Landing a new job can be a really tough task, especially in the hospitality industry which is considered to be very competitive and demanding. Since there will be many aspiring candidates like you, you should have that extra flair and an aptitude to work in this industry. You will be competing with candidates who have experiences and qualifications which you may be lacking. However, there isn’t anything which should discourage you from making your first foray into the hospitality industry as a part timer.
Landing a new job in the hospitality industry is mostly about convincing your prospective employers about you competence, abilities and the flair you have for it. Your task will be made all that more difficult if you plan to work only part time. It means that you will be able to work only during specific hours of the day or only on certain days of the week. And more important, your prospective employer should be able to accommodate your schedule.

Employing part-time workers is generally considered favorably by business establishments. The advantages to them are, they don’t need to pay insurance, overtime and other perks. However there are some hospitality businesses that don’t prefer part-time employees due to the work culture prevailing in their present setup and also means getting less out of the investment they make in training part-time employees. Before you apply for a part-time job ensure that the prospective employer is accommodative to your working schedule.

Here is what you need to do before you apply to a prospective employer.

1. Decide Your Time Schedule in Advance
Not always your employer can be accommodative to your schedule. For example if you plan to request 2 working days in week, your employer may want 3 at the time of interview. If you plan to work 2/3 hours a day on weekdays in the evening, you may be asked to schedule it for the morning or any other permutation. That is the reason why you will have to work out the details days ahead of the actual interview. Attend the interview only after you have decided on the number of hours you can apportion for the job and the schedule. It will help you give prospective employers a clear and unambiguous reply.

2. Be Willing to Undergo a Crash Training Course
Most jobs in the hospitality industry are such that they require a certain period of training or undergoing a crash course. During the training period you may not be eligible for pay, and the training itself may run into couple weeks. You should therefore take that into consideration before you apply for a part-time job. You should be willing to take the crash training course seriously and set off time for that purpose. This will ensure that your employer is able to get the best out of you, and you don’t wear the trainee badge for too long. It is for mutual benefit.

3. Be Willing to Commit yourself for a Long Period
The reason why some businesses look down upon part-time employee is the commitment factor. Experiences show that part-time employees are more like to quit their jobs than regular employees. It means another round of interview for fresh hands and more expenses on training which no business will want to go through. As a prospective employee, be willing to commit yourself for a longer period of service even without the employer asking for it. It creates trust and is mutually beneficial too.

4. Let the Interviewer Know About your Unique Skills
All businesses look for unique talents when they hire employees. The more specialized skills you have better are your chances of landing the job. When you actually attend the interview, emphasis the skills you will be bringing along. If you have prior experiences in a related industry, let the interviewer know about them.

Though not directly related to interviews, you should prepare yourself by understanding the employer’s business. It will help you during the training. You can collect facts and figures about the employer company or about the business itself. It will help build a positive attitude about you in the interviewer’s mind when you let them know about the positive things about their business. There is no dearth to information available in the internet, and you should use them to your advantage.
When you submit your application, ensure that you keep the most relevant information at the top. The less important ones should be toward the end. Say everything in a professional competent way. If you can, you should get your resume drafted by a professional writer.

About the Author: Kate Smitty is an education blogger who loves to share easy study methods and teaching solutions. She also reviews various career oriented programs to help the young and budding children.