Progressing in travel might be daunting but there are some simple steps you can take to move your career on. Roisin Woolnough talks to some recruitment experts.
Julia Feuell
MD of recruitment agency New Frontiers and Association of Women Travel Executives chairwoman
You have to be out there, communicating with other people and getting your face seen. Getting noticed is what is needed in order to get on in your career.
Showing determination, initiative and enthusiasm will get you where you want to be. Put your hand up for things that interest you, take responsibility for your career and think about what you need to get where you want to go.
If things aren’t quite right and going as well as you would like then work out what you can do to make things better. People often think it will come to them and it’s their right to be promoted, but you have to show more than that. If you want to move into a new area of travel then you will have to make it happen.
Don’t sit down and drown if you’re not sure what you are doing. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Find out what training you should do to get ahead. Try not to job hop unless you really hate your job. It doesn’t look good on your CV even though there is high turnover in the industry.
Find vacancies from New Frontiers on Travel Weekly Jobs
Elaine Wormwell
Head of delivery support at The Travel Training Company
It is good to know as many people as possible so build up working relationships with people and keep building on your contacts as quickly as you can. Start in your own environment, but also build contacts with people outside of your organisation.
You need to take training seriously and accept any training that is offered to you. People have a lot of information but that didn’t come to them overnight. Know where to look for information and who to ask and don’t be afraid to ask.
Be organised and manage your own time well. Keep up with what’s happening in the industry by reading Travel Weekly and going to events. Those two things are key.
Jason Blayne
Sales director at travel training and recruitment company, T&T Travel Solutions
Let people know from the start that you are ambitious.
Many companies have fast-track schemes that give you that extra bit of responsibility so put yourself forward. Just ask if there’s anything about. You have to be willing to learn and put in extra hours to get ahead. You need to know what you really want from your career and focus on what you want to do.
Don’t take jobs just because they are offered to you and do your homework before joining any company. It doesn’t look good if you work for a company for just one month and then you leave.
Talk to people and read the trade press. You learn a lot about who is doing what, where companies are going and who is moving where. Do training, take lots of notes and follow through on that training.
Make sure you properly understand the company you work for and the product. Keep an eye out on company job boards and keep up to date with what your company is doing.
Find vacancies from T&T Travel Solutions on Travel Weekly Jobs
Further reading
- Travel Weekly Careers and Training Supplement 2006