What to look for in a hospitality training course

There are many training organizations that advocate that their training courses are the best available. Choosing the one that best suits your needs can be difficult and time-consuming, and you don’t want to spend your hard-earned money on the wrong one.

So what should you keep in mind when making this decision?

What do I want from the course?

Are you looking for a longer intensive course with a higher grade as a result? This can mean a commitment of 6 months, 12 months or more, perhaps full-time and with a lot of theoretical and practical content. Alternatively, you may be looking for something that is shorter and more practical. The qualification may not be as high, but it could still cover the training you need to work in the industry.

What kind of work do I want to do?

Are you looking to pursue a career in hospitality or just want to get a job or income while perhaps studying or looking for a second job to supplement your income, then hospitality is great for people in this situation.

Long courses may be more suitable for those who want to be in the industry for a career, such as Hotel Management or Hospitality and Tourism. While short courses are better for those who need the basic skills and confidence to get a job, including bar skills course, RSA certificate, RSG certificate or RMLV (Responsible Management of a Licensed Venue).

Where do I want to do the course?

The larger universities will be based in the city with their facilities on a single campus and training can be done only during the day. Smaller training organizations may hold their courses in the suburbs, making it easier to access. Also consider that some venues will conduct training at their own facilities or others will use what we call ‘live’ venues such as hotels or clubs that allow their venues to be used for student training. This can often be a good thing, as it makes the training very realistic and can create an exciting environment; sometimes even the most promising students can be employed.

Do I have payment flexibility?

Some organizations will need 100% right before the start of the course, others may just want a deposit and then provide the ability to use a payment plan to pay off the balance (even after the course has been completed). This can be helpful as you are often taking the course to get a job and earn some income.

Government training organization or private company?

In general, TAFE operates the government educators, however there are also many private companies that have been accredited by the government to deliver courses. It is the private RTOs (Registered Training Organizations) that can sometimes be more flexible in delivering content, for example delivering overnight or even on weekends.

Do I know someone who has done the course I want to do?

Obviously, a referral from a friend’s training organization will be valuable information when choosing who to go with. Ask around to see if perhaps a friend or a friend of a friend has done the same course, ask them the tough questions like what was the trainer like, what was the facility provided like, did they get a job soon after?

If I am unemployed can I take the course for free?

This will depend on your situation; however, if you are listed with an employment service provider, such as Mission Australia or Max Employment, you may be eligible to take the course at no cost. Talk to your employment advisor for more information.

As you can see, there are many issues to consider and these are just a few of the most obvious ones. In short, do your research before you commit and ultimately you’ll make the right choice and be on your way to a great time in the exciting hospitality industry.