Hospitality, working in a restaurant, bar or café can sometimes be seen as a stop-gap job while you make your way through uni. NZ Bar Con’s Sarah Dawn Mitchell would often get asked, “what else are you doing?” while working a bar shift. It was as if working in hospitality wasn’t something to aspire to.
A hospitality related sector report by Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), who track employment in the hospitality sector dated February 2024, showed that about 4.3% of those working in the sector are classed as Bar Attendants, 5.44% are Café or Restaurant Managers, and 17.89% are Waiters. Estimated number of employees in each position were 3,800, 4,800 and 15,800 respectively. 62.96% of those in any hospitality job were 15-29 years old. The report also showed that 79.73% of total hospitality jobs were concentrated in main urban areas throughout the country, with Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury leading.
Wages within the sector showed that 79.61% are making below 120% of the minimum wage. Starting in hospitality at around minimum wage, they estimate that it would take up to 10 years or more to begin earning a wage around $27.70 an hour. You can see where this is not seen as being a viable career option.
I was recently reflecting on my own start in hospitality as a busboy, assisting servers with drink orders and cleaning and resetting tables for the next customers. Why would this be valuable? I wasn’t earning a lot, but it was more about the experience for me. It cracked me open from my own shell, and taught me to become a reliable team member. Knowing I had to take care of my own shit, and if I didn’t, it affected the rest of the serving team.
What people don’t seem to realise or talk about is how much of what you can learn and push yourself within hospo can become strong character skills that will give you an advantage across any role in any industry. Whether you chose to be a pick-packer in a warehouse, or a CEO of an international business, you will have to deal with other people, your managers or shareholders, in some form. There is a skill needed to make sure you deliver guest satisfaction and results, and hospo roles force you to hone those skills.
In the current economic climate, people are going out and spending less as a recent article from Auckland highlighted. So when they do go to a restaurant or bar, they want to have a memorable experience. Whose responsibility is it to give them this? This is where the bartender, server or manager can have a significant impact. And it’s these skills that are so invaluable in people today as we emerge from the COVID lockdowns.
I have been on the side of delivering a great experience to a guest, seeing their face light up with delight, and knowing that I have made an impact on their day. Being able to see a smile, and then seeing that guest return to repeat that experience. This is what being in hospitality is all about. Creating a communal home away from home that people can enjoy, and having trust in the staff that will take care of you there.
Rosanna’s Garden Bar in Kingsland, Auckland, highlights that each venue has its own culture and style. Rosanna’s not only invests in mixology, but train their staff for competitions, service and flavour profiles. They believe these roles are about flexibility, immense hard work and creativity. Those who are determined, open minded and willing to learn could carve out a career path that is beyond any other experience.
This is hospitality, no matter where you are, no matter which country. And that is what NZ Bar Con (vention) hope to put at the forefront. That a career of giving positive experiences to others is invaluable, but also builds character in who you are as a person. If you have the passion to want to share your enthusiasm with others, working in hospitality is where you should be working.
Yes, it requires hard work, studying and knowing your craft. It requires people skills and the ability to grow. It requires that YOU need to put the effort in, and if you do, you can make it above that 120% minimum wage threshold. But the experiences that await you, could be unlike any other you could ever imagine. It’s how a silly boy from California ended up living down under in New Zealand, despite never having a thought that he would have the chance to travel here.
Hospitality opens doors. It creates experiences. And it helps people escape from the doldrums of life. It is more than just a career. It is something you can give back to and enhance the lives of those around you. And we hope that everyone sees the value in what working in hospitality truly offers.
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