5 Reasons the Hospitality Industry is a Viable Career Path for Millennials

5 Reasons the Hospitality Industry is a Viable Career Path for Millennials

It used to be that men and women in their twenties would work in the hospitality industry only as a temporary job, something to get them through college or to help them transition from part-time work to their “real job”. But things are changing. 

Many millennials are discovering that the hospitality industry is actually a great place to launch their careers. If you’re trying to figure out your career path, or are a manager working on a hiring plan, here are 5 reasons why the hospitality industry is a viable career option for millennials.

1. Social engagement

Contrary to the seemingly obsessive nature with all things technological, members of the millennial generation actually thrive when they are in social situations. The hospitality industry suits this desire for making personal connections and allows for networking opportunities that lead to possible new employment opportunities or social functions.

Many millennials do not want to be tied down to a computer all day long–they would rather spend their day having meaningful interactions. Which is exactly what you would encounter when working in hospitality.

2. We are motivated by our passions, not money

Millennials are unique in many ways, including the desire to have a fulfilling career instead of just working for a paycheck. Millennials are more likely than any other generation to turn down a higher paying job if it isn’t going to fulfill them on a personal level.

The hospitality industry isn’t exactly known for paying out maximum incomes, but it is known for providing a place where workers can grow and thrive. As an industry that provides a work/life balance, a livable wage and an opportunity to continue learning, this could be the right place for you!

The hospitality industry suits our desire for making personal connections and allows for networking opportunities that lead to possible new employment opportunities

3. We want to grow in our careers

Millennials don’t expect to work for one company for 45 years and then retire, like previous generations did. In fact 91% stated they plan on staying at their current employment less than three years. The key here is that they don’t necessarily want to switch companies. They want to grow in their careers, and in many industries, they just can’t do that at one company.

The hospitality industry, though, can be different. There are a wide range of professional opportunities within the hospitality industry that foster professional growth (i.e. Management, Marketing, HR, etc.)

4. We are engaged with what’s happening online

Millennials are very comfortable with technology and interact with it on a daily basis. This can be a huge gain for the hospitality industry, which is starting to catch up to other industries when it comes to being tech-savvy. Millennials can help the hospitality industry move forward technologically by being tuned into how people are using social media, reviews and apps to find restaurants and hotels.

Being tech-savvy can work to your advantage. Especially if you are seeking opportunities in marketing or social media management within the hospitality industry.

Forget everything you read about millennials being a “me” generation. When it comes down to it, we genuinely care about the world and they want to help people.

5. We want to help people

Forget everything you read about millennials being a “me” generation. When it comes down to it, we genuinely care about the world and have a need to help people. We want a rewarding career that allows us to give back to our community. Millennials are not clock-watchers — we don’t want to punch in at 8 and out at 5 just in the name of getting a paycheck.

Motivated millennial employees can take your restaurant, bar or hotel to the next level with their social understanding and tech skills, so don’t underestimate them. And if you’re a millennial employee, don’t underestimate the career opportunities that await you in the hospitality industry. This is a great industry that supports the quality of life that most of us want to have outside of work due to the non-traditional work schedule and the opportunities to make a livable wage. 

You might also like…

6 Signs That You Should Quit Your Job

6 Signs That You Should Quit Your Job

Staying in the same job offers comfort and consistency, but many workers outgrow their position, lack room for advancement and miss out on potential career opportunities. Could this be you? Read on to find out the 6 Signs That You Should Quit Your Job!

read more
7 Ways To Save Food From Landfills

7 Ways To Save Food From Landfills

The US wastes about 30% to 40% of the food supply, and that uneaten food goes right to landfills, where it produces methane gas and takes up space. How you decide to stop food waste is up to you; just remember that every little bit counts.

read more

Experience Sirvo for yourself

Sign up now to find hospitality jobs and hire top industry talent.
Hotels: A Great Place to Start or Advance Your Career

Hotels: A Great Place to Start or Advance Your Career

If you’re interested in a career in the hospitality industry, a hotel is an excellent place to start. There is a very wide range of entry-level positions that can lead to mid/upper level professional positions. Let’s take a look at the general entry-level jobs available and the possible paths of advancement that each one offers.

