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Graduates’ top tips to employability in tourism, hospitality and events

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Standing out from the crowd is crucial when launching your career in tourism, hospitality or events. At Sunderland, there are a whole host of schemes and initiatives you can get involved in to boost your career prospects. Read advice from recent graduates below:

Victoria Lambert, Account Manager at Givergy Events

The University of Sunderland’s work placement scheme gave Victoria Lambert the chance to earn a salary while working for iBid Events. Victoria now works full-time at the company, now named Givergy Events, and believes that any student should look at taking part in the scheme.

She says, “My advice to any student would be to work hard, be enthusiastic, and take advantage of the opportunities the University provides. Through the University’s placement scheme, I was able to gain a placement at iBid Events for a year. After working there for a while, I was able to secure a full-time job, and I remain there to this day. I’d recommend a placement to any student.”

Laura Vadeikaite, Food and Beverage/Conference and Events Supervisor, Marriott Hotels

Our department organises several field trips a year for you to take part in, visiting some of the world’s most breathtaking cities, including Prague, Dublin, and New York. Not only are these trips a truly unforgettable experience, they're also invaluable for developing skills that will be relevant to your course and your future career in the industry.

Laura Vadeikaite gained lifelong memories on trips abroad, but she also gained vital insight into the industry that helped her with her final-year dissertation and her career – she now works for the Marriott Hotels company.

A group of students at Beamish

Tourism students on a trip to Beamish

“In my first year, we went to Holy Island and Liverpool, and both trips were very interesting. I was an international student and it was my first year in the United Kingdom, so it was a great chance for me to explore England. In my second year, we went to Prague. I loved how we combined university work with city exploring. And my last trip during my final year was the most memorable, as we went to New York – it was truly inspiring for my dissertation writing.”

Bogdan Metes, MSc Tourism and Hospitality student and BSc (Hons) Hospitality and Tourism graduate

The department has fantastic local, national, and industry contacts that students can use to make connections, gain experience, and get a head start in the industry.

Bogdan Metes

Bogdan Metes took advantage of our department’s connections to gain unrivalled experience to help boost his CV.

“Through my studies and due to the amazing lecturers that have looked after me, I was put in contact with several giant employers, not only in the region but also worldwide.

“I've taken part in the planning and the organisation of major business and leisure events, through both volunteering and paid schemes, and thus I've not only gained highly appreciated skills, but also established invaluable connections. I can safely say that due to experience, social skills, knowledge gained, and simply time spent studying for these courses, I currently have a job that I love.”

Published: 12 September 2017