Careers Fair
Students at the 10th Annual Careers Fair, September 2016
The School of Tourism and Hospitality Management (STHM) holds an annual Careers Fair. In September 2016, hosted at the Shangri-La Fijian Resort & Spa, the School celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Careers Fair since its inception – with 84 students interviewed by eighteen employers in the local tourism and hospitality industries. This event has evolved and developed into an outstanding event on the School’s academic calendar (for the full story, see: https://www.usp.ac.fj/news/story.php?id=2229). Graduating students from the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management (STHM) have the opportunity to talk directly with representatives from the employment sector to gain ideas on potential career paths and opportunities within those organisations. Industry representatives also have the opportunity to seek out potential students who will fit into their respective organisations. The Bachelor of Commerce in Hotel Management students, seeking to secure internships for the following year of their programme, also have the opportunity to be interviewed by industry representatives. Importantly, the Careers Fair is not only for our Hotel Management students but for students in the single major Tourism and Hospitality Management programme and double major programmes where Tourism Management is one of the majors.
In preparation for the Careers Fair, the School conducts mock interviews during its professional week where students are coached to present themselves in the most positive light by highlighting their strengths and competencies that are needed for the job. These activities help boost our students’ confidence in answering questions. After the mock interviews, our students are assessed and evaluated. They are also given feedback and are instructed on how to improve their performance.
The Careers Fair may not guarantee full time employment or an internship, but it definitely builds confidence in our students and provides them with a clear idea on what potential employers expect in preparation for future interviews. The School continues to receive positive feedback from Industry partners concerning our students’ professionalism, good conduct, ability to work well with others, willingness to learn, good communication skills and excellent knowledge of information technology.
According to the World Travel and Tourism Council Data, ‘travel and tourism’ account for around 8% of jobs in the world. Furthermore, the Industry has the highest potential for growth of any industry, with approximately 840 million people travelling annually. Graduates of hospitality and tourism management are well rounded with a combination of business and life skills (Source: www.wttc.org/research/). The tourism, travel and hospitality sectors provide a range of diverse career opportunities. For instance:
Hotel Management; Revenue Management; Food & Beverage Management; Research & Education; Human Resources; Sales & Marketing; Conventions & Events Planner / Manager; Chef; Tourism Planning; Visitors Bureau & National Tourism Organisations; Cruise Director; Entertainment Manager; Entrepreneur in the Tourism and/or hospitality Industries; Ecotourism; Service Sector Executive; Restaurant Manager; Heritage & Cultural Management; Front Office & Reservations; Airlines & Airport Management; Dive & Marine Services; Travel Writer & Consultant; Travel Agent and so much more!
Students at the 9th Annual Careers Fair, September 2015
Benefits of an Internship
- Introduces students to the world of work
- Gain work experience and transferable skills
- Be able to experience a prospective career path
- Gain practical experience, by applying methods and theories learned in classes
- Encourages discipline and time management
- Network with professionals in the field, for references and future job opportunities
- Gain confidence in their abilities and self-esteem
- Multi-skilling [for instance, in a hotel this would be expertise is food and beverage, housekeeping, reception, events, etc.]
- Develop new skills and refine others Work under pressure and in a diverse environment
With the right attitude, our students reap these benefits and in doing so establish a solid foundation for a bright career in the Tourism and Hospitality industry.
For any enquires regarding the Careers Fair, please contact our Student Liaison Internship Coordinator: Ella Bennion on +679 3232434 or email: bennion_e(at)usp.ac.fj