Is experience in one sector transferable to the other? Our expert gives his opinion?
The issue
I've been working in the restaurant industry for ten years and am currently the restaurant manager of a brasserie. I've been in this job for two years and with the company for three-and-a-half years.
I'd quite like to move into hotels, but find that most of the adverts for managers ask for previous experience in hotels, which I don't have. I have a degree in travel and tourism management, though.
What do you think I need to do? Also, the hours of working in a restaurant are starting to take a toll on my life, yet I haven't seen any managerial jobs that require you to do less than 40 hours a week. I feel that I have become stuck in a rut.
Expert answer
David Goldfarb, director at Mayday Executive, replies:
Your tone is quite negative, so make sure that you are not giving out negative signals to potential employers.
Take action
- Join a recruitment consultancy. In my experience I haven't found it a problem to place motivated and commercially-minded restaurant managers into hotels. Sign up with some of the agencies that specialise in hospitality to increase your chances of success.
- If the long hours are really getting you down, consider working in contract catering. This would allow you to stay in the industry, yet work more civilised hours.