Hi everyone!

I've been visiting this forum tonnes lately just to read all the random stuff when I am bored at work.

I'm about to start work with STA Travel (my training begins in December). I've been wanting to get into the travel industry for ages and finally decided to get on with it. STA Travel isn't my ideal agency - I'm far from a 'value' traveller being a 22yo who prefers business class and Four Seasons... But I figure they are going to train me well (I get some sort of recognised qualification) and I couldn't seem to get an interview from a more upmarket / boutique agency because I (a) have no industry experience and (b) haven't done a travel course. I figure an agency is a cool thing to do while I'm still young and it is a decent foot in the door into the wider travel industry.

My ultimate goal (hopefully within five years) is to get into travel journalism or marketing. Three goals would be (1) working as a writer for Conde Naste / Travel & Leisure (2) working in promotion / marketing for Tourism Australia (3) working for Emirates in something like business / route development.

I'm obsessed with all things Emirates, don't ask me why.

Anyway, I was just wondering if there was any other agents around that would be able to tell me about what I am getting myself into. I only really see myself staying in the role for a max of two years (this seems to be the industry experience requirment for most entry-level corporate Emirates or Etihad jobs I've been keen on).

So hello everyone and now I'm not just a random 'guest' coming and reading all your exciting stories.

First off, welcome to FT!! I've only been here for less than a year, but I've learned so much already. And yes, when I'm bored at work, it's "FT, here I come!"

I just turned 23 and like you, have been wanting to get into the travel industry. Actually, though, I have a pretty sweet job right now....as an auditor for a Big 4 accounting firm. Yes, I majored in accounting in college (figured it's the best major for business), and I plan on getting my CPA license within the next year. The job I have now pays really well, and there is a ton of room to grow. However....

Auditing is clearly not in the travel industry! Ha! When I'm bored sometimes, I look at jobs marketed as "corporate travel directors" or jobs at corporate travel firms. All of the jobs require a few years of industry experience...boo. I almost feel as if I'd be taking quite a step 'down' from going as an auditor to an entry-level travel agent (I don't mean that in any conceited way). But, if I am truly passionate about it, we'll see where it goes. I say all of that to say......good luck with the job, keep FT posted on how it goes, and I will probably be joining you in a few years!

I know what you mean re going backwards. I graduated from uni with an A average after being on a leadership and excellence scholarship. Now I have to fill in some training manual that has REALLY basic crap in it like re-write this time in 24hr format (...? How hard is that?!).

I'm taking a big of a dive in pay (not too bad if commission kicks in). But I don't see being a Trade Commissioner Assistant taking me anywhere in the travel industry any time soon. Just have to make sacrifices I guess! I've realised travel/airlines are my passion so there is not much point me plugging away at something I don't love. I don't see myself being an agent in five years time basically because I want to go the airline route and an agent salary won't give me and my partner the lifestyle we want.

That would be like applying to a local McDonald's, and expecting them to train you to be a chef

Welcome to FT!

Welcome to FT, smashley! Congrats on your new job! ^

I will graduate with double degrees in Arts (political science) and Law. But I'm also looking at something in the travel industry. Been researching on traveltrade and travelweekly.

I was looking at the Qantas graduate program (corporate stream) but I'm not sure if my lack of Business qualifications will hinder me. My dream job would be to work in public affairs/government relations/corporate communications or marketing at Qantas though, but I think the former would be rare and I'd have to be very high up in the organisation or something. I do have significant experience in campaigning/lobbying in my current job otoh so that might work to my advantage.

So I was also looking at jobs in travel agents, and the majority of them require industry experience. The only ones that don't are trailfinders and STA Travel so I guess I might try my luck in those.

I also thought of a Masters in Aviation Industry Management as I thought it'd help me when I'm applying for an airline job but the courses I came across require '2 years minimum' work experience of some sort. They didn't specify that it has to be full time work experience though so I'm not sure if my part time work while at uni will count...

My law lecturers think I'm out of my mind. I'm a year to graduation now and I'm freaked out over what to do post-undergrad...

The OP is me in five years.

I am also obsessed with everything Emirates (have the t-shirt, hat, posters, lanyard, all timetables, boarding cards etc etc.) The 'please fasten your seatbelt' announcement in arabic was even my ringtone for a while. I also want to work as a TA just for fun if nothing else. If you don't mind me asking

- was there an opening or did you just apply
- what were the minimum requirements?

There is an STA right across the street and I am waiting for a 'now hiring' sign.

Cheers,

I graduated this year with a B Arts and a Certificate in Conflict Resolution (it was a bonus if you picked the right papers). For ages I was thinking about doing public sector work, but I've been working in that for a little while now and I don't think it is my thing (I'm working for a foreign government in Auckland in trade). I would love to apply for the Qantas grad program (I'm orginally an Aussie, been in Auckland four years), but I'm going to get my travel industry experience first while I'm still young (I'm 22) and then go and do a business masters in a few years time (say when I'm 26). I'm thinking marketing / public relations is going to be my business strength, but I'm hoping to work that out as I go. I'm REALLY kicking myself for not doing a combined Arts / Business. I've stuffed up there but never mind. I was doing Arts / Law but quickly realised I hated law and it wasn't worth continuing 'just to have a law degree'... I've been looking at University of Melbourne for a business degree or ANU maybe (but Canberra is BORING).

Good luck with your quest and hopefully we meet at Qantas one day!

I didn't really want to work for STA initially, but I'm glad the opportunity is there for me to get some travel industry experience. STA's market is not one which I relate to. I have no interest in budget travel at all. I don't know how I'm going to sell backpacking trips when I prefer business class and five star resorts...

