How much experience do you think is needed?

Oldernotwiser

dmg24 wrote: »

Oldernotwiser, I think shellsuit was being ironic!

I have a friend who works for a travel agent (not FC), and with the exception of those who have gone in as management, none of her colleagues had any previous experience. The ads always stated 'experience required'!

I am sure that you can gear your cv to showing how your current experience and skills are relevant.

Booking holidays online is relevant. How do you think that travel agents book holidays?!! With the exception of the database that is used to search for 'I have no idea what I am looking for, tell me what is available on these dates', most holiday bookings are done on exactly the same screens as those used by anybody else! The only difference is that they enter a special code identifying themselves so that they can get their commission!

Good luck shellsuit ... if you don't try you'll never know! x

Having been a Lecturer in Travel and Tourism for many years I'm sorry but travel agencies use specific programmes that are quite different from using the internet to make bookings as a member of the general public. I agree that there's no harm in asking about training opportunities and showing that you're keen but working in a travel agency's a skilled job for which you need training and experience. It's a bit like saying, I cook for my family so I have the skills to be a chef in a restaurant.

boboshelley

just want to find a travel agent ?oh that's so nice .maybe sometimes you could to visit some different countries and see some different views .
that 's great

Reggie_Rebel

I used to manage a Travel Agents and now work in the IT Department of one and I would always consider someone who had an enthusiasm and could talk to potential customers about their destinations.

Depending on the area where the branch is situated the manager may be looking for someone with more life experience and who's travelled to many places who their customers can relate to rather than a younger person who's only ever been to Gran Canaria.

If you fall into the "been around a bit" category then that's definately how I'd pitch myself to them.

Just to take issue with oldernotwiser, 80% of our booking are now done on the internet, using the same systems as you would book your own holiday. The difference is that the "back office" systems used to manage the bookings once you have made the bookings would be new to you. However as FC and Thomson are due to merge soon chances are that everyone in FC will be in the same boat when it comes to learning a new system.

Don't let the fact that you have not worked in a Travel Agency before put you off, as I've said an enthusiastic and well travelled rookie would beat a morose veteran for me any day.

Always remember that a holiday is the most expensive single item most of your customers will buy this year and treat them accordingly and you'll be OK