Please read this before you consider putting in that application for a job in your local travel agency. There are a few things you should know that the recruitment agent might not have brought up – I’ll bring you up to speed.
1. You’ll have too much fun
Talking about travel and holidays all day… Boring! Honestly, I feel like pulling pints or making sandwiches would be a lot more fun – or even drilling holes on a building site, imagine how much fun that would be in the rain!
The travel industry is renowned for being pretty quiet; we barely ever go for drinks on a Monday night for no reason in particular, or Tuesday, or Wednesday… You get my point.
2 . It will take forever to get a promotion
Other jobs will give you clear advancement opportunities based on how long you stick around, not on your performance.
I mean, who wants to work hard and be rewarded for it?
Hard work pays off in the travel industry, with leadership positions coming up – and given – all the time to the right candidates, rather than gifted to the person that waited their turn.
Don’t be surprised to be promoted in your first 12-months.
3. Your colleagues will be lunatics
Who wants to hang out all day with a bunch of loose units? Personally, I’d rather get to work and sit in silence until it’s time to go home.
I don’t want to hear about so-and-so’s trip to Antarctica at lunch, I’d much rather talk to my Mum on the phone about the latest episode of Offspring.
These people will eventually befriend you and make you one of them. So if you get involved, make sure your old friends are ready for the new (crazier) you.
4. You’ll constantly be away from home
Whether it’s for a conference or a fam-trip, Travel Agents are dragged all over the planet for events and education.
Sometimes these trips are even sprung on us at the last moment and we only have time to pack a passport, some swimmers and sunglasses.
But for reals, if you aren’t comfortable leaving your bed, cat or boyfriend/girlfriend at home while you mix and mingle with other travel professionals in airport bars then it’s not for you.
5. You’ll control your paycheck
Most jobs pay a set salary where you know exactly what you’ll get at the end of the month. It’s nice to be able to plan ahead and feel comfortable – and it means that if you just do the bare minimum and turn up, you’ll get paid.
Most Travel Agents are paid a salary + commission, which means our final pay at the end of each month can be all over the place. It also means that if you want a raise then you don’t have to beg your boss one.
We simply work harder and are instantly rewarded for it.