What are the positive and negatives of working in the Hospitality and Management field?

Well..as you amy already know this industry is very different from other industries and career fields. I've been working and interning in this industry for over 4 years now and from my personal experience, I would say some positives about the hospitality industry are the customer/ guest relations you develop, the benefits of working at a hotel/restaurant and the career growth option. Working at a hotel/restaurant gives you the option and opportunity to grow whether you want to eventually move up to a manager position at the hotel or restaurant or even invest. This industry is a very interesting industry, but one thing I can say about this industry is that it's never boring, dry or dull. This industry is not all positive and good, so some negatives about this industry would have to be how the industry is always interchanging within and this industry can sometimes be a tad bit stressful and upsetting. I would say this industry has more positives than negatives and I wouldn't change anything about my career choice. Expect this industry to change and be a tad bit stressful, but also expect meeting and getting to know new people and network with a lot of other business professionals who are in this industry and who are not in the industry or career field. Again, I hope my advice I just gave you helps you out somewhat and prepares you for this career field.

Good afternoon Bailey,

As you've chosen the hospitality industry, I hope you like dealing with people...it's really fun, challenging and rewarding....that said, it can also be difficult, demanding and frustrating, as can any career. While there are many technical aspects in the industry you've chosen, in many instances, you'll be interacting with the people who work with you, for you and whom you work for.....it reality, it's all about the people. The "stuff" is the easy part.

One disadvantage is that when everyone you know is on Holiday, you'll probably be working, and, you'll probably start working other than traditional hours, especially when you start..

As the hospitality industry takes care of people (food, shelter, transportation,services), you'll get to meet and interact with a swath of humanity.....my experience is that most of it is positive.

Some people cannot, and will not be satisfied. It is important not to take adverse situations personally. It will take some practice to get through this phase and yet it is particularly satisfying when "you pull the rabbit out of the hat" and get done what you didn't think you could. I have "fired" a customer or two over my years of service, however, that is indeed a very rare occasion..

Every day is different...it should not be boring as all people have different needs and requirements...and hopefully you'll be the person who facilitates the path to satisfaction. You'll learn about different cultures, traditions and points of view.

When I ran a large customer service operation I had what I referred to as a "service authority"...it went something like this...In the realm of Customer Service; there is no rule, policy or procedure that 
takes the place of good common sense as defined by you,  the person in charge at the  time; the good manager will back your judgment at least until it is proven to be  faulty. So act, do what’s best for the customer and the company, sort out the pieces   later. People who are thus empowered will do the right things 99% of the  time. The results of this mindset were extraordinary. It also helps to be right and know that you have the backing to apply this philosophy.

The real negatives......you'll figure that out according to the organization you join.

Good Luck,

Don Knapik

Hi Bailey,
I have been in this sphere not for long, just a couple a years, a few years of working at a hotel and now I am studying at Les Roches Chicago (http://chicago.lesroches.edu/) for bachelor degree in international hospitality management. Still, I guess I've already figured out the pros and cons of choosing this career path.
Positives:
- You meet knew people every day and get to work with people from various cultures and backgrounds. If that is what you enjoy, you'll enjoy the job.
- Hospitality is a paradise for perfectionists. If you are crazy about doing everything the best way possible, this is the field where you will thrive.
- I don't know how others feel about this particular aspect of working in hospitality, but I actually have a feeling that I'm personally responsible for the impression people who visit the place I'm working at get about the United States and the city in particular. That's what makes me proud of my job.
- Hospitality offers lots of oportunities for travel: you can transfer to work either in other part of the country or even to another country. With the necessary skills acquired and basic knowledge of the local language (since you already know English), you can find job almost anywhere in the world.
- Endless opportunities for promotion and career growth. Sometimes it doesn't even take a degree to get a high management position. Besides, there are so many jobs in hospitality that you can kind of shop around for a while to find what suits you best. Besides, the sphere is ever evolving, so if you're good at your job, no matter the state of the local economy, you'll never be out of job offers.
Negatives:
- Weird schedules. Sometimes you'll be up on your feet for over 12 hours straight. Imagine what kind of challenge it is for your feet and back. And don't forget night shifts. Ugh!
- You can't ever get up on the wrong side of the bed. You should always be ready to smile and never be grouchy or in a bad mood. Well, for me it actually kind of a plus. If something bad happens, work is what makes me pull myself together and keeps me distracted.
- People will be mean to you sometimes. That's unavoidable, just grin and bear. It is just that you can't be able to do anything about it, just make all you can to make the guest happy.
Hope that'll help! Anyway, it's up to you to decide which will outweigh the other. Good luck to you!

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The hospitality industry is a great place to meet a very diverse clientele. I met people from all over the world, and got to learn about how our culture in the US varied from other countries. I love the face to face interactions and the ability to "make someone's day" or "provide the wedding of their dreams". One thing that can be very challenging is the hours...you definitely work all hours and all days, especially nights/weekends/holidays, which can be very challenging when you have a family or want to do things on the weekends with your friends.