Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Sales and Marketing Directors at Santa Monica Proper
Entry-level hospitality roles for undergraduates often begin as coordinators, with opportunities for rapid advancement; Erin's own career progression from coordinator to manager in under a year exemplifies this, while larger hotel chains like Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott offer formal management training programs "where they rotate you to different hotels or different departments" to develop future general managers.
Hospitality, Entry-Level Jobs, Career Advancement, Hotel Management, Sales and Marketing
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Erin Bennett
Director of Sales and Marketing
Santa Monica Proper Hotel
Boston University 2008
UCLA EMBA 2023 (expected graduation June 2023)
Hospitality Administration
Hospitality, Restaurants & Events
Sales and Client Management
Took Out Loans, Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. Entry-level positions in hospitality often begin as coordinators, with opportunities for quick advancement to management roles.
2. Experience in event services or front office operations can be valuable entry points.
3. Formal management training programs offered by major hotel chains provide structured career paths to senior management positions, such as General Manager.
Transcript
What entry-level positions in this field might an undergraduate college student consider?
For me, my pathway started as a coordinator. I specifically wanted to be in the back of house and do sales. I found that job very appealing.
I also did Event Services, which is the execution of events, but those jobs were for undergrads. Typically, if you don't have experience, it starts at the coordinator level. However, good coordinators move to manager very quickly.
I moved up in under a year, so you're not stuck. There isn't a permanent pathway in other parts of hotels. You could start at the front office in a manager training program, rotating through operational fields if your dream is to be a general manager.
I highly recommend those official programs with big hotel chains like Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott. They rotate you to different hotels or departments where you can eventually become a managing director or general manager. If you're in food service, it depends on your background. People who love food service often have server experience and can start as a manager right out of college.