Hyatt Careers

Declining An Employment Offer

2011-05-26T09:49:00.005-05:00

A few months ago, I blogged about rejection and the various reasons why a recruiter may reject a candidate, this time around I'm discussing rejection from a different perspective, the recruiter perspective, because rejection is a two way street.

Not every candidate that I offer accepts. I made three employment offers to candidates I loved last month, who unfortunately declined. Their reasons for declining varied and you may one day be like them, on the receiving end of a job offer that unfortunately you don't want to accept. If that happens to you, may I suggest you:

Call Your Recruiter
If you've advanced to the offer stage, then I assume you've probably built a strong relationship with your recruiter. Respect that relationship and give them a call. I recognize that telling a recruiter that you don't want the job they offered may be intimidating, but I encourage you to choose to deliver the news via phone instead of email. This action will ensure that the relationship between you and the recruiter remains positive. You never know what the future may hold and you want the relationship to be one where either party would feel comfortable reaching out to each other if a future opportunity presents itself.

Be Honest
I appreciate those candidates who are honest with me regarding the reason they're declining an offer. You may be surprised to hear that a recruiter wants to know why you're declining, but the reason for the decline is valuable information. This feedback can help a recruiter and the company they work for be even more attractive and competitive in the future. Most recruiters and companies keep track of these reasons and consider them when modifying programs, benefits, or compensation structures.

Consideration Time
A company will give you a certain amount of time to consider their offer. If possible try to make your decision within that time frame. It's acceptable to ask for more time to decide if needed, but if you know that the overall offer doesn't meet your expectations or the position doesn't interest you, let your recruiter know!

Don't keep them waiting because you're afraid another offer or better offer from a different company won't come along. Recruiters are responsible for filling open positions and the longer you wait to notify them of your decision, the harder it may be for them to find another candidate for the role. Stringing a recruiter along will only create bitter feelings. Refer to Lebron James and his prolonged decision not to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers if you need an example.

Say Thank You & Keep in Touch
It's always a nice touch to tell the recruiter how much you appreciate their consideration. Although the opportunity may not have been the right one for you at this time, I'm sure there were merits to the company or reasons why you felt the company interested you. Referencing these reasons, expresses to the recruiter how seriously you considered their offer and I'm sure they would appreciate knowing that your decision to decline the offer wasn't an easy one.
Lastly, keep in touch with the recruiter. Send them an email every once in a while or connect with them via LinkedIn. Keeping the lines of communication open between the two of you may prove to be beneficial in the future.

How adaptable are you?

2011-05-03T13:46:00.004-05:00

When I was interviewing for my first internship with Hyatt I was asked to describe myself in three words. One of the words I used was "adaptable." I went into detail about going to college in the South knowing nobody and nothing about it, but really flourishing in the environment. I loved the feeling of starting fresh and having the ability to make the best of an unfamiliar situation. This made me stand out from other interviewees because it's not something most people would think to say.

Adaptability is an important attribute to have when working in this industry — mainly because of the ever-changing work environment, but for a number of other reasons as well. I don't go into work expecting normalcy, nor do I go into work with a set plan of action. Sure, I have my to-do list, which I may or may not get to, but for the most part my job involves living in the moment and handling each situation as it comes. This is probably terrifying to some people who need structure, but that's something you must factor in when thinking about career options.

Another major reason adaptability is so important has to do with the need to relocate. Relocation can happen for a number of reasons, and at times the notice isn't all that great. The industry professionals I see move quickly through the ranks usually have a number of properties under their belts. Different properties make you more dynamic and therefore more desirable. Some companies can you move you as often as yearly if conditions permit. Does this type of rapid movement sound exciting, or does it overwhelm you? Maybe a better question would be: Does it sound great and overwhelming at the same time?

The good news is this is something you can experience before getting into the real world. I knew I was going into an industry that would require me to relocate fairly often, so I did things to help me prepare. Whether it was going away to college, studying abroad or interning in another city, all of these helped me grow and experience the joys and pains of moving out of my comfort zone. All of these experiences helped me grow tremendously both personally and professionally, not to mention the advantages for my resume. Recruiters want candidates with life experiences under their belts because, bluntly put, they don't want to worry about them once hired. Recruiters hire candidates who they feel confident about. The idea of putting a recent grad or current student in a different location for the very first time could be something they see as risky. I'm not saying this is always the care, but it's something to consider.

Once again, I offer these ideas to my fellow young hoteliers because these are things that have helped me get to where I am. I always encourage feedback from all industry professionals to help our future generations succeed.

On a side note: I encourage you all to check out a recent blog from one of our corporate recruiters, Ronisha Goodwin, who shares a great story relating to this subject.

Yes, I Said Wichita

2011-04-26T11:58:00.002-05:00

I had just offered a graduating senior, who requested Philadelphia, Miami, or New York, a position in Wichita, KS and she responded with.....silence, polite silence, but silence none the less. I'll be honest, I wasn't surprised! When I applied to Hyatt my choices were New Jersey, California, or Ohio (I'm a Buckeye). Ultimately when I received my offer, it was for Orlando, FL. Lucky for me, I had a patient recruiter who pointed out all the great reasons Orlando was ideal for me and now I had the opportunity to "pay it forward" and do the same for someone else.

Consider Cost Of Living

Although my candidate was shocked by the idea of Wichita, I asked her to consider the benefits. I feel this is important whenever you are considering an offer. Many college graduates want to live and work in major cities within the United States directly out of college. However, when you consider that with graduation often comes the repayment of student loans and diminished financial support from family, it may be wiser to consider some secondary cities where the cost of living is much less. It's affordable to live in Wichita and my candidate, if she accepts the offer, will most likely have more discretionary income and be able to contribute into a retirement savings account much sooner living there than if she lived in one of her initial top three cities of choice.

It's Not Forever

Sometimes candidates are hesitant to move to a location because they don't want to "get stuck there", my response is to consider a company's growth, size/number of locations, and the career path of the position you're accepting. Also don't be afraid to ask a recruiter how quickly promotional opportunities could become available. For example, our company has a culture of promoting from within, my candidate could be eligible for a promotion or transfer to another location or city within 2 - 3 years, accepting this opportunity is just the beginning of what will hopefully be a long successful career and perhaps next time a move to one of her preferred locations.

You Make Friends

Don't let fear of the unknown keep you from moving somewhere new. You may be surprised by how quickly you can actually adapt to a new location. I've moved to three different cities since I graduated from college and lived in nine different cities so far in my lifetime. I can attest that in each city I've made friends, found someone awesome to cut my hair, located the nearest Target store, and found my way to the closest airport when I wanted to fly home. When I've talked to recent college graduates who have moved to new locations for our company, they created a social life for themselves in their new cities by joining intramural teams, meet up groups, alumni organizations, and reconnecting with old friends living in their new locations via Facebook.

My candidate took a few days to consider the offer, but ultimately she accepted! Although Wichita was not the location she expected, she's seizing the opportunity and ready for a new adventure!

When it Gets Personal

2011-04-05T11:15:00.003-05:00

The following blog appeared in HOTELSMag.com and features our own Joseph Hayes, a former Corporate Management Trainee in the Rooms Division at the Grand Hyatt New York and current Assistant Front Office Manager.

Does anyone else feel it should be mandated that every person works in a service-related field as a prerequisite for life? It can’t be just me … and everyone else I’ve ever posed that question to.

I must say, nothing bothers me more than when a person is looked down upon because of their profession. This happens a lot in the service industry, and it’s unfortunate, because we truly work our butts off. A lot of our jobs require long shifts, short breaks (if any), working holidays, limited time off and obscure hours.

Plus, our jobs are not brainless by any means. Whether someone is a server, agent, reservationist or manager, a constant thought process is occurring to ensure the operation runs smoothly. We thrive in fast-paced environments, where decisions have to be made quickly, people must be managed properly, inventory requires constant maintenance, finances call for checking and guest satisfaction remains a top priority. All this, and we make it look easy!

Now listen, I’m not a sensitive person by any means. I’m naturally easygoing, and a number of years in the hospitality industry creates pretty tough skin. If you are a highly sensitive person this probably isn’t the industry for you, at least when it comes to operations.

I must say, though, being looked at as intellectually void is pretty infuriating. This doesn’t happen often to me since being at my current position, but there was a time when it occurred almost daily. I was a guest services rep at a very well-known budget hotel chain in Greenville, North Carolina. Mind you, this was my first position at a hotel. I didn’t expect a multitude of riveting conversations about politics and finances, but I also didn’t expect to get treated as if I were a moron. This was the case, though.

I was patronized and demeaned often. This usually stopped when someone heard my New York accent or found out I was actually in a reputable university. I thought this to be so unfortunate, because so many people walk into hotels with this mentality.

The worst experience I ever had was when I was working a night shift by myself at this hotel and a lady came to the desk and asked me to help her turn the lights off on her rental car. I reluctantly said yes, being that I was the only one to cover the operation, but we were slow, and I figured I would do something nice. After I did this, which only took about two minutes, she thanked me, and I went back inside. Minutes later she came storming back to the desk demanding I give her cell phone back. I was confused and asked for her to elaborate. She stated that her cell phone was in the car when I went in to turn her lights off and now it was gone. I obviously denied this, which started her on a rant about how she was a doctor and “people like me” steal from “people like her.”

Oh man, I could not believe what I was hearing. She went as far as to threaten to call the police, so I just went ahead and called the police for her, being that this situation was getting beyond ridiculous, and I couldn’t convince her that I, in fact, did not steal her cell phone. To make a long story less long, the police got there, heard both sides of the story and went to the guestroom to look for the cell phone before launching an all-out investigation. Lo and behold, they found the cell phone, which fell behind her nightstand. I must say the look on her face and the officer’s face was just priceless! I, of course, smiled, and said that it was an honest mistake. Ah, the masks we wear in the name of service.

Like I said, this is not something I see often in my current property, but I do see it happen to my staff on occasion, and I cannot help but feel the need to protect them from such insinuations. If I see a situation escalating to a point where it is getting personal, I want to be the first to step in and either diffuse it or take the brunt of it.

I encourage new managers entering the field to not only take pride in what you do, but take pride in the people you work with. Let staffers know how vital they are and how essential their jobs are to a successful operation. I’m lucky to work with exciting, bright and unique people who I become more and more intrigued by every day, and I hope when you take a look around you feel the same way.

Mark Your Calendars! Earth Hour 2011 is tomorrow, 3/26/11

2011-03-25T09:33:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow, Saturday, March 26th, is the 5th Annual Earth Hour that will be celebrated across the globe. Organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), individuals and businesses are asked to turn off non-essential lights and electricity for an hour starting at 8:30PM (local time zone) to raise awareness around the importance of taking action against climate change.

The growing participation of Hyatt Hotels in this awareness campaign mirrors the exponential growth of the Earth Hour itself. Started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia, the first event involved 2.2 million individuals and over 2,000 businesses turning off lights to demonstrate their commitment to mitigating climate change. Last year's Earth Hour was the largest so far, with participants from over 128 countries, including individuals, businesses, and iconic landmarks.

Whether you are able to join in Earth Hour at your hotel or at your home, we encourage you to take this opportunity to consider the important of simple actions such as turning off lights. To learn more about Earth Hour, please visit http://www.earthhour.org/

Editor's Note: Thank you to Marie Fukudome who authored this piece.

The Young Hotelier

2011-03-08T11:30:00.005-06:00

A couple weekends ago I had the privilege of attending the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality National Conference along with some of my colleagues on behalf of Hyatt Hotels & Resorts. We are an industry partner with this amazing organization that not only promotes diversity and inclusion within our industry, but also offers a number of valuable resources for all individuals within the field of hospitality, especially college students looking get into the workforce. Since I am an alumnus of the organization I went to speak on a panel about "Managing Different Generations" of people, as well as assist in our recruiting efforts.

Being that I was at this conference a year ago as a student it was very interesting to have a different perspective. One thing I really wanted to gauge was the mindset of the students that were attending and how attainable their goals were coming out of college. As expected, I met a lot of students who want to go into sales, marketing and PR (the glamorous side of our industry, as I like to call it). When they would tell me that I would always ask them the same question: "How do you expect to get there?" The majority of the time I received a blank face and a lot of stammering. Companies don't just hire these managers out of college like some students would like to believe. My advice to them was to broaden their horizons in terms of short-term career options. I tried to explain to them that moving into positions in sales and marketing is much easier when you are already in the position within the organization rather than entering as a new manager. Some understood; others, I'm sure, didn't want to hear it.

I encouraged open-mindedness being that our industry offers an array of possibilities and options in terms of career choice — from accounting to engineering to MIS to sales, just to name a few. Once people realize how broad this industry truly is, they start to do their research and figure out that it can be a great fit for many career choices.

Of course, I met a lot of students who wanted to own their own business, and I applaud the entrepreneurial spirit. I encourage it in every way possible, because I too have a goal of opening my own property or properties, but knowledge and experience are keys to success, and I wanted to make that very clear to them. The majority of students who wanted their own business had F&B concentrations. I was glad to hear that many of them knew how tough it was to run a profitable restaurant and also how many of them knew the failure rate for restaurants. Kudos to the professors who drill this information in!

To relate to them more personally I shared my own career goals. The part of this industry that intrigues me the most is the real estate and development side. This is because I began investing in real estate in college and saw how lucrative it could be if you are smart about it. Although I had some experience in the area I did not expect to hop out of college and start conducting feasibility studies and consulting about the next great travel destination, because I simply do not know enough. I need to take steps to acquire the knowledge to get there. This involves going to grad school, studying the real estate market, keeping up with the latest trends and news involving the industry and, most importantly, staying determined. Right now the best way to get to where I'm heading is by understanding how this industry operates through operational experience.

For example:

How can I determine how many keys a property should have if I do not know how a hotel operates once built?
How can I gauge a certain market if I do not know what it values?
How can I devise a strategic comp set if there's no substantial knowledge of how different segments of the hotel industry operate?

Answer: I can't.

Everyone knows that operations can be very discouraging, but nobody starts at the top. I plead with my fellow young hoteliers to be determined in the present, focused on the future and vigilant in your efforts to achieve your goals while still being a realist. We are the next generation of hoteliers, and we have a bright future ahead of us, but only if we take the steps to create it!

Connecting Before Your Interview

2011-03-04T13:18:00.003-06:00

A few weeks ago, I attended the national conference of a student organization. This conference is supported by many companies who participate in various professional panels, and perhaps most importantly to the students, conduct interviews at the organization’s career fair for internships and entry level management opportunities.

In route to the conference, I noticed a group of students on my flight. One of the students was assigned the seat next to mine and confirmed that the group was indeed traveling to the same conference as me. The student asked which university I attended, of course I accepted that compliment, and identified myself as a recruiter. I immediately felt empathy for this student, a graduating senior, who now appeared nervous at the thought of spending the next two hours in such close proximity to me. I silently wished that the student would welcome this opportunity and make such a strong impression on me that he would depart the flight with a scheduled interview and a new industry contact. Although the student attempted to engage me in conversation, his nerves ultimately got the best of him and unfortunately he was silent for the remainder of the flight.

Throughout the weekend, I witnessed similar behavior from other student attendees. They simply didn’t take advantage of being together with company recruiters in casual settings such as the hotel lobby, elevator, or during the short walk to the nearby convention center. I fought the urge several times during the conference to climb on my “soapbox”, get parental, and say the following:

Capitalize on the Opportunity
The host hotel for the conference had just two restaurants and only seven guestroom floors. Recruiters and students were often co-mingling; in fact the majority of the guestrooms on my floor were occupied by student attendees. The students that stood out to my peers and I were the young men and women who separated from their friends, gathered their confidence and introduced themselves to us. These were the same faces that offered friendly greetings throughout the weekend or inquired about how I was enjoying the conference when we were next to each other in the coffee bar line. As a result of their efforts, they were more relaxed and comfortable during the interview because they had already built a rapport with me.

Drive the Conversation
Although it can be uncomfortable to initiate and drive the conversation, when networking with recruiters, feel free to do so. I’m more than willing to ride in the “conversation car” with you, but you should take responsibility for keeping me engaged. You could do this by asking a question or expressing your interest in the organization I represent. One memorable student opened the conversation by telling me she followed our company on Twitter and then chatted about a recent tweet announcing our newest property. In just five minutes she demonstrated her interest and level of preparation.

Remember You’re Always Interviewing
Although interviews were conducted on the last day of the conference, they actually began upon arrival at the hotel. My peers and I were able to observe students interacting with the hotel staff and each other. We overheard conversations and took note of those that chose to skip the professional panels and instead hang out in the hotel lobby. The manner in which the students conducted themselves and represented their universities, in my opinion, was indicative of how effectively they would one day represent our company and our brand.

It’s easy to feel intimidated or overwhelmed at the idea of interacting one on one with the recruiter of a prospective company, but you’ll see greater results if you gather your courage and make the connection! If the recruiter is anything like me, deep down they’re rooting for you to be successful!

Thinking Outside the Box

2011-02-16T08:23:00.006-06:00

The following blog appeared in HOTELSMag.com and features our own Joseph Hayes, a former Corporate Management Trainee in the Rooms Division at the Grand Hyatt New York and current Assistant Front Office Manager.

First of all, where is this box, and why is nobody looking inside of it? When it comes to service, I think we should be looking inside this box. We are an industry that provides the simplest thing in its most authentic form: service. This is not something that can be purchased or attained; it is something that we all possess. We possess the power to provide excellent service. Some are more gifted at the delivery than others, but it is something we all CAN do. We generally don't like complicated things, so why make service complicated? Just do it! Authentic Hospitality (our company mission) is what brings people to our hotels. Just like the clothes and the jewelry that our guests wear are not their greatest assets, our flat-screen TVs and fancy restaurants are not ours. Our people and our guests are our greatest assets.

Hospitality starts with the basics of human emotion. I feel that the people who go far and the companies that succeed understand that. Sure, thinking "outside the box" is great, and by no means am I knocking creativity, but creativity needs to stem from somewhere. In our morning meeting last week our assistant rooms exec said it best: "We need to get back to basics."

