What Qualifications Are Required for Hospitality Management?

Hospitality management has become an increasingly popular career path in the United States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there are over 48,000 hotel and lodging managers -- a number that's expected to increase in the months and years to come. If you're thinking about starting a career in hospitality management, though, you might be wondering what qualifications are required. As with other careers, hospitality employers typically hire candidates with the appropriate qualifications. Therefore, you need to ensure that you are fully qualified before you start submitting applications and conducting job interviews.

What Qualifications Are Required for Hospitality Management?

High School Diploma or Equivalent

You'll typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, such as a General Education Development (GED) certificate, to start a career in hospitality management. Hospitality employers may hire you for an entry-level position regardless of whether you have a high school diploma or equivalent. For a managerial position, though, you'll almost always need this qualification.

Hospitality Management Degree or Diploma

In addition to a high school diploma or equivalent, many hospitality employers will only hire managers that have a degree or diploma in hospitality management. A Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in hospitality management, for example, will give you a competitive advantage over the countless other aspiring hospitality managers. Alternatively, you can earn a diploma in hospitality management. Postsecondary forms of industry-specific education such as these will make you a more attractive candidate among hospitality employers, thereby increasing your chance of landing a job as a hospitality manager.

Past Experience in Hospitality Industry

If you have experience working in the hospitality industry, even if it wasn't necessarily a managerial position, you'll have an easier time starting a career in hospitality management. As with other managerial positions, hospitality managers are required to manage employees. Therefore, they must know the innerworkings of other positions within the industry, including lower-level positions. By working a lower-level position in the hospitality industry, you'll have an easier time getting hired as a hospitality manager.

Strong Soft Skills

Finally, you'll need strong soft skills to begin a career in hospitality management. Not to be confused with hard skills, soft skills consist of interpersonal skills that govern the way in you communicate with coworkers, guests and other people. As a hospitality manager, you'll spend a significant portion of your workday talking with other people. Therefore, employers want managers with strong soft skills.

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This article was brought to you by American Hospitality Academy World Campus. For more news, updates, and information on our online business courses or online hospitality courses, please visit our website.