YB Faves: Top 5 Podcasts in Yellowbrick’s Rotation

If podcasting is something you’ve always wanted to get into, today (well, tomorrow) is the perfect time to start. While blogs and digital publications have flourished, podcasts have become a really cool alternative to sharing content. There are so many to choose from and it is easy to get hooked. When going back and forth to work was a thing, podcasts helped make the commute time a little less tedious. You could listen on the walk to the train, on the train, and on the walk to the office at the push of a button. 

Podcasts are a great way to tell a story and provide detailed information on a variety of topics. The Yellowbrick student, faculty, and industry expert community is stacked with people who are the voices of quite a few podcasts in rotation. Some of Yellowbrick grads, current students, and university faculty are lending their ideas and conversations to some very popular podcasts. Since International Podcast Day is coming up, September 30th, we took some time to compile a list of our favorites below. Each podcast comes with a description with links on where and how you can access them. All of the episodes featured in this post can be listened to at the bottom of the page.

The Complex Sneaker Podcast co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty engage in heavy sneaker conversation. The trio are no strangers to sneakers nor our audience as they are seen as industry experts in the Sneaker Essentials sneaker course. Their latest episode includes an in-depth convo with Gary Aspden, the adidas OG. He talks about meeting Kanye and what it took to create the Spezial. Aside from this latest episode, they have a solid archive of conversations to choose from. Click here to listen. 

Find Your Dream Job podcast by Mac Prichard is a great way to get some solid career advice. If trying to find the job of your dreams is something you have been trying to achieve, this is the podcast for you. This weekly podcast is all about sharing insider hiring info and tips on the job search that could prove to be helpful in any career. His latest episode, How to dine the Side Door at HR features Dana Pratt, the founder of DCP Training and Talent Development. Her company is the go to to help employers with performance consulting, leadership development, and talent management. Click here to listen.

Renaissance Soul podcast hosted by Kelly “K-Fresh” Frazier is the home for all things Detroit hip-hop and music. What launched as a digital hip-hop website back in 2001, is now an audio podcast with the same content just a different output. The pod recently re-launched in August and led with Detroit’s own Dan Charnas, NYU professor and music journalist who is the go-to for all things Detroit/J-Dilla related. To check out the pod and Dan’s episode, click here.

How to Share podcast is a hospitality focused podcast that discusses storytelling, travel, and marketing in the travel industry. Host Amy Draheim is a marketing maven in the hotel industry and presents new and innovative ways to market hotels and travel destinations. Drahiem also owns and creates content for The Traveler’s Journey, which provides blogging tips, trip storytelling, and how to make the most of your IG feed when traveling. She recently sat down with Moniqua Lane to discuss how she started in hospitality, her efforts to create one-of-a-kind guest experiences, and her efforts to keep her property open despite the current vibe of the country. Click here to listen.

Unravel is a weekly podcast operated by Dana Goodin, Jasmine Helm and Joy Davis. The trio create content that is geared towards educating people about the importance of fashion in the history and current culture of the world. One of their goals is to encourage conversation about these topics within their digital platform community. They are women with a plethora of scholarly knowledge and do a great job of presenting it to their audience. Their goals are to, “collaborate with experts, in their field, to expand the conversation, speak beyond the canon of traditional fashion media and history, and be on the “frontline” of solidifying fashion history as a serious subject to study and learn”. Click here to listen.

Elena Railean Discusses Why She Chose Hospitality and Tourism | #SoICould

Name: Elena Railean

Course: Hospitality & Tourism Industry Essentials

Instagram: @helenrai

I enrolled in Hospitality & Tourism Industry Essentials so I could…

Improve my knowledge in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry, to drive excellence and 5-star service.

Where are you working now?

Corporate Trainer in Customer Service for Airbnb Project, Lisbon.

Why did you think the course was right for you when you enrolled?

I’ve always had an interest in the Travel and Tourism Industry. I wanted to have an up-skill in this field. Life is a constant learning and improvement experience.