We need to get our customer service surveys and contact the people who respond to them and ask why they scored us the way they did. What could we have done better? At a recent training I attended, our instructor read some guest surveys with negative comments relating to our facilities. To our surprise, the guest still gave us 5s (the highest rating) on customer service. Even though things went wrong, we provided excellent service, which results in delighted guests. Sure, not everybody will like their room, but we have the opportunity for everyone to enjoy their service.

Try thinking back to something that was your best — your best pizza, vacation, flight, anything. What made it your best? My best burger was not in an upscale restaurant — it was in a hole-in-the-wall Irish pub. My best steak was not at Ruth's Chris — my father made it. My best vacation was Beaches Turks and Caicos when I was 10 years old. It was the most amazing place I have ever visited. Besides the natural beauty, I could not believe how genuinely kind everyone was. Yes, I noticed this at age 10. They were delighted to help you with anything at any time. Can I tell you what the room looked like? No. Do you see my point? Simplicity is underrated.

So, next time you're looking for the next best service initiative, try starting inside the box, and see what you find.

Finding The "Fit" That's Perfect for You

2011-02-02T08:47:00.006-06:00

We kicked off the spring recruiting season last week and surprisingly so many of the students we met wanted to know why Hyatt was my company of choice after college. Although I could have easily told them I chose Hyatt because of the great benefits, potential career growth, or industry reputation, I honestly chose Hyatt for two different reasons.

The first reason was the Hyatt Recruiters I met while attending the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality (NSMH) national conference. These individuals conveyed such passion for both the industry and Hyatt as a company. They seemed to truly love their jobs. While interacting with them, I found myself thinking, “I want what they have”, I want to be just as ecstatic about the company I work for and if they feel this way about Hyatt then that’s where I have to be!

The second reason, I chose Hyatt may seem like a small detail, but ultimately it solidified my feeling that Hyatt was the perfect fit for me. At the NSMH national conference, I interviewed with several different hotel companies. During my interview with a particular company, the recruiter discussed the company’s culture and their practice of calling people by their proper title and last name. For example if I were hired with this company, the staff in the hotel would call me Miss Goodwin and I would refer to my peers as Mr., Mrs., or Miss accordingly.

I was 22 years old at the time and really not comfortable with being called Miss Goodwin. Honestly, I’m 33 years old now and still not comfortable being called Miss Goodwin. “Miss Goodwin” is just too formal and seems like a foreign person to me. I have no idea who Miss Goodwin is, then again, I take that back, I do know who she is…..Miss Goodwin is my mother!

Hyatt’s mission is “to provide authentic hospitality”, in order for me to be authentic, to be my authentic self; I need to be Ronisha, not Miss Goodwin. I don’t want that barrier between me and those I work with or the guests that I serve. Hyatt encourages me to be my authentic self and this small component of Hyatt’s culture and our value of mutual respect on all levels, ultimately is what made the difference for me.

My advice to students, really to all job-seekers, is to pay close attention to a company’s recruiter or hiring manager, this person represents the company and its culture. Determine if the recruiter’s body language, tone of voice, and spoken words convey to you both pride and satisfaction with their organization. When you interact with them, ask yourself if you would want to work alongside them? Would you choose them as a member of your team? Do you feel comfortable when you’re speaking to them? Do the words they say align with or contradict the company’s public image or information given on their website? Does the company’s mission, goals, and values, align with your own? More importantly, do they make you feel welcome to join their organization?

No matter where I am or where my fellow College Recruiters, Brook and Heidi, are, we are always more than willing and excited to tell you about the company we all work for and love. We welcome the opportunity to answer your questions about our organization and hope that you’ll feel comfortable to call us by our first names!

Resume, Networking, and Interview Recommendations

2011-01-30T19:07:00.008-06:00

We're less than two weeks away from the NSMH (National Society of Minorities in Hospitality) national conference in Atlanta! I'm sure student attendees are polishing their resumes and brainstorming the most effective answers to popular interview questions.

Last month, I shared the following links with the HBCU students we're sponsoring and thought perhaps other students would also find them useful. Just so you know, I have a strict policy on never recommending anything I haven't read and found valuable myself, so you can all trust my recommendations will be worth your time! =)

1st - Here's a link to an article on YouTube resources, which is excellent for visual learners. I've watched the resume videos by Catherine Byers Breet. She offers great tips on resume writing. http://tinyurl.com/4uqoo6e

2nd - Many companies, including Hyatt, are hosting "Networking Suites" during the conference. Recognizing that networking can be a little stressful, the link below is to an article entitled "Networking Survival: Tips for Introverts"http://tinyurl.com/4gldn4f

3rd - Many applicants find it difficult to answer the question, "What Are Your Strengths?", this link is to an article that offers tips on how to most effectively answer that question. http://tinyurl.com/4qzkts3

Our team is looking forward to traveling to Atlanta! Safe travels!

Through the Obvious

2011-01-25T08:56:00.002-06:00

The following blog appeared in HOTELSMag.com and features our own Joseph Hayes, a former Corporate Management Trainee in the Rooms Division at the Grand Hyatt New York and current Assitant Front Office Manager.

From the outside looking in I don't think many people view the hotel industry as a very dynamic industry. This could be because our guests only see the end product (their stay). We do a great job at hiding how we actually create the guest experience. Think about it: The reservation process is so simple on the guests' end. Little do they know how intricate reservations systems can be and how many channels they go through before the check-in process. The guests get to the front desk, and a check-in can take less than two minutes. Think about what occurs in that two-minute process: inventory, revenue, forecasts, relationships and opportunities are all altered with a few clicks of a mouse.

Most guests I run into do not become fixated on the multimillion-dollar PMS system that is running 24/7 to ensure the property runs smoothly. Not to mention all the interfaces that have to align with the operating systems. They don't ask because, let's face it, they don't care ... until something goes wrong, of course. Truth is, they shouldn't have to care. It's our job to prevent a breakdown in service. When a breakdown in service does occur, it is our burden to recover. Trying to explain to a guest why somebody was checked into his or her occupied room due to a systematic error is like trying to explain atomic physics to, well, me. Mostly because I just don't want to hear it, and neither do they.

For those of us who see what goes on in the back of the house of an operation, we know that it's not nearly as smooth and serene as the ambiance we so discreetly create.

Digging deeper into the whole process of creating the guest experience, we can ask so many other questions to gage how dynamic this industry truly is:

Why does the guest choose a particular hotel?
Why are they paying that rate?
Why is that hotel located where it is?
Why does the property have as many rooms as it does?
These are questions we as hoteliers think of, but a typical guest does not.

These are questions I asked myself before I started my career in the hospitality industry, which led me to where I am now. Our guests only see what we want them to see (for the most part). They see operations, but not much else. This can lead to one-dimensional views of our industry. What goes on behind the scenes is what makes this industry multi-dimensional. My hotel employs about 1,000 associates, but my guests only see a fraction of them. Yet each and every one of them is critical to our success.

What I would like to see is a more open BOH operation within the business. For example, having BOH tours for guests or shadowing programs for local students. This would be a great way for people to see how a hotel operates in a new light. Also, it would be a great way for someone who might be interested in the industry to see what's it's all about. On an employee engagement front, I truly believe associates would like to have their duties witnessed and acknowledged by their guests.

I'm curious to hear your thoughts.

Hyatt Community Awards more than $700,000 to Charities around the Globe

2011-01-24T13:40:00.007-06:00

With a focus on environment or youth education and development, Hyatt Community grants are awarded to charities providing meaningful and vital services to the communities in which our associates live and work.

Since the program’s inception in 2008, Hyatt Community has awarded more than $700,000 to 62 charities in 57 cities across 16 states and 24 countries. Projects ranged from large-scale development programs to localized grassroots initiatives. At the end of December 2010, Hyatt Community in partnership with 19 hotels awarded more than $270,000 in grants to 20 noteworthy nonprofits around the world. From Atlanta to Berlin and Jakarta to Mumbai, Hyatt properties nominated incredible causes for support.

At the Hyatt Regency Kinabalu, a $15,000 grant will be used to rebuild a youth shelter near the hotel, allowing local students, who currently travel 3 hours to and from school each day, to spend weeknights at the school instead of having to return home. Other Hyatt Community projects include Park Hyatt Saigon’s support of two early childhood education centers and Hyatt Regency Bellevue’s environmental cleanup and restoration efforts along the Cedar River Watershed.

With the ongoing success of this grant program and the growing desire of our hotels to give back, Hyatt remains dedicated to this philanthropic initiative to build and support vibrant, healthy communities.

Georgia on My Mind

2011-01-12T16:10:00.007-06:00

Although the holidays have passed, the Hyatt Team is “making a list and checking it twice”! Preparations are underway for us to attend the NSMH 22nd Annual Conference in Atlanta, GA next month!

NSMH’s Annual Conference is one of our favorite events to attend each year! Not only do we have the pleasure of meeting our industry’s future leaders, we also have the privilege of sponsoring, through Hyatt’s continued partnership with the HBCU Consortium, over 150 students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) across the country. Many of these students are attending the conference for the very first time and we’re happy to be sponsoring them.

On a personal note, my return to the NSMH Annual Conference this year is even more meaningful because ten years ago, Hyatt Hotels Corporation recruited me at the NSMH Annual Conference in Chicago, IL. My decision to accept Hyatt’s offer to become a Corporate Management Trainee is one that I’ve never regretted! I’m excited to now be part of Hyatt’s College Relations team and one of the individuals responsible for bringing new talent into our organization!

I look forward to meeting everyone in Atlanta next month!

Walking on Glass

2011-01-11T15:19:00.003-06:00

The following blog appeared in HOTELSMag.com and features our own Joseph Hayes, a Corporate Management Trainee in the Rooms Division at the Grand Hyatt New York.

One of the biggest challenges that I was met with when entering the workforce as a manager was managing my elders. All of a sudden I was expected to be a figure of authority to people who are old enough to be my parents and even my grandparents. This can be very overwhelming, especially if you've never had experience managing others.

My first experience managing my own staff was during my second college internship at the Grand Hyatt New York. This situation was unique due to the strong union that represents the employees at the hotel. I had the opportunity to work in the housekeeping department. I remember walking in the first day before the staff pre-shift and seeing a sea of room attendants. The housekeeping department at the property staffs 250-plus. I was definitely taken back a bit. This is the department where you will find most of the hotel veterans as well. It's funny/scary when you are standing in front of the room with the rest of the managers, and you have the entire department eyeing you. I still can feel the stares burning holes through me. Any new face in management is approached with caution.

So, there I was, a 19-year-old college punk acting as a housekeeping manager for the summer at one of the busiest hotels in New York. I knew that I could not come in with a superiority complex. I smiled so much the first day my face hurt. I also made a point to say hello to everyone EVERY TIME I saw them. This was some of the advice the floor managers gave me at the beginning of the day. I did not want to get on anyone's bad side.

I felt like I was walking on glass for the first month. Ask anyone in the hotel business, and they'll tell you that the housekeeping department is the one department whose good side you want to be on. At this hotel the staff has seen literally hundreds of managers over the years come and go for a number of reasons. This can make it difficult to have the staff take you seriously. I knew I was not there to tell them HOW to do their jobs. I was there to HELP them do their jobs and do whatever was in my power to make it easier on them. I was definitely being tested on a daily basis. It was a thin line I had to walk between being stern and respectful. Luckily, It didn't take long for workers to warm up to me and understand my management style.

As I started working my own floors, which gave me about 15 housekeepers under my direct supervision, my main focus was building a trusting relationship with the room attendants on those floors. If the workers on my floors liked me, it would ripple through the rest of the department, and I would be in good standing. Also, this would make me look good to upper management, because shy is one thing these workers were not. If they did not like you, they had no problem going to the most senior person at the property and letting them know. Since the SVP of eastern operations worked and lived at the hotel, I obviously did not want this to happen.

My main focus was working hard for my staff and just hoping for the same in return. Another tip I received, which helped gain the respect of my staff a great deal, was taking an interest in their personal lives. Simply asking how their kids were doing or remembering a special occasion went a long way.

When I returned to the Grand Hyatt New York as a corporate management trainee this past June (two years later) I was surprised to see how many of my former staffers remembered me and were happy to see me. It was a great feeling, which really helped me transition back into that management role.

How did the rest of you out there handle your first management roles?

Not Home For the Holidays

2011-01-04T16:28:00.003-06:00

The following blog appeared in HOTELSMag.com and features our own Joseph Hayes, a Corporate Management Trainee in the Rooms Division at the Grand Hyatt New York.

(The views and opinions expressed in this blog are strictly those of the author).

Nobody enjoys working on the holidays, but unfortunately in this industry it's inevitable. This was my first holiday season working full time, so I tried to cope with it the best way possible. I'm lucky enough to be close to my family, so when I get off work I have the opportunity to spend time with them. Others do not have this luxury. Still, working a 10-hour shift during the holiday season can put a damper on your mood. For you young hoteliers entering the industry, let me share with you how I coped:

1. I took comfort in my fellow co-workers spending the holidays at the hotel with me. They have become my second family, after all.

2. The nostalgia of my property during the holidays is very elevating. It was nice to be in such a festive atmosphere.

3. I had a tendency to live vicariously through my guests. I found myself getting excited about their holiday plans, even though I wasn't partaking in them.

4. I took the opportunity to truly delight some of my guests staying with us for the holidays, and they were so grateful that I took the time to make their holiday extra special.

5. Holiday parties!

6. I never forgot it was the holidays, and I had A LOT to be thankful for.

Here are a few neat ideas I heard from guests and friends that were away for the holidays:

1. Eat with your family via webcam.

2. Have your family send you all the ingredients for their holiday dinner and instructions on how to make it. Then (attempt to) make it.

3. Spend the holidays with the family of a friend or co-worker.

4. Go out to dinner and treat yourself.

5. Volunteer your time to help the less fortunate.

6. Try celebrating with a different custom to broaden your horizons.

Hope you had a happy and safe holiday season!

Nineteen Hyatt Hotels Named to Travel + Leisure 500: World's Best List

2010-12-29T15:00:00.004-06:00

Each year, Travel + Leisure asks readers to vote on their favorite hotels around the globe. The 9th annual compendium of the 500 top-ranked hotels in the world named 19 Hyatt hotels to the "World's Best" list.

Congratulations to the following hotels:

Park Hyatt Aviara (88.85), Carlsbad
Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort & Spa (86.77), Beaver Creek
Park Hyatt Chicago (87.80), Chicago
Park Hyatt Toronto (87.33), Toronto
Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme (91.33), 2nd Arrondissement
Park Hyatt Zurich (87.20), Zürich
Palacio Duhau - Park Hyatt Buenos Aires (92.00), Recoleta
Park Hyatt Saigon (87.72), District
Park Hyatt, Sydney (87.68), Circular Quay
Park Hyatt, Melbourne (87.06), Melbourne
Hyatt Carmel Highlands (87.58), Carmel
Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa (88.41), Koloa
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa (87.20), Lahaina
Grand Hyatt Seattle (87.29), Seattle
Grand Hyatt Beijing (86.42), Beijing
Grand Hyatt Tokyo (86.82), Tokyo
Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok (87.25), Bangkok
Hyatt Regency Auckland (86.02), Auckland
Hyatt Regency Kyoto (86.60), Kyoto

For current job opportunities at any of these properties visit hyatt.jobs.

Top 10 Things Companies Look For When Making Hiring Decisions: Part 2

2010-12-14T11:29:00.002-06:00

When interviewing candidates on campus for open positions there are several things we look for when determining whether or not we will move forward with an offer. To give you a competitive edge I would like to share the remaining top 10 characteristics with you. Please see my last post for the first half.

6. Interpersonal Skills
It is important to prove to any employer that you have strong interpersonal skills. This means, having the ability to create an atmosphere of openness and trust. If you are unable to project a team mentality and give the impression you are only focused on yourself and personal gain this will likely turn most employers away. Giving examples of how you have contributed to creating a positive work environment will prove to your potential employer that you possess strong interpersonal skills. For example, I’ve interviewed students before who looked appalled when I told them as a manager you are expected to jump in and help out your staff whether it’s cleaning rooms, washing dishes, etc. I’m impressed with the students that respond with,” Well of course! You can’t be a great manager if you don’t know how to do the job of your employees and you aren’t willing to be hands on.”

7. Enthusiasm
Bringing enthusiasm to an interview is key so get the coffee brewing! Having a laze faire attitude will cause the employer question your commitment, interest and drive. You can show your enthusiasm with a big smile, energy and through your non-verbal actions. For example, Leaning back in the chair with your arms crossed and legs up tells us you could care less. Having good posture and leaning slightly forward tells us you are not only interested but engaged. Enthusiasm tells a recruiter you are truly interested and passionate about the company and position you are applying. Being able to articulate your career aspirations/goals as well as your accomplishments will confirm you are a self-starter and can bring something to the table.

8. Maturity
Being sure of yourself and reflecting confidence will most definitely help you land the job! However, confidence is good and arrogance is not. There is a fine line. No one knows everything and you should never assume you know more than the person sitting next to you. However it is important to show you are confident in your skills and abilities based on your previous experiences and accomplishments. On the other hand, coming across completely unsure of your self may result in the Recruiter questioning your knowledge and ability to be a future leader in the company. Maturity also means showing professionalism throughout the interview and never talking poorly about previous employers. We have all had jobs that weren’t our favorite and that’s ok, but how you spin it will prove your level of maturity. Tell your recruiter what you learned from your experience and how it shaped the person you are today and the manager you will become.

9. Tenacity
Providing examples of how you have stayed positive during times of adversity whether in your school or work experiences tells a lot about you. It lets us know whether or not you can handle challenging situations and tough times or whether you need direction and coaching. For example what did you do when you had a guest or customer who was upset? Did you stay calm and figure out the problem or were you quick to get a manager so you didn’t have to deal with the problem?

