CJ

TYPES OF JOBS
Tour Operators: Staff in accounts, administration, brochure production, contracting, customer services, marketing, product development, representatives (children's, activity, sports, ski, flotilla, campsite, chalet staff, etc), reservations, telephone sales, tour guides.

Incoming Tour Operations: as above, but also need staff for ground handling; organising services and accommodation. Call Centres and Consolidators are a rapidly expanding sector in the travel Industry. These are large offices dedicated to selling airline tickets, holidays or theatre tickets, and need telephone sales staff.

Leisure Travel Agent: Counter clerks, foreign exchange clerks, telephone sales staff.

WHAT ARE EMPLOYERS LOOKING FOR?
Varies slightly according to actual career choice but includes:

Experience in a customer services role
Ability to solve problems and stay calm under pressure
Good communication skills - face to face and by telephone
Ability to meet tight deadlines and work accurately
Minimum of 5 GCSEs inc English, Maths, Geography, Foreign Language
Computer literate and willing to study further
Outgoing personality, enthusiasm and common sense

WORKING ENVIRONMENT
As any 'fly on the wall' documentary will prove, the life of a Tour Rep on duty is all smiles - but it demands long hours, frequently with difficult customers and needs loads of energy and commitment and the ability to take every day as it comes. Travel Agency work is basically the same as working in any High Street store - except the sale product is travel rather than goods, food etc. Jobs may start with low wages, but there is competition for these because travel is seen as a glamorous industry in which to work. Call centres are usually situated on industrial estate or out of a town centre. They are often huge offices with staff working at VDUs wearing telephone headsets.