What to Know About Guest Service Agent Interview at a Hotel?

A guest service agent is often the main representative of a hotel or convention center. As the smiling and personable person behind the hotel desk, a guest service agent communicates with guests and helps make their hotel stays comfortable and enjoyable. When you interview for a guest service agent position at a hotel, brush up on your technique to ensure that you offer the effective and impressive answers that an interviewer desires.

1. • 1
     Dress in business attire for the interview, including a two-piece business suit for both men and women. Men should wear a conservative dress shirt and tie and women should wear a coordinating blouse. Keep color choices and jewelry conservative and basic.
   • 2
     Respond to the questions that cover the technical skills required for the position. These skills may include typing, computer expertise, handling cash, office duties, room allocation and telephone skills. Provide examples of your skills and knowledge in response to specific interview questions.
   • 3
     Field questions pertaining to your experience. Give details about prior guest service agent experience, if possible, to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the position.
   • 4
     Expect questions that pertain to “soft skills.” Soft skills are the behavioral and personality skills that you must possess to serve customers properly and work with others effectively. You may hear questions such as: “Tell me about a problem you faced with a hotel guest and how you solved it,” or, “How do you handle difficult guests,” or, “What do you consider your most challenging personality trait for working in the hotel industry?”
   • 5
     Prepare answers to the soft skill questions to demonstrate an impressive personality, the ability to handle guest issues and the capacity to work well with others. The most impressive answers to these questions involve describing an applicable situation you've experienced, explaining what you had to do, detailing your actions in the situation and finishing with a positive result. For example, if an interviewer asks about a difficult guest, you might describe a challenging guest situation, what you knew you had to do to solve the problem, the steps you took and the positive outcome, resulting in a happy guest.
   • 6
     Ask questions of the interviewer when invited. For example, you might ask about the position's daily responsibilities, formal training programs, performance evaluations and possibilities for professional advancement.
   • 7
     Maintain confident eye contact throughout the interview, speak clearly and give complete answers. Smile warmly to demonstrate your ability to connect with people -- this can help the interviewer imagine how friendly and personable you'll be as you work behind the hotel desk. Shake hands at the beginning and end of the interview and thank the interviewer for taking the time to speak with you.
   • 8
     Follow up with a personal thank you note to the interviewer the next day. Call the company the following week to inquire about a hiring decision, if necessary.

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Posted in: Employment,Hotels and Restaurants

How Much Part Time Restaurant Hostesses Earn?

A restaurant hostess is a female employee who greets customers at the door, seats them and takes care of their basic needs, such as bringing them ice water and silverware before a waiter or waitress arrives. Common jobs for students and those looking for part-time income, hostesses are usually paid an hourly wage. Depending on the restaurant, some hostesses are also paid a percentage of tips earned by servers during their shifts.

1. Job Requirements

   • In most restaurants a hostess is commonly required to dress professionally. In others she must wear company uniforms, such as shirts bearing the restaurant logo and coordinating dresses and slacks. Casual dress is also acceptable in some establishments. Candidates must possess strong customer service skills and greet customers in a friendly and professional manner. A high school diploma or GED is also a common requirement.

   Bars Serving Food

   • In some cities bars employ hostesses to seat their patrons, which is common at themed bars, upscale drinking establishments and bars that serve food. As of 2010, the average hourly wage for hostesses employed at bars was between $9.60 and $9.74 per hour, not including tips.

   Full-service Restaurants

   • Full-service restaurants are commonly categorized as those that feature food as their main product. These are establishments with lunch and dinner fare and a full wait staff. Hostesses employed in full-service restaurants, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), earn approximately $9.30 an hour. For part-time employees, the average hourly wage equates to approximately $10,000 per year for a standard part-time work week consisting of 20 hours.

   Top Paying U.S. Markets

   • In larger U.S. markets restaurant hostesses, even part-time employees, are paid slightly more than those working in small to mid-size areas. In cities such as New York City, Philadelphia, Boston and Los Angeles, a part-time hostess working approximately 20 hours per week should expect to earn an average wage of between $11 and $13 per hour. Annual part-time salaries, depending on hours and tips, as of 2010, were approximately $11,400 and $13,500.

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Posted in: Employment

How Can You Make Money With Pilot License?

Working as a pilot can be a lucrative occupation. As the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports, as of May 2008, pilots made on average $119,750 annually. If you hold a pilot’s license, there are a number of ways you can turn this credential into a money-maker. By considering your skills and what types of work you find most fulfilling, you can select an occupation option that fits both your credential and your career hopes, bringing money into your pocket.

1. • 1
     Obtain a commercial pilot job. When many people picture pilots, they think of the uniformed men and women who fly them to and from vacation. If you would like to work for one of the major airlines, flying passengers around the globe, apply for, and train with, one of these companies. If you select this option, however, expect to spend a large amount of time away from home.
   • 2
     Fly charter planes. Work for a smaller company–or as your own boss–by flying charter planes. Set up a charter plane company in a major city or tourist destination, or apply to work with a company that is already established in one of these locations. In a job of this type, you will fly on a pay-per-flight basis, serving smaller groups of people.
   • 3
     Join the military. Put your pilot’s license to use serving the needs of your country as a member of the air force or other military branch. If you select this option, you will still need to complete basic military training, but you will likely be able to advance quickly as you already have this uncommon credential.
   • 4
     Teach flight instruction. Help others acquire their wings as well by working as a flight instructor for a private or government company. In many states, you will be required to acquire a license to work in this capacity even though you already have your pilot’s credentials.

