Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Vice Presidents of Hotel Operations
Entry-level hotel positions include "front desk agent" or "reservations agent," providing valuable ground-level experience, while supervisory roles might be a less effective starting point. Alternatively, corporate internships offer a "nine-to-five" experience, requiring a "significantly much higher level of intellect," while property internships provide hands-on experience in various departments; both routes offer potential for future advancement in this high-turnover industry.
Entry-Level Positions, Hotel Operations, Hospitality Industry, Career Advancement, Internship Opportunities
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Tommy Harris
Vice President of Hotel Operations
Large Hotel & Casino Brand
University of Nevada Las Vegas / 2022
UCLA / MBA - Expected graduation June 2024
Psychology
Hospitality, Restaurants & Events
Operations and Project Management
Honors Student, Worked 20+ Hours in School, LGBTQ
Video Highlights
1. Entry-level positions such as front desk agent, room reservations agent, and various supervisor roles (front desk, housekeeping, call center, etc.) are available. These provide valuable hands-on experience.
2. For those less interested in direct operations, corporate internships in areas like development, marketing, or human resources offer a different entry point. These are often unpaid but provide excellent networking opportunities.
3. The hospitality industry experiences high turnover, so passion, intelligence, and a strong personality can significantly boost career advancement regardless of the chosen entry path.
Transcript
What entry-level positions are there in this field that an undergraduate college student might consider?
For entry-level positions, I would suggest starting as a front desk agent or a reservations agent. Starting in an agent capacity is the best way to gain experience and learn from the ground up.
However, if you are not interested in a front-line position, depending on the property and various other factors, you could move into an assistant manager or supervisor role. This could be a front desk supervisor, housekeeping supervisor, call center supervisor, or similar.
Anything beyond that would really be a disservice to you, the employees, and the guests you would be servicing. You need to have that experience at that level to truly understand operations from an operational perspective.
If you're looking for something different and don't want to deal with operations, perhaps a corporate position would be better. Corporate jobs are typically nine to five, with weekends and holidays off. They are more laid-back, but they also require a significantly higher level of intellect.
From that perspective, you could consider an internship. Most hotels offer corporate internships, which are held at their corporate offices. These internships focus on specific needs within areas like development, marketing, or human resources.
Property internships are held at the hotel level, in departments like front desk or accounting. Typically, internships are unpaid, but they do offer an opportunity to get your foot in the door.
The hospitality industry experiences a lot of turnover. If you are passionate and have a good head on your shoulders, meaning both intellect and personality, you can definitely go far no matter which direction you choose.