news

Why a career in hospitality is the “perfect choice”

28 Jul 2011

Glasgow Service with Style is keen to encourage more people to take up the opportunity of a career in tourism and hospitality. The options and choice for working in this industry are hugely diverse – and also extremely rewarding. But still people need to be convinced of this career path. Some believe that the wages and working conditions are not for them, but for many of those who do work in tourism and hospitality in Glasgow, the opposite is true. 
We talked to Angus Porter, a 26-year-old xxx at the Radisson Blue Hotel in Glasgow to find out more about why he believes he’s make a great career choice.
Angus, who went to high school in Paisley, says: “When I left school and headed off to university in Dundee I had no idea that I’d end up working in a hotel as a xxx. It just wasn’t something I’d thought of – and I didn’t realise just how many different jobs there were available.
“I did have lots of part-time jobs throughout my years at school and at university and this gave me the chance to find out more about what I liked and what I was good at. I realised that I like working with people and dealing face-to-face with customers.
“I enjoyed a few positions in restaurants and bars, working as a barman and waiter, and so I decided to go to college to train as a chef. 
“It was while at the Glasgow Metropolitan College tat I saw a poster advertising a job in the Radisson SAS Glasgow. 
 
“Initially I still had my heart set on becoming a chef at the Radisson but to start with I worked in Meetings & Events as an F&B Assistant. It was here that I really found my forte with dealing with guests.
“I progressed on to working the bar at the hotel and managed to get myself to the unofficial title of bar supervisor. After working my way up to operations supervisor I was approached to transfer to the restaurant as a service manager. Then a job opened up as the Assistant Restaurant Manager, which is how I came to the position that I hold today.
“I really enjoy my work and for me hospitality is the perfect industry because it’s a very sociable job. It is always changing and no shifts are ever the same. 
“In hospitality you get to meet such a diverse and varied bunch of people, which is always exciting. It is also a very friendly atmosphere that is created within hospitality, because we are always trying to create the perfect night out for our guests and being a part of that is very rewarding. 
“I think that I am suited to this type of work because I am a very sociable person, which is what hospitality is all about. At the end of the day, our guests are looking to enjoy themselves whether it be on a business trip or a weekend away, and being able to judge and anticipate what a guest is after or what their needs will be is something I think I am able to do.”
Angus has also benefited from the Glasgow Service with Style training days. 
He says: “The GSWS sessions have been a big helping hand in my progression and overall work ethos. It is always refreshing to hear other people’s stories and attitudes towards their career paths and what helped them along the way. 
“The sessions are always a good opportunity to share stories and a great way of networking and building bridges between people who share the same ideas. 
“The first training I attended was a day session, which took place in the Radisson itself. The workshop was very informative and I got to meet people from all different aspects of hospitality who I still keep in touch with today.”
We also asked if Angus would encourage others to choose a similar career?
He says: “Most definitely. It is a very rewarding, ever-changing industry and offers so many new challenges and rewards. It is always growing and hospitality brings out the best in people. 
“In particular I enjoy working at the front of house and it is a fantastic feeling when you contribute to a guest’s night out and feel that you are making that guest’s stay memorable. There are always rewards to helping a guest with any situation that arises and creating something special for someone.”
Angus has hopes of continuing his career in the hospitality industry. 
He says: “I hope to be able to progress through the levels of management to either get to a higher position within the Radisson and move abroad to continue my career, or take what I have learned from this particular restaurant and maybe open my own place somewhere. I hope to stay within this industry and look forward to whatever challenges it brings.”  

Glasgow Service with Style is keen to encourage more people to take up the opportunity of a career in tourism and hospitality. The options and choice for working in this industry are hugely diverse – and also extremely rewarding. But still people need to be convinced of this career path. Some believe that the wages and working conditions are not for them, but for many of those who do work in tourism and hospitality in Glasgow, the opposite is true. 

We talked to Angus Porter, a 26-year-old  Assistant Restaurant Manager at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow, to find out more about why he believes he’s made a great career choice.

Angus, who went to high school in Paisley, says: “When I left school and headed off to university in Dundee I had no idea that I’d end up working in a hotel as Assistant Restaurant Manager. It just wasn’t something I’d thought of – and I didn’t realise just how many different jobs there were available.

“I did have lots of part-time jobs throughout my years at school and at university and this gave me the chance to find out more about what I liked and what I was good at. I realised that I like working with people and dealing face-to-face with customers.

“I enjoyed a few positions in restaurants and bars, working as a barman and waiter, and so I decided to go to college to train as a chef. 

“It was at the Glasgow Metropolitan College that I saw a poster advertising a job in the Radisson SAS Glasgow. 

“Initially I still had my heart set on becoming a chef at the Radisson but to start with I worked in Meetings & Events as an F&B Assistant. It was here that I really found my forte in dealing with guests.

“I progressed on to working in the bar at the hotel and managed to get myself the unofficial title of bar supervisor. After working my way up to operations supervisor I was approached to transfer to the restaurant as a service manager. Then a job opened up as the Assistant Restaurant Manager."

Every day is different and the work is rewarding

Angus enjoys his work because the work is sociable and always different on every shift. 

He says: “In hospitality you get to meet such a diverse and varied bunch of people, which is exciting. It is also a very friendly atmosphere that is created within hospitality because we are always trying to create the perfect night out for our guests and being a part of that is very rewarding. 

“I think that I am suited to this type of work because I am a very sociable person, which is what hospitality is all about. At the end of the day, our guests are looking to enjoy themselves whether it be on a business trip or a weekend away, and being able to judge and anticipate what a guest is after or what their needs will be is something I think I am able to do.”

The benefits of Glasgow Service with Style 

Angus says he has learned a lot through the Glasgow Service with Style training days. He says: “The GSWS sessions have been a big helping hand in my progression and overall work ethos. It is always refreshing to hear other people’s stories and attitudes towards their career paths and what helped them along the way. 

“The sessions are always a good opportunity to share stories and a great way of networking and building bridges between people who share the same ideas. 

“The first training I attended was a (Glasgow Welcomes) day session, which took place in the Radisson itself. The workshop was very informative and I got to meet people from all different aspects of hospitality who I still keep in touch with today.”

An exciting and rewarding career for so many people

We also asked if Angus would encourage others to choose a similar career? He says: “Most definitely. It is a very rewarding, ever-changing industry and offers so many new challenges and rewards. It is always growing and hospitality brings out the best in people. 

“In particular I enjoy working at the front of house and it is a fantastic feeling when you contribute to a guest’s night out and feel that you are making that guest’s stay memorable. There are always rewards to helping a guest with any situation that arises and creating something special for someone.”

Angus has hopes of continuing his career in the hospitality industry. 

He says: “I hope to be able to progress through the levels of management to either get to a higher position within the Radisson and move abroad to continue my career, or take what I have learned from this particular restaurant and maybe open my own place somewhere. I hope to stay within this industry and look forward to whatever challenges it brings.”  

To find out more about a career in tourism and hospitality in Glasgow, whether you're a school leaver, at college or university or considering a career change why not take a look around the Glasgow Service with Style website?