Adapting to survive the downturn
The recession means fewer jobs and increased competition from other candidates. Sadly, some employers think this gives them carte blanche to exploit the workforce; hotels are offering students unpaid placements and there have been unprecedented salary cuts across the board.
There’s no escaping the fact that things are tougher than they have been in a long time. What can you, as a professional in the hospitality and leisure industry, do to weather the downturn?
An informed, albeit wry viewpoint is that you should focus on developing your current role. It’s not advisable to be the ‘last in’ at the moment and in the current climate the grass on the other side is unlikely to be green as it looks.
If you’re determined to make a career move, you’ll need to make sure your CV is as good as it can be; proof read it carefully to avoid spelling and grammatical errors. You must also send a covering letter with your CV and make sure it’s tailored to the role and employer.
Do your research, not just to impress in interview but to ensure your prospective employer can offer you the things you need – job security, satisfaction and the potential to progress within the firm.
Finally, there’s the matter of negotiating a salary. A little flexibility on the benefits package will give the employer room for manoeuvre but don’t be bullied into accepting an unreasonably low wage. Someone has to stick to their guns or the wages will continue to drop; fight the good fight for everyone else out there in the same predicament!
