From Linguistics to Hospitality

For a considerable time, I kept my family guessing what my ultimate career goal was. They had confidence in my ambition and sincerity. However, the question lingered ‘What exactly are you going to do?’ In India, the career trajectory is typically well-defined— complete the 10th grade, choose between Science, Commerce, or Humanities for the next two years, and then select your university major. My interests, however, took unpredictable turns at every juncture.

While in school, I was inclined toward science and mathematics , I adamantly resisted pursuing science post-graduation. My mum did not want me to study humanities, I did not want to opt science and that is how I ended up in commerce. I then, not very convinced, almost gave it in and agreed to do study Economics (Honors!). But somehow, at the very last moment, I gathered the courage to be honest with myself and to my mum – economics wasn’t my calling. German literature and linguistics became my passion, leading me to pursue the language at university. Just when everyone thought I had discovered my final path, I choose to fly to Switzerland to study at a hotel school.

In short, I explored various paths before uncovering my true passion. I occasionally pondered if I wasted a lot of time figuring what I wanted to do, if studying hospitality right from the beginning would have been a wiser choice. Reflecting on my journey till now, I now realize there's nothing to regret. Each path, no matter how brief, imparted valuable lessons. Every twist either taught me something or provided clarity on what wasn't for me. Here is how I am still using some valuable lessons and experiences from each phase.

1. Understanding Different People and Cultures as Language and Linguistics student.

Studying a language opens the door to a new culture. Beyond this general benefit, my linguistics knowledge often helps me decode a guest interaction much better. During internship in Switzerland, I was once handling a pre arrival chat with a guest from China. This common guest communication platform was operated by the entire team. The guest had a long list of requirements, that seemed rather a little rude. ‘Parking cost? Need parking, 2 cars. Swimming pool?’. One of my leaders advised me to leave the chat to him as he thought she was being rude. I stepped out but kept reading the conversation further. After a while I noticed a pattern and realized the guest struggled with English, and tried expressing herself using key words. Something that could have been said as ‘How much does the parking cost?’ was said just using the key words – ‘Parking cost?’. A few days later, when I met the guest, I saw how nice and kind the lady was. I have seen something very similar when some Indians try to interreact in English. This experience taught me not to judge statements like "Give me the keys" as entitlement, as it could just be language barriers at times.

2. Putting on my ‘Teacher Shoes’.

Teaching was my first job, and it instilled in me crucial skills, particularly patience - a much needed skill in any service industry. The experience as a teacher naturally benefits one in leadership positions, where recognizing unique strengths and providing support are essential. I aspire to take a leadership role as my next step, and I always think how I could apply the techniques I often used in classrooms. Additionally, the creativity honed while dealing with younger children as a preschool teacher now translates into curating exciting amenities for young hotel guests. I am the happiest when I am dealing with guests traveling with children. I truly enjoy creating special experiences for the little ones. My creativity at this is always recognized, appreciated and looked at as my biggest strength.

3. Being a part of a startup team.

Just before the pandemic hit, I worked for my German teacher’s brand-new brand along with my batch mates. Having worked in the initial core team taught me myriad skills—from graphics to customer relations. The key takeaway was the mindset of constant learning. Starting from scratch didn't mean lacking skills but acknowledging a "not yet" mentality. This approach has given me confidence in trying to learn anything I might need, even if initially unfamiliar. At my first hospitality internship I had to do breakfast service. As I did a management course at the hotel school, I did not have any practical classes. With no prior experience, I did not have the basic skills in service or kitchen. With little training and a lot of practice I was able to carry out all the necessary tasks independently. Hospitality industry is very skill oriented and the attitude of being open to constantly learning keeps expanding your knowledge and abilities.

Every phase of my career contributed to my professional competency. Despite constant shifts, I hold no regrets today. The focus remains on integrating lessons from each step, drawing out the positives as I progress in my journey.