Travel and tourism

Travel and tourism is a sector with job opportunities largely open to graduates and non-graduates alike. For the roles that do require a degree, you’ll typically need at least a 2.2. Often, you can enter this sector with any degree, although some employers might prefer subjects such as management, hospitality, linguistics or international studies, for example.

When applying for jobs in travel and tourism, it’s your skills and attributes that are most important. The good news is that you don’t need to work abroad to gain these skills. They’re all transferable, meaning they can be picked up from alternative work experience, extracurricular activities or other areas of your life. Roles sometimes require foreign language abilities – or can at least be made more accessible by possessing them. Click the read more button to find out the top skills for travel and tourism jobs.

Even if you have a relevant degree, having work experience on your CV is going to play a large part in getting a job in travel and tourism. As a student or recent graduate, you can secure a part-time or gap-year role in hospitality, travel and tourism – for example, as a hotel assistant, chamber person, bar person or local tour guide. Alternatively, you can seek a customer-facing role in any sector, particularly in sales.

You might decide to gain work experience overseas – this will demonstrate to employers a genuine interest in the sector and allow you to explore which areas you enjoy.

Although less common, you can also look for formal student opportunities in the industry, such as summer internships and placement years.

You’ll need to submit an initial application form – which may include attaching a CV and cover letter – and attend at least one interview for any travel and tourism role you apply for. If applying to a large travel and tourism employer or a formal graduate scheme, you can also expect to undertake psychometric tests, video interviews and assessment centres .