Whether it is by choice or due to circumstances outside of your control, it is important to be prepared when making a career transition in the hospitality industry. With the recent mergers and acquisitions, it is even more important as it seems that these transitions are not by choice or according to your timetable.
The following are some suggestions to help prepare you for a career transition:

First, you need to take a deep breath, relax, and ensure that you can think clearly. This time of transition could be a great opportunity to pursue something that has always been of interest to you. Do you want to work for a specific organization or brand? Do you want to make a move to the meeting planning side of the industry? Is your goal to be an entrepreneur with your own business?

You need to be open to embracing change as nothing stays the same in the business world. You need to master the process of change and manage the stress so that you are ready to respond to opportunities that come your way.
To prepare for your next career move, you need to conduct an honest self-assessment of yourself. It is important to know your strengths, skills, experience, and knowledge and how they can help you. You need to have a good sense of who you are and what you are trying to accomplish. Which opportunity will utilize your skills the best? Which opportunity will enable you to make an impact immediately and which one will it take time for you to get ramped up?

Once you know your skills and experience, you need to understand what the potential employer is looking for in the ideal candidate. If it is necessary to add or improve any skills or gain more experience to land the perfect opportunity, make sure you do it. It is also important to align with an organization that engages you, challenges you and leverages your strengths.

You want to put a high value on the connections and relationships in your life. In addition to the professional advantages of a strong network, these connections also provide you with higher levels of meaning, a greater feeling of belonging, and often a far greater sense of purpose in your life.

Finally, make sure to devote the time and energy each day to the transition you want to make and be persistent. You may get discouraged, but you need to have the determination to follow through and put in the effort required to overcome all obstacles and achieve your desired result.

I challenge you to embrace this time of transition as an opportunity. The future is bright for all of us in the hospitality industry and I wish you continued success in all that you do.

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