THE boom in the holiday market has ensured that leisure retail consultants are among the most sought-after candidates in travel.
While the jobs market in other industries has remained steady, travel businesses have continued to expand.
John Tolmie, director of recruitment firm AA Appointments, said:”The travel industry is becoming more innovative and concentrating on being seen as a serious business. It is creating a real diversity of opportunities.”
At Travel ’99, the Carlson Wagonlit recruitment team will be looking for people to fill positions in sales, account management and at head office.
But most of the exhibitors at the show operate in the leisure sector, which has seen the greatest growth. “We have probably seen business on the retail side grow by about 25% this year,” said Tolmie.
This year Going Places opened its first megastore Holiday World in York, as well as 40 new high-street sites around the UK, and a further five Holiday Worlds are set to open over the next 12 months.
Going Places recruitment adviser Gail Walshe said: “The superstore created 40 positions. As we continue to expand we have an ongoing need for people at all levels from managers to foreign-exchange consultants and travel advisers.”
Thomas Cook has also been forging ahead with its new superstore concept, Thomas Cook Plus. This summer it opened sites in Birmingham and Manchester and plans at least two more sites, one of which will be in Leeds.
As with Going Places, each shop will create about 40 jobs from sales consultants to customer service advisers to hosts – people who meet and greet customers.
As the company expands, head of retail personnel Steve Alexander is looking for ways to create a more balanced workforce that reflects the customer base more accurately.
He said: “We have been trying to attract older people. Recently I recruited a man of 60 and I see no reason why we shouldn’t do that again. He had exactly the qualities we are looking for.
“We also want to target ethnic minorities, perhaps through the ethnic press.”
New entrants to the travel industry are also having an impact on the jobs market. After launching in April ’98 with 50 staff, TV Travel Shop now employs 400 people, and the company continues to grow.
However, tough competition for high-calibre candidates is encouraging employers to become more objective in their selection to ensure they get the right people on board.
Recruitment agency New Frontiers has introduced psychometric testing to give employers a better idea of a candidate’s personality and the type of job they would be suited to.
Managing director Julia Feuell said: “A lot of companies are still relying on gut feeling, so it is hardly surprising that turnover in the industry is high.”
She added: “CVs tend to be very historical, giving details of just experience. Psychometric tests give employers a more accurate impression of a candidate’s characteristics and the work they would be good at. It brings some science to the process.”
Tour operators have been less active in the jobs market as a result of mergers, which have led to a surplus of staff. However, tour companies attending Travel ’99, including Magic Air Travel Group and First Choice, will be looking for overseas reps.
jobs in demand at travel ’99
n Retail travel – shop front. Skills needed: good geographical knowledge, well presented appearance; good communication skills and excellent customer service aptitude.
n Retail travel – telesales. Skills needed: good communication skills and excellent telephone manner.
n Business travel consultant. Skills needed: good International Air Transport Association knowledge (preferably BA qualifications), experience of computer reservations system (Galileo, Sabre, Amadeus etc) and excellent customer service skills.
n Tour operations reservations. Skills needed: excellent telephone manner, sound knowledge of a company’s product and good customer service skills.
n Back office and support staff. Skills needed: computer experience, efficient and organised, cool under pressure and able to juggle several tasks at one time.