10. Flexibility
An ideal candidate to most organizations is someone who is committed. A candidate who understands the industry they are applying and what it takes to succeed in that industry. Someone who is so committed they are willing to go anywhere and do anything to get the job done. Someone who is flexible and a team player is deemed an asset to almost all businesses.

Think about these 10 things that recruiters look for before your next interview and try to think of experiences you have had so that you can articulate these experiences in your next interview.

Discovery

2010-12-07T12:51:00.002-06:00

The following blog appeared in HOTELSMag.com and features our own Joseph Hayes, a Corporate Management Trainee in the Rooms Division at the Grand Hyatt New York.

My GM often speaks about "discovering" the guests at our property. It's strange how different wording can make you think differently about the things you do everyday. When a guest approaches me I immediately begin to read, or "discover," them. Do they look mad, confused, happy, indifferent? I then prepare myself for the interaction. Sometimes this means putting my guard up; other times it means loosening up. I then hear the compliment, statement or concern and react. There are so many factors, both internal and external - your mood, their mood, the surroundings, the situation - that influence these interactions every day. Unfortunately, there is no calculation to deliver the perfect result. You must rely on your social, persuasive, intellectual and - let's be honest -BS skills.

These interactions usually lead to two outcomes: negative or positive. For the most part, I understand that the outcome lies about 75 percent on my shoulders. When I'm delivering negative information, the outcome is usually negative. This does not always have to be the case though. Simple empathy and sincerity can go a long way. Sure, the outcome might not be positive, but it does not have to be overwhelmingly negative. Just like a good joke, delivery is key.

This goes hand in hand with the discovery process. Understand the guest's situation, evaluate it, deliver your response and focus all your attention on putting it into the most positive light possible. Let the guest know that you care, and hopefully you do.

I love when I see my fellow employees take pride in their guests. I see some of my agents come into my office every day at the end of their shifts and take the time to handwrite a personal letter, read it out loud for whoever is there to listen, take their advice, and send it up to the room with a special amenity. It's truly awesome to see how much effort they put into discovering their guests and delivering an experience to them. I challenge everyone out there to discover their guests and, more importantly, discover themselves in the process.

I'm currently in the phase of discovering my management style. From what I've been told, this is an ever-changing process. As I grow, experience new situations and ideas, and mature, I'm sure the way I way I manage will change. It's my job to make sure I am progressing and changing for the better.

I'm one of those people who love change. I think it's important to renew yourself every so often. That is one of the main reasons I decided to work in the hospitality industry. You have the opportunity to be renewed almost every day because no day is like the one before, for the most part. I like to think that I change in a small way every day. Whether it's an interaction with a co-worker or guest, I try to take something out of each individual situation.

People are fascinating. There are times when I go into the lobby and just people watch. Now that we are in the holiday season, it's especially entertaining. A lot can be taken in from watching and "discovering from a distance." Maybe you see someone who looks confused or lost. This is a great opportunity to take the initiative and offer assistance. This is especially fun because we have these nifty iPads with helpful apps that the guests love (and so do I.)

So please take it upon yourself to discover your guests and discover yourself in the process. Find ways to renew your outlook on life and your career. Be open to the smallest change, and don't forget how important YOU are to the success of your operation.

Top 10 Things Companies Look For When Making Hiring Decisions: Part 1

2010-11-30T08:38:00.003-06:00

When interviewing candidates on campus for open positions, there are several things we look for when determining whether or not we will move forward with an offer. To give you a competitive edge, I would like to share these characteristics with you. I can’t imagine that across industries/companies the general qualifications are very different. Happy interviewing!

1. Presentation
The first thing a recruiter notices when you show up for an interview is your overall presentation. Are you prepared? Do you exude a professional image? Are you wearing professional attire? In order to meet the presentation requirements you should be able to answer yes to all of these questions. Arriving to an interview late and/or wearing inappropriate clothing, piercings, etc. will not give you a top ranking in this category.

2. Work Experience
Most positions have a minimum work experience requirement. It is vital to display your level of knowledge for the industry you are applying as well as being able to back that up with your experience. This will show you are well versed.

For example, the seniors we interview interested in our Corporate Management Training program need to have a minimum of 9 months hospitality experience. Understanding the work experience requirement prior to applying will help you avoid wasting your time as well as the Recruiter’s.

Being honest about your previous experience is also important. You don’t want to get yourself into a situation where you are not qualified as it may hinder your future success. Thoroughly read the job description and ask questions prior to applying/setting up an interview. By doing this the Recruiter may determine there is another opportunity that is a better fit for you.

3. Service Orientation
In the hospitality industry service is extremely important as it is our job to provide service excellence to our guests. This is the same for any company that provides customer service to clients. Being able to provide examples of times when you went above and beyond for a guest/client is key. This demonstrates your commitment and understanding of the importance of service. Also being able to explain situations where a guest/client was unhappy and how you were able to turn things around through service recovery will really help you shine in this area.

4. Communication Skills
The way you speak throughout an interview can make or break you. Speaking grammatically correct and articulating your thoughts with confidence and poise will put you on the top of the Recruiter’s list. Communication is so important to any organization. The inability to communicate effectively is unacceptable. Choosing your words wisely and speaking in a professional manner is a must. Using swear words or slang can really turn off the Recruiter. Also using words/phrases such as “like,” “um,” “ya know,” etc. can come across as immature, making the Recruiter question your ability to lead. Practice makes perfect, so if you are having difficulty with this area sign up for mock interviews or other programs through your Career Services department to help you prepare.

5. Organizational Skills
Many positions require you to be organized, so you need to be able to communicate to the Recruiter examples of how you manage your time and tasks effectively. Think back on a group project that you had for school. What was your role? What was your plan for completing the project? How did you come up with it? What challenges did you face? How did you overcome these challenges? What was the final outcome? Looking back, what would you have done differently? Showing your ability to prioritize, multi task and ultimately be successful through real life examples will help you during this portion of the interview.

Stay tuned for my next post where I will be revealing the remaining top 10 attributes a company looks for when making hiring decisions!

My (first) "I Made It" Moment

2010-11-23T11:14:00.002-06:00

The following blog appeared in HOTELSMag.com and features our own Joseph Hayes, a Corporate Management Trainee in the Rooms Division at the Grand Hyatt New York.

This past week was particularly exciting for me due to the International Hotel, Motel, & Restaurant show. What made it so significant to me was that I had the chance to be on the other side of the educational experience. I was the one giving the property tours, providing the insight, and I was the one being hounded about internship, CMT and career opportunities -- instead of the other way around. I have to say it felt pretty good. I can’t believe it was only a year ago that I was in their shoes!

The best part of the week was meeting up with students from my alma mater, East Carolina University. It was great to see my old professor and some of my old classmates in this type of setting. I felt proud to show of my property and introduce my fellow colleagues to them. I was recently promoted out of my training program to “assistant front office manager,” which felt great to finally introduce myself as such. I was able to give them a tour of the property and even got them all a free meal at New York Central, our new restaurant, before it even opened.

Another highlight was getting to see my college recruiting manager, Brook, who gave me the opportunity to prove myself over 2 years ago as an intern and pave the way to my current position. At one point Brook and I were counting people she hired and I believe we counted about eight people she has hired at this property alone. It really goes to show how dedicated our college recruiting team is. We spent Sunday night grabbing dinner at New York Central with a couple former CMTs (current managers) and some other colleagues chatting and enjoying the atmosphere and the company.

It was fun to finally hang out on a non-recruiter to recruitee basis. We were friends and colleagues, which felt so fulfilling. It reminded me of why I love this industry so much. The majority of the people you meet are fun loving, energized and outgoing.

The most significant aspect of this weekend was having my first “I made it” moment (one of many I hope). I had it when I was giving my tour and I saw how interested and anxious the students were to see how I had come to get my job and what it entails. I kept getting the question, “How do I get here?” It reiterated my sense of gratification for my job. The fact that people want my position makes me want to work even harder. When did you have your first “I made it” moment?

Ten Things I Wish Knew Before I Entered the “Real World”: Part 2

2010-11-16T09:31:00.005-06:00

Cassandra Hale, Hyatt Recruiting Manager, recently conducted a presentation titled, “What I Wish I Would Have Known Then” at Oklahoma State University. This presentation was well received and I felt it would be perfect to share with all of you. Thanks for sharing this with us Cassie!

5. Have Integrity
A moral compass is necessary to thrive in any industry. Knowing the difference between right and wrong and priding yourself with morals and values will get you far. Every decision you make has an effect on you and/or someone else. Being honest and ethically minded are attributes of a true leader. Remember all of your actions can potentially put your reputation on the line.

4. Be Engaged
Immerse yourself in your industry and surround yourself with positive people who share your passion. It vital to learn the lingo and stay up to date on current events that pertain to your field. There are many ways you can do this. Set up RSS feeds, or use Google Alerts, to be constantly in the know. Read periodicals, blogs and attend conferences and training sessions that pertain to your field. Connecting and networking with others is also essential and can help you achieve this. Participate in Social Media networks that your company is involved with and even get involved with your competitors networks. Become a Facebook fan, follow them on Twitter, view videos on You Tube and join Linked In groups that are relevant to learn and build relationships. Your next career move may be a result of your engagement.

3. Respect Others
Cassie shared a great story with me regarding our CEO, Mark Hoplimazian. Mark invites a small group of Hyatt employees at the Corporate Office a couple times a month to meet with him and ask him questions regarding the company or even of a personal nature. Cassie participated in this and one of the things that Mark said really stuck with her. He said, “I never assume I know more than the person next to me.” This is a great quote from our CEO that drives home the importance of respect. In order to gain respect it is essential to give it. Respecting those around you no matter at what level they are within a company is crucial. You never know who you will work with in the future or who you will be working for. Some of the best ideas at Hyatt come from our line level associates. By listening to and learning from your fellow associates you will earn their respect and those experiences may even help you become stronger in your industry.

2. Living In a Fishbowl
You’ve gotten a job offer and are ready to start your career. But what you need to know is the interview isn’t over! Throughout your career you will always be watched. We Recruiters tell this to students all the time. We are watching how you act with us, on campus, to faculty, etc. This does not change once you are working in your industry. Although you have the job, remember there is always someone out there vying for your job. Whether you are an intern or working full time you should think of your experience as an extended interview. Your co-workers, your boss, and even your boss’s boss have their eyes on you. How you handle yourself both at work and outside of work will determine your future.

1. Find Balance
When first starting out in the “real world”, it can be difficult to find balance. Although work and your career is important, it is even more important to make sure that it does not consume you. Finding balance can be difficult and something that even seasoned professionals struggle with. If you make a conscious effort, right off the bat, to find this balance you are ahead of the rest. Finding interests outside of work whether it is a hobby, sports, spending time with family and friends, traveling, etc. will help you maintain a healthy work/life balance. The last thing you want is to have only work in your life. Take it from someone who works in Hospitality which is a 24/7 business. Not having this balance can actually hurt your career in the long run as it can cause burn out.

Now what?

2010-11-09T12:04:00.001-06:00

The following blog appeared in HOTELSMag.com and features our own Joseph Hayes, a Corporate Management Trainee in the Rooms Division at the Grand Hyatt New York.

So you're an entry level manager working in the hospitality industry, but now what? If you’re one of the few, you have landed a job that you enjoy and you’re content with how things are going. If you’re one of the many, you have settled for a job probably not in your ideal field of interest or location. That is ok because you have a job and any experience is good experience.

We young hoteliers cannot be picky these days. Remember the job you are in now will not be the job you are in forever. It quite possibly won’t be the job you are in a year or even six months from now. If you are not in the job you love right now, work to get into the job you love.

I encourage you to branch out of your daily job function and see what other departments you are interested in have to offer. Say you have an interest in event planning, but you had to settle for a outlets position. Go ahead and speak with the banquet, convention services and sales managers. Ask them about their job functions and offer to shadow them. Show them you have an interest in their department. Just as important is to speak with the line employees. Show them you are involved in what they do and they might make recommendations to their managers about bringing you on board.

One of the biggest concerns when bringing on new managers is getting them acclimated with the staff. If the staff already has trust in an individual a major hurdle has already been surpassed.

Also, offer up assistance. Say they are short handed one night, maybe you can offer to do some work outside your department if applicable. Even if it's just serving for a night, management notices these things. Keep your HR department aware of your desired path staying aware that you don't want to seem unhappy with your current position. Slacking in your current position to try and get a transfer will NOT help! Instead of getting transferred you will probably get fired!

Staying vocal is very important though. Besides HR, it is important to keep your upper level management conscious of your career goals. I’m lucky enough that my Rooms Executive has already sat down with me twice and inquired about where I see myself in the future. He knows what I want, and he knows how to get me there. Even more important he has expressed interest in helping me get there.

Career goals are something that needs to be expressed at all levels. If you feel like you’re fading into the background do something to stand out (maybe start a blog!). Set up an appointment with your division head or even your GM and ask them about the path they took to their positions. See if they have any suggestions/comments/concerns and actively listen to them. This will show tenacity, drive, a willingness to learn and, most importantly, succeed.

Do the same with you co-workers, associates, even your guests! Who knows where these people will be down the road? Network, network, network! I feel like my professors now, but I can really see where their coming from while writing this. The point is that everyone needs a little push to get to where they want to be. Sometimes these pushes can come from a very unlikely source, and other times they can be right under your nose.

College is...Over

2010-11-04T11:12:00.004-05:00

The following blog appeared in HOTELSMag.com and features our own Joseph Hayes, a Corporate Management Trainee in the Rooms Division at the Grand Hyatt New York.

Oh, the dreadful transition from college to the real world. Is it really as daunting as some make it seem? My answer is: maybe. Sorry I cannot be more definitive, but it really depends on the person. I knew what to expect coming out of college and starting my career in the hospitality industry: the long hours, working weekends and holidays, and the fact that I wouldn't be doing the most glorious of work. Like I said, though, I expected that because I had past experience. This transition could be a real shocker for someone coming straight out of the blissful ignorance of college.

But, please, do not fret! The real world is very rewarding and, yes, it is still fun. It is all about how you choose to make the transition.

Coming out of college with a negative attitude will translate into negative experiences. Personally, I was ready to get out of college once graduation came around because I did not waste those years. I had the best time of my life in college, and I have plenty of friends that can vouch for me on that subject. (I won't go into details.)

Please, if you're still in college, live it up to its fullest potential. If you do this, when it is time to graduate, you will feel ready, prepared and excited for the next chapter of your life. So, right now if you're feeling like you have missed out on something, there's still time! Enjoy these years and the freedom that comes with them.

Getting back to the transition into this wonderful industry: It is extremely important to not give up the things you love. Whether it's reading, singing, dancing, drawing ... please find time to keep these activities in your life. I was nervous that my gym regimen was going to take a serious blow when I started working. Luckily, this was not the case. I rely heavily on time-management skills (something I lacked in college) and determination to stay on a steady gym schedule. This usually means getting up earlier, which is not easy (especially for a 7 a.m. shift), but it is well worth it for my overall sanity. Keeping these hobbies in your life will help make the transition much easier. Continuity on some levels is key.

Second, work and fun are not two separate realms. After all, this industry is all about fun! I can honestly say I do have a lot of fun at work. The back of the house can be a very entertaining place. And trust me, some of the things you will witness in the front of the house will make for some excellent stories. Remember, it is all what you make of it.

Another thing you will find is a larger appreciation for the little things in life. Sleeping in on your day off, getting a card or gift from a happy guest or going out to a great lunch with a coworker can be so uplifting. Don't let the kid in you die when you start to be a "grown-up."

Finally, it is so easy to lose touch with friends from college, but I cannot stress enough how important these relationships are. A couple weekends ago I had the opportunity to go back to college for the first time since graduation for a home football game. All my good friends and I coordinated the outing, and we had a blast! It was so great to hear what everyone was doing with their lives and reminisce about old times. Plus, you have money now! Spend it (wisely) and enjoy the financial comfort of a career.

You will spend a lot of time at your property, but there is still a world outside to be explored and experienced. Try to stay in the mindset that you are working to live, not living to work.

Ten Things I Wish Knew Before I Entered the “Real World”: Part 1

2010-11-04T11:03:00.006-05:00

Cassandra Hale, Hyatt Recruiting Manager, recently conducted a presentation titled, “What I Wish I Would Have Known Then” at Oklahoma State University. This presentation was well received and I felt it would be perfect to share with all of you. Thanks for sharing this with us Cassie!

10. Experience it all

No matter what industry you enter into there are many facets. Take the Hospitality Industry for an example. Hospitality encompasses not only hotels, like Hyatt, but also free-standing restaurants, hospitals, retail and other customer service related businesses. When I was in college the thought of working for a hotel company never even crossed my mind. Most of us start in one area with a specific career goal and end up on a totally different path. The moral of this story is to try anything and everything, and to not shut out certain opportunities that you don’t think you would like or want to do. You will never know what you like unless you try. Be open minded and you may come across something that ends up being your dream job just like I did.

9. Be Marketable

Developing your personal brand is like running your own business. It involves a business plan which includes your personal goals and mission statement. Make sure you are marketing yourself towards the target market in which you want to be known. This way the people you want to make an impression on know who you are and what you have to offer. Figure out your best characteristics and continue to work on these in order to for them to become a part of your personal brand. Determine what you are naturally good at and what comes easy for you. Finding a job that allows you to utilize these strengths will help you achieve the goal of never working a day in your life.

8. Speed Dating

First impressions have a major impact and you can’t take them back. When meeting fellow associates, clients and/or others in the industry for the first time, it is important to remember to put your best self forward. Your best self should include how you present yourself in regards to your professional dress, demeanor, mannerisms, actions and words. Have your elevator speech prepared at all times to give you the confidence for these situations. Ask yourself, “Is what I am about to do or say how I want to be remembered?” If you are questioning yourself in any way then that should be enough to stop you from making a comment or action that will not put you in the best light. There is a time and a place for everything and understanding what is appropriate and what is not in each situation is key.

