If your New Year’s resolution is to get a new job, you might be surprised at the number of roles that have emerged since your last job hunt.
We take a look at some of the top positions in 2008…
Conference and events organiser homeworker
What’s the job? You’ll be sourcing conference venues and accommodation and arranging daytime and evening functions.
Key skills: “Experience is more important than qualifications,” said Discovery Selection director Andy Murray. The job would suit someone with business travel background.
Salary: Commission only, but expect to earn £25,000 to £30,000.
Find out more: Contact travel management companies direct or recruitment agencies.
Environmental officer
What’s the job? Corporate social responsibility is the new buzz phrase in travel and more companies are recruiting staff to find ways to reduce their carbon footprint, increase recycling and improve health and safety for staff and customers. “Companies want to be seen as responsible,” said Discovery Selection’s Andy Murray.
Key skills: An environmental science degree or health and safety qualification.
Salary: £25,000 to £30,000.
Find out more: See your local college for degree courses.
Pay-per-click marketing assistant
What’s the job? Your job will be to drive customers to your company’s website through search engines. This analytical role looks at areas such as keywords, which are used by customers using search engines.
Key skills: More of a marketing than technical role, would suit someone with reservations experience who wants to move into this area.
Salary: £18,000 to £20,000.
Find out more:gatlineducation.com for pay-per-click marketing training courses.
Cruise consultant homeworker
What’s the job? Most enquiries will be taken by phone or by e-mail, but you may need to follow up with home visits. “Cruise companies are moving towards homeworking,” said Jewels Recruitment managing director Julie Larman.
Key skills: At least two years within the past seven working within an ABTA company, preferably dealing with cruise.
Salary: Commission only but cruise bookings are typically high, so expect to earn £30,000 to £35,000.
Find out more: Contact homeworking companies and specialist cruise agencies.
Solutions sales expert
What’s the job? This is a cross between a technical and a sales role working for a global distribution system, where you identify a client’s technical needs and accompany the sales team on the pitch. T&T Recruitment director Jason Blayne said: “It suits someone who understands project development and can interact with clients.”
Key skills: You must be able to customise solutions to meet a client’s specific needs.
Salary: £35,000 to £40,000.
Find out more: Contact recruitment agencies.
Online marketing manager
What’s the job? You will manage key aspects of online marketing – paid search, natural search, affiliates and e-mail campaigns. Bigger companies may have specific roles, such as paid search managers or affiliates managers. “Search engine optimisation managers are usually a premium above online marketing mangers,” said puregenie.com sales and marketing director Ian Brooks.
Key skills: Good analytical skills and experience of at least running an ad campaign on Google and using the Google Analytics tool.
Salary: Expect to start on £30,000, rising to £50,000 at senior level.
Find out more: Contact the Internet Advertising Bureau and read sector publications such as Travel Weekly’s sister title Travolution.
White-label account manager
What’s the job? You will develop and retain partnerships with third parties, such as hotel chains and tour operators, who will sell your product on their websites, under their own name. “These roles promote the online distribution of a product,” said New Frontier’s Marie Moore.
Key skills: Previous sales experience and knowledge of XML (internet mark-up language) and online distribution.
Salary: From £30,000 for a manager, rising to £60,000 for a head of distribution.
Find out more: Contact recruitment agencies.
Database analyst
What’s the job? You’ll need to analyse statistics to spot the latest travel trends and tell your company what people are buying, when and why, so your firm is better placed to supply the right product at the right price.
Key skills: Ideally a mathematics and statistics degree.
Salary: From £50,000 to £60,000.
Find out more:The Open University has part-time degree courses.
- See the Travel Weekly jobs section for travel industry vacancies, CV services and career advice