In 2 - 3 paragraphs (500 - 700 words), explain/discuss

the following:

1. How confident were you prior to taking this course in

terms of your:

a) professional appearance, b) presentation/public

speaking skills c) interview skills - explain your answers
(elaborate)

Prior to this course, I was fairly confident in my

professional appearance, public speaking skills, and
interviewing skills. In terms of professional appearance,
I am always sure to dress in a proper, appropriate
manner. For example, if I were meet with a potential
employer for an interview I would want to avoid wrinkled
or informal wear and instead opt for well-fitting formal
wear such as a business suit. I would also ensure my
personal hygiene looks professional especially in terms
of hair and makeup. As for my public speaking skills,
my previous years in various theatre programs lend a
hand in my ability to speak and present publically
without a problem.

That being said, this course has helped me strengthen

my interviewing skills. Often, I felt unprepared for
interview questions as I felt I had no example of what to
expect, which lowered my confidence. After reading
sections in the textbook about what to expect and how
to behave professionally in an interview to achieve the
career you desire, I feel more confident in interviews
than I felt prior to taking this course.

2. Which career do you plan to pursue and why is this

appealing to you?

At this point, I would like to pursue a career in Human

Resources in hotels. I strongly believe in the
 employee-customer-profit model; if an employee feels
empowered and able to obtain success on the job, the
will provide their best quality work to consumers, who
will be satisfied enough to bring in more profit for the
company. I would like to help organizations set their
employees up for success and help employees feel
appreciated and empowered in the workplace.

The job stability and work-life balance of a typical

human resources position are also appealing to me. I
have been in a position at the front desk of several
hotels, and the physical and emotional strains that one
endures in that type of position can become tiresome,
and it would be interesting to see more back-of-house
operations instead of customer-facing ones.

3. Do you plan to pursue an advanced degree in this

field, and if so, do you believe it will help you in your
career?

In the future, I would like to pursue an advanced degree in Hospitality Management or Business.
Both of my parents are college educators who have their doctorates and it is important to them
that I achieve a high level of education as they have. More than that, I believe an advanced
degree will help me be more competitive in the job market and will give me the option to
become an educator in this field, which is something I have been interested in since I started at
Rosen College. I have spoken to many of my managers who have informed me that if I am not
interested in a Director or Executive position, gaining a master’s degree would still be beneficial
to me in the hospitality field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the Department of
Labor in the US, employees in the hospitality field with a master’s degree make approximately
$13,000 more than those with a bachelor’s degree. Keeping this in mind, I would like to pursue
a higher degree to give me more opportunities in my future so that I can apply for a director,
executive, or even teaching position.

Bureau of Labor Statistics. Lodging Managers. (2015). Retrieved from

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/lodging-managers.htm