Thursday, July 17, 2008

Peluang Maju Diri

Salam sejahtera!

"Terasa sudah lama tidak menulis di blog ini. Dengan masa yang cepat berlalu, memerlukan kekuatan mental untuk menulis. Sewaktu dalam perjalanan teringat ketika usia 19 tahun dan meningkat dari tahun ke tahun. Di era persekolahan rendah dan menengah, saya memang dikategorikan dalam pelajar yang kuat bermain. Minat bermain dan menyakat rakan-rakan, mereka cerita adalah hobi saya ketika itu. Tapi ia tidak sampai menganggu kelas berlansung, sebab saya akan cuba senyap seperti diarahkan sambil bermenung panjang (he3)."

Selepas tamat pengajian dalam perhotelan dan praktikal di hotel-hotel bertaraf bintang di situlah minda saya berkembang. Walaupun ketika itu belum lagi sedar apa yang akan berlaku di masa depan, saya redah saja. Pengalaman pahit dan manis memang seimbang akan tetapi saya lebih suka mengenang kembali kisah pahit. Sebab situasi inilah yang mematangkan diri saya dan banyak mengajar selok belok alam pekerjaan yang sebenar.

Apa yang saya dapat;

1. Berdikari
2. Berkemahiran
3. Berkomunikasi
4. Bertindak (refleksi)
5. Berkumpulan dan
+6. Keselamatan

Di atas adalah perkara-perkara yang saya dapati selepas tahun pertama bekerja dengan gaji pokok RM276.00++. Mesti anda hairan kenapa ada perkara '+6'. Ini kerana perkara ke-6 adalah bonus dalam kerjaya yang saya minati ini.

1. Keselamatan ketika bekerja pernah saya sentuh pada artikel yang lepas. Ia bukan sahaja mengenai keselamatan diri dari segi fizikal malah keselamatan dari kena tindakan tatatertib oleh pihak pengurusan malah ada yang lebih teruk lagi dikenakan tindakan undang-undang.
'Advance Deposit' atau deposit pendahuluan adalah contoh keselamatan yang paling mudah saya ingin perjelaskan. Advance Deposit ini boleh dilakukan untuk 'Guaranteed Booking" semasa tempahan di talian mahupun ketika mendaftar masuk. Akan tetapi mesti diperjelaskan kepada tetamu dengan bahasa yang mudah dan masuk akal. Contohnya, Advance Deposit memudahkan tetamu tersebut untuk menggunakan kemudahan-kemudahan (facilities) yang terdapat di dalam perkhidmatan hotel tanpa sekatan seperti, panggilan IDD, panggilan tempatan, perkhidmatan servis bilik untuk penghantarn makanan dan sebagainya. Dan diperjelaskan lagi supaya resit yang diberi disimpan untuk ditunjukkan semasa pendaftaran keluar. Dan semestinya wang yang tidak diguna akan dikembalikan.

Memang nampak mudah dan membosankan, tapi jika kita praktis dengan betul dan mempelbagaikan penyampaian kita dari masa ke semasa mudah meningkatkan kemahiran komunikasi kita dengan cara yang mesra dan berkesan selain dapat menyelamatkan kita dari keadaan yang tidak diingini.

Bagaimana dengan 5B di atas? Pasti anda dapat mengaitkan dengan +6 = (hasilnya) anda akan terus maju walaupun dicampak (agak kasar bunyinya) mana-mana kerja yang anda ceburi selepas itu. Ingat! Jika anda berjaya mendapat pekerjaan lain, terapkan nilai hospitaliti dalam diri dan kerja anda seterusnya.

Semoga berjumpa lagi!

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Peluang Pekerjaan & Pendapatan


Rebut peluang pekerjaan Restaurant & Bar bertempat di Petaling Jaya, Selangor dengan gaji RM800.00 ++ Pekerja lelaki dan perempuan diperlukan SEGERA!! Tempat amat TERHAD.

*********************************************************************************************

Peluang siswa-siswi menambah pendapatan sambil belajar tanpa menganggu pelajaran anda.

Caranya mudah, kami akan melantik anda menjadi Reseacrh Assistant (RA), untuk membantu pihak kami membuat survei.

Anda boleh mendapat permulaan bayaran RM100.00 selepas mendaftar.


boleh hubungi saya di talian 013-3771440
atau emel maklumat anda ke putra_wawasan@yahoo.com

Jangan lepaskan peluang keemasan ini.



Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Careers in Hospitality and Tourism Management (Session 2)


According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (1997), the economics of the 21st century will be dominated by three industries: telecommunications, information technology and tourism. The travel and tourism industries have grown by 500% in the last 25 years and it is estimated that by the year 2007 tourists will spend US$884 billion in foreign countries on tourism related activities.


