For many young people, being a holiday representative for a brand like Club 18-30 or Xodus sounds like a dream job – plenty of sun, sea and socialising with a little bit of work thrown in.
Recently this image has been fuelled by media coverage, in particular TV documentaries, which tend to show being a holiday rep as an easy option – with reps enjoying all the perks of working in a resort but none of the drawbacks.
But in many ways representing a youth brand is harder than working for a mainline product, a message that Club 18-30 has tried to drive home to prospective applicants this year.
Club 18-30’s overseas manager Paul Little said:”We were getting applicants who simply liked the idea of a holiday in the sun. So this year, rather than having a sales manager giving a talk at our open day, we invited existing reps to talk through a week in the life of a rep. As a result the calibre of candidates has been much better.”
Little would be the first to admit that partying is a significant part of the job for any youth rep. “We expect them to go out with clients until 2am every night,” he said.
But they are also required to put in long hours during the day, organising daytime events, such as beach barbeques, and dealing with any problems that arise. The result is that, unlike traditional reps, they are effectively on call 24hrs a day.
Inspirations Holidays managing director Steve Endacott, who is currently looking for a team of reps for its youth brand Xodus, is expecting up to 40% of the recruits to drop out before the end of the season due to the intensity of the workload. “We want someone who can work hard and play harder. They will have to live and breathe the job for four months.”
The demands on a youth holiday rep mean that qualifications, experience and languages are less important than personality and stamina.
This year’s job advert for Club 18-30 reps asks for people with ‘enthusiasm, hunger and balls’.
Endacott is looking for a similar type.
“Applicants should be fun-loving, energetic, have the ability to stay calm under pressure and be able to function properly on 3hrs sleep,” he said.
At 2wentys, First Choice’s youth product, emphasis is also placed on entertainment value.
Overseas controller Darren McGowan said: “With mainline brands we organise specific excursions, but a lot of the time with 2wentys the reps are the entertainment. There might be a bar and a venue but clients will look to the rep to entertain them so ideas and originality are important attributes for us.”
Another point of difference is that while mainline reps tend to cover 300-400 clients, youth reps are likely to be looking after no more than 50 clients. “It means that team working is important. Youth reps will often work together to organise joint events for clients,” said McGowan.
He added that anyone who thinks becoming a rep is easy is in for a shock. Many applicants do not make the grade.
This year, for example, 200 people have been interviewed for just 20 positions. Short-listed candidates attend a rigorous assessment day involving more interviews, a sales and entertainment presentations, written tests and even a debate where the candidates are split into two groups and given a subject to discuss.
“This type of repping is much more in your face than normal. We need to know we have got someone who can be best friend, diplomat and agony aunt all rolled into one,” said McGowan.
If you think you’ve got what it takes to become an Xodus rep, write a letter of no more than 400 words to Steve Endacott at Inspirations Holidays, Victoria House, Victoria Road, Horley, Sussex. RH6 7AD. Tel: 01293 820207