Desk Clerk

A hotel desk clerk works a basic, fairly low-impact customer service position that isn’t difficult to get into. Some hotels may ask for prior related hospitality experience or a high school diploma. Very rarely do hotels require any higher education or formal training.

This is a very good position to advance into management as you’ll rapidly learn the hotel’s day-to-day operations. If you’re considering pursuing a career in accounting, another interesting branch is to work as a night auditor. This overnight job retains the functions of the front desk clerk, but with less incoming traffic during the shift, the rest of the time is spent preparing the daily revenue and room occupancy reports.

Hotels have a wide variety of departments…

Administrative Assistant

Hotels have a wide variety of departments in which they require administrative assistants; accounting, development, human resources, legal, marketing, etc. This is yet another area that enables you to quickly learn about day-to-day operations and has room for advancement to a variety of other departments.

Depending on the complexity of the job, the educational requirement for an administrative assistant may be anything from a high school diploma to a related bachelor’s degree. It is a job that can potentially be obtained without prior experience.

Accounting

Accounting work doesn’t differ much in a hotel from what is done pretty much everywhere else; hotel accountants will process financial data, prepare regular reports, manage payroll and conduct audits among other duties. Opportunities exist not just at individual hotels, but at the corporate offices of chains as well. Duties can expand to working with investments, strategic initiatives and business case recommendations.

Opportunities exist not just at individual hotels, but at the corporate offices of chains as well…

Areas to potentially move up include real estate, the supply chain and management of individual hotel locations or regions. These positions will usually require a degree, but there are plenty of entry-level opportunities for new graduates.

Marketing

Marketing is another area in which jobs are available both at the independent and corporate level. Opportunities are particularly rich for those who speak another language and have a deep understanding of cultures that a hotel brand is expanding into.

This position requires a degree, but a wide range of communications, psychology or social studies bachelor’s degrees are often sufficient to secure an entry-level position.

There are plenty of opportunities to advance in a hotel.

Food Service

Most of the world’s top chefs pass through a hotel or resort at one point or another in their careers. This is a great breeding ground for chefs looking to learn traditional cooking techniques.

There are plenty of opportunities to advance in a hotel kitchen and often all it takes is a little luck and timing. Craft your trade, learn from those around you, play your cards right and you may become the next executive chef.

A lot of people do not always look to hotels as having a plethora of professional opportunities. Hopefully, this blog has opened your eyes to some of the paths forward as you look to develop professionally. Regardless of what career path calls out to you, a series of hotel positions always looks great on a resume.

You might also like…

6 Signs That You Should Quit Your Job

6 Signs That You Should Quit Your Job

Staying in the same job offers comfort and consistency, but many workers outgrow their position, lack room for advancement and miss out on potential career opportunities. Could this be you? Read on to find out the 6 Signs That You Should Quit Your Job!

read more
7 Ways To Save Food From Landfills

7 Ways To Save Food From Landfills

The US wastes about 30% to 40% of the food supply, and that uneaten food goes right to landfills, where it produces methane gas and takes up space. How you decide to stop food waste is up to you; just remember that every little bit counts.

read more

Experience Sirvo for yourself

Sign up now to find hospitality jobs and hire top industry talent.
How to Choose a Memorable Name For Your Restaurant

How to Choose a Memorable Name For Your Restaurant

You’ve readied your space, hired your staff and now the only thing standing between you and opening night is thinking of a great restaurant name. It’s almost like naming your baby… with a few big differences. Name your kid Apple, and you get a few eye-rolls from the adults in the playground. Name your restaurant Rat’s Nest Kitchen, and you just lost whatever money you invested. So how do you go about choosing the right name for your restaurant?

