Hospitality, Leisure, Recreation & Tourism

• Studying: 6%
• Employed in graduate job: 39%
• Employed in non-graduate job: 42%
• Unemployed: 9%

• Average graduate salary: £17,811
• Average non-graduate salary: £15,561

Hospitality-related subjects offer a wide range of study options, both specialist and generalist. Whichever you choose, a degree in hospitality management gives you an in-depth understanding of the structure and operation of the industry and its related sectors. A common thread in all the related disciplines is a focus on identifying, understanding and responding to the needs of consumers, so as to provide an excellent customer experience. Consider the skills developed on your course as well as through your other activities, such as paid work, volunteering, family responsibilities, sport, membership of societies, leadership roles, etc. Think about how these can be used as evidence of your skills and personal attributes. Then you can start to market and sell who you really are, identify what you may be lacking and consider how to improve your profile. 

View the best universities for hospitality, leisure, recreation & tourism degrees.

Prospects

In 2010, six months after graduating, over 75% of graduates in hospitality-related subjects had entered employment in the UK or overseas. Of those who were in work, around 44% went into management roles within the commercial, industrial and public sectors, including hotel and restaurant management. Around 9% found work as business, finance and associate professionals, which are common routes open to graduates with a management qualification.

Where are the jobs?

Some of the large chain hotels or restaurants offer graduate management programmes, providing a fast-track to management positions as well as experience in a range of operations.

Hospitality graduates can also find work in catering, conference and events management, the entertainment and leisure sector, facilities management and food service management. Self-employment is an option with experience, business sense and a sound plan. There are also relevant roles throughout the public sector in universities, hospitals, transport and the armed forces.

Jobs directly related to your degree

With skills across the board in hospitality, leisure, recreation and tourism, you could find work in roles such as:

• Hotel manager
• Restaurant manager
• Catering manager
• Conference centre manager
• Customer service manager
• Accommodation manager
• Public house manager

Jobs where your degree would be useful

By combining your experience with a qualification in hospitality, leisure, recreation and tourism, you could also work in positions such as:

• Retail manager
• Event organiser
• Human resources officer
• Tourism officer
• Fast food restaurant manager

Although some of the jobs listed here might not be first jobs for many graduates, they are among the many realistic possibilities with your degree, provided you can demonstrate you have the attributes employers are looking for. Bear in mind that it's not just your degree discipline that determines your options. Remember that many graduate vacancies don't specify particular degree disciplines, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

Included with the permission of AGCAS and Graduate Prospects. For the latest version of this publication, see www.prospects.ac.uk. For permission to reproduce, contact copyright@agcas.org.uk. We would welcome your comments on this section of The Complete University Guide. Please email us at admin@thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk.