Students wishing to enter the tourism industry compete for a limited number of internships tailored to their field, and many end up with thankless unpaid positions, jobs that are unrelated to the field or, worse, walking away empty-handed. Those few students who possess an in-depth knowledge of the internship realm are usually the ones who snap up the Holy Grail first: paid internships.
These students aren't industry insiders, although some do benefit from familial and other connections to hotel and resort managers who pay them for their time. Most are simply vigilant and persistent when it comes to finding positions. The good news is that any student who is willing search high and low for a position should be able to find one that they want.
How does one go about finding a paid internship in an industry that offers very few? There are a number of ways to go about it, but since the competition for these spots is quite fierce, it's best for interested students to first have their resumes reviewed by counselors at their campus career centers. These counselors can determine if a student is ready for the rigors of the position, in addition to helping them assemble the best resume possible.
Also, contact hotels and resorts offering paid positions and ask what they are looking for in a candidate. Go to their websites and review the services and amenities they offer, along with the mission statement regarding guest satisfaction. Becoming familiar with the brand a hotel or resort is selling will help when constructing a solid resume and cover letter.
Students should utilize every resource available to them as they pursue a paid internship position. More often than not, they will find such a position posted on sites tailored to the tourism industry, posted on job search sites such as Indeed.com or posted on the websites of their campus career centers.
Colleges and universities periodically host career fairs that assist students in securing jobs and internships. Students seeking internships in the tourism industry should attend these events, as representatives from hotels and resorts are often invited to participate and students are given an opportunity to ask about paid positions and explain why they'd be the best fit for such positions.
Students should also consider contacting resorts they're interesting in working for and inquire about the possibility of interning while earning a small stipend.
If all else fails, and a student is unable to find a paid internship position, she should consider accepting an unpaid position for the experience. If a student does accept such a position, he should contact his financial aid office about using work-study funds or other forms of financial aid to fund himself during the internship. Also, students shouldn't focus just on positions in the United States. Hotels and resorts in Europe, Asia and the Pacific Rim pay American students to come and work for them for a summer or a semester.