Tourism employment offers an opportunity to develop and enhance new and exciting skill sets.  These skills are transferable to other occupations and positions and are seen as an important stepping-stone for individuals wishing to seek a career in tourism, or in another industry or sector.  All tourism employees can benefit from these "stepping-stone" skills. They may be secondary or post-secondary students, or future employees who see tourism as a rewarding career or a lifestyle choice. These individuals are typically seeking seasonal employment, and are primarily employed from May or June until the end of August or Labour Day weekend. They may also look for part-time work during the fall and winter.

"Tourism is a great place for young people to begin building their
employment skills and to enter the workforce."  Survey Respondent

Stepping Stone

Who's workin' the street?  Colin Beck is the Summer Street Peddler stationed on the corner of Queen Street and Victoria Row, downtown Charlottetown. 

What is he doing?  The surrounding signage invites tourists to inquire on where to eat in Charlottetown.  The revamped ice cream cart is loaded with brochures, maps and sample menus from the selected restaurants being promoted.  Colin is equipped with a cell phone to call in customer reservations at sponsoring restaurants for based on their dining preferences.  

What does he like about his job?  Colin enjoys talking to people and says he has met some very interesting people.  He is developing his interpersonal skills and sees the future benefit of these skills regardless of where he works.

Is this a “stepping stone”?  Yes.  Colin graduated from high school in the spring and his plans for entering his first year of university this fall include studying science while playing Junior “A” hockey.  He hopes to pursue a career in pharmacy. 

His summer job started as a dishwasher at a local restaurant turned Street Peddler/Visitor Information Provider is helping him earn money for school while having fun meeting people. 
 

Where to Start for a First Job: Tourism & Hospitality

Starting into the workforce can be intimidating and without a lot of experience it is  sometimes hard to know what you are actually capable of.  Below are just a few jobs in tourism that are especially suited for individuals starting out in the workforce. 

Host
Because the general job is to meet, greet, and seat customers, this is a good entry-level job for someone without a lot of restaurant experience (or any).  The host should be friendly and courteous, and also know how to handle rushes and waiting lines.  A host should be an organized person who is comfortable multi-tasking.

Dishwasher
This is usually an entry-level position in the business. While dishwashing isn’t the most glamorous job in a restaurant, it is one of the most important.  The dishwasher keeps the kitchen running by clearing incoming dirty dishes and ensuring that the plates the food is served on is spotless as is the cutlery, etc.  Left over lipstick on a glass reflects on the entire restaurant, so the dishwasher must be motivated to do their best at all times.  Employees who can persevere through working in the dish pit are often worth bringing up through the ranks, since nothing else will help build character the way dishwashing does.

Busser (often referred to as a Busboy)
Often, the first promotion a dishwasher gets is to busser.  This position is ideal for a student.  The busser is a gopher of sorts.  His main job is to bus the dining room tables, however he can be conscripted by the cooks to fetch ingredients that are running low, or by wait staff to help make desserts or salads. The bartender may have a busser restock the coolers if there is no designated bar-back.  Bussing positions are an excellent way to gain exposure to all parts of the restaurant business, and a good transition to either a front of the house or back-of-the-house position.

Excerpts from: Hiring For Your Restaurant: How to Fill Each Position, By Lorri Mealey, About.com