7. You are What You Eat

Just as you should be involved in extracurricular activities during your college career, you should be involved in activities both within your company and in the community during your professional career. What you involve yourself in and attach your name to, speaks to who you are.

Most companies are involved in community efforts and have committees within their organization. Raise your hand and volunteer to be a part of these opportunities! Not only do they look good on your resume, and help you to move forward in your career, they are also great ways to network. At Hyatt, many of our entry level managers are involved with the hotel’s Green Team and Safety committee. In addition they are an integral part in the coordination and participation of community events.

6. Be True to Yourself

Finding a company that is the right fit for you is similar to Greek Rush. During Rush you visit all the sororities or fraternities on campus in order to determine where you belong. This process should be similar to your job search.

Look at every option in the industry that you want to work. Meet and interview with company representatives conduct research on the company and job opportunities. The people who make up a company and the culture it creates is what really sets it apart from others.

Being your true self and finding a place where that is not only appreciated but encouraged will help you find a company where you can learn and grow. The saying “fake it to make it” should not apply. Putting on an act may get your foot in the door but ultimately will not make you happy in the long run. By being your authentic self from beginning to end and exploring all of your options you can’t go wrong!

The Young Hotelier

2010-10-27T08:58:00.004-05:00

The following blog appeared in HOTELSMag.com and features our own Joseph Hayes, a Corporate Management Trainee in the Rooms Division at the Grand Hyatt New York. Great advice to all who are seeking out a Hospitality as a career.

You're so lucky!” I heard this phrase countless times when I received my job offer a couple months before graduation. I still hear it now, especially from my recently graduated peers and even more so from my fellow hospitality graduates. The truth is luck has very little to do with it. I have a good job because I worked hard to get it. Professors, advisors, faculty and recruiters stressed the importance of gaining experience and doing internships early on and, unlike a lot of my peers, I listened.

We, as a generation, are known for taking the easy way out and having everything handed to us. Sure, go ahead and blame the economy, but the fact is businesses are hiring. The difference is they are now more selective in their hiring process. So, either you are not looking hard enough or maybe you just don't deserve the job.

But you have a college degree. How could you not deserve the job? What does a Bachelors of Science in Hospitality Management really mean without any experience? Put someone in a big box hotel on an oversold night with a short staff (aka, last Saturday) and see what that degree does then. Better yet, show your degree to the guest whose waiting for their room at 11 p.m. and I’m sure they will understand.

I’m obviously being sarcastic, but I’m also very serious. No class ever taught me how to handle that. Working and gaining the experience needed to handle the unforeseeable day-to-day operations in a hotel is what helps me get through situations such as the one I just mentioned. The degree seems like more of a formality.

Please don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking higher education by any means. I’m also not putting down Hospitality Management programs. I know that combined with hands on experience these programs can be very rewarding. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my college education and my program of choice. What I am saying is that there is a lot more that needs to go along with a degree, especially in this industry.

It really boils down to the person, though. Certain people are built for this industry and many are not. Another important part of gaining experience is to see if this really what you want to devote your life to. I’ve seen friends graduate and hate the industry once they broke into it after college. My personal suggestion is to get a taste of the industry and see how you feel about it before you spend US$100,000 dollars getting a degree in it. Take it from me… I’m one of the “lucky ones.”

5 Must Have Mobile Apps For Job Seekers

2010-10-12T20:36:00.004-05:00

Recently I switched from a Blackberry to an iPhone. I must say, the iPhone is a lot of fun especially the apps. Whether you are looking for the perfect nail color or a restaurant nearby there is an app for that. You can also use your iPhone apps to learn more about a company, view current opportunities and even apply for a job. Please find some recommended apps for job seekers listed below. These apps are all free and uncover the largest variety of jobs available.

Indeed: Indeed’s tag line is “One Search, All Jobs”, and it’s pretty much true. Indeed searches the web for jobs posted on company career sites and job boards so that you can find just about any job that is being posted. Not a bad place to start your search.

LinkedIn: LinkedIn is often referred to as the business lunch of social networking, and like other social networking sites, you need to keep in contact with your network. This is a social network that is the primary focus of many recruiters. The LinkedIn application for iPhone is a great way to stay connected and expand your network.

Twitter: We know Twitter isn’t designed as a job database, but we also know that quite a few companies are finally getting on board with Twitter and recruiters are diving into the network in a big way. There are also several services such as Tweetmyjobs now tweeting job opportunities as they become available. Most importantly, Twitter may be one of the best ways to get some personal attention from a company recruiter. This how to article from Mashable, How to find a job on Twitter, is a great resource. Try tweeting that you are interested in working for one of the 50 companies listed in this article and you may be surprised how quickly you are contacted, Top 50 recruiters on twitter.

Facebook: Yes, we know you have an account and this was probably one of the first applications you installed. The reason we like facebook as a tool for finding jobs is very similar to the benefits of using twitter. Many companies now have fan pages dedicated to their talent acquisition efforts. These fan pages can tell you a lot about the culture of companies you may be interested in working with as well as give you the capability of connecting directly with current employees and the recruiters that manage these pages. Become a fan and start connecting.

Gist: Gist describes themselves as an online service that helps you build stronger relationships. By connecting your inbox to the web, you get business-critical information about key people and companies. What we love about Gist is that it connects you to the most popular social networks and your own contacts. It’s a great way to follow what’s happening with the people that you want to follow and/or work with.

I hope you find these free applications helpful with your job search. They can help you find the job you’re looking for and connect with the right people. If you are interested in connecting with Hyatt we have an app for that too, Hyatt Job Search! You can also find Hyatt on Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin and YouTube.

Phone Interviews Out, Video Based Interviews In

2010-09-28T08:56:00.002-05:00

Interviewing is one of the biggest parts of my job. Normally these interviews take place in-person and on-campus. There are times, however, when I have candidates that I am interested in interviewing but unable to meet on-campus and/or in-person. In these situations instead of scheduling a phone interview, I turn to my web cam. Web cam interviewing has become more common as most computers now have built-in a web cams and great free two way video applications exist, like Skype and oovoo.

I have been conducting video interviews for a while now and I love it! Video allows both verbal and non-verbal communication, where as phone interviews only allow you to express verbally your interest and why you should be chosen for the position. Video interviews provide all the same benefits of a face-to-face interview with the added benefit of being in the comfort of your own home, office, dorm room, etc. With that being said, you would be surprised as to what I have seen during these web cam interviews! So, let me take this opportunity to provide you with some web cam interviewing etiquette so you don’t become a recruiter’s “what not to do” story.

Video interview preparation should be very similar to how you would prepare for a face-to-face interview. Although you may feel more comfortable at home in front of your computer versus across the desk from a recruiter, web cam interviews should be treated with the same level of formality and professionalism.

First and foremost, make sure you have a web cam and know how to use it. Just as you wouldn’t be late to an in-person interview, don’t cause delays to your video interview due to your lack of technical preparedness. This is probably one of the most frustrating things from a recruiter perspective when it comes to video based interviews.

Make sure the application your recruiter is using for your interview is downloaded on your computer and working properly. Test out your web cam via this application adjusting your lighting, audio, etc. I would strongly encourage you to contact a friend or family member who also has this program and a web cam so you can practice. By the time you have your interview you should feel completely comfortable so if there are any technical difficulties you feel confident fixing them.

Where you set up your web cam for your interview is also important. If you have ever chatted with someone via web cam you know that the video will show your face as well as everything behind you. If you are in a messy room or have inappropriate pictures hanging in the background this can be distracting and leave a bad impression. Not only should you choose a location that presents a professional image but also one that is quiet. The last thing a recruiter wants to do is fight to hear you amongst your wild roommates or noisy pets. Pick a place that is a comfortable setting for you but also appropriate.

Lastly, it is important to dress professionally even when doing a video interview. As previously mentioned, you typically can only see the person’s face, however that doesn’t mean it’s ok to interview in your underwear! Make sure you are in business attire from head to toe. If you wouldn’t wear what you have on to a face-to-face interview then you shouldn’t be wearing it for your video interview!

I’ll admit it, I work from home and my typical uniform is a tank and yoga pants. When I have a web cam interview scheduled I just throw on a suit jacket. Well one time I wasn’t thinking and the candidate asked me a question that I needed to grab paperwork for in order to provide an answer so… you know where this is going. Don’t make the mistake I did, the last thing you want is for a recruiter to see you in your flannel pajama pants and fuzzy slippers. Take it from me, the comfort is not worth the embarrassment.

So next time a recruiter asks if you are willing to do a video interview versus a phone interview, remember to get accustomed to using the computer program and web cam, create a professional setting and dress to impress. With these tips you should always say no to the phone interview and yes to the video interview!

Season is off...Purdue!

2010-09-23T21:47:00.002-05:00

It's that time of year again when its getting a little colder outside, football has begun and we all start traveling! Yes, its College Recruiting season! It feels like its been forever since I last traveled to a school which is why I was so anxious to get to Purdue this week. The picture is me holding my iphone trying to get the famous 'P' and me all at once! At 7:30 AM not many people are on the Purdue campus available to take people's pictures. :)
I drive to Purdue because it's so close to Chicago. It was the first time I have driven to West Lafayette in sunny weather; actually it was the first time I have ever seen Purdue University when it wasn't raining, snowing or sleeting. It was beautiful! When I arrived it was still somewhat daylight so I decided to investigate Lafayette. I was shocked to find so many restaurants, malls and one of my favorite fast food joints...Chick-fil-A!
The next day it started with the career fair which was very busy. I don't remember ever being that busy at Purdue before but I guess thats because I usually have an ambassador with me at the booth and this is the first year without an ambassador. I sure do miss Mallory; but she is now doing very well with Hyatt Louisville! :) After a four hour career fair it was off to the information session.
The information session was great with a packed classroom! The energy in the room was contagious with students talking about their impression of Hyatt and loving the new videos we showed. After the information session, I have to admit I was exhausted. It takes a couple schools to get back into the recruiting season so I was off to my hotel and ordering in. The following day it was interviews beginning at 8AM until 4:30. It was great to be back at Purdue and see everyone! After interviews I was back on the road to Chicago. Except this time on the way home I did stop at my favorite Dairy Farm and went to the cheese tasting and also had ice cream! Nothing is better than yummy cheese and ice cream!
So, the season is off and we are on the road. Stay tuned...next week UW Stout!
Cassie

Using Your Existing Contacts to Find the Perfect Job

2010-09-14T11:39:00.003-05:00

One of the most common ways of finding a job is through someone you already know. Reach out to your Career Services, fellow classmates, current/former employers and friends and family to discuss your search. Reaching out to your on-campus and off-campus contacts may lead to additional contacts and job opportunities you may have not been able to find on your own.

On-campus
Your career services office should be one of your first stops when looking for a job. They can provide you with information regarding job fairs, company presentations and even current openings employers may have reached out to the University about while looking for candidates. Career Services may also be able to put you in touch with Alumni who are currently working in the industry you are pursuing.

Talk to your peers who are in your major and in your classes. Discuss the opportunities they have had and the companies in which they are currently working. They may be able to provide you with some contact information and/or leads on current openings. Outside of the classroom speak with those you are involved with in school clubs, sports, social groups, etc.

Off-campus
Previous and/or current work experience can come in handy when finding your next job. Reach out to your current/former employers where you worked as an intern or full time to see if they can refer you to another company or similar business. Internships are a great foot-in the door if you haven’t worked in the field you are pursuing. Offering to work as an intern at a company you are interested can open doors.

Encourage your family and friends to keep you in mind for openings at their companies. Most companies have a referral program that gives preference to candidates referred by current associates and may even offer your friend or family member a referral bonus if you are hired!

Organizations & Education
Lastly, be sure to join any groups in your area that are affiliated with the industry that interests you. For example, HR Professionals are typically involved with the group SHRM which is on a National level but also has local chapters. Attending meetings, conferences, sessions and classes of these groups can provide additional networking opportunities. These groups may also have websites that offer job postings for companies affiliated with the industry.

Get out and start talking to those in your network. More than likely a job opportunity is just a conversation away!

Using the Internet to Find the Perfect Job

2010-08-31T09:13:00.003-05:00

In my last piece I discussed online job applications but I’d like to take a step back for a bit.

I am always amazed when I ask people where they found or came across a particular job posting. Hopefully, by now you have some sense of the type of career you’d like to pursue and some of the positions out there that may get your career off the ground. But what if you are not sure of the companies out there offering these types of roles? Let’s take a closer look at the best way to search online for job opportunities and learn more about those organizations.

Job Search
When looking for a job most people instinctively go to the major job boards. However, this is not the most efficient way to find job opportunities. Instead of visiting the major job boards try a job board aggregator like indeed.com or simplyhired.com. These boards pull jobs from the major job boards, company websites, and various other sources. It doesn’t get better than one-stop shopping!

However, please be aware that your search results may yield quite a few listings and by no means should you apply for all of them. Use the filtering options to identify a handful of opportunities and companies that you’d like to learn more about or target.

Job Match
Before applying for just any and every position, or before you interview, be sure to research the company you are considering. It’s very important that you learn about the company’s culture, values, mission and goals. Ask yourself, are they aligned with my personal goals? Visit the company’s website(s) to learn about what the company has to say about itself. Keep in mind, this may be written to ensure the company is seen in the best light or from a marketing perspective.

Make sure you know what the company is in business for. There is nothing worse than going to a job interview and not even knowing what product or service they represent. Also, take note of what’s going on with the company in the news. Are they launching a new product? Are they closing down a bunch of stores?

I also recommend going after the authentic or organic perspective of the organization. To do this, get out on the Social Media channels and follow, become a fan or search for the organization. This will give you a true glimpse of the company’s reputation. What is being tweeted about the company? What is happening on their Facebook fan page or group?

Job Connect.
While you are out researching the company, be sure to check out LinkedIn also. It is a great Social Media tool for business networking. Search for the company and then seek out current or former employees of the company that you may want to apply and connect with. You may also find job postings, and learn more about companies by following their profiles. It’s also a good idea to join groups and associations on LinkedIn that relate to the field you are hoping to join. Perhaps, determine what groups your connections are part of as a starting point

Spending all day on the internet looking for a job is history. So, make it easy on yourself and go to one spot. But before you too far, do yourself a favor and research the company so you know exactly what you are applying for.

What Everybody Ought to Know About Online Applications

2010-08-17T10:00:00.001-05:00

It’s crazy to think that when I started working for Hyatt, back in 2000, candidates visited the hotel property’s HR office and completed paper applications. Wow how things have changed in such a relatively short amount of time! Now, almost all companies, including Hyatt, only accept applications online. To some, filling out online applications and sending them into cyberspace can feel hopeless.

I am here to tell you how to increase your chances of getting a phone call versus a generic “thanks but no thanks” letter or even worse, nothing at all. So read on and consider my advice before hitting the “submit” button because whether you like it or not, paper applications aren’t coming back.

Finding the right opportunity

Most companies have a career site linked from their company website that will allow you to view available positions by location and department. Once you have determined the company that is the right fit for you it’s time to find a position that is a match as well.

Applying to anything and everything is not the answer to finding a job. Most companies use an applicant tracking system that allows the HR representatives to view every position you have applied for within the company. If you are applying to multiple opportunities, in different departments, all over the country, or even the world, this can give a negative impression.

Start by viewing opportunities closest to you. Candidates looking for an entry level position, even an entry level management position, will most likely not be provided relocation. Even if you are willing to relocate on your own dime, applying for opportunities in your area first will better your chances of being considered. If you are planning to relocate (regardless if you get the job) to the location you are applying, make sure you indicate this on your application and follow up by contacting the HR department via phone after submitting your application.

Take a thorough look at the job descriptions for the opportunities you are interested in. Most likely the company will list the job duties and qualifications required for the position. If you do not meet these qualifications don’t waste your time. If you do, make sure it is a job you are truly interested in versus applying just to apply.

Completing the Application

Now you that you have determined the right position for you it’s time to complete the application. Although applying online can feel more informal than meeting with a company representative face to face it’s important to treat it the same and maintain professionalism.

For example, I have the bad habit of not capitalizing when emailing with friends–this is not ok on a job application. Punctuation, grammar, spelling, etc are all extremely important when applying online. The application is your foot in the door and if you are not putting your best foot forward then you are hurting your chances of getting that coveted face to face time.

Most application systems allow you to attach your cover letter, resume and references. Take advantage of this as the HR representative reviewing your application may use these attachments to forward to the Hiring Manager. Make sure the information you submit and attach is up to date and accurate as well as professional.

If the HR representative wants to reach out to you and your phone number is no longer in service or your email address ends in @bootylicious.com they will be on to the next candidate in no time. This also applies to your voicemail. Although you may love the song that your friends have to listen to while they wait for you to answer, your potential employer may not feel the same. Keep it simple and realize all of these little things add up to an overall impression.

My mom, and I’m sure yours, has always said “honesty is the best policy”. This is true when it comes to applications as well. Lying about your background, employment experience, qualifications, compensation, etc will only cause problems later. So be honest and the right opportunity will come your way.

Follow-up

Last but not least, make sure if you are contacted regarding your application that you respond whether you are still interested in the opportunity or not. A lack of response can only hurt your chances of other employment opportunities with the company that may come up in the future.

If you have applied to an opportunity and a week or more has passed, it is ok to call and follow-up. By following up you are confirming your interest in the position and the HR representative may even be able to provide you with an update on the position.

Now that you have the skinny it’s time to get online and start applying. Career opportunities are waiting for you in cyberspace.

My One Regret

2010-08-04T14:51:00.001-05:00

I do my best to live my life with no regrets. However, when I look back on my college experience the one thing I regret is not studying abroad. I see many college resumes and I must admit when I meet a student that has studied abroad there is a little pang of jealousy.

Don’t get me wrong, I am happy for these students and I have been very fortunate throughout my life having traveled to many places and experienced many cultures. I’m actually writing this on a flight to Puerto Rico right now! But there are many benefits to studying abroad during your college career that I wish I hadn’t missed out on. These life and career benefits include personal growth, a global understanding, and international networking, not to mention a valuable experience that will boost your resume.