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Posted in: Employment

How Much an Aircraft Maintainer Earn?

Maintaining aircraft is essential for the safety of those who travel the friendly skies. Aircraft maintainers play an essential role in servicing aircraft and keeping them safe for travel and transport. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 117,000 aircraft maintenance and service technicians were employed in the United States in 2010. Salaries earned by these aircraft maintainers varied by location and the type of aircraft maintained.

1. Pay Scale

   • Aircraft-maintenance technicians earned salaries that generally ranged from about $33,630 to $72,250 per year, as of May 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average salary brought home by these technicians was $53,280, with a reported median salary of $53,420. Those in the middle 50 percent of the pay scale managed to make salaries that ranged from $43,660 to $62,280 on an annual basis.

   Employers

   • The type of aircraft maintained and the employer for which the aircraft maintainer provides services also help determine how much the mechanic is paid. According to the BLS, those technicians maintaining aircraft for courier and delivery-service companies managed to make an average salary of $78,380 in 2010. This salary was substantially higher than the salary earned by others in fields with larger numbers of technicians. For instance, the largest group of technicians were employed by airlines in the scheduled-air-transportation field and made an average salary of $56,570. Those in the broad field of support activities for scheduled air transportation made substantially less at just $45,810 per year. Federal government employees made $55,730, on average.

   Location

   • Location is also a determinant in the pay earned by aircraft maintainers. The BLS indicates that the top-paying states for this profession included those of Tennessee, Indiana, Connecticut and Kentucky, where average salaries exceeded $60,000 per year in 2010. The top-paying cities for those working in this field were Memphis, El Paso and South Bend, Indiana, where maintenance technicians all earned average salaries in excess of $72,000 per year in 2010, according to the bureau.

   Job Outlook

   • The job outlook for those working in the aircraft-maintenance field appears favorable, according to the projections made by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the period from 2008 to 2018. The bureau indicates that the number of jobs in this field will increase by 7 percent during this time. Although this only represents average job growth, compared to all other professions, it is an indication that the field is expected to grow slowly and steadily, rather than contract.

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Posted in: Employment

4 Best Spa Jobs on Cruise Ships

1. • Cruise ships are built larger and larger every year, so spa centers are also getting larger on cruises. For example, in July 2010, the Norwegian Cruise Line debuted the Mandara Spa, the largest spa at sea. The jobs available for those who wish to work in a spa on a cruise ship are similar to the jobs available at any spa on land; you must have experience in the area you desire to work, and you probably need a license.

   Massage Therapist

   • The larger cruise ships usually staff a number of massage therapists. Massage therapists should be licensed and have at least two years' work experience and know how to perform all types of massages, such as the sports massage, shiatsu massage and the deep tissue massage. The massage therapist on a cruise ship is also responsible for maintaining the massage equipment and the upkeep of massage rooms. The hours can be long, especially when guests are getting ready for a big dinner or event and want pampering beforehand. Massage therapists can expect to work as many as 12 hours a day on a cruise ships but will also typically get 1 1/2 days off at a time.

   Spa Attendant

   • The spa attendant is responsible for making sure that the spa is clean and spotless at all times and attending to the needs of the guests, such as offering water, fresh towels and checking them in. The spa attendant should be an organized person who can multi-task, is very outgoing and friendly and has experience working in a spa. In addition, the spa attendant should be well-versed in the products and services that the spa offers to properly inform guests of what the spa offers. Spa attendants can work up to 12 hours but will have breaks for lunch and dinner and receive 1 1/2 days off.

   Spa Manager

   • The spa manager is in charge of all operations at the spa, including accounting and management of all staff. On most cruises, spas and beauty salons are combined, so the spa manager may be responsible for a large number of people. The spa manager should ideally have worked in a spa as a technician of some sort or as a beautician in a hair salon and have extensive managerial experience. The spa manager is usually the first person to be in the salon and the last to leave, so they will likely work more than 12 hours at a time. In addition to their other duties, the spa manager schedules lunch and dinner breaks for the spa staff. Spa attendants can be promoted to Spa Manager if they also have some experience managing and ideally working on clients in a spa.

   Nail Technician

   • The nail technician should be licensed and have proof of having taken a nail technician training course and have spent at least one year working in a salon as a nail tech. Nail techs should have demonstrated skills in nail add-ons, such as designs and acrylic nails. In addition, the tech should be trained in manicure and pedicure procedures. Nail technicians should be friendly, outgoing and informative as they work on their clients. Nail technicians, as with most other spa staff, will work up to 12 hours a day and get 1 1/2 days off at at time.

   Cosmetologist

   • The cosmetologist needs to have extensive experience providing beauty treatments, and a really good cosmetologist will have experience in all aspects of beauty care such as hair treatments, skin treatments and facials. The cosmetologist must be licensed and should be able to advise the guest on beauty treatments in a knowledgeable manner. The cosmetologist should be versatile and able to fill in wherever necessary. Cosmetologists will also work up to 12 hours at a time.

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Posted in: Cruises and Ferries,Employment