Five reasons why you don’t need a degree for a career in hospitality
Thinking of starting a career in hospitality? Worried that you might not get a job without a degree? Don’t panic! Here are five reasons why you don’t need a degree for a career in hospitality:
Why a degree is not necessary for a hospitality career:
1. Experience is more important than a university education
Many employers in the UK value professional experience over university degrees.
A poll in 2018 found that the majority (71 percent) of decision makers said they would prioritise candidates with relevant experience from an apprenticeship or a previous job because this proved that they could demonstrate their skills in the workplace.
2. Apprentices can earn just as much as graduates – if not more
A few years ago, the Sutton Trust – which campaigns for greater social mobility to help young people achieve their potential – revealed that apprentices with a level 5 qualification could expect to earn about £50,000 more in their lifetime than someone graduating from a non-Russell Group university (the Russell Group only represents a minority of UK universities). Once you start in this industry, your income is largely determined by your experience and skillset.
3. You can start working your way up the career ladder sooner
Most university students finish undergraduate degrees in their early 20’s, typically after a three- or four-year course.
An apprentice can start gaining work experience as soon as they’ve finished their GCSEs, although you might prefer to start after you’ve finished your A-Levels. Even if you start an apprenticeship at 18 or 19, by the time your fellow peers have all graduated from university – often with tens of thousands of pounds of debt – you may already have two or three years of professional experience under your belt.
Once you have an entry-level job at a large firm, there’s no limit to where you could go. As long as you are committed to your job and perform well, you could quickly work your way up to a managerial position.
4. You can learn the core skills of hospitality on the job
Strong interpersonal skills, assertiveness and good time management are some of the core skills for hospitality jobs – and you don’t need to go to university to acquire these.
5. Many hospitality employers provide on-the-job training
Even graduates are often required to do training programmes after starting an entry-level job at a hospitality employer. This gives everyone a level playing field – whether they have a degree or not.
Interested in applying for a hospitality job with us? Then please register your details on our database so we can connect you with our outstanding employers.