a city that’s home to 30 Michelin-starred restaurants, and a tourism industry that’s hard to rival, thanks to the millions of tourists that visit each year.

There are two sides to working in the hospitality industry – the operational side and the corporate side.

With such enormous scope and opportunities galore for progression, the sooner you know which niche area you want to specialize in, the better. In fact, the Master in Hospitality Management at EUHT StPOL allows students to specialize in hotel management or food & beverage and restaurant management.

So, whether you aspire to manage a five-star hotel resort or run your own team in a Michelin-star restaurant, you might also want to consider getting some experience to help you get ahead. Speaking of which…

Having relevant industry experience is key and especially helpful if you have a specialist area in mind. Even if you don’t, it’s a great way of establishing what you do enjoy (and what you don’t), while picking up vital skills and expertise you can carry with you into the world of work after graduating.

During your internship, make sure you’re given access to all areas of the business and show your enthusiasm as you go. An employer who sees an enthusiastic and willing to learn employee is likely to reward them with increased responsibilities, which will only bode well for you later down the line.

The EUHT StPOL survey also suggested that employers in the hospitality industry consider any form of formal training completed during your degree program, such as internships, to be highly valuable.

No matter which industry you aspire to work in, building your network is vital as your connections have the potential to take you far and wide. Although it may be a challenge to start with, the only way to improve is to get yourself out there and start practicing!

Networking can be done practically anywhere. Whether it’s during class with your peers, while undertaking an internship, or attending events, such as career fairs and education tours.

As much as networking is about building valuable contacts which can help you access other opportunities, you can also learn from them and further your knowledge of the industry. 

Students at the University College of Hospitality Management Sant Pol de Mar have the opportunity to attend a Career Day, where hiring managers attend and offer advice to students about the specific skills and knowledge they’ll need to get into the industry.