What are employers in the Hospitality, Tourism, Events Industry Looking For?

This was a post by Joan L. Eisenstodt on the MIForum (Meetings Industry Forum). This post contains a lot of good information on what employers are looking for in potential candidates in our industry, as well as, some of the hot topics of today that potential job candidates should do research on. If you would like to see the entire post CLICK HERE.

The MIForum is a great place to find information on our industry and discuss between professionals. If you would like to access MIForum CLICK HERE.

Topics Covered:
1) What the appropriate training or life experiences are to get into this industry.

2) If there is too much 101 v. exploration, etc.

3) The CORE knowledge base for our industry.

1. As I've helped clients over many years identify the qualities and skills desired in those being interviewed for positions in meetings departments and when we've interviewed people for those jobs, there are some things that stand out:

• Desire to learn demonstrated by what the person reads, watches, listens to;
• Inquiring mind demonstrated by the research the person has done about the company or organization with whom they are interviewing and the questions asked;
• The ability to communicate demonstrated by written and verbal communications;
• Broader knowledge of the world of business and the world demonstrated by the knowledge of what's in the news and the impact on our industry/the work to be done.
• What other experiences they've had. (Those experiences do NOT have to be in this industry or even a related one - life experiences can lead to great successes depending on the experiences and what one has learned.)

For those who have been in the industry even a short time, there are different questions and a different look:

• How have they continued learning (This goes even more for those who have achieved a CMP, CMM, MTA, or any advanced certification or degree. )

2. There is never enough 101! I am heartsick that MPI has suspended (for this year they say) MPI's Institute program this year. There are virtually NO "101" programs being done at industry meetings (other than brief sessions at Affordable Meetings) or by industry organizations. As the "Queen of the Basics" along with sharing the crown w/ Vicky Betzig, we KNOW there are many who need to know the basics - and who need to brush up on the basics. The turnover in our industry is high and many people continue to enter this industry … including those who have graduated from a degree program but may not have received the anecdotal learning they also need.

We need to broaden how "101" is taught, providing more experiential learning. Years ago, when Dolce Conf. Centers had a great "101" 2 day program, and when PCMA did "The College of Meeting Knowledge" and before that, the "PCMA/Sheraton Showcases", and the early days of MPI's Institutes, and GWSAE and ASAE did similar programs, we DID experiential learning - hands-on site inspections, hands-on plating of food, presentations to show what was learned and to help people build confidence in their presentation skills.

3. The core knowledge base for our industry is more difficult to pin down. We, on the planner side, often miss the core knowledge of how our industry partners operate and thus think that we 'should' get more when we negotiate; most have so little knowledge about language let alone contract language that so many things are missed. Business partners (and MANY planners) are missing what we (you and I, Everett) know about adult learning and how room sets and the impact of where a meeting is held on outcomes. There is so much more. I've not even touched risk management issues or nutrition and food allergy issues and on and on.

Yes, I concur with Newt Gingrich that most of what I learned, was by 8th grade and my life experiences enhanced what I had as basic knowledge. Yet, my basic education by 8th grade also included reading and listening to news, discussing world events and so on. In today's world, the internet allows the 'haves' to gain knowledge so easily.

Few use it.