James Houlden

Employer: ARAMARK

Area of work: Foodservice management

Qualifications: hospitality and catering management degree, Sheffield Hallam University

From a young age I was interested in pursuing a career in catering and as well as working at a pub, completed a number of placements at college and university. These experiences confirmed my desire for a job in the hospitality industry. I applied for a job with my current employer after having met the recruitment manager and a recent graduate at a university careers fair who both gave me a real insight into what the company did and the opportunities available.

My job

As a graduate trainee at ARAMARK, I work on a number of projects for about three months at a time. The last project I worked on involved setting up a catering service for the town hall theatre in Loughborough. My duties included supervising staff, maintaining health and safety standards, and administrative tasks such as putting together staffing lists and timesheets. I usually work from 9.00 am to 5.30 pm but my hours vary with each project.

Best and worst

It’s great being able to travel around, working on a variety of projects and with a wide range of people. However, this can also be difficult because as soon as you settle in, you are on the move again.