Good characteristics for names

A good name for a business has a couple of traits. Remember that it is all about branding and you want to choose a name that will be easy for your guests to remember. No one wants to be known as “That one place with the sandwiches”. Make it is easy to spell too, so that people can write about you. Keep it simple and choose a name that can possibly be utilized effectively as you potentially grow someday.

The most important part of a good name is that it targets the audience you want to draw. You’ll need to research your potential clientele to find out what will make a good impression on them before thinking up names.

Your restaurant, like your baby, needs a good name.

Location is a great starting place

People who love your town will appreciate a place named after it or some piece of their history. Visitors will like the historic appeal and may even come to conclusions about the historical importance of your establishment, even if there isn’t much past the use of the name. In other words, choose a timeless name.

You can take the location inspiration in many directions. For example, The French Laundry got its name from the French Steam laundry that was housed in the same building in the 19th century. Go ahead and dig deep in local color. It’ll do your name good.

Keep the theme in mind

Have you ever seen a Chinese Restaurant named Joe’s? No, and you won’t because a restaurant serving ethnic food wants potential customers to know what they are in for. Your restaurant’s name should reflect the theme of your business. The name is the first impression people get, and you want it to be accurate.

Keep it simple and choose a name that can possibly be utilized effectively as you potentially grow someday.

… And the cuisine

While naming your pizzeria Pepperoni Pizza With A Soda may be a bit restrictive, calling it Just Pizzas is pretty effective. It may even help in marketing your brand, as it tells the customer exactly what to expect from the menu. A vegetarian will know to avoid something with ‘steakhouse’ in the name, and people in the mood for tacos will gravitate toward a restaurant named ‘taqueria.’

Use personal inspiration

A common naming trope is to use the name of the person who inspired the owner. For instance, Wendy’s was named after the owner’s daughter. Naming your restaurant after a loved one makes for a great advertising hook, and people will eat up the story along with the food.

You can also name it after a time or place that holds personal meaning or your favorite play on words. Everybody loves a joke, and puns work on many levels. It conveys a relaxed attitude, and it puts people In a sunny mood. It also gives you a chance to get creative.

What to avoid

For both legal and branding reasons, you will want to avoid trademarked names. You’ll confuse customers and get yourself sued.

As a general rule, run potential names past other people and look to their reactions.

As a general rule, you should run potential names past other people and see their reactions. They will think of associations that you might have missed. Plenty of people have come up with what they thought were lovely names, only to have everybody assume they were insulting someone or referencing something off-color. Getting input from peers or local industry leaders keeps you from getting embarrassed later.

Your restaurant, like your baby, needs a good name. Your restaurant needs a name it can stick with for life. Take the time to research the market, brainstorm ideas, and test it on people. Getting the right name will be worth every minute. 

You might also like…

15 Employee Appreciation Ideas that Won’t Break the Bank

15 Employee Appreciation Ideas that Won’t Break the Bank

Sometimes all it takes to make an employee love coming to work is to show them a little appreciation. So how do you show the love? From BINGO to discounts and pizza – we’ve taken the guesswork out of it with 15 employee appreciation ideas that won’t break the bank!

read more
Restaurant Delivery Is On The Rise

Restaurant Delivery Is On The Rise

Restaurants have unexpectedly found themselves in the middle of a recession. For whatever reason, people just aren’t eating out anymore. In order to remain competitive, many restaurants are finding that restaurant delivery is the best way to keep their corner of the market – but is it right for you?

read more
New Ruling on Tips in Colorado

New Ruling on Tips in Colorado

A recent Tenth Circuit Court case decision changes the rules on tips depending on if you take the tip credit or not. Our friends at The Colorado Restaurant Association are on top of the story but due to the complexity of this issue, we suggest you read the full story here before acting!

read more

Experience Sirvo for yourself

Sign up now to find hospitality jobs and hire top industry talent.
Sirvo Says: 5 Denver Restaurant “Hidden Gems”