How did the course prepare you for working in the hospitality industry?

It made me aware that it is not only about hotels and restaurants, but it is an entirely new world to be prepared for in order to achieve an outstanding service experience.

What assignment, course, and/or instructor sticks out in your mind or taught you something valuable?

Event planning – How to use the space that has no purpose at this point for different business conferences and events, at a reduced price.

What would you say to a friend about Hospitality & Tourism Industry Essentials?

If you are currently stuck and not sure where to take the step-up from, this course is a great source of inspiration.

What is your biggest takeaway from this program?

I never expected to be so fond of Sales and Entrepreneurship. Enjoyed the class, and how interesting and easy it is integrating.

How To Become A Hotel Clerk

Hotel Clerk Career Profile, Salary & Job Outlook

What does a Hotel Clerk do?

Hotel Clerks are the first point of contact for internal and external customers at a hotel. They coordinate room reservations, greet hotel or lodging guests at arrival, and check them into their rooms. Clerks must maintain knowledge of room rates and housekeeping schedules to coordinate room availability. They also provide customer service to guests during their stay and complete check out when they depart.

How much does this career make?

According to Glassdoor, Hotel Clerks maintain a national annual salary of $26,309, which is an hourly wage of $12.65. Entry-level hotel clerks start around $19,000 annually. Senior-level clerks make an annual average of $37,000. The range in salary widely depends on factors including skill, seniority level, and location.

What impact does this career have towards the hospitality industry?

Hotel clerks ensure that hotels function smoothly and guest expectations are met consistently. They are the face of the business and represent the hotel to the general public.

What is the job outlook for a Hotel Clerk?

Projections show that hotel revenue will grow to $950 billion in 2022. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job opportunities for lodging managers (including Hotel Clerks) are expected to grow by 9% during the 2020-2030 decade.

How to kick-off your career:

  • Work on your customer service skills.
  • Get experience as a receptionist.
  • Take a communications or public speaking course to get comfortable speaking or communicating your ideas.
  • Explore the NYU x Hospitality And Tourism Industry Essentials online course.

Soraya Alolama

Learn from: 

Soraya Alolama

Assistant Manager, North America at Dubai Tourism

Hospitality And Tourism Industry Essentials contributor

Related Careers:

Concierge | Night Manager | Guest Relations Manager | VIP Lounge Assistant | Hospitality Services Coordinator | Hotel Event Coordinator

7 Hospitality Jobs If You’re Just Getting Started

Hospitality comprises five sectors: food and beverages, lodging, recreation, travel and tourism, and event management. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the hospitality industry saw a drop in revenue, but the market is expected to recover. 

The global hotel and resort market is forecasted to hit $1.22 trillion in 2021, a slight increase from pre-Covid revenue of $1.21 trillion in 2019. Leisure travel was worth $2.37 trillion in 2020, with an increase expected in 2021. Moreover, the global food and beverage industry had a value of $5.94 billion in 2019 that’s expected to grow to $7.52 billion by 2023.

The market is picking back up and hospitality businesses are attempting to return to normal. As a result, hospitality jobs are opening up across the market. Hospitality places more importance on experience and less value on having a bachelor’s degree or other advanced education, so career development is more accessible. Here are a few hospitality jobs to kick off your career journey in the industry.

Bartender

Bartenders are members of the service industry that work in casinos, clubs, hotels, restaurants, taverns, and other places where food and beverages are served. They prepare and serve alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks to customers, either directly or through waiting staff. Depending on the type of establishment, bartenders might have other tasks such as taking food orders or keeping track of inventory.

Hospitality Jobs, Bartender
Bartender

Possible Career Paths: Long-term career goals for Bartenders can include bar owner, general manager, and food and beverage director at a hotel, catering service, or hospital. 

Catering Assistant

The professional service of preparing and serving food at an event or gathering at a remote site is known as catering. These assistants typically prepare meal ingredients, load and unload food off of catering vehicles, set up food stations, clean work areas, and handle orders and billing. They also work on-site alongside catering managers and are often the first contact between potential customers and the company.

