The past 18 months haven’t been all that great for tourism and hospitality in Australia, but that’s bound to change in a few months. When we put the pandemic behind us and life gets back to normal you’ll be happy you took the time to look for a job in the hospitality industry. And Sydney is one of your best bets.
Just to give you an idea – in 2016, there were over 40,000 people working in Sydney’s tourism and hospitality industry. Here’s how you, too, can get a job in this economic field:
What sort of qualifications do I need to work in hospitality?
That depends on the type of job you’re looking for. Obviously, if you’re looking for a position as a chef you’ll need a certificate to prove you went to cooking school. The good news is that it’s easy to get a job in this industry even if you don’t have a qualification.
Let’s have a look at the figures.
Of the 40,000 employees mentioned above, almost a quarter were young people aged 15-24. Some of these people weren’t even out of school yet, so that answers your question. You don’t need a qualification to start working in Sydney’s tourism and hospitality industry.
Actually, over 14,000 employees did not have any qualifications at all, and some 6,000 people had a professional certificate.
While having a qualification is not a prerequisite, you should look for a course you can take to maximize your chances of getting a job in hospitality and to earn more. Many courses have flexible schedules and you can study while you work.
Do I need a criminal background check to work in the New South Wales (NSW) Hospitality Sector?
Yes and no. You’re not required to get one to work in hospitality, but, as you’ll find out when you apply for a position, many businesses do ask for a police check. The main idea is to keep their customers safe. Hotels and hospitality venues rely on their reputation to attract more clients and they cannot afford the risk of a scandal caused by an employee with various offences on their criminal record.
Don’t worry, getting a background check is very simple. All you have to do is look up an online character check agency. Applying for a national police check NSW only takes a few minutes and it’s not complicated. You’ll have to fill in an online form and upload a selfie. They’ll send the answer back in a couple of days.
When you find a job you like and they ask about your criminal record all you’ll have to do is forward the police check to them.
How do I prepare for the job interview?
If you don’t have any qualifications, they’ll hire you based on your personality. In the hospitality industry, having soft skills is essential. You need to know how to talk to people and have a smile on your face no matter what. You’ll have to keep calm under all circumstances. The client is always right, as they say.
Also, you need to be a well-organized person to get a job in hospitality. You need to pay attention to details and be able to work under stress or tight deadlines.
Final tip: When you go to the job interview, make sure to look neat and clean. No ripped jeans, sweaty T-shirts or messy hair.