Sirvo Says: 5 Denver Restaurant “Hidden Gems”

Whether you’ve just arrived in Denver or have been here for some time, there are a few spots in town that only a few of us know about. Most of these places have been around the Denver scene for some time and if they haven’t, they sure feel like they have. We have compiled a short list of establishments that would be great for entertaining friends from out of town, taking your S.O. to or checking out alone on those days you are feeling adventurous. We present for you, Sirvo Says: 5 Hidden Denver Restaurant “Hidden Gems”.  

1. Potager

Potager is the creation of Chef Teri Rippeto and her father Tom. This lovely establishment has been one of the best restaurants in Denver since 1997. Long before the farm to table trends that have hit the local (or even national) scene, this garden-inspired menu changes with the seasons and utilizes those fresh seasonal ingredients in an awe inspiring and delectable way. Part of their vision states, “It is crucially important that we do something we feel good about, everyday”. This bodes true for rest of us when trying to find that perfect place to dine. Potager is located in the Cap Hill neighborhood at 1109 Ogden, Denver CO 80218.

2. Devil’s Food

Devil’s Food, what a name! There is nothing evil about this lovely Wash Park establishment, it is more heavenly and charming than anything else. While the neighborhood may be a bit “upscale”, the interior of Devil’s Food is everything but. They first opened their doors in 1999 and it is definitely the type of restaurant one seeks out when they are looking for a place that has a little character. They recently just added onto their location at 1020 South Gaylord, Denver CO 80209, where they will be one part bakery and one part restaurant. Keep in mind, there may be a line if you choose to go there for brunch. So worth it…

3. Ernie’s Bar & Pizza

Established in 1948, Ernie’s Bar & Pizza is a throwback with a contemporary twist. This pizza establishment features fresh made dough and mozzarella that add a unique flavor to their delicious pizza. Selected by the Westword in 2015 as Denver’s Best NY Style Pizza, Ernie’s does not disappoint. Not only do they have 30 beers on tap, but they also infuse their own whiskey. Located in the Sunnyside neighborhood at 2915 W 44th Ave. Denver, CO 80211, Ernie’s is worth the visit for pizza lovers and is a great place to entertain friends or family. 

4. Solitaire

Say it’s your anniversary and you are trying to find the perfect place to go that has great food and a romantic atmosphere, Solitaire is the place you are looking for. Nestled in the Highlands neighborhood at 927 W 32nd Ave, Denver, CO 80212, this wonderful restaurant has only graced our presence since 2015. The service is hospitable and the Charred Spanish Octopus is almost reason enough to go. Chef/Owner Mark Ferguson overtook the space when a former Denver restaurant hidden gem, Highland’s Garden Cafe, closed its doors after 20 years.

5. Adrift Tiki Bar

Recently purchased by the owners of Little Man Ice Cream (a not so hidden gem), Adrift Tiki Bar residing at 218 S Broadway, Denver, CO 80209, is quite the restaurant for those looking for a unique experience within the Denver dining scene. With an exotic ambiance and a cache of rum based cocktails, Adrift is one of a kind. It’s dark, it’s got an island vibe and the Polynesian/Hawaiian themed menu is to die for. Adrift reminds us of how lucky we are to live in such a wonderful city, with an eclectic and thriving food culture. 

We here at Sirvo are in love with Denver and enjoy exploring all of the different places there are to eat and drink in town. The hospitality scene (especially locally) is growing fast and is a great industry for those seeking a job that supports a work/life balance. Head to our job board to see all of our open listings and then set a date to visit all of these hidden gems!

You might also like…

Experience Sirvo for yourself

Sign up now to find hospitality jobs and hire top industry talent.

How to Prep Your Restaurant for the Holiday Season

How to Prep Your Restaurant for the Holiday Season

This time of year everybody’s thinking about how to hire restaurant staff in time to be ready for the holiday season. While you are getting your hiring program in gear, there other steps to take now to satisfy holiday demand spikes.