Personal Growth
When I ask students what their biggest take away is from their study abroad experience, almost all of them give me an answer that references personal growth.

“I learned a lot about myself”, or “I now know what I’m capable of and how strong I really am,” or “I have richer understanding of different cultures, more of a global view”, etc.

I think we can all agree that when you go away to college you tend to grow, mature and become more confident over those four years.

A study abroad experience has the same effect, maybe even more so. Think about it, you have to learn to navigate through a country where you’ve most likely never been, potentially learn a new language and all while throwing yourself into a totally different culture. If that’s not a life experience that will shape the person you are–I don’t know what is.

Global Understanding
Almost all major companies today are global. These companies expect their associates to have a global understanding in order to best serve their customers. Taking the initiative and time to travel abroad before you get your first “real job” out of college provides you with the hands on knowledge and know-how that can’t be learned from a text book.

Most students who travel abroad don’t just go to the country where they are studying but also travel to neighboring countries in their free time as well. Unlike the U.S., there are many places around the world where you can easily travel from country to country. For example, you can experience the beauty of Europe via the Euro rail. Who knows, maybe in your future career your boss will ask you to meet with the international client instead of your coworker because you have been to the country before and know their customs!

International Networking
As we all know, and have discussed in previous blogs, networking is extremely important as a college student and beyond. It’s important to network with peers, faculty, employers, etc. because those connections can be extremely helpful throughout your life and career. But what you may have never thought about is expanding your network outside of the U.S. Can you imagine having a network of people not only at home but in another country or multiple countries? Taking advantage of a study abroad opportunity will allow you to expand your network beyond your peers to include students, faculty, industry professionals and new friends in the country you choose to study or even in countries where you travel during your study abroad experience. These contacts can be valuable for career advice and opportunities, potential clientele and/or travel guides and companions.

Resume builder
As previously mentioned, when I see study abroad experience on a student resume I do get a little jealous, but more importantly I am always impressed. Study abroad experience can definitely amp up your resume. Listing all the countries you have traveled to and the languages you speak can help your resume stand out amongst your peers. Even more so if you have gained worked experience in addition to your study abroad experience.

As a Recruiter it says to me, “This student has a global view, and can be thrown into the unknown and think on their feet.” This translates into the working world as someone who can handle tough situations and come up with solutions. It is also a great conversation starter and allows you to share your stories and take-aways from your experience during an interview which can ease your nerves and potentially provide a common ground.

Still not convinced? If you are still not convinced I am guessing you are hesitant to travel abroad due to financial reasons or fear of being homesick. Don’t let either of these factors stop you! Most universities offer financial aid to college students interested in studying abroad. Be sure to research the study abroad opportunities available on your university website or by visiting with a career counselor on campus before you decide to rule out such a great opportunity.
If just the thought of going to another country makes you homesick, remember we are in the age of amazing technology where you can not only talk to your friends and family easily, but even chat with them face to face for free! Web cam programs like Skype can keep you connected during your time away not to mention your cell phone, if you a purchase an international plan or phone cards, email, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and of course don’t forget about good ‘ole postcards.

The bottom line is live life with no regrets. If studying abroad could be one of those regrets for you, take it from me, pack your bags and get going!

How to Get the Most Out of A Career Fair

2010-07-20T09:24:00.001-05:00

Career fairs shouldn’t be about getting out of class to wander around with your friends and pick up company giveaways. All that leaves you with is a pen and a stress ball from a company you don’t know, and more importantly, doesn’t know you. If taken seriously, career fairs can be a great way to make real connections with top employers. Think about it. When will you have another opportunity where employers come to you?
It’s important to take advantage of career fairs as your attendance and participation could lead to potential employment opportunities. To get the most out of a career fair you need to do more than just show up, you need to be prepared by researching the companies, anticipating “the approach” and knowing how to follow-up.

Preparation/Research
Career Fairs are typically held at least twice per year, during the fall and spring semesters. You can obtain your school’s career fair dates from your Career Services office. Some schools have career fairs that cover all majors and/or fairs that are major specific.

After determining the career fair that is right for you, the next step is to get a list of employers who will be in attendance. This list will most likely indicate which students the companies want to speak with, what jobs they are looking to fill, and it may also instruct you on how to apply for these opportunities prior to the fair.

For example, some companies may be looking for sophomores and juniors studying Hospitality for their summer internship opportunities and request you pre-apply prior to their visit. Pay special attention to the companies’ instructions as you may be left out if you don’t. After reviewing this list, determine the top 5 companies you want to seek out at the fair.

Now it’s time to get online and check out their company websites. Read about the company’s history, recent events, where the company is headed, and apply online for opportunities if requested. Google or do an internet search on the company.

What’s happening with the organization? If they are using social media, get out there and become a fan or follow them on Twitter. It’s a great place to learn about the culture of the company and see what is being said about the company prior to your interview. In addition, you may even be able to connect with current or formers employees.

As a final effort, contact any former students you know that may be working for the company and get the skinny! Write down a couple of fun facts that stand out and also some questions you would ask a company representative. This information will come in handy at the fair and during the interviews you obtain for being so resourceful!

The Approach

On the day of the fair you want to be full of energy and ready to go, so be sure to get a good night’s sleep and eat breakfast! The majority of career fairs start in the morning and last on average four hours. Being the first to the fair isn’t always the best idea as some employers may still be setting up. I would suggest arriving at the beginning of the second hour.

Be sure to dress your best by wearing a business suit and more importantly a big smile. After you have located the booths of your top employers it is time for “the approach”. Although it can be intimidating, just breathe, you have questions that need to be answered. Recruiters are friendly people who are there to meet you, provide information about their company and find potential hires. As a reminder, as the recruiters are evaluating you, you should be evaluating them also.

Walk up to the company representatives with confidence. Introduce yourself and shake their hands and off you go with your elevator speech. You do have one don’t you? The first words out of your mouth shouldn’t be “What do you have for me?” or “Are you scheduling interviews?” These questions do not leave a good first impression.

Start off by letting them know your year in school, what you are studying, why you are interested in their company, and what you are looking for regarding employment opportunities. Be sure to have an updated resume handy in case the representatives ask for it.

This is a no fail approach that can lend itself to several outcomes.

If the representatives do not have opportunities you are looking for and/or you are not the right fit, graciously thank them for their time, ask if you may have a business card to stay in touch and move on to the next company.

If you are invited to attend a company information session happily accept! Information sessions are a great way to learn even more about a company you are interested in and may result in a future interview opportunity.

If you are invited to interview even better! Confirm the date/location and let them know how much you are looking forward to it. Please don’t be late to any of these!

Follow-up

Whether you shook hands, attended an information session and/or interviewed it’s always important to follow-up with the people you met at a career fair. The best way to do this is by sending a hand written note or professional email to the contact(s) you spoke with. To keep everyone straight it’s not a bad idea to jot down some notes on the back of a representative’s business card after the fair to jog your memory.

In your communication thank the Recruiter for their time; mention something that stands out about you or your conversation with them to jog their memory and let them know you are looking forward to staying in touch or hearing back from them regarding your interview.

A Light at the End of the Bad Economy Tunnel

2010-07-06T12:05:00.001-05:00

Recently the Hyatt College team has received calls from our hotels seeking candidates for entry level management roles and additional requests for Corporate Management Trainees. Although it’s bad timing, since the recruiting season is over and students we met on campus have been placed, it’s a great sign that things are turning around. For those of you that are concerned about finding future internships and full time placement opportunities it seems there is a light at the end of the bad economy tunnel.

It will most likely take a while for us to get back to the strong campus recruiting numbers we had back in 2008 but there are some things you can do to better your chances when looking for future internships and full time positions after graduation. This includes staying positive, being flexible regarding positions and locations and networking.

Staying Positive
Staying positive just happens to be the key to your survival. I graduated in June of 2001 only months before a horrific tragedy that affected our country and economy. All around me fellow students, colleagues and friends lost job offers or were laid off. The good news is things turned around–they always do–and it’s just a matter of time. In the meantime, it’s important to not only stay positive but be flexible.

Being Flexible
As one of three Hyatt College Recruiters, each of us recruit at minimum 8 schools per semester; meet over 65 students at each campus and average about 20 interviews per university. Therefore, each one of us interview an average of 100 students per semester all looking for the same position. Consider this: Candidate A and B are top students, leaders within their university, involved in extracurricular activities, great experience and both have a 4.0 GPA. The difference is, Candidate A is willing to start anywhere including a Front Desk Agent because he understands that within 6 months he will have proven himself and will be promoted. Candidate B only wants an Asst. Manager position upon graduation and will only reside in Virginia. Due to Candidate A’s willingness to be flexible this candidate will most likely be chosen.

Willingness to swallow your pride and be open to entry level positions to get your foot in the door is extremely important. Whether it is a line position or an internship, these opportunities allow you to prove yourself to the company. Most likely if you are successful in these roles you will be considered for future supervisory and management openings.

Relocation

Expanding your relocation preferences is also necessary. The more open you are to relocation the more opportunities will be available to you. This can be difficult as most companies do not provide relocation for non-management roles. However, relocating on your own dime can be worth it in the end. When a candidate decides to relocate on their own because of an opportunity within the company, they are really differentiating themselves amongst their competition. Taking the initiative and taking any opportunity the company offers shows dedication and true commitment.

It is difficult for students to realize they are not just competing amongst the students in their own class or their university. Each candidate is competing amongst all students at each school with the same degree, same experiences, and for the same limited opportunities. Realizing there’s more than one road that leads to their desired goal is the key to obtaining their career path. Sometimes looking at the whole picture is the solution. If becoming a Rooms Director is your goal, there are at least 5 positions underneath the Managers in the Rooms division that will allow you to gain more experience and create a better foundation for your future career. All of these entry level experiences will give you an advantage over your competition.

Networking
Along with staying positive and being flexible under the current conditions, it is also important to network. This means creating new networks with those you have recently come into contact with, and continuing those relationships you have already made with industry leaders, professors, and peers. Many companies are using social media tools to keep you up to date with their company. Media tools such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook are a great way to learn more about companies you may be interested in. If you have created a great relationship with a representative from a company, they may be the one to help you get that first interview!

If you have recently graduated and relocation is not an option for you, now is the time to consider making yourself a more qualified candidate for when things turn around. Develop a second language and travel to unique cultural destinations around the world to broaden your experiences. If going to graduate school is an option for you, now is the time to continue your education. In addition, consider refining and developing specific skills that set you apart from another candidate.

The bottom line is, don’t let limited opportunities stand in your way. Let it drive you to be more passionate about your search. Have the best resume you can, apply for as many jobs as you feel qualified for, be as positive and flexible as possible and don’t lose hope. Remember, there are many roads that you can take to achieve your goal and there is no wrong direction to begin. Things are turning around and now’s the time to get on the top of the hiring list by being on top of your game.

Here’s a Quick Way to Become a Star Manager

2010-06-23T10:23:00.001-05:00

Graduating seniors frequently ask, “How can I be successful in the hospitality industry?” To answer this question, I typically discuss the common struggles students face when placed into their first management position. This includes: managing seasoned associates, adapting to change and taking initiative. Although there is no way to predict someone’s success, students who are able to conquer these skills are more likely to be successful and rise to the top. As I recruit for hospitality positions, I will use some examples that relate to hospitality management.

Managing Seasoned Associates
In our industry we are very grateful to have associates who have been with us for 20, even 30 years! If you are applying for a job as a recent college grad, this can be intimidating. Not only do these associates have more experience than you, but they are most likely twice your age and have seen many managers come and go. What students need to learn right off the bat is the attitude of “I’m here to help you and learn from you” versus “I am the manager and you are the associate”. Understanding and appreciating the jobs of your associates means everything. If your employees know you will jump in, roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty when they are in a bind, they will be motivated to do their best for you every day. Respect is gained when associates know you have their back and they have a voice.

Adapting to Change
The hotel business is 24/7, thus creating a work environment where adapting to change is key. Have you ever asked a Hospitality Recruiter what a day in the life at the hotel or restaurant is like? If you have, I bet they had a hard time coming up with an answer because every day is different. This is the very reason most people are attracted to the hospitality industry. Rolling with the punches, thinking on your feet, and reacting to situations calmly and quickly are expected and necessary.

Taking the Initiative
In such a fast paced industry taking the initiative as a manager is essential. You should be empowered to make decisions, but you need the confidence required to do so. There are great training programs, like Hyatt’s Corporate Management Training program, that help you get ready for this feat but no one is going to hold your hand throughout the process. You need to make the most of every opportunity. Raise your hand and volunteer when help is needed. Take advantage of learning opportunities. Soak in the wisdom of your associates and fellow managers. Make every experience count as it will only make you a stronger manager.

Making a conscience effort in these three areas may just get you noticed a bit sooner and put you on the fast track to achieving your career goals.

Recruiters Talk

2010-06-07T15:18:00.006-05:00

Hyatt's College Recruiting team has been asked to contribute to Studentbranding.com, a website that offers branding and career advice for students, from high school to graduate school. We are honored to do so and will be sharing our guest blogs here as well. Below is the first entry in the series. Enjoy!

When looking for a job we’ve all heard the saying, “It’s all about who you know.” There’s definitely truth to that and in this economy, it doesn’t hurt. I like to say it’s more about “Who knows you!”

Something that college students don’t realize is recruiters talk, and boy do we talk a lot. We talk to other Recruiters with other companies, Career Services, professors, students, you name it. And what is it that we talk about? You, the candidate!

This means a couple of things. It’s really important to give a good impression, be involved and make a name for yourself. As a college student looking to gain experience through an internship or entry level job you really need to put yourself out there.

Put Yourself Out There
Attend all Career Fairs, company presentations and networking events, get involved in groups on campus and be present and active in the classroom. Most recruiters not only visit campus for recruiting events but also speak in classrooms and attend club meetings and conferences. This gives you multiple opportunities to meet us and make an impression. If you don’t show up then we don’t know who you are.

Get People Talking, About You
Make sure all your interactions with recruiters are positive. If they aren’t we all hear about it, no matter what the company. When I’m on campus looking to find the right students for Hyatt opportunities I talk to my Careers Services and Faculty contacts. I ask them who stands out and who they think would be a strong candidate. If you’ve never visited your Career Services office and/or your Professors don’t know your name then guess what, it’s not going to be you.

Become an All-Star Candidate!
Make a point to visit Career Services and introduce yourself. They are there to help and be your biggest supporter. It’s the best of both worlds–they are tuned in to what is offered on campus and have many contacts in the industry.

If you aren’t involved in any extracurricular activities tied to your major, find out what clubs are out there and join one that interests you. You don’t have to be in every club, but chose one or two and make the most of it. Leadership on campus will get you noticed and can lead to all kinds of opportunities.

Build Relationships
Lastly, build relationships with your fellow students or peers. They will be leaders in the industry and may become a resource in the future. Become the student that everyone knows, both Faculty and students alike, show them all your passion for learning and involvement and before you know it we will be talking about you!

Take-off

2010-05-18T15:43:00.011-05:00

It's been awhile since I've last blogged and believe me there's lots to tell. I flew around the country with stops at Purdue, UNLV, UW-Stout Miami and Ferris. Traveling is one of my favorite hobbies which happens to be a large part of my job which obviously is a plus to me!

It started at Purdue in West Lafayette. Its a short drive but of course I always run into traffic and this time wasn't any different. Thank goodness to our Hyatt Ambassador Mallory because I was a few minutes past our information session time and she had it all under control. We had a great turnout for the infosession and then went for a delicious dinner in the middle of the woods. I wasn't sure where she was taking me but it was phenomenal food and now one of my new favorites. The following day was packed with interviews all day and I wasn't able to have lunch with Mallory but we did get a great picture together before I left. Thanks Mallory for all of your help at Purdue!

Then it was off to UW Stout; which is always a longer trip because of the weather. I am fortunate to have such great Ambassadors at all of my schools. Ted Lorenzi from our Corporate Engineering department travels with me to Stout which is much appreciated. He usually takes the Engineering Students and I have the hospitality students. We had a large turnout for our information session and also had delicious Hyatt snacks as Tim always goes way out to promote Hyatt! The cupcakes are always a hit! For dinner Ted and I took Tim to another place in the middle of the woods. It was my first time and thank goodness Ted was driving because the fog was so heavy we were only driving 5mi and headed to the lake. It is a fabulous restaurant on the water and I'm sure its beautiful when its warm out; but is it ever really warm in Wisconsin? Ted and I had a full schedule of interviewing for the following day and then it was off to the airport. Thanks Tim for all of your creative ideas and enthusiasm throughout the year!

For my next rendezvous I was off to UNLV which is one of my favorite because of the warm weather. Jaclynne our Hyatt Ambassador was my official 'driver' for my entire stay. The career fair was very busy and of course we had a long line of students and then a huge turnout for our information session. It was so large we had to bring in extra chairs for students to sit against the walls. I was able to fill up my interviewing schedule with over 30 students and also a waiting list. Jaclynne and I took some seniors out for dinner at PF Changs-which was absolutely delicious and of course I had to have a dessert! :) Thanks Jaclynne for always being my chaffeur and touring me around Vegas!

I was fortunate to have 2 warm locations back to back but not so fortunate to bring back a suntan. :( I went to Miami following Vegas. I always stay at Coral Gables in Miami due to the proximity of the hotel to the airport and of course Martin Grabias (HR Director) always goes with me to campus. He wasn't able to join me this trip but I was able to have Frank from the Regency join me at the career fair. It was a very busy day with interviews following the career fair. Miami always has surprises for me; last semester a class did an entire presentation on Hyatt while I sat in the middle of the room. It was very unique and appreciated! Thanks Miami!