Catering Assistant, hospitality jobs
Catering Assistant

Possible Career Paths: A Catering Assistant acquires a combination of experience in food preparation, guest experience, and administrative work. They can also pursue more senior positions as a hospitality manager or a restaurant manager.

Concierge

A concierge works in a hotel and assists guests by providing recommendations for entertainment and organizing those accommodations. In addition, they make reservations for restaurants, travel arrangements, procure tickets for events, and set up sight-seeing tours. Because they are a client-facing position, a concierge needs to have exceptional customer service skills. A concierge may also work as a front desk attendant.

Concierge, Hospitality Jobs
Concierge

Possible Career Paths: After developing experience as a Concierge, you could pursue several management positions. Some jobs include front desk manager and hotel general manager.

Cruise Ship Lifeguard

A lifeguard on a cruise may sound like a niche hospitality job, but the cruise industry generated $6.6 billion in revenue in 2021 despite the impact of Covid-19. The market is expected to bounce back, with revenue projected to increase to $34.1 billion by 2025. 

Cruise Ship Lifeguards patrol marine recreational areas to enforce safety protocols. They also rescue guests in danger of drowning, administer first aid and CPR, report and follow up with incidents, and open and close any marine recreational areas. 

Cruise Ship Lifeguard, hospitality
Docked Cruise Ship

Possible Career Paths: A job as a Cruise Ship Lifeguard usually only requires a high school diploma and lifeguard certification. Hence, it’s a chance to gain a unique perspective of what it’s like to work at sea if you’re considering enrolling in maritime school or pursuing certification for a higher-level job with a cruise line.

Event Coordinator

Event management is one of the pillars of the hospitality industry. Types of events can include weddings, business meetings, celebration dinners, sporting events, and fundraisers. Event Coordinators work under event managers and assist in planning every aspect of the planning of the occasion. For example, they may help in venue selection, invoicing, arranging vendor services, and communicating with clients.

Event Coordinator
Coordinators at an event

Possible Career Paths: An Event Coordinator with years of experience can successfully transition to a management career like an event manager or a senior event planner. 

Host

A host is essentially the face of the restaurant. Because of this, they are the first impression the customer gets as they greet and welcome patrons into the restaurant. Hosts manage reservations, escort customers to dining or bar areas. They also coordinate with wait staff and ensure patrons have an enjoyable experience throughout their dining experience. 

Hostess
Hostess

Possible Career Paths: Hosts gain valuable experience coordinating between the front of the house and the kitchen. As a result, they get in-depth knowledge of restaurant logistics and can apply those skills to a role in restaurant management.

Hotel Clerk

Clerks coordinate room reservations, greet hotel or lodging guests at arrival, and check them into their rooms. Hotel clerks must maintain knowledge of room rates and housekeeping schedules to coordinate room availability. They also provide customer service to guests during their stay and complete check out when they depart.

Hotel Clerk
Hotel Reception Area

Possible Career Paths: Hotel Clerks interact and work with all members of the hotel staff. They can apply their experience and knowledge of the different facets of running a hotel to pursue a career as a front desk manager, housekeeping manager, hotel general manager.

For more information on the industry and about more hospitality jobs, check out our Hospitality Career Library.

Student Success: Reid Conlon, Hyatt Chelsea

Reid enrolled in the Hospitality and Tourism Essentials online course to give him a head start on graduate school. He reflects on the course and his student success.

I learned to analyze trends in the industry, market to different groups, and create my own business plan.

ON CHOOSING HOSPITALITY & TOURISM ESSENTIALS —

I enrolled in this online course to prepare myself for the travel industry profession. I am actually going to grad school at New York University to earn my Masters in Travel and Tourism Management. So, I knew the program would be professional and educational.

ON BEING A YELLOWBRICK STUDENT —

All of the Vacation Planning Assignments were great practices for helping consumers plan a great vacation.

