Advice on careers and jobs in Travel and Tourism

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Welcome to career-plans.com, the FREE website designed for young adults aged 14 to 23 years who are deciding on their career plans.

Here we exchange career and job information between parents and young adults, giving detailed and enlightening insights drawn from first-hand experience.

So often careers are left just to chance. However, the more first-hand information you have, the more informed your choice. The more informed your choice, the more successful your career.

With higher education fees set to rise, it is really worth researching the validity of the course you choose for the career plan you have in mind. Will it really fit the job you ultimately want?

Remember, you are at the beginning of your career, so do not leave it just to chance. Make your informed choice with our help...

And see where life leads you.

NAME Bettina Wells

JOB TITLE Travel Agent

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE: 12
TODAY'S ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Interest in Geography, languages and different cultures. GCSEs reflecting this will be an advantage when applying for a trainee position. A degree in Tourism will give you a higher entry level and options to work in other industry related areas. Outward going personality, good communication skills.
BEST AND WORST BITS ABOUT THE JOB: Best: Ongoing opportunity to travel and learn about differnt countries and cultures. Worst: Having to deal with customer complaints, people can be tricky when it comes to the 'most important' two weeks of their year.
WHAT I WISH I'D BEEN TOLD BEFORE I STARTED: Nothing really. I love this job and have worked in many parts of the tourism industry. Starting as a travel agent, then working for a tour operator, airline and currently for the cruise ship industry.
HOW DO I SEE THE JOB EVOLVING? Sadly more and more holidays are booked via the internet. However, good specialist advice and knowledge about destinations and travel will always be in demand.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS: If you love traveling, if you like dealing with people, if you are interested in and open minded about the world this could be the industry for you.

NAME: Edward Owen

JOB TITLE: Shipbroker

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE: 30
TODAY'S ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Getting into shipbroking can be difficult as it is a relatively small world and it always helps to know somebody. Failing that, you can apply as a trainee or try to get on to a trainee course in which case a degree is essential to get an interview. Shipbroking is a business that requires an ability to get on with people. You may have a degree in martime studies but if you can't get on with people then at any interview most shipbroking companies will choose the outgoing person who can hold a good conversation. Therefore, don't be too concerned about what degree you have.
BEST AND WORST BITS ABOUT THE JOB: Best - It can be very stimulating and trying to do the 'deal' can be very absorbing indeed and can call upon a variety of skills and talents. In addition, you can travel and this can be worldwide depending on what particular part of the business you are in. As we spend our day talking to people from all over the world then you can feel part of a small worldwide community. If you enjoy eating out a lot then this might be the job for you! Shipping is a very hospitable business and again the ability to get on with people, on the phone, meeting them etc. is vital. Worst - At times it can be very boring as some days world trade is not happening and even after 30 years in the job I am still surprised that some days the phones are not ringing all around the globe for a variety of reasons. If you don't do the deal then this can be depressing but that shows you care and you have to have the lows to really enjoy the highs.
WHAT I WISH I'D BEEN TOLD BEFORE I STARTED: Difficult one to answer. I think there is no big career path. You are either a shipbroker or you run a shipbroking department or company. There are hardly any levels of management, therefore, if your desire is to have a long career climbing up a long corporate ladder then this may not be the job for you.
HOW DO I SEE THE JOB EVOLVING? Shipping is a high stakes/high cost game and to some degree when negotiating and doing the deal then there is an elaborate game of poker being played. Over the last 20 years communications have improved greatly and the internet has transformed all of our lives. However, the internet can't penetrate that basic need to do the best deal and, therefore, I do not see the role of the broker diminishing. What has happened - and it is too complicated to explain here - is that the broker has to brng more to the table such as his or her shipping knoweldge and a full understanding of how all modern software can improve the service he or she is giving so their client can do the best deal.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS: If you are very good at it and you are a fast thinker, good personality and have a love of doing the deal then the financial rewards can be very good indeed.

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