JESLYN Tan surprised many people when she decided to pursue a degree in International Hospitality at Taylor’s University.
“They thought I should study mass communications or marketing instead, as I am too talkative and hot-tempered,” she said.
However, Tan is convinced that she has picked the right course as she gets to face tests and challenges that help to temper her personality.
“I’ve been learning to communicate more effectively, and to work well within a team,” she said.
“I have also gained much valuable insight into the way a hotel is run. There is so much going on to make everything work that guests are not aware of.”
Tracia Chan, from KDU University College, had initially planned to major in the fine arts. Her father, who is working in the tourism industry, suggested that she try out the culinary arts instead.
Both Tan and Chan were among some 500 students from hospitality schools in the Klang Valley who turned up for a career fair at the KL Hilton, as part of Hilton Worldwides Youth in Hospitality Month.
The event, which saw the participation of some 500 students from hospitality schools in the Klang Valley, was jointly organised by staff from Hilton properties in Malaysia and showcased the opportunities available in the hospitality industry.
There were also competitions which gave contestants an opportunity to develop their skills and creativity in a variety of food and beverage (F&B) disciplines.
In its 2013 report on global employment trends for youth, the International Labour Organisation estimated that about 74 million youth worldwide were unemployed, and nearly a quarter of the world's youth neither working nor studying.
The World Travel and Tourism Council, in a paper released last year, found that travel and tourism has remained the world's single largest employer, supporting one in every 11 jobs worldwide, and would need to play a leading role in addressing the youth unemployment challenge.
Hilton Worldwide therefore felt that career preparation was crucial for these young people, and their contribution to the global economy.
Lavvania Sathasivam, from HELP University, said that one can only pursue hospitality as a career if one has the passion for it.
“Before I enrolled in my course, I worked part time in F&B and found great satisfaction in seeing the faces of customers when they are happy with the meals served to them,” she said.
“I decided to make it my lifetime mission to provide unsurpassed service to guests and customers because when their overall needs are fulfilled, I feel fulfilled as well.”
This passion for service is shared by Khairul Ikhwan Hakim, from Taylor’s University.
“I love making others happy, and nothing brings greater joy to me than to be able to help settle an issue or solve any problem faced by someone who is on vacation,” he said.
Romulus Liao, from INTI International College Subang where he is pursuing a Bachelor of Business (International Hotel and Resort Management), and Stamford College student Chan Xue Na both see hospitality as a career that offers a wide variety of job opportunities.
“This is an ever-growing industry, there are many career choices within the industry and one can work in any country as well,” said Liao.
“As prospects for this industry remain bright, there will always be the need for more personnel to fill job openings around the world.”
Said Xue Na: “I’ve been keen to work in the service industry all along, and the good thing about hospitality is that it covers not just hotels but also resorts, cruise ships and tourist attractions.”
Kelly Ng Suet Li, S. Darmenderan and Melvyn Ho Poh Chuen are undergoing training at Hilton Petaling Jaya front office department.
Ng, a Diploma in Hotel Management student from INTI College, said that education does not stop at the workplace, where meeting new people means learning to communicate at different levels with those from different cultural backgrounds.
“This kind of experience you will find more in the hospitality industry than any other,” she said.
Darmenderan, who is earning her Diploma in Hospitality from Olympia College, adds that nothing boosts one's confidence more than servicing a wide spectrum of people and learning to communicate effectively with them.
Ho, from Berjaya University College of Hospitality, liked that each person at the workplace plays his role as a member of a team in a complementary way to meet the diverse needs of guests and customers.
“Learning to anticipate guests’ needs is one of the many useful lessons I have acquired during this training stint,” he said.
“I hope to one day lead and manage a department well with this knowledge and also acquire the ability to build a great team.”
Lyndy Law Jia Yie, from SEGi College,has been attached to the hotel’s housekeeping and marcom departments for her training.
She said her exposure in two different departments helped her to appreciate inter-department cooperation and being able to feel a sense of accomplishment when the needs of guests are met because of that.
Hilton Worldwides Youth in Hospitality Month is a global career awareness initiative showcasing the diversity of opportunities available in the hospitality industry.
Careers@Hilton Live is just one programme in support of t he company's Open Doors commitment to positively impact at least one million young people around the world by 2019 and better prepare them to reach their full potential.
Jamie Mead, Hilton Worldwide regional general manager for Malaysia and general manager for Hilton Kuala Lumpur, said the hospitality industry is not only growing globally with jobs in diverse geographies, but there are also many opportunities for advancement and mobility.
“The Careers@Hilton Live initiative builds awareness among young people and supports human resources recruitment, training and development efforts,” said Mead.
“Jointly hosting this event, the three Hilton brands of Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn will present youths with an immersive experience of the hospitality industry.
“With 4,600 properties worldwide and an expanding presence within Malaysia, our employees will have the opportunities to experience working and living in different countries if that is what they want.”
Alexandre Beaulieu, who lectures on F&B at Taylor’s University and teaches t he Diploma in Hotel Management and Bachelor of International Ho spitality Management (Hons), said he decided after 15 years in the industry that it was “time to transfer knowledge to the next generation”.
He found the Careers@Hilton Live event to be highly professional and gave participants the feel of a “real working environment”, adding that it “would be great if other organisations hold such events of their own.”
He said that students must also remember that there is a significant difference between university life and the professional one.
“Once they embark on their career, they will have to get used to working when their friends will be off, like on weekends, holidays and festive occasions,” he said.
“They will also work long hours, with unearthly schedules like early morning, late at night. Working in hospitality is not a Monday-to-Friday, nine-to-five kind of job.”
Beaulieu said that students from many countries around the world, like himself, chose to study in Malaysia because of the diversity of food, cultures, traditions and reputable institutions teaching in English.
His students at Taylor’s University come from Indonesia, China, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Iran, Korea, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Japan, France and the Maldives.