STUDENT ACCESS IN REAL-LIFE APPLICATION —

I learned to analyze trends in the industry, market to different groups, and create my own business plan. The world of travel and hospitality is always changing. However, the industry is able to adapt to new trends and will evolve with new creative ideas.

ON THE PAST & WHAT’S NEXT —

My student success looks like beginning to work at the Hyatt Chelsea in New York City. I will apply what I have learned in this course.

To keep up with Reid in his travels, follow him on Instagram @reidconlon.

How to Become a Sommelier

Sommelier Career Profile, Salary & Job Outlook

What does a Sommelier do?

A sommelier, also known as a wine steward, is a wine professional trained extensively in wine knowledge and history. It’s standard for sommeliers to work in fine restaurants, where they specialize in all aspects of wine service, as well as working the the chef on wine and food pairings. Depending on the size of the restaurant and staff, sommeliers may develop wine lists and books, and train for the other restaurant staff on wine service.

How much does a Sommelier make?

According to ZipRecruiter, Sommeliers make a national average of $45,901 or $22.07 an hour. In general, entry-level sommeliers make around $30,000 annually, with senior-level sommeliers making $65,500 a year. This wide range also depends on skill, seniority, company, and location.

What impact does this career have towards the hospitality industry?

A sommelier is essentially a consumer educator. Wine history and grape variety can be complex for wine novices to understand without a guide. A knowledgeable, personable, and insightful sommelier is a great asset to a restaurant and customer base. They can increase revenue through upselling consumers from classes of wine to bottles, or upselling on more exclusive and expensive wines.

What is the job outlook for a Sommelier?

Analysts forecast that hotel revenue and food service industry revenue will grow to $950 billion and $898 billion. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job opportunities in food service management (including Sommelier) are expected to grow at a rate of 15% during the 2020-2030 decade.

How to kick-off your career:

YVETTE LY

Learn from: 

Yvette Ly
Director of People + Culture, West Bourne & Tourism Industry Essentials contributor

Related Careers:

Executive Chef  | Front of House Manager | Sommelier | Restaurant Owner  | Catering Assistant | Catering Manager | Pastry Chef | Fast Food Attendant | Cake Decorator | Barista | Bartender | Line Cook | Maître D | Sous Chef |Host | Server | Kitchen Manager | Kitchen Porter | Restaurant Manager | Dishwasher | Restaurant Owner | Busser | Commis Chef

How to Become a Front of House Manager

House Manager Career Profile, Salary & Job Outlook

What does a Front of House Manager do?

A Front of House Manager supervises, hires, and trains the entire customer-facing staff in a restaurant. This includes head waiters and waiters, hosts, maîtres d’hôtels, sommeliers, and security staff. Managers handle scheduling of work hours, and ensure that hygiene and safety rules are adhered to. Front of House Managers are also essential to customer service. As the face of the restaurant, they greet customers to make them feel welcome and are the first point of contact if a consumer has an issue and needs assistances.

How much does a Front of House Manager make?

According to ZipRecruiter, Front of House Managers make a national average of $48,420 or $23.28 an hour (as of June 2022). This position is a senior level front of house managers and salaries currently range between $40,250 (25th percentile) to $55,000 (75th percentile). This wide range also depends on skill, seniority, company, and location.

What impact does this career have towards the hospitality industry?

Front of House Managers are the eyes and ears on the floor for restaurant managers and owners. They work in tandem with the Back of House Manager (also known as the Kitchen Manager) to ensure the restaurant is running smoothly and generating as much profit as possible.

What is the job outlook for a Front of House Manager?

Analysts forecast that hotel revenue and food service industry revenue will grow to $950 billion and $898 billion, respectively, in 2022. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job opportunities in food service management (including Front of House Manager) are expected to grow at a rate of 15% during the 2020-2030 decade.