Immediately from Miami I flew to Michigan; yes warm to cold again! Plus, they lost my suitcase so I was without warm clothes. The good news was Ted met me again and we ate at our favorite restaurant in Grand Rapids. It truly is one of the best restaurants in the middle of Michigan! It is interesting how all of my trips incorporate delicious food! At Ferris Ted and I interviewed over 30 Engineering students which was a very succesful trip. Leandra did a great job at the career fair and with the black tie event the following day! Thanks Leandra!

Overall, it was a phenomenal semester filled with many talented candidates and obviously great food! Now, we are working hard towards our upcoming summer events with the NRA HIRE Reception around the corner.

Salute to a great semester!

Final Four

2010-04-20T10:33:00.011-05:00

My last recruiting trip of the season was to Michigan State University. It's always nice that my last trip is MSU because I'm usually tired of flying at that point and I can road trip to Michigan. It takes about 4 hours to get there. I love driving because it relaxes me and I can jam out to my tunes. I left for Michigan early afternoon on Tuesday, March 30th.

When I got to campus the excitement about the MSU basketball team making it to the NCAA Final Four was very apparent. There was chatter among the students, signs showing support and many t-shirts to purchase. Unfortunately, as we know now, the Spartans didn't make it all the way but we are all proud of how far they went. If I'm not mistaken it was the second year in a row that MSU made it to the Final Four. Way to go Spartans and here's to next year!

Michelle Schroeder, who is part of the Hyatt Corporate Staffing team, joined me on campus. This was the first College Recruiting trip for Michelle and she was excited to see what it was all about. It was great to have a member of the team with me.I think Michelle enjoyed her time at MSU and is ready for her next College Recruiting trip!

Michelle and I met up with Chelsea Schroeder, our Michigan State Hyatt Campus Ambassador, at the info session. Chelsea has done a great job as our Ambassador. We are going to miss her representing us on campus as she is graduating this May. However, I am happy to report that Chelsea will be a Catering Corporate Management Trainee at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay! Chelsea is very excited about her upcoming position and I know she will continue to represent us very well.

Prior to the info session Chelsea shared her Hyatt themed bracket and Spartan goodies bags that she created for her most recent Hyatt campus event with Michelle and I. What a great idea! Chelsea passed out the extra goodie bags to the students who came for the info session.

After the Hyatt Campus presentation the three of us, and Chelsea's boyfriend, headed to The Post for dinner and drinks. We always hang out at The Post when I come to visit since it's right across from the hotel. Even though the menu is totally different now, what happened to the chicken chunks?, the food was still really good. We had a great time and maybe too good of a time because I didn't go to bed until 2am! What can I say? Time flies when you are having fun!

The next morning we had a full day of interviews. Michelle and I grabbed breakfast and headed over to the Lear Center to get started. It was really great to have Michelle there and get her opinion on the candidates. I know all the students enjoyed meeting her as well. At lunch time I met up with faculty Authellea Hawks and Dr. Cichy. It was a nice break from interviews and a good opportunity to catch up with them. After lunch I finished up the remaining interviews and at 5 o'clock it was time to head back to Chicago.

Due to my lack of sleep the drive felt more like 8 hours rather than 4 but it was definitely worth it! A big thanks goes out to Chelsea and Michelle! MSU won't be the same without you next year. What do you guys think about coming back? :)

I hope you enjoyed reading about my travels this semester. We will be heading back to campus in mid September for Fall 2010 recruitment. In the meantime I will keep you posted on the Hyatt College Recruiting Team's shenanigans this spring/summer.

Hyatt Recognized by Temple University

2010-03-29T15:08:00.012-05:00

Last week I was back in Philadelphia to attend Temple University's first Industry Partner Recognition event. Hyatt was among the 10 companies chosen to be recognized due to helping students gain invaluable experience through internship, job placement, mentoring programs and applied learning opportunities. We were all very excited about this honor. I flew into Philadelphia on Tuesday. Of course the first thing on my agenda was getting a cheese steak with my Temple University Hyatt Campus Ambassador, Justin Wusinich. I met Justin at Jims, my favorite cheese steak place in Philly, and we enjoyed lunch and had a nice visit. It was raining pretty hard and when we left and I didn't bring an umbrella with me. Justin was nice enough to lend me his for the walk back to the hotel. I was so happy because I didn't want to have to do my hair again! :) I had a couple hours to kill before I needed to head off to the event so I caught up on some work.

I met Shawnette Law, HR Director at the Hyatt Regency Philadelphia at Penn's Landing, in the lobby and we headed over to Mitten Hall. Shawnette is an alum of Temple and it was great to have her there. When we got to the event I was really impressed. I had never been in Mitten Hall before and it is a gorgeous older building on campus. The University did a great job with the event. There were appetizers and spirits, a jazz band and a local newscaster from NBC as the MC. Also joining us from Hyatt was Charisse Wilson, HR Director at the Hyatt at the Bellevue, and Marisa Judge, Temple alum and former CMT who is now a Catering Manager at the Hyatt at the Bellevue.

The event started with a video showcasing each of the 10 companies being honored. Marisa was featured for Hyatt and it was great to see her on the big screen! I'm so proud! After the videos each company representative was called up to accept their award and take pictures. Unfortunately my candids didn't turn out, I think it was the lighting. Below is a link to Temple's site where the pictures will most likely be posted.

http://sthm.temple.edu

After the event I headed back to the hotel and was up early the following morning to catch my flight home. Thank you Temple for honoring Hyatt and putting on such a wonderful event, we had a great time!

Packed Providence

2010-03-26T12:44:00.008-05:00

Last Wednesday I headed to Providence, RI to recruit at Johnson & Wales University. The career fair was orginially scheduled for February but due to all the snow the East Coast got this winter it was rescheduled. I made it into Providence early evening. It was very apparent it was St. Patty's day when I got there because the streets were filled with people decked out in shamrock green and most likely filled with green beer. :) I'm not a huge sports fan so I didn't realize til I arrived that the NCAA tournament was taking place in town. The hotels were all sold out and I'd never seen the city so packed! I was even more excited when I saw people from my Alma Mater, Ohio University. I was happy to find out my Bobcats had made it to the tournament and even beat Georgetown in the first round!

After I checked into my hotel I hightailed it to dinner. The ladies of Career Services had graciously invited me as well as Carl from Marriott, Amy from Compass Group and Becky and Meagan from Great American Restaurants to dinner at Sienna Restaurant located on "the hill". It was great to catch up with all of them and the food was amazing! Thank you again Akanksha, Sheri and Maureen!

On Thursday, Chef Christian Apetz from Hyatt Harborside picked me up for the career fair. It was great to have Christian with me on campus. He is a newly appointed Executive Chef and Alum of Johnson & Wales. As usual the career fair was packed with students and over 120 employers. Our booth had a constant flow of interested students so the four and a half hour fair went by very quickly. After the career fair we conducted an information session in the Culinary Arts Museum diner and signed up students for interviews for Friday.On Friday I only had a couple interviews in the morning and I was able to catch an early flight back home to Chicago.

This week I was back in Philadelphia, I will share more about that visit soon. My final school visit of the semester is next week. I'll be road tripping to Michigan State to see some Spartans!

Cold and Snowy Arizona

2010-03-12T15:37:00.008-06:00

It's rare that I travel somewhere that is colder and snowier than Chicago, especially when it's Arizona! However, those of you that are familiar with Flagstaff, AZ, know that it is in northern Arizona, close to the Grand Canyon, and pine trees and snow are prevalent. I flew to Phoenix on Monday morning. Northern Arizona University is my longest journey during recruiting season but it is always well worth it. The flight was long but fine, I tried to upgrade both ways but unfortunately the flights were full. I took a tip from Brook though and sat in the exit row on the way home. That's the second best option for sure, more leg room and I'm willing and able. :) Surprisingly they showed a movie on my flight from Chicago. It's been a long time since I've watched a movie on a plane. I laughed when they announced they would be playing "Up in the Air" because I had just received an email from Netflix before I boarded letting me know they were shipping the same movie to me. I couldn't not watch, it's hard to turn away from George Clooney! Honestly I thought the movie was a little depressing. I won't go into details for those of you that haven't seen it. I did however feel like I could relate to his character and all of the traveling. I got a kick out of the fact that he carried Travel Pro luggage just like us Recruiters do.

I made it into Phoenix on time, picked up my rental and began the two and a half hour drive to Flagstaff. It's a pretty drive and I am always in awe of the mountains. The further I drove the colder and snowier it got and I kept thinking about how it was actually in the upper 40s and low 50s with barely any snow on the ground at home. Once in Flagstaff I checked into my hotel room and got ready for dinner. Jon Hales, Professor at NAU, took me to the Greek place, I can never remember the name, that we went to last time. It was just as good as I remembered but honestly how can you go wrong with flaming cheese?

Late Tuesday morning I headed to the HRM building to speak to some classes which I really enjoy doing. The first class was Guest Services and mostly underclassmen. The last two classes were Senior Seminar. The students and Professors were very welcoming and asked great questions. That evening I conducted the Hyatt info session. I was amazed to see over 30 students not only in attendance but dressed professionally. I was surprised because the weather had gotten pretty bad by that time, lots of snow and wind, so I wasn't expecting a great turn out. Thanks to everyone for braving the weather and showing up! With that being said, my interview schedule for the following day was completely full.

Interview day went by really fast. I did get a lunch break and was happy to spend it with Suzanne Woods, Program Director for Internships/Employment. She took me to a great little Mexican place close to campus. As always I was impressed with the caliber of sophomores and juniors at NAU that I had the opportunity to spend time with. After interviews I met NAU students and NSMH members Christina Suarez, Allison Wiltfong and Meghan Wescoat out for dinner. We enjoyed some great pizza at Picazzos before the NSMH chapter meeting. Thanks for joining me for dinner and inviting me to your meeting ladies!

The next morning I woke up at the crack of dawn. I was worried about making it back to Phoenix for my flight due to the weather. The first 45 minutes of the drive was a little scary because the roads were covered with snow and ice. Even though I'm a midwest girl used to driving in winter weather the big difference is that I don't normally do it in the mountains! I was really glad that I left so early because it was slow going. The worst part was after I got going I realized the window washer fluid wasn't working because my car was practically frozen so at times I could barely see. You can't just pull over on I-17 so the first chance I got I stopped at a gas station to clean my windshield. About an hour in the roads were clear and the rest of the ride was nice and smooth. My flight was a little delayed due to the rainy weather in Chicago but we only landed 25 minutes late. I couldn't believe it when the pilot told us it was 50 degrees in Chicago, who cares about the rain, it's good to be back home!

Next week I am off to Rhode Island for the career fair at Johnson & Wales. Til then and Happy St. Patty's to all!

Temple University

2010-03-04T09:25:00.005-06:00

On Monday morning I headed back to the east coast for my recruiting trip to Temple University in Philadelphia. The flight was uneventful and I made it into Philly around noon, picked up my rental, and headed to the Hyatt Regency Penn's Landing. After catching up on emails and having a quick lunch I headed to campus. When I got to the parking garage I knew I was going to need my Ambassador's help. There was a sign saying that due to an event later that evening there was a $12 fee up front. This wouldn't be an issue if they took credit cards but of course they didn't and I didn't have any cash. As I mentioned previously I lost my wallet a little while ago and I still hadn't received my new debit card. So I called Justin and he came to my rescue running over with a parking pass, thanks Justin!

We then headed over to Speakman Hall to get ready for our info session. Justin had picked up cupcakes, green apples and other treats the day before. I had a hard time not resisting those cupcakes! The room we were in for the info session was very cool, there was not just one but 3 flat screens as well as cameras hanging from the ceiling for video conferencing. The hospitality team at Temple is really moving on up from the building they used to be in! We had a great turnout at the info session and the students took advantage of Justin being there by asking him some great questions about his Hyatt experience.

After signing up students for interviews Greg, Brandon, Rick, Justin and I headed to The Continental for dinner. We've been to The Continental before, the food is great and the atmosphere is a hip diner vibe. I tried the Pad Thai this time, of course I got the mac and cheese last time, and it was great! Thanks again for dinner guys it was a pleasure.

I gave Justin a ride home after dinner and after I dropped him off things got a little chaotic. Remember that event I mentioned earlier? Well I ended up in the thick of it. Apparently there was a high school cheerleading competition at the Liacourus Center and after the kids got out there was a huge fight. I was sitting in my car on Cecil B Moore Ave and I couldn't get anywhere. Mobs of teenagers and cops were all over the place. I was finally able to get out to Broad Street and make my way back to the hotel. The next morning the chaos that I had witnessed made the news! However when I went back to campus the next morning it was as if nothing had happened.

I only had a couple interviews scheduled on Tuesday. Brandon, Justin and I went to The Noshery for lunch. It's a great gourmet sandwich place and I had a yummy panini. After lunch I finished up interviews and headed back to the airport. I made it back to Chicago early evening, quick trip!

Next week I am headed to the west coast, it will be a nice change of pace and weather :), to visit Northern Arizona University. Go Lumberjacks!

A Shaky Start but a Strong Finish

2010-02-26T13:53:00.012-06:00

I ended my last post with "I am heading to Niagara University tomorrow and will be up at the crack of dawn, I better start packing!" To this previous statement I say, "Who am I kidding?" I never pack the night before a trip no matter how early I have to leave. It's a bad habit that I have packing just minutes before I head out the door. Yes I have forgotten things, arrived to the airport late, etc but do I learn? Nope! So Wednesday morning my alarm goes off at 4am, not a pretty site by the way! I hurry up, get ready, pack and head out for the airport. I make it on time and get on the flight and all is good or so I thought.

During the ride I started experiencing blurred vision and I panicked. When I was younger I used to get terrible migraines. I haven't had one since high school, thank goodness, but this was always the first sign. Of course I didn't have any aspirin with me since I had lost my wallet/wristlet on Sunday, that's a whole different drama, and I worried that if I didn't take something soon it was going to get ugly. As soon as I got off the plane I took some medicine. I was not feeling good at all when I got to the rental car agency. There was a lot of people standing around and I knew something was up. When I got to the counter the representative told me I was going to have to wait 45 minutes for a car. This was not good. I needed to get from the Buffalo airport to Niagara University asap to set up for the career fair, attend the Employer Luncheon and participate in the fair. It was going to be tight. So I waited and I waited and I waited. An hour and a half later I had a car. I high tailed it to Niagara as quickly and safely as a I could. I arrived to the lunch late but was able to attend as well as set up for the fair right before it started.

I still wasn't feeling well but my Hyatt Campus Ambassador, Brittany Pingtella, was there to help me out. I don't know what I would have done without you Brittany, thank you! Now, I have never sat down during a career fair. A table and chairs are always provided but we always stand in front of the table to shake hands and speak with students. I felt so horrible I had to sit down, I really thought if I didn't I might pass out. By the end of the fair, and countless water bottles, I felt much better so I took Brittany out for a cup of coffee. We went to the infamous Tim Hortons to catch up before our info session. After coffee we headed back to campus to conduct our Hyatt presentation. We had a good turn out and I signed up students to interview the following day. Needless to say I crashed early that night.

On Thursday I headed to Career Development at Seton Hall to conduct interviews. Although Career Development is in the basement I love it because it always smells like clean laundry and I get to spend time with Karen Kroetsch and Mike Skowronski. Per usual Mike took me to lunch at the Faculty Lounge where I must say I had the most amazing chicken pot pie and biscuits, two helpings worth! After lunch I completed the rest of my interviews and set out for the airport. I was a little nervous about getting home. There was talks of a big storm coming to Buffalo that evening. Nothing against Buffalo but I've already been "stuck" this semester and I was looking forward to spending a couple days at home. Luckily everything turned out fine and I made it back to Chicago last night.

I will be heading back to the east coast on Monday to visit Temple University in Philadelphia. Fingers crossed the east coast doesn't get more snow!

Let the travels begin!

2010-02-26T10:40:00.007-06:00

The Spring 2010 recruiting season is well underway, and boy has it been an adventure! It has been awhile since I have blogged about my travels, so bare with me....this could be a long one! :)

First up on the recruiting schedule was Florida State University. My trips to Tallahassee usually take me through Atlanta, but I decided to take a different route this semester...there will be a good story to come with this just wait. When I arrived at the airport, I got my luggage and headed to get my rental car, the representative was very nice in telling me that I would be driving a mini-van! I was like, "What, seriously??", she said "Yes, I'm sorry, but all I have left are mini-vans." I appreciated being told what I was driving before heading to the parking lot. The next day it was time for the career fair. It went very well, and I had the opportunity to speak with a great number of students. After interviewing 29 students the following day, it was time to head back to Chicago. Remember I mentioned earlier I luggage story, well here it is. I flew back to Chicago through Miami, and when I got to O'Hare my bag did not arrive. After speaking with the baggage claim agent, she told me that my bag would get to me the following afternoon. The time frame came and went, and my aniexty grew. I called to find out what was going on and was told my luggage was in ARUBA! I'm still confused about how one's bag goes out of the country without you, but there are more important things to worry about these days. In the end my luggage arrived, and I was getting ready to head to Penn State University. :)

I had a special guest going to Penn State with me this semester. Doug Patrick, Senior Vice President of Human Resources for North America, is PSU alum and was going to speak in three HR classes. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I had to join Doug a day later than originally scheduled, but I was able to hear him speak to one HR class. Thanks Doug, I know you made a huge impact with the students! As we were walking back across campus to the hotel, we saw the wiener mobile-a picture had to be taken! While we were there, the Northeast was preparing for their first big snow storm of the season. My flight from Philly to Chicago was cancelled over 24 hours in advance, so I made the decision to cancel my scheduled interviews for Friday and get home. The students and I still were able to conduct interviews, either by phone or Skype. Thanks again to the PSU students for their understanding. I am glad we had the opportunity to connect! One snow storm avoided…..

