Hotel Work

[lilongyue]

I had an interview with a 5 star hotel today, as I'm looking to get some different work experience. I haven't worked in a hotel before, either in China or back in the States, and I wanted to hear from anyone who has experience working in hotels in China. How was it? Advice? I'm guessing a foreign salary in a 5 star should be rather high. Salary ranges?

[asiancrusader]

Is $3-500 USD a month and free bad living arrangements ok? The living arrangements vary from hotel to hotel but many you share with many others, , and cold water, dirty, unkept facilities. The best hotels I have stayed in China are in a city near Shenzhen called Humen city, these are real 5 star hotels. Not like the ones that pay the government to get the 5 star rating. Grand Noble hotel, and Long Chuen Hotel.

[cdn_in_bj]

What kind of position are you going for? I've seen foreigners working in hotels at the reception desk and one guy was just standing around in the lobby.

I'm guessing a foreign salary in a 5 star should be rather high.

I don't think so, at least not for the positions I mentioned above. Unless you're getting into a senior management position, which I'd think requires some related experience.

[liuzhou]

Yes. It really does matter whether you are going to be managing the place or cleaning the toilets.

[adrianlondon]

My understanding is that 5-star hotels are expensive to stay in because of the quality of the rooms themselves and the sheer number of staff, not the rate they get paid.

So I wouldn't expect a 5-star hotel salary to be much, or any, different to that of a lesser quality hotel. Unless, of course, you're in the areas of management high enough where you have a stake in the profit.

[BrandeX]

Absolute garbage. I study hospitality management, and have checked into several hotels here in Guangzhou, even going as far as to go to interviews. The average salary is about 500 USD a month, and you are expected to work 8 hours a day 6 days a week, while you live there (i.e. on call 24 hours a day). Just teach english, even part time and you can double that without that kind of B.S. It's sad really, since I was really hoping to get into this myself, but the fact of the matter is, no hotel is going to pay you much more than a Chinese with basic english skills.

[mpallard]

Brandex,

That is one of the single best posts I've read on this site. Spoken without BS from someone with experience.

[lilongyue]

The initial position I applied for was "guest relation officer." No salary listed in the job ad, of course. I've spoken with the hotel twice, and the last time I was told they might consider me for another position, something management related, and I'm still waiting to hear back.

I saw positions advertised for hotel jobs in Guangdong, about 6,000 RMB a month, six days a week. I won't work six days a week, and made sure to ask about the working hours with the hotels I've spoken to recently. The positions have all been five days a week, eight hours a day. I also won't work 40 hours a week for 6,000 RMB. I also would never agree to share a room with anyone, so I might move on. A bit sad that this is yet another alternative to supporting oneself by NOT teaching that isn't viable.

By the way, the hotels I've applied to have all been managed by overseas companies. One of the positions had Saturday and Sunday off, and 20 days vacation per year. That one was Aussie. I'm guessing that those kinds of hotel would be the ones to work for, if one was going to work in hotels in China. They all have foreigners as upper level management, for whatever that's worth. If nothing else, these hotels would have some experience dealing with foreign staff, which does make a bit of a difference.

[cdn_in_bj]

The initial position I applied for was "guest relation officer."

Yup, sounds like the foreigner guy I saw standing around in the lobby.

I also won't work 40 hours a week for 6,000 RMB. I also would never agree to share a room with anyone, so I might move on. A bit sad that this is yet another alternative to supporting oneself by NOT teaching that isn't viable.

You've gotta ask yourself, what special skills are required for this position. If the answer is "not that many", then that'll be reflected in the pay.

Regarding teaching, I'm predicting a rise in the quantity as well as the quality of non-native English teachers in the next few years. Once that happens, the teaching scene is going to be greatly affected.

Anyways, I hope things work out, but I also wouldn't put too much hope into it.

[roddy]

Actually if you're wanting the job for other reasons - a chance to stretch your Chinese, get some experience in the industry for your CV - then 6,000 a month and reasonable working conditions doesn't strike me as too bad. Yes, you'll make more money teaching English, but I suspect you might make more money teaching English than doing most entry level jobs in China, and what are you going to do, teach English all your life muttering about how you'd really like to be a rocket scientist, but teaching English pays more?

[lilongyue]

Anyways, I hope things work out, but I also wouldn't put too much hope into it.

I'm not, actually. All I really need is some work to get me through the next year, preferably non-teaching. I have something lined up for the near future, good work, but it isn't a sure thing right now, and I have to wait several months before I know if I get the position. The one good thing about hotel work is that you can take it anywhere. Unless one is a legitimate teacher, meaning he or she majored in education, and/or has the credentials required to teach back in his home country, teaching experience isn't good for much outside developing countries. If one plays their cards right, in a hotel one could work his way up to an entry level management position, and then have some more doors open for them. But teaching? If you're lucky, you might top out at around 10,000 RMB a month, maybe 12,000, but then that's it. Short of trying to open your own school, you've reached your ceiling. I don't want t work in hotels all my life, but I don't want to live in China the rest of my life either. I need to be thinking of getting experience that is more applicable in other countries. I am still exploring work based on my translating experience as well.

Actually if you're wanting the job for other reasons - a chance to stretch your Chinese, get some experience in the industry for your CV - then 6,000 a month and reasonable working conditions doesn't strike me as too bad. Yes, you'll make more money teaching English, but I suspect you might make more money teaching English than doing most entry level jobs in China, and what are you going to do, teach English all your life muttering about how you'd really like to be a rocket scientist, but teaching English pays more?

I agree with roddy, as improving my Chinese is also another reason I'm interested in the position. I'm sure entry level work in a hotel is better paying than entry level work in a normal Chinese company.

[cdn_in_bj]

If one plays their cards right, in a hotel one could work his way up to an entry level management position, and then have some more doors open for them.

Probably not that easy to do in China, but the experience you get you can take elsewhere if it's a career path that you think you might be interested in. And you'll probably get to meet some interesting and well-connected people in these 5-star hotels.