How to kick-off your career:

YVETTE LY

Learn from: 

Yvette Ly
Director of People + Culture, West Bourne & Tourism Industry Essentials contributor

Related Careers:

Executive Chef | Kitchen Manager | Sommelier | Catering Manager |  Fast Food Attendant | Cake Decorator | Barista | Pastry Chef | Bartender | Line Cook | Maître D | Sous Chef | Host | Server | Kitchen Porter | Restaurant Manager | Dishwasher | Restaurant Owner | Busser | Catering Assistant | Commis Chef

How to Become a Kitchen Manager

Kitchen Manager Career Profile, Salary & Job Outlook

What does a Kitchen Manager do?

A Kitchen Manager, also referred to as a Back Of House Manager, is in charge of the overall operations for the kitchen area of a restaurant. Their primary objective is to ensure the kitchen services high quality food, runs efficiently, and complies with health department regulations. Additional duties include inventory management, analyzing food costs, preparing menus, and monitoring kitchen staff such as a the executive chef, head chef, sous chefs, cooks, preparation workers, and other kitchen personal.

How much does a Kitchen Manager make?

According to Glassdoor, Kitchen Managers make a national average of $53,590 or $25.76 an hour. This position is a senior level role and salaries currently range between $38,000 (25th percentile) to $94,000 (75th percentile). This wide range also depends on skill, seniority, company, and location.

What impact does this career have towards the hospitality industry?

Similar to Front of House Managers, Kitchen Managers represent senior management and ownership to ensure the kitchen functions at a high level. The aid in revenue generation by monitoring food costs and ensuring expenses are on par with the restaurant’s bottom line.

What is the job outlook for a Kitchen Manager?

Analysts forecast that hotel revenue and food service industry revenue will grow to $950 billion and $898 billion. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job opportunities in food service management (including Kitchen Manager) are expected to grow at a rate of 15% during the 2020-2030 decade.

How to kick-off your career:

YVETTE LY

Learn from: 

Yvette Ly
Director of People + Culture, West Bourne & Tourism Industry Essentials contributor

Related Careers:

Pastry Chef | Executive Chef  | Front of House Manager | Sommelier | Restaurant Owner  | Catering Assistant | Catering Manager | Fast Food Attendant | Cake Decorator | Barista | Bartender | Line Cook | Maître D | Sous Chef | Host | Server | Kitchen Porter | Restaurant Manager | Dishwasher | Busser Commis Chef

How to Become an Executive Chef

Executive Chef Career Profile, Salary & Job Outlook

What does an Executive Chef do?

The Executive Chef balances all areas of the culinary operations with a business and financial mindset. They work with the Kitchen Manager to lead the sous chefs, line cooks, prep cooks, porters, and other kitchen staff by supporting growth and development. Managers oversee budgetary demands using the profits & losses statement and other financial documents. They are tasked with continually refining and updating the culinary programming menu. They create and maintain recipes and standardized processes.

How much does an Executive Chef make?

According to Glassdoor, Executive Chefs make a national average of $78,579 or $37.78 an hour. This position is a senior level role and salaries currently range between $57,000 (25th percentile) to $121,000 (75th percentile). This wide range also depends on skill, seniority, company, and location.

What impact does this career have towards the hospitality industry?

In order for a restaurant to be successful, it must have a clean and efficient kitchen that produces great food. An executive chef is the key figure who makes it all come together. The supervise and motivate staff, develop an understanding of the finer points of the business’ finance, and ensure that the restaurant always works within the protocols of the health department.

What is the job outlook for an Executive Chef?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job opportunities in food service management (including Executive Chef) are expected to grow at a rate of 15% during the 2020-2030 decade.

How to kick-off your career:

Soraya Alolama

Learn from: 

Soraya Aloloma
Assistant Manager, North America at Dubai Tourism, Hospitality & Tourism Industry Essentials contributor

Related Careers:

Pastry Chef | Kitchen Manager | Front of House Manager | Sommelier | Restaurant Owner | Catering AssistantCatering Manager | Fast Food Attendant | Cake Decorator | Barista | Bartender | Line Cook | Maître D | Sous Chef | Host | Server | Dishwasher | Busser | Commis Chef