Is Higher Education Essential for Success in the Hotel and Hospitality Industry?

Does education really matter? There are many senior managers in the hotel and hospitality industry who earn a sum of 50 lakhs or more per annum as CTC, especially in bigger companies. However, many of them are hotel management graduates from not-so-fancied colleges without any major qualifications but still doing pretty well. So, is the requirement for higher education industry-specific?

The Role of Employability Over Qualification

It is not the qualification but the employability that is required for any candidate. It is a fact that the toppers in tier 1 B-Schools have failed miserably in their careers without finding a space in the company they have joined. At the same time, persons without a management degree have become successful to a certain level.

Success in the Hospitality Sector

In the hospitality sector, the more customer-centric an employee is and the more they can win the hearts of customers, the faster their career progression will be. I know an Executive Chef in one of the reputed hotel brands in South India who is not qualified but has grown to this level, probably starting his career as a Commis III or so.

At the same time, a degree holder from a good Hotel Management Institute may start his career as a Sous Chef or Chef De Partie but end up as a Sous Chef only. The same principle extends to other functional areas as well.

Dear Bhowal Kaushik,

I have a small background in the hospitality industry; however, upon leaving the industry, I remained a keen observer of that industry.

The Role of Education in the Hospitality Industry

I don't know which hotel you are referring to and whether your reference is from India or abroad. Nevertheless, most of the companies having a chain of 5-star hotels employ staff with a degree from the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM). For the benefit of the readers, let me apprise them that students from IHM are considered the cream of the hospitality industry.

Success in Other Industries

Yes, there are successful persons in other industry segments as well. In the IT industry, ordinary BCAs could earn more than B Tech (Computer SC).

Challenges in the Hotel Industry

However, in the hotel industry, the examples of super-successful people you mentioned are few and far between. For every successful person, 99 others languish. At the lower level, it is easier to get a job, but at a higher level, it is very difficult.

Talent Retention in the Hospitality Industry

By the way, if the hospitality industry were so good, why is it not attracting talent, and even if it does attract talent, why is the talent fleeing to other industries? My market observation says that those who are pursuing a Bachelor in Hotel Management (BHM) course are not so keen to work in the hospitality industry. Barely 5-10% wish to continue. Why are students turning themselves away from a lucrative career?

The Importance of Higher Education

The requirement for higher education is not industry-specific. It is required for all industries. Indians' tendency to give short shrift to education casts India in a poor light. Today, we don't have a single car manufacturer that produces a car with aspiration value. We don't have a single IT company that has developed an IT product on its own. We don't have a single company that manufactures a mobile phone or even a TV set. Our tryst with mediocrity is never-ending.

We have a tendency to pooh-pooh higher education, and in the bargain, we end up playing a second fiddle to the industry leaders of the world. Unfortunately, we don't bother to check whether the fiddle is made domestically in the market or imported. Our obsession with earning by playing a fiddle overrides our critical thinking!

Thanks,

Dinesh Divekar

Dear Bhowalkaushik, Yes, education really matters sometimes, but skill and maturity also matter the most. I have seen an ITI guy working as a Production Manager in a Manufacturing Company in Bangalore, earning Rs. 3 lakhs per month.

Experience Over Education

In my more than three decades of experience as an HR professional, I have encountered many such cases. A reputed manufacturing company in Chennai was in need of a General Manager - Technical with the qualification initially set as M.Tech with experience. However, as no suitable candidate was found within the M.Tech category, the requirement was revised to B.Tech. Despite efforts by the HR Department to find candidates matching the job description among B.Tech graduates, they were unsuccessful.

The Role of Experience in Hiring Decisions

Fortunately, a Diploma holder was discovered who not only matched the job requirements outlined in the job description but also had more experience than expected. The management decided to appoint him as DGM with a lower salary than a GM. The challenge was to persuade the candidate to accept the position, with the possibility of being promoted to the GM position based on his performance and service over the course of six months.

Balancing Qualifications and Experience

Many times, organizations have to compromise on experience and performance rather than solely focusing on qualifications. It is a known fact that M.Tech and B.Tech graduates often prefer working for reputed corporations over manufacturing companies due to the higher growth opportunities in MNCs. Some even seek job opportunities abroad to settle in life.

Financial Considerations in Career Choices

In today's scenario, earning more money in a shorter time frame and investing in real estate and share trading are considered crucial as they offer the potential to double the money rapidly.

With Regards