The following week I was off to Culinary Institute of America. After the drive from NYC to Poughkeepsie, I was ready to get some rest for the six hour career fair the next morning. When I got to the school, I was warmly greeted by the staff in careers services. They are a great group, Chat should be proud! I found my booth space and was pleasantly surprised when I had the first booth right where the students entered...prime space! With that being said, I knew I would be very busy, and the students did not disappoint me. They had great questions, and sold themselves very well. The second snowstorm of the season was quickly upon us again, and my flight for the following evening was cancelled. This time, I was not able to leave early and ended up staying in NY an extra evening. Since my interviews ended early enough in the afternoon, I decided to drive back to NYC. The weather and roads were good until I got close to the city...I think I got lost at least once, but somehow figured it out and made it safely! Due to my flight time, I was able to have lunch at the Grand Hyatt New York with two of our former CMTs that are working at the hotel. It was greating catching up with Annie and Sara. Ladies you are doing a great job! Another successful trip, and hopefully the last cancelled flight of the season (fingers crossed)!! The next week I was going to the west coast and away from the snow. :)

San Diego State University was the school of the week, and I was looking forward to seeing two of our Hyatt Ambassadors! I know Erica and EmilyAnn had been working hard to promote Hyatt and I wanted to see them in action. They had water and gatorade along with goodie bags for the students at the presentation. EmilyAnn had made a sign that said, "HYATT welcomes you" and it was proudly on display at the front of the room! Great job ladies, you make me and Hyatt proud!! :) I had three individuals from Hyatt Regency Mission Bay join me for the presentation; thanks Tom, Eron, and Dan! At SDSU it has become a ritual to go to dinner with the Amabassadors, Brian, Carl, and the other Hyatt assoicates. I love Mexican food and to Old Town we go!! Thanks everyone, it was great spending time with all of you!! Next up was the National NSMH Conference in Indianapolis....talk to you all again soon!

Valentine's Day Trip

2010-02-25T20:32:00.004-06:00

It was Sunday-Valentine's Day and I was off to OSU. I was a little sad because it was Valentine's Day and the following day was Presidents' Day and I was headed for a few days of recruiting. The good thing was going back to OSU is always a great feeling as its my alma mater and always nice being able to catch up with my old professors at the university. When I landed at the Tulsa International airport I was overwhelmed with joy as my sister and mom drove 2 hours to surprise me at the airport to go out for dinner. It was very special and we had a great time. When I went to rent my car the only one they had available was a brand new hot red Honda SUV. It was beautiful and it only had 5 miles when I got in. I loved that car and didn't really want to turn it back in; but that wouldn't be a good idea. :)

I finally got to my hotel and checked in. When I arrived my hotel was decked out with delicious amenities that my Hyatt Ambassador Leandra had placed in my room. She gave me delicious chocolates, beautiful tulips and her mom's famous cinnamon bread. It was a nice touch; which is why she is going to become a CMT with us! Thanks Leandra.

The following day I headed to the career fair and we had a busy booth. I was the first scheduled information session and we had a good size crowd and they were all prepared for interviews the following day. That evening I went to the Senior Reception which was great to see all the professors and catch up with my old advisor. For dinner Leandra invited me to her house for a special family meal. It was nice to have a home cooked delicious meal and I was honored to be there guest. Interviews went well and it was back to the airport. At the airport it was hilarious because my flight was delayed for a few hours and a little bird came and sat next to me in the seat next to mine while I was waiting at the terminal. It was definitely a new experience for me and everyone just stared at me and the bird. I tried to get a picture but then it flew away. It was a first for me.

Then it was off to NSMH Nationals the next day; which will be another blog as Heidi mentioned earlier. Thanks OSU for a great trip!

Good night!

Cassie

University of Houston Spirit

2010-02-23T17:17:00.003-06:00

Last Wednesday I headed to Houston to attend the University of Houston career fair on Thursday. Normally when I go to Houston I stay at the hotel on campus because it is convenient and great to see the students in action. But my last two trips I have stayed at the Hyatt Regency Houston downtown because the hotel on campus is under renovations. Luckily Cougar Grounds, the student run coffee shop that has amazing coffee and goodies is still open!

I made it into Houston Wednesday afternoon and settled in at the hotel. I caught up on some work and then ordered room service and watched the Olympics. I've been totally obsessed with the Winter Games! On Thursday morning I met Norma Gonzalez, Assistant HR Director at the Hyatt Regency Houston, in the lobby and we headed to campus. The career fair was a little slow, probably because we were in a new building due to the hotel renovations, but even so we met some great students. Norma and I had some time to kill after the career fair so we headed to the University bookstore and I had fun trying on the Cougar gear. Norma was happy to take a picture for me but I wasn't able to get her in on the fun, maybe next time :). Later that day I conducted a Hyatt Information Session and signed up students for interviews on Friday.

I finished up interviews late morning on Friday, said my goodbyes to the great Houston faculty and was on my way back to the airport to high tail it to Indianapolis for the National NSMH Conference. The rest of the team had been in Indy since Thursday so I wanted to get there asap. It's rare we all get a chance to travel together so when we do we all look forward to it! I was able to jump on an earlier flight and make it to Indianapolis around 7pm Friday night. I'll save the NSMH details for a seperate blog as it's time for me to get ready for my next trip. I am heading to Niagara University tomorrow and will be up at the crack of dawn, I better start packing!

Cougar Gold!

2010-02-12T17:37:00.006-06:00

It was time to head to my first school; and I have to admit, I was definitely ready. I can only sit and do computer work for so long as I thrive off of interaction and recruiting. It was off to Washington State University in Pullman and I was pretty excited. I flew out on Sunday; although thats not my favorite day to fly it was pretty relaxing and beautiful trip. The picture is from my seat on the plane. It was Superbowl Sunday and I was in the air to Seattle when the captain kept updating us on the game. I have to be honest here; I am a huge football fan as team camaraderie gives me chills but I wasn't favoring either team. I had my ipod on in the plane and just kept playing a new card application I have on my phone. I tell you, the iphone is one of the best inventions for traveling as I will never find myself bored again sitting in an airport or on a tarmac.

Due to the location of Pullman and the one plane that goes into the airport my travel day lasted for about 11 hours. As we were taking off to Pullman, the captain said we were not going to be able to land in Pullman due to the fog and we would be landing in Lewiston (45 min. away). I had no idea what I was going to do as you are on your own in Lewiston and its not much bigger than Pullman. Flying over Pullman the captain informed us we should be able to land; Im not sure you should say 'Should' when you are talking to passengers about landing. Anyhow, we landed fine and I was ecstatic.

I arrived at my favorite Holiday Inn in Pullman as they all know me by name now and pick me up from the airport at midnight. Thanks Staff! The following day I had a great turnout to the Information Session and then off to the career fair. I had the longest line at the career fair and I felt like I needed to line up chairs from my booth. Thanks to all of you who stood in line so long for your 5 minute talk with me; I promise I WILL remember you!

I interviewed some great students the next day and definitely met some great Seniors as well. I took a couple of students out to dinner at the new Southfork restaurant which was delicious. I of course, ordered the fantastic Cougar Gold Mac-n-Cheese. Its the famous Cougar Gold cheese thats made right at WSU and let me tell you its delicious. I made it safely back to Chicago with only a couple of delays. Until next week, Happy Valentine's Day to all of you!

Cassie :)

Snow, Snow and More Snow!

2010-02-12T14:29:00.009-06:00

Well the good news is I was able to fly out to Washington Dulles to make it for my Hyatt Day at James Madison University, yay! The bad news is, due to the weather, I had a hard time getting back home and I was unable to make it to Johnson & Wales, RI for their career fair, which unfortunately got cancelled. Don't worry J&W, Providence students, we will be back for the rescheduled career fair on March 18th!

Unless you have been living under a rock the last week or so I'm sure you have heard about the weather on the east coast. They received more snow than they have in years! The Friday before I left for JMU the east coast got hit with over a foot of snow. I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to make it out on Monday but the storm had passed, or so I thought.

I got into Washington Dulles Monday afternoon and drove the 2 hours to Harrisonburg, VA. The drive there was pretty uneventful but the roads weren't great. There were several areas on the highways that were down to one lane due to snow covering the others. Once I got to Harrisonburg I found out that the University was actually closed. Even so, we opened up the College of Business and we still had 23 students show up for the Hyatt info session. These students earned major brownie points! In college if I had a snow day I don't know if I can honestly say I would have gone to a company info session. This really showed me their true interest and dedication! After the info session Michael O'Fallon and I headed to our usual spot, the Texas Roadhouse for dinner and drinks.

The following morning Michael picked me up, he didn't want me driving my rental all around campus in the bad weather, so nice, and I interviewed students for our Corporate Internship program. I had a full schedule and met a lot of great students. For lunch, Michael and I took out a group of seniors. It was a great time! We discussed their interests and I hope they will take me up on my offer to assist them in finding opportunities with Hyatt. After lunch I went back to interviewing. During interviews I received an email from my contact at Johnson & Wales letting me know that their career fair, scheduled for Thursday, had been cancelled due to weather. It turned out to be a good thing because I was worried I wasn't going to be unable to get there as the snow was really coming down in Harrisonburg.
After interviews I spoke in the Hospitality Intro class. It was really fun to answer resume and interviewing questions the group had. I was really impressed with the amount of participation from these underclassmen. I was then invited to attend the JMU NSMH Chapter meeting. When I walked into the room it said "Welcome Heidi from Hyatt" up on the screen. What a great welcome! I was amazed to see how much the NSMH Chapter at JMU has grown! We discussed mostly resumes but also shared excitement for the upcoming National Conference.

Once the day was wrapped up it was time to head back to the Texas Roadhouse. Yes, there are other restaurants in Harrisonburg but this is obviously our favorite! It was a little less enjoyable than the first night because I was on hold with the airline the entire time trying to change my flight from Providence to Chicago. Not only was there a major storm going on where I was but Chicago was getting over a foot of snow as well. Later I learned we even had an earthquake! What is going on? I was able to change my flight but couldn't get out of Dulles until Thursday since the airport completely closed down Wednesday.

Now this is not the first time I have been stuck somewhere during my travels. It always happens during the "spring semester" because it's really the dead of winter. Usually it's because of the weather in Chicago not where I have traveled to. I have spent extra days in Buffalo, NY and Manchester, NH just to name a few.

Wednesday actually turned out to be a nice day eventhough I was "stuck". I snuggled up in my hotel room with my lap top and got a lot of work done. It was nice to catch up and just chill out. I definitely became obsessed with the Weather Channel which I normally tease Brook for watching all the time :)

Yesterday I drove back to Dulles and flew back to Chicago late afternoon. When I got to my car in the economy lot at O'Hare it was completely buried! I dug myself out after about 20 minutes. I was soaking wet but the car started and I made it out of the parking lot so that's all that matters!

It's nice to be back home for a couple days. I will be heading out again on Wednesday to attend the career fair at the University of Houston then straight to Indianapolis for the National NSMH Conference. Looking forward to seeing everyone!

Hospitality to the Core

2010-02-05T16:09:00.006-06:00

Campus recruitment started back up last week. My first two trips were to Denver and I can't tell you how much I love Colorado. Colorado isn't bitterly cold like Chicago and instead of constant grey during the winter the sun actually comes out! Not to mention the mountains are gorgeous and I love the laid back vibe.

My first trip was to University of Denver. I checked into the Hyatt Regency Denver Convention Center late afternoon and settled into my enormous suite! They really spoiled me this time, which is totally unnecessary, but hey, I'll take it! :). Honestly, I thought they accidentally gave me Dave's room. Dave Phillips, an alum of University of Denver and current SVP of the Southeast region, was flying in from Atlanta to join me on campus. My first evening in town I headed to campus to attend the Employer Welcome Reception. I was able to catch up with DU faculty and spend some time with students making Valentine's cards for "Meals on Wheels".

The following day Dave and I headed to campus to meet with the Dean and Faculty at the Daniels College of Business. Now, I've been to campus many times but never to the Daniels College of Business so of course we got a little lost. We eventually found our way and after the meeting we headed over to the HRTM school for the career fair. Joining Dave and I were Todd Jaffee and Candace Carpio from the Hyatt Tech Center as well as Paula Veith from the Hyatt Regency Denver Convention Center. It was great having everyone there especially having been by myself for almost all of my trips last semester. I'm not sure if the booths next to us enjoyed it as much as I did since we were spilling over into their space, sorry neighbors! Todd brought green apples to display on our table at the career fair. This is something you will see all over at the Hyatt Corporate Office, the Hyatt Center. Todd said he wanted to add a little color to our table but most of all brought it so students knew that Hyatt has "hospitality to the core!".

After the career fair, Dave and I along with our Hyatt Campus Ambassador, Chris Griffiths, conducted the info session. We had a great turn out and scheduled interviews for the following day. Tom Mailhiot from Hyatt Regency Denver joined me for interviews and after we headed out for a bite to eat. On the way to the restuarant my heel broke! Luckily it happened after all the campus events were over and I just had to get back to the airport. I have now learned to always bring an extra pair of dress shoes with me. :)

This past week I flew back to Denver to visit Colorado State University in Fort Collins. Todd joined me at CSU as well and brought Alexandra Buck from his office and of course the green apples! Also joining us was Janell Peterson, HR Director at the Grand Hyatt Denver, who I also like to call the "Mayor of CSU" due to her amazing relationship with the faculty and students. Everyone in Fort Collins knows her! We had a good time at the career fair and met a lot of great students. Following the fair we conducted the information session and scheduled interviews for the following day. Of course the night wasn't over because a trip to Fort Collins means a trip to Woody's for the pizza buffet! YUM!

Thanks to all for making my first 2 trips back to campus successful but most importantly, fun! Next week I'm off to the east coast, hopefully the winter storm brewing will be cleared out by then. Wish me luck!

Kick Start Your Career with Hyatt

2010-01-28T16:55:00.007-06:00

Hyatt offers many avenues to become part of the Hyatt family. As a college student, you have the opportunity to participate in many of our college programs. If your desire is to become a Manager, Executive Manager, Sous Chef or even a General Manager we have the right path for you. It begins with a Corporate Internship at one of our Hyatt properties in N. America, then the possibility of becoming a Hyatt Ambassador on your campus and finally a Corporate Management Trainee upon your graduation. But, don't take our word for it; hear it straight from one of our Hyatt Ambassadors, Justin Wusinich at Temple University who is headed in the right direction towards an exciting career with Hyatt.

"Leaving my comfort zone for the first time in my life, last summer I traveled across the country by myself to complete my junior internship at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa on Del Monte Golf Course. As a Rooms Division intern I had the chance to rotate between Front Desk, Reservations, Guest Services, Housekeeping and the Catering Dept. Sales Blitz. Throughout my summer I not only grew professionally, but personally. My first hotel experience, I gained the knowledge and skills that now give me the ability to succeed in the hospitality industry. Being the youngest intern and only one without previous hotel experience, I had the opportunity to gain much from my fellow managers, interns and associates. I also had much to offer from what I have learned in class and volunteering time within the hospitality industry. The largest benefit I gained from my experience was my position as both an employee and manager/supervisor. This gave me an insight to the needs from both perspectives. Last, I did not expect to take away not only professional contacts but close friendships and mentors with my managers and the other five interns at the property. Completing this internship has opened up many opportunities after returning to school. It has also given me a foundation and security of knowing where I belong and what I want to do as my career.

Having the opportunity to be a Hyatt Campus Ambassador, I get to take on the role that I am passionate about...getting others interested in what I have had the chance to experience. Being an Ambassador has let me use my creativity and professionalism to help the College Relations Team when they are not on campus. Hosting events such as Stop By and Say HY/ATT Speakman Hall and a pre-NSMH Nationals Conference event titled, Mocktails with Mock Interviews, were all planned and executed by myself and sponsored by Hyatt. One of the best parts about being an Ambassador is being a friendly and familiar face on campus gives students a reference in case they have questions and are interested in what Hyatt has to offer students. Hyatt’s student set up for success attitude and building a vision from Intern to Ambassador to C.M.T and on, gives students a career map that they can set for themselves. I am the only student hospitality corporate representative at Temple University’s School of Tourism & Hospitality Management that gives me an upper hand in gaining student interest.
Hyatt has thus far given me the motivation and encouragement to succeed while in school and has offered many benefits to working hard. Not a day goes by that I do not talk about either Hyatt or my internship in Monterey. Every time I mention or think Hyatt an overwhelming excitement comes across me and I am more than excited to find out my next step with the company after graduation. I guess you can say I definitely have been HYATTized."

Justin Wusinich

Hyatt Ambassador Temple University

Browse Hyatt jobs opportunities worldwide on your mobile device.

2010-01-27T14:14:00.007-06:00

The number of internet enabled devices and the amount of time users spend on the internet with their phones continues to increase significantly. Now potential Hyatt employees can view our career site on their mobile phone and even search for jobs across the globe. The features of this mobile version of our career site include:

Search for jobs: A very simple user interface gives potential applicants the ability to search for jobs by position or location.

View Hyatt videos: Users can view Hyatt's mobile YouTube channel featuring Hyatt's recruiting related videos.

Send your resume or CV: With the touch of a button a user can upload their resume of CV into our application database.

Network with Hyatt (social media): users now have the ability to interact with Hyatt recruiters and employees through LinkenIn, Facebook, Twitter and our recruiting blog.

Languages: Our mobile career site is available in 12 languages, including: French, English, Russian, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Italian, Korean, Turkish, Japanese, Thai and German.

Our mobile career site is designed to work well with all brands of internet enabled phones. Try visiting explorehyatt.jobs on your phone and browse the site for yourself.

Hyatt Ambassador Scholarship

2010-01-15T11:08:00.003-06:00

Hyatt’s College Recruiters are extremley excited to announce the latest recipients of Hyatt’s Ambassador Scholarship. Hyatt’s Ambassadors work extremely hard each and every semester talking about their intern experiences with Hyatt, promoting Hyatt on their campus’ and supporting our College Recuiters in many facets. They are truly superstars! For example, many of the Ambassadors hold information sessions prior to our recruiters’ arrival. During these sessions they discuss what makes Hyatt different from our competitors, conduct mock interviews and showcase their enthusiasm and passion for Hyatt. During finals week our ambassadors have made goodie bags tied with Hyatt business cards and passed them out, in addition to holding pizza nights sponsored by Hyatt to study together. Many student tours of our properties have taken place led by our Ambassadors. Our Ambassadors are speaking regularly in classes, clubs, and organizations on campus promoting our opportunities. These initiatives have truly showcased the popularity of Hyatt as we continue to see an increase of interested candidates for our CMT and Internship programs. The program alone has become extremely competitive on each campus due to the admired status of the Ambassador and the high honor in achievement.

