r/askhotels • u/KieronM12 • 4h ago
Jobs Bigger 4* where current role feels stuck vs smaller 3* with maybe wider potential?
A sense check would be very welcomed!!
Long term would be amazing to get out of hospo and have a bit more of a life tbh. Thereās things I do enjoy about it but donāt see myself going into the management game for progression and would love to just have more of a standard daytime and consistent working pattern. UK job market is not good right now, Iām already in the ājust take any jobā job, but I do need my next move to make sense overall.
Currently working in a 4*, just over 200 rooms, big leisure resort type place with a mix of leisure, business travel, MICE, social events and weddings. My title is Guest Relations/Duty Manager. Get good feedback from management but honestly donāt feel like Iām doing much and struggle with my confidence. Feel like Iām the last one to know a lot of things and not super involved. Been here about a year and definitely feel Iāve learned a lot and become more independent in what Iām doing. Enjoy the hotel itself and a lot of the people I work with. This role feels really fixed, I do support other areas somewhat but thereās not much depth to what Iām doing at all. The bar feels like itās basically on the floor with whatās expected of me and Iāve exhausted what I can even think of to try and get opportunities to learn anything else (Iāve surmised that Iām basically expected to mind read and know what I donāt know, in order to directly find anything out, just oddly gatekeepy and for nothing because it all turns out to be basic AF), or just to try and get anything else to do. Few other reasons Iād want to move on but donāt want to get too close to identifying the place.
Potentially could have the opportunity to move into a 3*, 30 ish rooms, more of a focus on social events, regular business events, weddings, business travel, locals coming in to the bar/restaurant. A big benefit is itās a lot closer to home so would significantly cut down my commute. Title would also be DM, but a bit of a wider role due to the place being smaller, including an active role in events coordination (they donāt have a dedicated role for this so it comes to the management and reception team). Also discussed more possibilities of getting involved in more of like operations management side of the business. Much smaller team and seemingly less of a bureaucracy in terms of ownership than my current place so can see me being much more actively involved and feel like my contributions could be a bit more clearly demonstrable. I have a 2nd interview coming up for this so also appreciate any suggestions for what to discuss.
Aside from the benefits of a shorter commute I would be hopeful that the broader and more operational management aspects could lead into either more opportunity in the hotel itself or be a bit more translatable in looking to move outside of hospitality. Thoughts on this very welcomeā¦