Choosing the right employer for your graduate career in hotel management

Think about whether you want a 'fast-track' route into your hotel management career or would prefer to gain more experience first.

Graduate roles in hotel management vary by the nature of the work, training and salary. At interview, you’ll almost certainly be asked what it is about the particular company that appeals to you; in order to answer confidently, it’s vital that you do the essential research before applying.

Due to Covid-19, you may find it difficult to begin your graduate career in hotel management. As we explain here , however, potential recruiters will not view time out of work at the moment as a 'gap' in your CV. Take a look at this article if you'd like advice for searching for work during a pandemic.

How is the graduate scheme structured?

The duration and structure of graduate programmes differ significantly between firms – think about whether you want a ‘fast-track’ route into your hotel management career or would prefer to gain more experience and training through a longer graduate scheme before taking your next steps. Some employers offer rotational programmes to allow graduates to experience different areas of the business and develop a broad range of skills; others provide more direct or specialised routes, where graduates can choose to concentrate on the parts of hotel management that most interest them, such as finance or HR.

What sort of work will be involved?

Have you set your sights on a career with a well-known international hotel chain, or would you prefer to work for a smaller regional chain or independent hotel? Graduate hotel management roles with large corporations may be primarily office-based, whereas working for smaller chains and independent or boutique hotels can involve more customer contact and a high level of responsibility at an earlier stage.

Work experience in the industry is a good way to find out what kind of hotel management work you enjoy and the type of graduate hotel management role that would match your skills. You could try spending the university holidays working at a local hotel or guest house; alternatively, some of the major companies offer internships and sandwich placements. There are pros and cons to large, medium and small hotel businesses, so it’s important to weigh them up and decide on the graduate employer that’s right for you.

What training will I receive?

Think about the graduate training and development opportunities you’d like from your graduate hotel management job. Are you the kind of person who would prefer a clear training schedule from the outset or a more flexible and tailored approach to career development? Some graduate schemes will include days of structured training workshops and group training exercises, whereas others incorporate ‘on-the-job’ training and development. If you like the idea of gaining a relevant management qualification, you could also look into employers that offer such opportunities as part of the training process. Other training and development aspects to consider when choosing an employer include mentoring and coaching opportunities and career progression.

What salary can I expect from my graduate job in hotel management?

Management roles vary across the sector and this is reflected in differences in salary, depending on the type of hotel and level of responsibility. You might be employed as a manager for a particular hotel service or function, or you could be a general manager overseeing all aspects of the business. As a guide, though, you could start your career in an assistant hotel manager role on between £19,000 and £23,000. There are prospects for salary raises and promotion in this area of work as you progress.

Some employers to consider for your graduate career in hotel management

• Clifton Hotels (owned by Quarter)
• Firmdale Hotels
• Hilton Worldwide
• Hyatt Hotels Corporation
• InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG)
• Marriott International
• Principal Hotels
• QHotels
• Red Carnation Hotels
• Thwaites Hotels & Spas
• Whitbread
• De Vere Hotels
• Mandarin Oriental
• Jurys Inn