I did talk about my column right? after sharing the maiden post here is the second one.
In my second write
up, I wish to deliberate on the same topic as the last one, the hospitality
industry and the careers that it offers. As this is the time of the year when
the high school graduates are thinking of getting into different streams of
studies and dreaming of building successful careers ahead. I thought of sharing
with my readers a very important concern that comes up during my counselling
sessions- gender stereotypes! Not that I am a feminist who shouts from the
rooftop, but when it comes to dealing with concerned parents of youngsters who
are thinking of venturing into a career in the hospitality industry I get asked
often how the industry was for the girls.
I am a girl, of
course a lady now! Have been in the industry, for almost 18 years. Studied in a
hospitality college where the boys to girls ratio was 7:1 (most professional
courses show this kind of ratio), a hosteller while there, done my intern ship
of 6 months in the second year of college. I have worked in the hotel
operations for the first 4 years of my career before getting into academics and
after 6 years of that, I am back having one foot in the operations and the
other in teaching, learning and development. I haven’t experienced any bias
anywhere and the industry is very safe to work in. In fact hotels take great
care of their women team members. Within the hotel, which is a 24 hours
operation it’s absolute as safe as one’s own home. Women also need to work in
shifts but shifts are followed in such a manner that they change at convenient
hours such as the afternoon shift getting over at 9 pm. If a shift gets over
after 10 pm then the ladies are given a home drop in the hotel car.
In today’s’ day
and time most professions work round the clock so employees need to adapt to
the shifts concept, be it a hospital, a
hyper mall or a petrol pump. These places are also safe for women to work.
The opportunities that the hotel
industry offers are one of the best. Initially they may not be the best paying
but in the due course they are also equally challenging and rewarding. In fact
the merits are many such as working anywhere in the world, experiencing the
product and holiday plans with family being some of them.
Hospitality comes naturally to women,
so making a career in the industry can be utilizing their strengths to the
core. They also make great managers just like men. In my own experience I have
felt the privilege of being a woman at my work place. There is respect, caring
and the challenge of walking shoulder to shoulder with the men.
Gender equity is the concept to
follow and not gender bias! So hop on and get to know more about the
hospitality industry and the career it offers, it’s your passport to the world.
With the idea of attracting the
people with the right attitude and make informed decision about studying Hospitality Management or
taking up careers in the industry, The Apeejay Institute of Hospitality has organized a free
experiential workshop at its campus every Wednesday. Students can enroll in
this work shop and experience a feel of the industry as well as get counseling
from the experts.
The readers are welcome to send in
their queries at connect@aih.edu.in , we’ll
try our best to address each one of them. Work shop Contact No. 9987178045
Will have my columns posted here on my blog too! What do you think of it?
No comments:
Post a Comment