Question
I have been working as a secretary for the last 10 years, but would like to get back into hospitality. After leaving college I took a City and Guilds hotel reception course and passed with distinction, and then worked in the industry for two years.
I would like to find a part-time, evening and/or weekend hotel receptionist position. Do such positions exist in central London?
What the expert says
Hannah Bailey, chief operating officer, Chess Partnership
I am confident that you should be able to secure such a position. With the skills shortage in the hotel industry, some hotels have changed their employment practices to offer a more flexible approach, which includes recruiting staff on a part-time basis.
I would suggest that you look at the Evening Standard newspaper, particularly on Thursdays, as it displays receptionist positions. In addition, magazines such as TNT and Southern Cross also give listings of hotel vacancies. The other alternative is to join and get advice from a number of hospitality recruitment agencies that deal with front-of-house staff, such as Blue Arrow and Reed.