Encourage early bookings

Market your special services early, and provide incentives to clients to get their orders in as soon as possible. Tell everybody that you are ready to take early orders and will offer coupons with serious discounts for comfortably early bookings. If your catering program racks up extra reservations, you have time to staff properly.

Earlier catering orders from your customers will allow strategic moves such as staffing additions, schedule changes and supply sourcing.

Promote early using the social media tools that your community prefers. (Thinking of expanding into another social platform? Do that early, too!) Mention that you offer 10% off on early reservations for holiday party catering on your printed menus and add the pitch to your recorded phone messages, too.

Use annual trends to plan ahead

Yes, you must hire enough people and give them enough time to learn your systems. When restaurant guests wait for long stretches to place an order because you provide only one waiter on a shopping weekend, there’s a possibility that they’ll never come return to your establishment. Understaffed restaurants do significant damage to their brands.

Having those year to year records to compare makes your judgment call much easier. If you know from annual trends that you will need a certain level of help for the holiday season, you can line up quality seasonal staff by starting outreach early.

Understaffed restaurants do significant damage to their brands.

If you have been in business for under a year, or have been open at a particular location for less than a year, be bold and invest in generous holiday season customer service. You can cut back next year, but you may not be able to make up for the diminished reputation that a bad holiday experience can engender.

Start hiring earlier rather than later

Now that you’ve started planning for the holiday season, you should have a better idea of how much additional staff you’ll need and when you’ll need it, so don’t wait until the last minute to actually get the word out.

Also, decide what channels you’ll be using to hire. Online hiring platforms, like Sirvo, are great because they’re easy to use and can increase your reach to potential candidates. Not to mention, having a talent library to search through can help you, the employer, be proactive during the process.

Prevent your staff from getting in the weeds

During heavy demand, your staff will walk a tightrope, having to balance providing great service with turning tables quickly. Conflicting impulses and tired shoppers can create stress and alienation among your servers.

For exceptionally busy times, consider offering a shorter holiday menu to make decisions easier

You can help prevent holiday burnout and even address slowed service during a rush with just a few suggestions to your staff. For example, encourage servers to make compelling verbal suggestions when or even before a menu is presented. For exceptionally busy times, consider offering a shorter holiday menu to make decisions easier.

Keep the kitchen stocked

Running out of advertised dishes is never the mark of a solid restaurant operation, but it is much worse at the time of special splurges and meaningful holiday meals.

Keep a healthy inventory, and don’t run out of your signature dishes. Ordering what you need for increased demand will instill confidence and show that you take the season seriously.

Your employees want to make a good living in a good restaurant. Providing them what they need to keep your holiday diners smiling will help everybody win.

You might also like…

15 Employee Appreciation Ideas that Won’t Break the Bank

15 Employee Appreciation Ideas that Won’t Break the Bank

Sometimes all it takes to make an employee love coming to work is to show them a little appreciation. So how do you show the love? From BINGO to discounts and pizza – we’ve taken the guesswork out of it with 15 employee appreciation ideas that won’t break the bank!

read more
Restaurant Delivery Is On The Rise

Restaurant Delivery Is On The Rise

Restaurants have unexpectedly found themselves in the middle of a recession. For whatever reason, people just aren’t eating out anymore. In order to remain competitive, many restaurants are finding that restaurant delivery is the best way to keep their corner of the market – but is it right for you?

read more
New Ruling on Tips in Colorado

New Ruling on Tips in Colorado

A recent Tenth Circuit Court case decision changes the rules on tips depending on if you take the tip credit or not. Our friends at The Colorado Restaurant Association are on top of the story but due to the complexity of this issue, we suggest you read the full story here before acting!

read more

Experience Sirvo for yourself

Sign up now to find hospitality jobs and hire top industry talent.