Four pieces of advice for your future

MAKING a decision about your future can be somewhat daunting.

William Angliss

MAKING a decision about your future can be somewhat daunting.

Whether you've finished school and are lacking direction or are stuck in a role rut and lacking inspiration, it's important to check in with yourself before making your next move. Fortunately, many before you have felt the same, returning to study, changing career paths or starting their very own small business. If you've found yourself at a career crossroad, check out what these four former students have to say about navigating it.

Do your research and make it happen

For 22-year-old Caelan, food was at the heart of every decision he made. Knowing this, his dad suggested he undertake an apprenticeship early on, scoring a role under Head Chef Ben Darcy at Shadowfax Winery.

At the same time, Ben enrolled Caelan in William Angliss Institute where he studied Certificate III in Commercial Cookery for three years. “I spent one day a week at William Angliss,” Caelan said. “At first, it was a daunting experience because, at the time, I didn’t know if I wanted to commit. I remember sitting in the lecture room with my friend Connor by my side, surrounded by apprentices and chefs, thinking to myself ‘I can back out now if I need to.’”

Over time, Caelan developed a deep appreciation for the experience gained through the course, applying and securing an Australian Government funded scholarship that would send him to Hong Kong in his third year. “This was the start of a journey that William Angliss and the AOF (?) helped to provide. In that year, I was fortunate to be a part of two highly successful restaurants – Uma Nota Hong Kong and Yardbird. They both gave me the training and knowledge I was hoping for and I’m forever grateful for that experience.”

Despite the initial confusion about his career, Caelan says it’s important to look towards where you want to be. “Organise yourself and do the research,” he adds. “We are lucky today to have resources that can get us anywhere we want to. If you don’t know where that is, that’s fine – once again, do your research and don’t wait for opportunities to come knocking. Opportunities are everywhere – you just need to make sacrifices and keep moving forward.”

Choose to work with those who excite you

Unlike others, 29-year-old Cameron always wanted to be involved in Hospitality Management. “I loved the industry and realised my happiest moments were connected to cooking, dining and sharing memories with family and friends,” Cameron said.

After completing an Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management at William Angliss Institute, he scored his first role in the industry – a six-month placement that turned into three and a half years of employment. “My course helped me with the practical elements of cocktail making, barista classes and service-based training at the on-site restaurant,” Cameron adds. “There was a great balance of practical skills that became immediately useful when I entered the workforce and the theoretical management skills became more useful as my career developed.”

After working in benchmark restaurants such as The Fat Duck and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Cameron is now the Assistant General Manager of a group of restaurants owned by Chef Andrew McConnell. This includes well-known Cumulus INC, Cutler and Co and Supernormal, where his role is a combination of restaurant service, operations and management.

“I really encourage people to try their luck securing a role with industry leaders, regardless of it being a café, bar, restaurant or hotel,” he adds. “Choose to work with those who excite you, who challenge you and who are leaders in their fields. The experience gained will set you on the right path and open many doors.” “Follow your passion”

After a four-year Tourism and Hospitality Management Degree (three years of classroom learning and one year of placement learning in your chosen workplace), Kara had the opportunity to travel to South East Asia with a group of classmates. “Over two weeks of travelling in rural areas of Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Singapore and Indonesia, we learnt about the impacts of tourism in each of these destinations and how they managed negative and positive aspects of growing tourism.”

She believes this experience was influential in securing her role as Sales Event Coordinator for Social Corporate events at Yarra Valley and Meletos. Here, she works with clients to discuss packages and venues for their occasion, finalising finer details such as food and beverage selections, timings, styling and payment closer to the day. “To be able to succeed in the hospitality industry, experience plays a vital role in your development,” Kara says. “Real learning experiences enhance your skills and knowledge of current trends within the industry, which will help to grow you both personally and professionally in your career.”

Crediting William Angliss Institute for the confidence and knowledge to progress her career, Kara recommends following your passion when all else fails. “Take the leap into an industry that’s full of variety,” she adds. “There are so many different aspects of the Tourism and Hospitality industry which ensures you are not tied down to one particular role within the business.”

“Volunteering and work experience is crucial”

If you can’t find the right role, sometimes, you have to create it. That’s the case for 37-year-old Shanan, owner and founder of Walk The Way Melbourne – a city walking tour that offers bespoke tourism experiences around the city of Melbourne.

“I still use the business plan I designed in my final year at William Angliss,” Shanan says. “I only need to occasionally update it to keep on top of contemporary marketing information or the odd business idea.”

While he believes his experience at the Institute was largely shaped by the people guiding and teaching him, he also believes study and work experience gave him the clarity needed to plot out his pathway to becoming a business owner / operator within the industry. “Volunteering lets you to get hands on experience and in turn find out which roles take your interest and inspire a passion to continue and grow as a professional and an individual.”

“I think it is also very useful to join or familiarise yourself with groups within the tourism industry such as Young Tourism Network. Here you can talk to professionals in the industry and make an informed decision about the next logical step in your career.”

Originally published as Four pieces of advice for your future