James serves up a career in hospitality

After completing secondary school, James started a university course where he discovered the university style of learning wasn’t for him.

He then started a traineeship in business administration through Warrnambool City Council’s traineeship program where he studied through South West TAFE.

“I loved the style of study I was able to do through TAFE and the ability to work and study at the same time was very appealing,” he said.

After completing his traineeship, James said his interest in town planning lead him back to a university course.

“Again, I realised university just didn’t suit me so I moved back to my home town of Hamilton.

“I wanted to get a job as quickly as possible so I started a Certificate III in Hospitality where I was able to work at the same time and I came out with my qualification in January,” he said.

James is now working at Alexandra House in Hamilton in a trainee supervisor/bar manager role.

“I really enjoy what I do, I’m now working on ordering and organising staff rotations which is a lot more responsibility and my course really helped me with that,” he said.

James said he had worked in the hospitality industry for nine years and up until recently had never had a formal qualification.

“People don’t realise how complex the hospitality industry is and the course really made me think about my job and opened my eyes up to where this could take me,” he said.

James is hoping the management skills he has learnt and is developing in his current role will lead him into a career in management in a different field.

“I’ve always had a knack for hospitality, but these skills can lead me into any field in the future.

“I found TAFE was a great fit for me and I realised that when I received my qualification I had gained so many skills along the way to make me completely confident in my workplace,” he said.