Travel Industry Graduate Schemes

StudentSaver_2

Hi

I'm interested in getting into the travel industry when I graduate. I'll be graduating with a BA(Hons) in French and German.

I've seen the Thomas Cook and Thomson schemes. Anyone got anymore ideas?

By the way, I'm not graduating this year...I'm just sussing companies out.

elisebutt65

With a degree in languages you are probably better off looking for a job in translating - how about the UN??? That would also involve travel.

I'm looking for similar as next year is my last but I'm doing Tourism Business Management.

Languages may be some use in the admin depts where you might have to renogiate contracts with foreign hoteliers/airlines, but most of the biggie TO's like TUI tend to tie up their own airlines and hotels now anyway.

I went all through this with a career adviser before deciding to do this particular degree as I specifically want to go into the Tourist industry and it covers everything from marketing, financial management, strategic management etc, and we can all learn whatever languages we want for free whilst we're on the course - I'm picking up Spanish.

Edited to add: BA do a graduate scheme as well - might be worth looking into???

StudentSaver_2

elisebutt65 wrote:

BA do a graduate scheme as well - might be worth looking into???

Hi elisebutt65

I know about this scheme, but although it's still on their website, BA haven't been operating it for about 2 years now. This was part of their big cost-cutting, staff-reducing drive a while back.

As for the UN...I'm not interested in translation work. I've always been interested in the travel industry, but languages are my first love. I'm not necessarily looking for a scheme that will make use of my languages though.

Nor am I particularly worried about how much travel is involved. I'd be more than happy just being in the industry!

Thanks!

elisebutt65

Well a friend of mine just passed her HND in TBM last year and got taken by Abercrombie & Kent in a graduate type scheme - you go around all the depts until you find your niche??

They're based in Cheltenham so it might be worth asking ther - I think they start you off on about 13-16000.

Unfortunatley I can't go for a graduate type scheme as I've got kiddies so cant be traipsing all across the country for a multi-national -lol.

Am going to do a PGCE in FE instead and go for a lecturing job in Tourism, might as well put all my years in the hotel industry to use - lol

pbright

TUIs scheme is still advertised online...but like BA they havent actually been operating it for over a year. Not good news for me!!

elisebutt65

Actually, just remebered the Times has a careers section every week and they generally list the top 10 best graduate schemes in there - there's also a book you can get with the top 100 employers, but you culd probably borrow it from your uni library??

You could always write into the Times as I think they have a career query letter type column every week?