How to get a hotel manager job in Nigeria

Becoming a hotel manager is one of the most exciting career choices one can make. It is a job which offers an opportunity to interact with a myriad of people and to tackle with dozens of unique problems on a daily basis. Individuals who are interested in challenges often opt for this job. In Nigeria, with numerous standard and luxurious hotels cropping up at a quick rate, the need for hotel managers has doubled. While this need has increased however, the number of qualified candidates remains the same and this is because a lot of people do not know what it takes to fit into the hotel jobs in Nigeria.

The job of a hotel manager

Hotel managers are the generals and rulers of the hotel kingdoms. Every hotel is a kingdom in itself, and it is up to the manager of that hotel to make that kingdom flourish and grow. While there are various kinds of hotel managers, some of whom manage only a particular section of the hotel while interfacing with managers of other sections, the traditional hotel manager runs all the sections of the hotel through a deft mastery of delegation and supervision. The hotel manager is usually also friendly and jovial with excellent interpersonal skills which are necessary for both management of the staff and ensuring the hospitality to the customer. While the job may seem stressful as the hotel manager is always in motion, solving a different problem in different areas of the hotel, a successful hotel manager knows how to manage time excellently.

To get the job of a hotel manager in Nigeria, the candidate must:

Possess a degree or HND

Nigerians are big on certificates. To get most jobs in Nigeria require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree or a technical diploma, and Hotel Management is not an exception. A degree in Hospitality & Management or in either of the two is a major requirement –though a degree in any other related discipline may be acceptable, for the job of Hotel Manager in most hotels in Nigeria.

Have great people skills

A good hotel manager has the ability to make both staff and customers feel comfortable around them. In the interviews hotels conduct to hire managers, an ability to converse agreeably is a requirement many interviewers look out for.

Experience in hospitality and management

Even with a great degree and awesome people skills, if your abilities have not been tested before in a hotel environment, then chances are you would not get the hotel manager job in Nigeria. This is why many hoteliers prefer hotel managers who have served in different areas on a hotel and worked their way up rather than managers who simply have an academic knowledge of the necessities of running a hotel.

The best way to get the job of a hotel manager in Nigeria is to start from the bottom and work up. With a diploma in a hospitality related course or discipline, you can easily get a job in a section of the hotel from Housekeeping, Maintenance, Food and Beverages or Marketing and Sales. From this point by showing promise, it is easy for a candidate to eventually become the hotel manager once a vacancy opens up.