“This is a great place to look for a job and there are so many opportunities. At the moment, I work for Thomas Cook, but I really want to get back to being an overseas rep. Retail is boring.”
Simon Stephens, 26
“I work for Thomas Cook, but I am looking to move into business travel or for a promotion. It is nice to be able to speak to the companies and to people who know the job. They have been snapping up my CV. Experience clearly counts a lot.”
Ben Caton, 24
“I graduated in June and am looking to join a tour operator in a position where I can use my people skills. There are not many jobs for graduates here, but it is useful to be able to get the names of people to write to.”
Faye Keyte, 23.
“This came at just the right time as I have just finished a six-week fares and ticketing course. I have picked up application forms and New Frontiers have been really helpful. It is disappointing there are not more airlines here.”
Holly Brown, 25
“I want a job in airline catering, so I have not had much joy here, but I have been putting my face around and handing out my CV, which has been useful. I am going to the Virgin Holidays seminar – that might be a step towards joining the airline.”
Jamie Smith, 24
“I own a travel-related marketing consultancy, but I miss working in a team so I am looking to see what jobs there are in senior management and marketing. I am not convinced this is the right place to look. It seems to be aimed at a younger market.”
Lynn Wroblewski, 43
THE SECOND Travel ’99 recruitment fair held between September 27-28 in London has been voted a success by exhibitors, who were inundated with people looking for jobs in the industry.
Travel Weekly appointments advertising manager Marcello Di Virgilio said:”The visitors started flocking in as soon as the doors opened on the first day and the queue outside was huge at one point.
“I think both Olympia and Travel Weekly’s organisation team were unprepared for such a strong influx of people,” added Di Vigilio.
The two-day show, organised by Travel Weekly, was attended by 32 travel companies, mainly retail agents and tour operators. The show was part of a larger Opportunities ’99 recruitment fair that included Retail ’99 and Hospitality ’99, and attracted a total 4,821 people, including students looking for their first job in the travel industry.
“Exhibitors were really pleased with the quality of the visitors, who were more qualified than those from the two previous shows,” said Di Virgilio.
The first Travel ’99 recruitment fair was held in London last year, at the Novotel in Hammersmith, and was followed by a Manchester show in April this year.
First Choice recruitment manager Ruth Stubbington said: “There were a lot of young students early on, but the more mature visitors came later and the standard was very good, especially on the second day.”
Di Virgilio admitted not everyone was happy with the venue. “Obviously getting in was the initial problem but once this was resolved there was plenty of space to move around and all the stands were very visible.”
Thomas Cook human resource manager Linda Bailey agreed: “It was a much better venue than last year, which was very crowded.”