Some industries require years of schooling or advanced degrees to make a career possible. But in hospitality, there are enormous opportunities to achieve career success simply by working hard and climbing the ranks.

In fact, one poll showed that over half of hotel managers started their careers in hourly, entry-level positions. And 90% of restaurant managers began their careers the same way. 

Whether you’re starting in hospitality part-time as a student or juggling a couple jobs to make ends meet, here are some tips to go from job-haver to career-builder. 

Make a Plan

All too often, we take a reactive approach to our careers rather than a proactive one. When you’re in the thick of things—work, hobbies, dating, raising a family, even day-to-day activities like cooking and cleaning—it’s all too easy to “go with the flow” instead of controlling your journey. 

Creating a career you love requires planning and strategy, just like achieving any other goal. If you’re currently in a part-time role, and you know that you want to be a hotel marketing manager, what’s the plan to get there? A great way to figure this out is to talk to someone who has already done it. Ask someone in your dream job if you can take them out for coffee or get 20 minutes of their time for a Zoom call. Have them walk you through their career path, so you can get an example blueprint. Yours may not look just like theirs, but it will give you a good starting point and show you what’s possible. Maybe a path you thought would take 4 years will actually take closer to 7. Now you know, and you can plan accordingly. 

Make Your Goals Clear

Some hospitality businesses operate with a small army of part-time employees on staff. When it’s time to promote someone to a full-time, career-track position, how will the decision-makers know that you’re interested?

You’ll have to tell them. Your supervisors should always be aware of your next ideal career move. They’re in a position to make it happen for you! Even if your preferred position isn’t available, they may be able to suggest a lateral position that will get you a bit closer to your goal. 

Highlight Your Transferable Skills

You may be at the start of your hospitality career, but that doesn’t mean you’re lacking in useful skills. If you’re transferring to hospitality after a career in another industry, you already have a wealth of experience that you can draw on. 

If you were a cashier in a retail setting, you have plenty of POS experience. If you worked in accounting, you’ll be a whiz at the numbers. Maybe you were a homemaker, and you’re a champion multi-tasker. Even recent high school or college graduates will have some skills they can draw on. Use these skills to excel in your part-time role. 

Perform to a High Standard

A part-time hospitality job is the first stop on your career path. So you need to give it adequate respect. Always arrive on time, ready to start working. Stay focused on your tasks, and follow through on every assignment. It sounds simple, but this is how you prove that you’re a reliable, dependable member of the team. 

Plus, a great attitude and enthusiasm for the work will go a long way to proving that you’re ready for more responsibility. 

Ask to Do More

Once you’ve mastered your job duties as a part-time employee, what else can you do? Ask your manager for a little more responsibility. This could include training new employees, managing inventory, or marketing tasks like helping with social media. 

Employees who ask to do more prove that they’re interested in more than just a job. They want to grow and evolve through their work—the very definition of a career. 

Prove You Want to Learn

Does your company offer continuing education opportunities? Take advantage of them! Attending classes or seminars will help you become a stronger employee and show your dedication to the industry.

You can also ask to cross-train in other departments. This will make you an even more valuable member of the team, as you’ll be able to help cover for other positions. And it will help boost your resume when it comes time to look for a new position. 

In short—prove that you want to turn hospitality into a career, even before you have a full-time industry job.

Network With Industry Contacts

For some, the transition from part-time to full-time employment will come within the same organization. For others, a shift to a new place of work will be necessary to find that first full-time, career-track position. 

Sites like Hcareers list thousands of full-time hospitality jobs each day. But a personal network is also a valuable resource for employment opportunities. Some positions never get listed on job sites at all and are instead filled through word-of-mouth and personal referrals. The more people you know in the hospitality industry, the more you increase the chances that you’ll spring to mind when a suitable position opens.