Travel and tourism represents a broad range of related industries. The growth of these industries has opened up many new job opportunities for graduates in areas such as:


1. hotels
2. restaurants
3. retailing
4. transportation
5. travel agencies
6. tour companies
7. tourist attractions
8. leisure, recreation and sport
9. cultural industries


It is interesting to realise that in 1997 travel and tourism provides 10.5% of the total world employment, with up to 25% of all employment, in some areas, such as the Caribbean. It has been estimated that, by 2007, more than 100 million people world-wide will be employed in this sector. Because of this, tourism is now seen to be of importance to most countries of the world.
During this time, the nature of tourism has developed in scope and direction, away from traditional activities, such as the sunshine sand and sea holidays to a wide range of new activities such as cultural tourism, adventure tourism, sports and leisure activities and eco-tourism.


Given the potential for interesting and rewarding careers in these industries many young people are looking for suitable courses which will help prepare them for careers in management within the tourism and hospitality industries. The UK higher education system has a well developed range of courses, at all levels from Higher National Diploma, BA or BSc degrees and MA/MSc/MBA Masters courses and using alternative methods of studying, (including full-time, part-time and distance learning). When looking at courses in hospitality and tourism, there can seem to be a bewildering variety of course titles covering the main employment areas of travel, tourism, hotels and restaurants. Typical titles include:


For hotels and restaurant management:


a. hospitality management
b. international hospitality management
c. hotel and catering management
d. For travel and tourism:
e. tourism management
f. tourism studies
g. travel and tourism


There are also joint degrees where it is possible to study combinations of subjects, such as i. tourism and hospitality, tourism and leisure, hospitality and marketing. Most undergraduate courses (HND/BSc/BA) will include a period of work experience as part of the course, varying in length from 6 months to one year. This work experience is seen to be a central part of the course, where the student gets the opportunity to practise what they have learned in college or university. Employers also see great value in this work experience when considering the employment of graduates.


Given the international nature of these industries, another valuable part of any course is the study of languages. Most courses in hospitality and tourism provide access to language courses, either as core components or as options.


Courses at Masters level are becoming increasingly important in tourism and hospitality. These Masters level courses are useful to two groups of people:


- those who have completed a degree course in a subject other than hospitality or tourism but who are looking at ways of getting employment in the industry;


- those who have a degree or sub-degree qualification in hospitality or tourism together with significant management experience within the hospitality or tourism industries and who wish to develop themselves to a higher level or to seek a more senior position in industry. There are many Masters courses in Hospitality Management, Hotel and Catering Management and Tourism Management in universities and colleges in the UK.


In addition to the above courses, there are also more specialised Masters courses in Tourism covering areas such as Cultural Tourism, Tourism Marketing, Tourism Planning, Museum Management, Heritage Management, Cultural Tourism and Sustainable Tourism: these are suitable for people who have an interest in employment in a specific sector of the industry.


Within the UK there are many university and college courses to choose from, but each course will have its own unique characteristics. Before applying, you should think carefully about the type of career you want: if it is in a hotel are you interested in restaurant management or rooms division management? Do you see yourself as a practical hands-on person or someone who is happier to work behind the scenes in a desk based job? Do you aspire to become a general manager of a hotel which is part of one of the major world-wide groups, or do you want to manage your own operation? Are you more interested in one of the functional management areas, such as marketing, human resources, conferences. If you are interested in tourism do you want to work for a travel agency, a tour company, the management of a tourist attraction, or within the public sector-national, regional or local tourism planning organisations. Think about these types of question before consulting the prospectuses or WEB sites so that you can judge each course against your own preferences.


Author: David Kirk, Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh



This article first appeared in Studying Abroad (WW5)

Careers in Hospitality Management (Session 1)


