Find your dream job in the hotel and catering industry

When you decide on a career path, it usually accompanies you for many years. It is therefore important that you enjoy your work and can always end your working day with a good feeling.

If you find the right job for you, you have the best chance of enjoying your work in the long term. Use our career guide to find out which job really suits you.

The hotel and catering industry offers an incredible number of career opportunities for very different personalities. Do you like working with people? Then a job in service could be right up your street. Do you prefer to stay in the background and make sure everything runs smoothly in the team? How about a job in management or housekeeping? Creativity is required in the kitchen, while organizational talents score points at reception. 

In short, there is no one way in this industry. There are many.

• Service
• Kitchen
• Reception
• Housekeeping
• Wellness
• Administration
• Management

With Internships, part-time jobs or holiday jobs you can get to know different areas in a short space of time. Especially during the peak winter and summer seasons, many companies are looking for additional support. This is a good opportunity for career changers to leave their familiar environment and immerse themselves in a new industry for a while.

Before you decide on a job, it's worth doing a brief self-assessment. Grab a pen and paper and take notes on the questions below. This will help you find out which area of the hotel and catering industry best suits your strengths.

Your hobbies or favorite subjects can provide clues to a suitable career.

Ask yourself:

• Do you like to cook or experiment with new recipes?
• Do you organize trips or vacations with friends?
• What do you like to do in your free time?
• Do you like spending time with people?
• Are you interested in languages, business or organization?

Hogastjob tip: Make a note of three to five things that you particularly enjoy. This will often reveal your first career directions.

Your personality says a lot about which job suits you. Therefore, think about which characteristics make you stand out. 

Ask yourself:

• Are you communicative and do you approach people openly?
• Do you enjoy working in a team?
• Are you particularly organized?
• Do you stay calm even in stressful situations?

Hogastjob tip: If you find it difficult to answer this question, you can also ask your friends, family or former colleagues for their opinion. Others often see our strengths more clearly than we do ourselves.

Think honestly about which activities come easily to you and what you find difficult to motivate yourself to do. 

Ask yourself:

• Do you like to move a lot?
• Do you prefer tasks that require more mental work?
• Are you an early riser or do you get really active in the evening?
• How important are fixed working hours to you?

Hogastjob tip: Think back to situations in which work was easy for you. What exactly did you do there? These examples often tell you more about suitable jobs than any theory.

The working environment can also determine whether you like working in a certain area.

Ask yourself:

• Does the idea of being part of an upscale hotel appeal to you?  
• Do you see yourself in a family-run inn?
• Would you rather work in a restaurant or a hotel?
• Do you feel more comfortable in the city or in the countryside?
• Would you like to be part of a large team?
• What benefits should your future employer offer? 

Hogastjob tip: Think about your own vacations and which hotels you prefer to book. This can be a good indication of the right working environment.

Finally, it's worth taking a look ahead. Take a moment to write down what you want for your life and your professional development. What role should your job play in this?

Ask yourself:  

• Do you want to specialize in a certain area?
• Do you want to take on a management position later on?
• Would you like to work in different places or even abroad?
• Is it perhaps your dream to be self-employed one day?

Hogastjob tip: Always keep your goals in mind. When making important decisions, ask yourself: "Will this step bring me closer to my goal - or rather away from it?"

Take another look at your answers and note which topics are repeated. Do your strengths lie more in dealing with people, in organization or in creative tasks?  

Compare your notes with the requirements of the individual jobs on Hogastjob. This will quickly show you which areas are particularly suited to your interests and skills - and which are not.

Especially at the beginning of your career journey, it can happen that you allow yourself to be led too much by the wrong factors and external influences. If you inform yourself about typical mistakes, it will be easier for you to recognize them and not let them influence you.

We're not trying to kid you: Salary naturally plays an important role when choosing a career. But if you don't enjoy a job in the long term, a good salary won't help much. It is much more important that you enjoy your tasks and feel comfortable in your working environment.

Some jobs appear different from the outside than they actually are in everyday life. That's why it's worth keeping an open mind and taking every opportunity to gain practical insights. This will help you find out whether you really enjoy the job or whether your idea of it doesn't quite match the reality.

Of course, the working hours in the hotel and catering industry are usually not comparable to those of traditional office jobs. Nevertheless, you should not base your choice of career solely on the working hours. Many even see it as an advantage to have time off during the week while others go about their work.

Friends, family and acquaintances often have their own opinions on certain professions. Nevertheless, you should first and foremost listen to yourself when making your decision. After all, it's about your life path. It is important that you choose a job that suits you and that really suits you.

Take the time to get to know different options, gain practical experience and assess yourself better. This will help you to recognize step by step which career path really suits you.

And once you have made your decision, the next exciting chapter begins: the application. In our application guide , we show you what you need to know about your CV, cover letter and interview - regardless of whether you have already completed an apprenticeship or want to start one.

Take a look at our vacancies and find out which companies are currently looking for motivated employees. Maybe your dream job is already waiting for you.