11.20.09

My Experience in a Hotel Job at an Airport Hotel in the UK

Posted in Jobmarket at 9:52 am by admin

Working in an airport hotel can be great fun for the individual who
enjoys meeting new people from different cultures and learning a few
words from a broad spectrum of languages. The hotel industry, especially the Gatwick hotels industry, requires a worker with a cordial approach and one who is
dedicated to personal efficiency, with those skills pushed to the
limits when working in a major airport hotel.

Although working at an airport hotel may be exciting at times, it is
also a high pressure position where one must be able to cope with
stressed out guests. One of the main reasons a guest chooses an airport
hotel over a downtown accommodation is for the convenience of getting
to the airport on time. During the typical guest check-out, you will
find the patron looking at his watch and exhibiting some impatience
with the final details of the exit paperwork. The front desk employee
must be sensitive to the guest’s worries and concerns about a speedy
check-out, and must be well trained to handle every emergency that
might slow down the process. If the guest seems a bit grumpy, remember
that he is not going out for a leisurely day of sightseeing, but
rather, is in a rush to catch a flight.

The airport hotel employees that receive gratuities may not have the
largest individual tips, but can make up for that with volume. This
type of accommodation remains one of the most bustling and well-booked
of hotels, offering the tipped employee a nice intake for a day’s work.
The setback to the busy hotel schedule is that an employee may be asked
to work overtime during peak seasons or when large tour groups are
checking-in. This may entail a hectic four hour addition to an already
exhausting shift, but for the professional that takes his job
personally, the hourly overage is welcomed.

Some of the best jobs at an airport hotel that pull in a tip on top of
the wages include food and beverage servers, bell hops, valets and
concierge. The steady influx of checked-in guests can be a gold mine
for those who present themselves with congeniality and a helping hand.
Unlike many hotels located in prime tourists locations, the patrons at
the airport hotels tend to be frequent and repetitive customers. This
is particularly true with business travelers who tend to stay at the
same airport-friendly location on each trip. To the seasoned
professional on the hotel team, this is your chance to build a rapport
with that client and increase your popularity and gratuities.

Life at the airport hotel may be a faster pace than the more expensive
hotels with a view, but if you remember why the guest booked that
location in the first place, you are on your way to understanding what
you need to do to make an excellent impression. Be fast, efficient, and
make their stay pleasant, and you just might be one of the reasons why
the traveling business person comes back.

Employment opportunities can be found on Hotel specific pages. Otherwise Monster and Co will make it as well.

11.13.09

Careers in Sport Psychology

Posted in Jobmarket at 7:04 pm by admin

Sport psychology is the studying of mental and psychological conditions that influence and are affected by performance and participation in exercise, sport and physical activity. Professionals are interested in how this participation enhances personal development as well as well-being throughout life.

Someone who has a doctorate in sport psychology has many different career options. Many of these degree programs require students to focus on the psychological part of the field or sport science. Some common careers in Sport psychology are research, university teaching and consulting athletes. Most sport psychologists are currently working as university lecturers or consultants for both business and sport. A sport psychologist usually performs many tasks that are related to sports education and performance. Some choose to teach at university while others choose to work with athletes to increase their motivation and performance levels.

Sports psychology involves many topics, including motivation, considerations in injury and rehabilitation, counseling, assessing talent, well-being, exercise adherence, excellence in sport, youth sport, self-perceptions and performance enhancement. Today, there are no credentials other than a state license that is needed to practice sport psychology. Because sport psychology is not seen as a specific field within the Kinesiology or Physical Education areas, it is not a traditional field that is usually offered by psychology graduate programs

Entry-level jobs with a bachelor’s degree are not easily found and typically form into internships. Most positions require either a masters or doctorate degree as well as training and experience. There are very few graduate programs that offer specialized degrees in sports psychology so it can be challenging to decide what combination of training and experience will qualify a professional to one day be called a ‘sports psychologist’.

Pay for a sport psychologist varies greatly and is based on education, training and the area of specialization. According to the U.S. Depart of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook, the average salary for counseling and clinical psychologists is between $41,850 and $71,880. The average salary for a position in a university was $55,000 in 2001. There are some top sport psychologists that earn six-figure salaries working as consultant for athletes, but most earn a much more reserved yearly income.