Choosing the right career can sometimes be a difficult decision for the recent high school graduate. The best way to start your decision-making process is to do a self-evaluation to determine what you would enjoy doing and whether that career would lead to your personal success. Successful people are highly motivated individuals who have confidence in themselves and their abilities. They don’t view their profession as a grind, but look on it as fulfillment.
Hospitality Management, including the Food Service Industry, is one of the fastest growing occupations in the world. There are predictions that by the year 2005 there will be 12 million workers in this industry. Food Service personnel are needed at the rate of one to every 10 to 12 positions, and the industry is seeking those with a culinary and hospitality education to meet the complex demands of the 21st century.
How will you know if you would be good in these careers? The hospitality industry is comprised of friendly, courteous, and helpful individuals who are willing to deliver great customer service with a passion. If you possess these qualities and have good communication skills, then this exciting industry could be for you. If you have never worked in the hospitality industry, find a related job (even if only part-time), and give it a test drive. It is much smarter to try it out before you invest a lot of time and money in a school only to discover that you’re not suited for this occupation.
The best place to start your search for a good school would be the internet. Many hospitality management sites have excellent links with resources about the industry. Also, numerous schools will have links back to their individual web sites. In addition to the internet, most states have an employment commission and/or state education agency that can provide you with a complete listing of all the schools in your area.
Types of training vary. If you choose the more traditional route of a junior college or university, you will study prerequisites such as English, math, history, and biology while you learn the theories and concepts of the industry. If you choose a vocational school, you will spend more of your time with hands-on training in the areas you choose. Many vocational schools will also have an internship as part of the program. This will not only give you practical working experience in the industry, it will also make you and your resume more marketable upon graduation. Your degree and professional work experience are the two most important elements to an employer.
After you have found schools that you are interested in, decide what you would like to do once you graduate. Then, look at a school’s curriculum and determine whether it meets your end objective. Next, speak with knowledgeable individuals in the industry and see what schools they would recommend. It is also a good idea to check with local hotel and chef associations for their recommendations.
Upon graduation, students of Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts schools may seek employment in hotels, restaurants, catering, resorts, cruise ships, casinos, and entertainment venues, just to mention a few. Jobs in hospitality operations can be found in almost every community in the United States and abroad.
Earning potential varies and is limited only by your ability and willingness to succeed. Starting wages are $8 to $16 per hour; however, this can increase substantially with experience and perseverance. Many Hospitality Management positions offer benefits such as health insurance, paid vacations and sick days, and reduced rates on accommodations, food, and travel. Annually, travel and tourism employers around the world pay more than $1.6 trillion in wages and salaries and create 12.5 million new jobs.
Hospitality is an industry that is known for promoting from within and for having a large number of young managers. If you’re talented and demonstrate a good work ethic, you can advance quickly. There is no limit to where your dreams and ambitions can take you in the exciting and fascinating world of Hospitality Management. Remember, it is not where you start that matters, it’s where you finish.


Provided by John L. Roberts, Vice President at Aims Academy, Dallas.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Night Shift (Shift Malam)





Dah lama tak 'post' kat blog ni. Sejak dua menjak ni, agak sibuk dengan kerja pejabat dan hal-hal lain yang tak dapat disenaraikan di sini. Berkaitan dengan kerja malam ni, sudah lama ingin saya bincangkan akan tetapi masa yang belum sesuai. Tiba-tiba terdetik untuk bercerita mengenai kerja malam ini.


Setiap pekerja yang bekerja di organisasi mahupun syarikat-syarikat serta kilang-kilang yang beroperasi 24 jam pasti akan menempuh saat-saat shift malam. Akan tetapi di sini saya akan berbincang mengenai industri perhotelan. Saya sendiri pernah menempuh suka duka bekerja di shift malam ini. Dan setiap individu mempunyai persepsi sendiri mengenai shift yang 'sunyi tapi penuh berisiko' ini.

"Night Auditor" semestinya kekal sebagai 'penjaga malam' dan mereka amat kenal dengan suasana malam dan ada sesetengahnya tidak kenal dengan matahari lagi (jangan marah). Dan ada hotel-hotel hanya menggunakan Seorang Duty Manager, Seorang Reception/Cashier, Seorang maintenance, Seorang F&B, Seorang Kitchen helper dan dua hingga tiga orang Security. Ini bergantung kepada pengurusan sesebuah hotel tersebut mengikut keperluan.


Tugas sebagai shift malam ini amat mencabar. Mana yang sudah lama bekerja shift tersebut pasti sukar tidur malam malah mudah tidur siang. Seolah-olah masa mereka sudah terbalik. Sedar atau tidak, fungsi pekerja malam ini tidak dapat dilepas pandang, ini kerana peranan mereka menyediakan;


1) Due in registration card (kad daftar)


2) Meals coupon (kupon makanan)


3) Due in listing (senarai tetamu yang menempah bilik)


4) Wake up call dan banyak lagi.


Semasa saya masih bekerja sebagai penyambut tetamu di hotel, boleh dikatakan shift malam adalah shift penuh debaran. Pelbagai perkara bermain di minda, sama ada yang baik mahupun yang buruk. Selesai taklimat kerja (briefing) saya sentiasa rujuk kepada buku log. Kadang-kadang saya akan menyemak dari tarikh-tarikh sebelumnya.


Pukul tiga (3) pagi paling mencabar, mengantuk seperti tak tidur seharian jadi demi keselamatan kena juga dalam keadaan terjaga.
Akan tetapi pengalaman bekerja shift malam banyak mengajar saya kehidupan disebalik siang. Saya terfikir lah juga, manusia ini kadang-kadang boleh berubah jika perubahan waktu berlaku. Perubahan yang tidak dapat dijangkakan dan boleh meletup bila-bila masa.
Jumpa lagi!