To answer your questions... There was an add on a local NZ job seeking website and I applied though that. However, you can apply direct on STA's website - you should fill it out! Re requirements, I don't have any experience, just a uni degree and custy service experience (my government work isn't relevant). You should apply if you want! See how you go!

I love Emirates. I fly them basically exclusively internationally. Their route network is very good for Aussies / Kiwis flying into Asia or Africa / Europe. And Skywards is great for accumulating miles! (Booking online gets a nice bonus for business!). Anyway, a friend of mine is ex-cabin crew for Emirates and she knows the whole Arabic safety presentation. It's pretty funny hearing a blonde British girl rant in Arabic! I've also just had a friend start cabin crew for Emirates and she loves it. I ALMOST considered doing cabin crew for them, but I've got a great relationship and I know I couldn't handle what cabin crew get put through (plus I'd prefer to be on the recieving end of service!).

One thing that worries me about Emirates is their expansion rate. My friend resigned as cabin crew because basically Emirates is falling apart back-office due to the huge expansion they are going through. They are recieving too many new planes and too many entry level staff (cabin crew) for the senior staff / back office staff to manage properly. I can't remember the ratio exactly, but the cabin crew to support staff ratio is insane... It's a great airline but apparently they need to get on top of things and make sure they are managing their rapid expansion properly. They don't need to slip in customer service or aircraft maintinance.

A lot of people find the idea of the travel industry attractive. I wouldn't wait for a hiring notice to go up-I'd put a speculative resume in to them. Travel jobs are often filled that way. The best jobs I had in the travel industry came from that method or networking.

Don't get me wrong I do enjoy Law even though some of the subjects are rough (I still haven't got over Property and am still amazed that I actually got more than a Pass for it). But there's a difference between studying Law and actually going into practice. I do enjoy the study of Law but I've never really thought about it vocationally or anything other than 'because it's something fun to do at uni.' Plus I figured a combined degree allowed me to stay at uni and delay reality for an extra 2 years over the standard Arts degree. To the point where I went part time for a couple of semesters to take up a part time job...

Oh and more than happy to confirm your suspicions about CBR...

I didn't mind studying law - it was interesting enough, but I found that I was really bored most of the time and really enjoying my politics and economics papers. Don't ask me why, but economics was interesting! (The applied version, not the hard core x-y+v=y-n type)

And I know Canberra is an absolute hole... I used to swim in Aussie at a national level when I was living there so I used to compete in Canberra quite a bit when there was a gap in major events at Homebush. Three days in Canberra used to send me mental so I can't imagine what a few semesters would be like...

Looking forward to December though! STA is sending me to Melbourne for two weeks. They are putting me up at Kew but the training is in Abbotsford (go figure).

hi guys,

just to put some input on getting into the travel industry..you could always find a part-time job at the airport as reservations agents..eventually you might have the potential to move up to a corporate position. That would be part of having "industry experience". I worked for an airline as a part-time seasonal position while going to school here in Seattle and i learned so much about the industry. Once you get in...you don't want to do anything else but something related to travel...it's addicting. I hope to work in the airline or hotel corporate world someday too!

FWIW (and that's from a UK perspective so not sure whether/to what extent it applies to Australia/NZ), I've found agents at STA and (even more so) Trailfinders to be up to speed and understand complex requests much better than the "customer service" staff at Expedia/Opodo, or the high street "holiday shops" (still known as travel agents although they aren't that anymore).

Budget or not, some of the tickets they sell are quite complicated (e.g. RTWs in conjunction with intracontinental passes), so they tend to have an idea about things like booking classes and fare rules, which are concepts alien to many other "travel agents", in the UK at least.

As for working in the travel industry...I'd probably enjoy some part-time work at an agency or a proper corporate position with an airline, but anything in between doesn't sound too attractive to me.

That's pretty much my thoughts too. I've always had great service from STA and they seem really clued up. I'm hoping the complicated ticket requests you mentioned will help me get a real understanding of how the basic airline industry works. And yeah, it was either agency or corporate with an airline or nothing at all for me. I got to second interview with Air New Zealand for a corporate affairs position, but then lost out due to my complete lack of experience / business qualification. Don't know how I got past the first interview to start with, but it was a motivating sign!

Like I said, the whole travel agent thing is temporary for a few years for 'industry experience' until I go back to uni, study business and then score a job with EK and move to Dubai. I give myself two years max as an agent plus one to two years in possibly marketing/public relations with the company, then back to uni.

Yikes, I real am planning this whole career thing...

I finished Eco/Law and did my articles, but left shortfly thereafter (day after I was admitted!). At that point in search of a new career, I interviewed with Flight Centre. They told me I was overqualified and would get bored so not worth their time to hire me

I ended up going into consulting, and have now managed to travel much more than I had ever imagined - both for work and leisure. And FT lets me "tickle my travel fancy"

Find something that you like doing, and it well have a lot of travel involved.

1. network!
2. try and move to a Virtuoso travel agency in the not too distant future
3. keep building luxury market knowledge, and really leverage it

there are TAs on FT, including 1-2 Virtuoso TAs in the luxury hotels forum for example. you might try talking to them, or check out the website(s) that one of them has.

if you want to live in Dubai and work for Emirates, you might also want to consider getting some other job in Dubai. Corporate travel, sales, PR, marketing, plenty of related fields..

not sure why you want to go back to uni, but you should definitely explore whether it would be possible to get a job where your employer would pay for all/part of it.