5 Secret Perks of Working in Hospo You Don’t Know About

Everyone knows about some of the perks of working in hospo. You get to work flexible hours, get paid tips on top of your wage, and be around fun coworkers. But there are also a bunch of less-obvious benefits that you might not be across. Granted, some of these perks aren’t actually that secret, but there are aspects of them that you might not have considered. From staff discounts that extend further than you might think, to attending exciting industry events, here are some of the lesser known perks of working in hospitality.
 

Cheeky Discounts

Pretty much everyone that works in hospo will have access to discounts to some degree. If you work in a cafe, you’ll probably be able to grab a free feed most shifts. Or if you work in a bar, you might be offered cheap drinks if you head there on a night off. 

But in a lot of hospo jobs, the discounts can extend a little bit further. Say you work for a big hotel chain. In most cases, you’ll be handed out discounted accommodation at any of their hotels, anywhere in the world. Imagine travelling around Europe and while everyone else stays in grotty hostels, you’re living it up in a fancy hotel for a similar price. Sounds pretty ideal to me. 
 

Travel The World

Speaking of Europe trips, if your ideal life involves seeing as much of the world as possible, hospitality is the perfect industry for you. Not only will you be able to find work wherever you go, but you’ll actually be in demand, all year round. 

If you do find yourself working for a chain, discounts aren’t the only perks you’ll come across. You might also have the opportunity to transfer to another one of their locations whether that’s in another Australian city, or in a whole new country altogether. So if you’re really keen to experience life in a bunch of different places, finding work won’t be a blocker.
 

Meet Great People

In a lot of industries, most of the people you work with will have similar interests and ambitions because your passions are what drew you to that job, right? That’s not a bad thing, because you’ll probably get along well with the people you’re working with, but there probably won’t be much diversity amongst the people you’re around. 

On the other hand, when you work in hospo, you’ll have the opportunity to work with a bunch of different people who are interested in a variety of things and have a range of career aspirations. So whether you’re working your way up in the hospitality industry, or looking to build a career in another field, you’re bound to come across a few coworkers or customers who could become industry connections for you at a later date. 

Especially if you’re keen to work in the arts, there will be no shortage of people you’ll meet that will help you get gigs, clients, or freelance work because so many artists, musicians, comedians and photographers work hospo jobs for a bit of extra income on the side. 
 

Learn Skills

As a hospitality worker, you’ll be picking up some of the most valuable skills you’ll learn in your lifetime, sometimes without noticing it. Some of the most important skills you’ll nail pretty quickly are multi-tasking, communication, attention to detail, adaptability, resilience and thriving in a team environment. 

Before long, you’ll have all the major skills you’ll need to climb the hospo ladder and take on a management position, or even start your own business one day. But the best part is, the skills you learn in hospitality are transferable in other careers too, and will make you a great-looking candidate to any employer. 
 

Exclusive Events

Ever wanted to attend exclusive events and rub shoulders with industry bigwigs? It takes years of being in the industry to be invited to major events. But hot tip, these events need catering and bar staff. And that’s where you come in. If you work in the right places, you’ll have every chance of being at some really exciting events. 

I knew a guy who worked behind the bar at a cinema. It was a well renowned cinema so they hosted film premieres pretty often. He ended up meeting the likes of Timothée Chalamet, Chris Hemsworth and Hugo Weaving during some of his shifts. 

So if you’re looking for a job that actually helps you save money, provides plenty of travel opportunities, allows you to meet some amazing people (that could help progress your career), and learn some invaluable skills that will be handy no matter where your career takes you, these are all things that hospo can deliver.