Career Options
Ontario's hospitality industry offers smorgasbord of careersIf you've ever thought about becoming a chef on a famous cruise liner, or dreamed about managing a chain of restaurants, the hospitality industry might have what you're looking for. ROSS FATTORI |
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 [ 2002-04-10 ] |
If you are entertaining the idea of a career in the hospitality industry, there is a good chance that a course or program exists somewhere in Ontario that will provide the education, skills and training necessary to get you started.
Hospitality-tourism is one of Canada's largest and fastest-growing industries. For those considering a career in food services, bartending, gaming, cruise, airline and travel-related services, colleges are often the best place for introductory and advanced training.
The courses offered at the college level cover a wide range of education and training, from part-time courses on bartending or cake decorating to three-year diploma programs on culinary hotel administration with industry internships.
"Many students realize that without a proper education, they won't go anywhere," says Robert Lebrun, co-ordinator of the School for Hospitality at Canadore College of Applied Arts and Technology in North Bay. "A solid education with practical experience will give students the skills and training they require to move ahead in their careers."
Graduates often go on to fulfilling careers in restaurants, food and beverage management, banquet and catering, hotels and many other exciting fields. More than 90% of today's hospitality graduates usually land a job in their chosen field of study within six months.
Although the hospitality industry is expanding, the search for skilled staff remains a challenge for restaurant and hotel owners. To address labour shortages and changing work requirements, the hospitality industry regularly consults with colleges about new job skills and requirements.
"One of the key employment trends over the next five years will be in the area of chefs and management positions," says John Walker, dean of faculty of Hospitality and Tourism at George Brown College. "Excellent employment opportunities will exist in those areas for students who possess the right skill sets and work experience."
The hospitality industry has undergone dramatic changes in recent years, from advancements in technology to increased market competition. The colleges and universities have kept pace with these changes, offering students a diverse mixture of skills designed to meet the changing needs of the industry.
"Employers in the hospitality industry today are interested in moving people up," says Peter Wells, professor at Seneca College's Centre for Tourism and Leisure, King Campus. "There is a much greater emphasis on multi-skilled managers, and 'soft skills' such as dealing with co-workers and customers, teamwork abilities and communications skills."
"Hospitality programs today are quite comprehensive," says Sonia Martinho, a full-time student enrolled in a Travel and Tourism Hospitality Services Co-op program at Seneca College. "The co-operative component allows students a unique opportunity to get practical, hands-on work experience. It's a great way to meet people and to get acquainted with the career you want to enter."
What educational requirements do students need to enrol in hospitality-related courses? The basic requirement is an Ontario Secondary School Diploma with one credit in Grade 12 mathematics (general level) and English, or mature student status.
If students need financial assistance, several options are available. The Canadian Hospitality Foundation (CHF) is this country's largest provider of scholarships for students pursuing education and training for careers in the food service-hospitality industry.
It is accessible to all students who are Canadian citizens or landed immigrants, and offers 100 scholarships annually that range from $500 to $3,500.
"The Ontario Hostelry Institute and the Canadian Hospitality Foundation provide much-needed financial assistance through scholarships to college and university students to ensure that there are enough bright young men and women with the appropriate training and education to meet the growing needs of the hotel and foodservice industry," says Rigzin Dolkar, executive director of the Ontario Hostelry Institute & Canadian Hospitality Foundation.
Alternative sources of student financial assistance include the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), as well as scholarships, awards and bursaries available at individual colleges and universities.
Most colleges in Ontario are engaged in an ongoing process of obtaining degree status for their hospitality programs. "At some hotels and restaurant chains, your chances of advancement improve greatly with a degree," Lebrun says. "In the last two years, we have sent more than 40 students to the U.S. to obtain a degree, and many of them don't return."
Still, plenty of career choices are available to second and third-year graduates in Ontario. Whatever area of study that students choose, the education and training facilities in Ontario colleges are second to none. Many colleges throughout Ontario have achieved international recognition for the quality of their graduates, faculty and programming.
(Ross Fattori is a Toronto-based freelance writer who can be reached at rosswords@rogers.com.)
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