In addition to the scholarship opportunity, a Hyatt Ambassador gets discounted Hyatt rooms, service honored from internship, premium salary as a future management trainee, priority placement in CMT program and location options for program.

This year’s $1000 scholarship recipients were just announced and include:

Leanne Davidson, Ferris State University
Joseph Hayes, East Carolina University
Michelle Carruthers, University of Delaware
Nancy Qiu, University of Massachusetts
Mallory Piekarski, Purdue University
Leandra DiLorenzo, Oklahoma State University
Justin Wusinich, Temple University

We welcome these soon to be graduates to the Hyatt family as they all have CMT opportunities with Hyatt. Congratulations to all of the scholarship recipients!

6 Must Have Apps Every Job Seeker Should Have On Their iphone.

2009-12-13T20:00:00.000-06:00

We have seen a few other posts similar to this where people give their best recommendations on apps that can help you find your next job. As recruiters we have a keen interest in knowing how people find our job opportunities and recently have become big fans of the iphone. It's time to share what we think are some of the best applications for finding jobs. While there are a lot of options to choose from in Apple's app store,the applications we are focusing on will uncover the largest variety of jobs and are all free.

Indeed: We find it amusing when someone tells us they found a job through Careerbuilder or Monster. Nothing against the big job boards, but if you are only looking here you are missing most of the career opportunities out there. Indeed's tag line is "One Search, All Jobs", and it's pretty much true. Indeed searches the web for jobs posted on company career sites and job boards so that you can find just about any job that is being posted. itunes link

Linkedin: We will have to post a separate article about the importance of creating a network and your own personal brand. Check out Dan Schawbel's Personal Branding Blog, great articles and advice here. Linkedin is often refereed to as the business lunch of social networking, and like other social networking sites, you need to keep in contact with your network. This is a social network that is the primary focus of many recruiters. The Linkedin application for iphone is a great way to stay connected and expand your network. itunes link

Twitter: We know Twitter isn't designed as a job database, but we also know that quite a few companies are finally getting on board with Twitter and recruiters are diving into the network in a big way. There are also several services such as Tweetmyjobs now tweeting job opportunities as they become available. Most importantly, Twitter may be one of the best ways to get some personal attention from a company recruiter. This how to article from Mashable, How to find a job on Twitter, is a great resource. Try tweeting that you are interested in working for one of the 50 companies listed in this article and you may be surprised how quickly you are contacted, Top 50 recruiters on twitter. Tweetdeck itunes link

mjob: mjob is an incredibly simple app, and that is what we like about it. mjob database comes from a group of employeers named DirectEmployers. DirectEmployers posts jobs on behalf of member companies so the jobs you see here come straight from the companies themselves. Not only can you quickly search this job data base but with a simple click the application will email you any job that you are interested in. We love mobile devices but applying for a job on one could be a bit futile. itunes link

Facebook: Yes, we know you have an account and this was probably one of the first applications you installed. The reason we like facebook as a tool for finding jobs is very similar to the benefits of using twitter. Many companies now have fan pages dedicated to their talent acquisition efforts, Hyatt Careers fan page. These fan pages can tell you a lot about the culture of companies you may be interested in working with as well as give you the capability of connecting directly with current employees and the recruiters that manage these pages. Become a fan and start connecting. itunes link

Gist: Gist descibes themselves as an online service that helps you build stronger relationships. By connecting your inbox to the web, you get business-critical information about key people and companies. What we love about Gist is that is connects you to the most popular social networks and your own contacts. A great way to follow what's happening with the people that you want to follow or work with. This service is still in beta but we think it has a lot of potential. itunes link

We hope you find these 6 free iphone applications helpful with your job search. They can help you find the job your looking for and connect with the right people. If you are interested in connecting with us at Hyatt you can so on Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin and YouTube.

Hyatt's Corporate Staffing team hits up the lanes

2009-12-11T10:04:00.005-06:00

It's that time of year when the Corporate Staffing department plans an outing to celebrate the holidays as a team. Every year we discuss what we want to do and every year we end up bowling. So we are no longer in denial and have decided that this is really our Annual Holiday bowling outing. We even got real bowling shirts to prove it! This year we headed to Lucky Strike Lanes, in downtown Chicago, and had a blast! The entire Staffing team was there: Randy Goldberg, Kristy Seidel, Susan Schafer, Amanda Anderson, Michelle Schroeder, Kiel Sanders, Brook Luedke, Cassandra Hale and myself. Sal Mendoza from Diversity joined us in the fun because we feel he is truly part of our team. We had a great time bowling, eating, drinking and reflecting on the past year. What a great way to kick off the holiday season!

We wish all of you a wonderful holiday season as well and look forward to seeing you in the new year!

Around the World and Back Again!

2009-11-11T20:38:00.007-06:00

It feels like its been forever since I've wrote anything and I want to apologize to my Ambassadors who have been calling me and reminding me there still isn't a blog from me...this goes out to all of you!

This semester started off with a bang and it was one school and then another. After I left Purdue I went to Ferris State in Big Rapids, MI, then to Oklahoma State in Stillwater, OK, then to Washington State in Pullman, WA; then to UNLV in Vegas; then to UW Stout in Menomonie, WI; then this past week to Johnson & Wales Miami. Its been a long few months of great traveling and meeting some great students around the country. Heres just a few highlights from my trips...

At Ferris I was very happy to have Ted Lorenzi, Director of Engineering at the corp. office join me at the Career Fair and the information session. In addition, Leanne Davidson our Ambassador at Ferris joined us for the 5 hour Career Fair and assisted at the session as well. It was funny; because if you haven't done many career fairs before and then you do a 5 hour one it really gets you and at the beginning of the day Ted wanted to drive to Grand Rapids for dinner and by the end of the Career Fair he said 'lets just grab a bite somewhere around here.' He and I were both exhausted but had met many outstanding students. We took Leanne out to dinner with us and we all shared an order of 'escargot'; it was Leanne's and my first time ever eating it and lets just say it will probably be the last for both of us. Ted and I interviewed together the following day and we had a great group of students!

Then it was off to my alma mater OSU in Stillwater. Its always great heading back to OSU and this time it was Homecoming week and the festivities are amazing. Its the #2 ranked homecoming in the country and I was able to see all the beautiful house decks and signs all around campus. When I arrived at OSU I spoke to a seminar class about my experiences and I shared my Top 10 things I wish I would have known back then, from a recruiters standpoint of course. (I will have to share them on another blog). The class was great and my ambassador Leandra DiLorenzo showed up which was unexpected as she didn't think she could make it; Thanks Leandra! After the class we had our infosession and then went to my favorite pizza place 'Hideaway Pizza' which is a landmark for pizza lovers and always a hit during homecoming. The Paradise Pie pizza was out of this world and you know how I love eating pizza. The folllowing day I had around 10 interviews and overall it was a successful trip to OSU. It was off for a weekend with my family in between trips before off to my next school on Monday.

After the weekend I was on my way to WSU. Its not an easy travel day as I started out around 12 noon and arrived in Pullman WA. around 11PM their time. I did use an upgrade which was the best decision I had made all day. Wine, Nuts, Shrimp Cocktail, Ravioli, and Heath Ice Cream topped off my whole trip. I think everyone should fly first class at least once in their lifetime! It was a long day of traveling but I always enjoy going to the Pullman airport. It was to my disfortune that I didn't see the Pullman cat at the airport; I hope its doing well as its been 2 times in a row. The following day Kathryn Barajas (HR Director) and Hennings Noper (Rooms Exec.) from the Grand Hyatt Seattle joined me for the Hyatt Information Session. We were a little disappointed to see only 15 people show up for our infosession but having both of them participate in the presentation was exciting and made it fresh for me. The following day we interviewed around 10 students as well and Hennings informed me at the end of the day that it was a hard days work! Interviewing can sometimes become exhausting when you have one right after another for the entire day. After Interviews I headed to the place on campus where you can buy some of the best WSU cheese I have ever tasted. It comes in a large can and of course I bought two large cans. One was the famous Cougar Gold cheese and then I bought the Cougar Fire cheese. Its so delicious and I am still only have way through the first can. Since the flights out of Pullman are only 2 times a day and it really depends on the fog I had to wait till the following morning to head back to Seattle then on my way home to Chicago.

The next trip was off to sunny UNLV and its always a fast trip to UNLV. It was a fast trip to Vegas and normally I take some time to visit a Casino but I never win anything so I saved this time and enjoyed some extra R&R at the Hyatt Place Vegas. Its a great hotel and the best part is its right across the street from the UNLV campus! The career fair was a long 5 hours as well and Jaclynne Fortney our UNLV Ambassador was a trooper and stayed the whole time. The infosession was great and we had a very engaged audience with lots of questions and involvement. By the time we finished our Career Fair and Infosession with Q&A it was almost 8 PM and Jaclynne and I were ready for sleep. So, we said our goodbyes and then the following morning I finished up all the interviews early. Just as I finished around 2PM I received notification that my flight was cancelled. I was worried but when I called I had been booked on an earlier flight leaving Vegas in exactly an hour from then. I honestly rushed to the airport so quickly checked in to find out that the flight I was booked on was now delayed another 2 hours. I was a little excited though because I was able to spend some time at the airport slots and you know no one ever wins. I put $5 in and then left the machine with $20 and a gentlemen sat down on the same machine and what do you know...it went off and he won over $300! Good for him! What happens in vegas stays in Vegas...unless you're traveling with me and everything goes on the blog! haha

It was off to UW Stout in Menomonie. It started out as a beautiful morning and getting to the airport in plenty of time. Normally, I am pretty casual traveling wearing my jeans and a shirt but this trip I left in my suit because I was going to go straight to the infosession. Once I got to the airport I realized my flight was 30 min. delayed. Then it went to an hour. Then we finally boarded and once on the tarmac it was delayed another couple of hours. At this point I was worried if I would make the infosession. I called Tim Bruss our UW Stout Ambassador and told him the news. He was all prepared to make a list of students who attended and then I would call them all when I would finally arrive in Menomonie. Finally, we took off then landed at Minneapolis and I drove this great rental car to Menomonie in 45 mins. (don't try it its not safe or recommended). To my surprise Tim had the whole info session decked out with sub sandwiches, Hyatt cupcakes, candy bags, chips, fruit, water and soda everywhere! The students didn't even realize I was late as they were eating and enjoying themselves. I don't know what I would have done without Tim--Thank you! Afterwards, Tim and I needed a drink so we headed to the Stout Ale House and had some awesome cheese curds (it was my first time experiencing cheese curds) and yummy drinks. Honestly, Im not sure why I am just now trying cheese curds as I feel like they are my long lost friend with deliciousness inside! Yum! Thanks Tim for all your help!

Then this past week it was off to beautiful and HOT sunny Miami! Lots happened there and I think its good enough for its own blog so stay tuned till next week...

Ciao!

cassie

Grand Finale

2009-11-06T11:10:00.010-06:00

After the NSMH Regional Conference in Columbus I was headed to the University of Houston for a Hyatt Day. Unfortunately I missed the campus career fair that I normally attend because I was in Providence. I flew into Houston Tuesday afternoon, got my rental car and drove to the newly renovated Hyatt Regency Houston. The rooms look amazing! I had a couple minutes to change and get to campus for our info session. The info session went well, unfortunately there were not as many students in attendance as I had hoped, but it was great to see some familiar faces. After the info session I headed back to the hotel, ordered room service and watched one of my favorite shows, Biggest Loser. Ironically I am always eating when I watch that show! On Wednesday I conducted a couple interviews and was able to catch an early flight back home to Chicago.

On Friday I headed back to O'Hare to catch my flight to Philadelphia for the NSMH Northeast Regional Conference. Due to the rainy weather in Chicago I landed in Philly a little late but made it to the hotel by 7:30pm. On Saturday I participated in several panels at the conference. I was really impressed with the number of students representing the Northeast Region, 120! I was also able to catch up with some of our campus Ambassadors, Justin Wusinich from Temple University and Nancy Qiu from University of Massachusetts. The conference was held over Halloween weekend. Kristy Seidel, Manger of Recruiting, sent out a Tweet before the conference letting everyone know about our attendance and that anyone who mentioned the Tweet may get some candy. I didn't just bring candy to Philly but also my witch hat. Getting my hat into my bag was no easy task :). At the Industry Round table portion of the conference I was in my Halloween gear and passed out candy to those students who knew about the Tweet and also asked great questions. It was a lot of fun!

After the panels and Industry Round table I was able to participate again in the Open House. I joked with the other recruiters and NSMH that I was taking the PM shift. My flight home wasn't until Sunday morning so I was the only recruiter left after the round tables and stayed through dinner. It was great for me to represent and have all the students to myself. After dinner a dance party was about to break out so I snuck out. I can not dance!

On Sunday morning while I was waiting for a cab to take me to the airport I saw Spike Lee! It was really cool to see someone famous but unfortunately I became immediately dumb in his presence. For some reason I felt the need to say to him "You look familiar." Who says that? I knew exactly who he was! He looked at me strangely and then I said "Good morning!". He smiled and proceeded to walk into the hotel. The good news is I saw Spike Lee and the even better news is he will most likely never remember our interaction and will definitely not give it another thought. Hopefully next time I run into a celebrity I won't sound like such an idiot!

This past week I had my last recruiting trip of the season. On Tuesday morning I made the 4 hour drive to Michigan State. I don't know why, since I have been going to MSU for a while now, but I always forget about the time change. This of course makes me panic a bit when I realize it and arrive to Michigan an hour later than anticipated. Luckily I still had time to grab a quick bite, run to the hotel and change and make it in time to the Kellogg Center to set up for the career fair. MSU is the only school I attend that has an evening career fair. The fair is always full of employers, over 50 this time, and students, too many to count! Although I made the trip solo I was overjoyed to have the help of our MSU Hyatt Ambassador Chelsea Schroeder. The Hyatt booth had a huge line per usual which is something we are extremely grateful for. Good thing Chelsea was there to help me. She did a great job of answering questions and sharing her Hyatt experience. Thanks so much for all your help Chelsea!

After the fair we were famished and honestly needed a drink so I took Chelsea to The Post. When I recruit at MSU we always hit up The Post because it is right across from our hotel. Chelsea had never been so it was fun to bring her there to catch up and enjoy the great pizza and spirits. We had a great time!

On Wednesday morning I headed to the Spartan Football Stadium to interview. I had a full schedule starting at 8:30am and ending at 5:00pm. At lunchtime I went to one of my favorite places in East Lansing that was introduced to me by a former CMT and MSU Alum, Kate Mueller. It's called Harrison Roadhouse and is conveniently located just a couple minutes from the stadium. I'm not going to lie, sometimes it is a little depressing eating alone and this time I was feeling a little lonely so I called up my team at the Corporate Office and chatted their ears off. It never fails to make me feel better! Thanks Amanda and Kristy! After I completed interviews I jumped into my car and made the 4 hour drive home.

I'm always surprised how quickly the recruiting season goes. It was another great one and I look forward to heading back to campus again at the end of January. Thanks for reading about our recruiting adventures. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season! Until next time...

Johnson & Wales and NSMH-Midwest

2009-10-26T18:42:00.010-05:00

This past week I flew to Providence, Rhode Island to attend the Johnson & Wales career fair. It was a quick flight and a short ride to the hotel. So as I always do in Providence when I have time, I headed out to the mall for some food and a little shopping.:)

On Thursday morning, Chef Robert Daugherty, from Hyatt Regency Cambridge, picked me up at the hotel, we grabbed some coffee and headed to campus. Chef has a great relationship with the school and I always tease him that he is the mayor. It's funny when you go to a Culinary school and stand at the booth with a Chef in his or her whites, somehow you become invisible. The fair was much smaller this year but still had a great representation of employers and a lot of students. The only thing that was missing were Culinary seniors. Unfortunately they had class until almost the end of the fair. Hopefully I will get to meet them when I'm back on campus in the spring. Also helping at the fair was our Johnson & Wales Hyatt Ambassador Anna Stark. The help of Chef and Anna was truly appreciated. I don't know what I would have done without them there. Our booth was crazy packed the entire time and the 3 hours flew by. Immediately following the fair we conducted the Hyatt info session. The room we were given was really cool. It was in the Culinary Arts Museum Theater and looked like an old school diner. Definitely not like any room I've been given before. We had a good turn out at the info session and I was able to schedule several interviews with Hospitality seniors for the following day. After the info session I went back to the hotel, caught up on some work and then went back to the mall. :)

On Friday I took off on foot for the downtown campus where my interviews were scheduled. I chatted with the doorman at the hotel and he told me how to get there. Unfortunately what we both didn't know was that the address I had was the main address for the University. I proceeded to take my own campus tour and after walking into 3 buildings and looking like an idiot I ran into my first interviewee who escorted me to the right location. Thanks Daniel!

Anna met me at noon and took me to a great Providence restaurant for lunch called Tazza. The food was great and it had a very hip atmosphere. Good thing I have my Ambassadors to keep me cool! It was great to catch up with Anna and chat with her about her upcoming graduation and placement into CMT program in January.

After interviews I went back to the airport to catch my flight to Columbus. Unfortunately there aren't any direct flights, I'm so spoiled, so I flew from Providence to Cleveland then Cleveland to Columbus. I made it to the hotel in Columbus around 10:30pm. I went to bed pretty early that night because I knew I had a full day ahead of me. I was in Columbus for the Midwest Regional NSMH conference.

The turnout of both employers and students at the conference was great! The students were very professional and eager to learn from us panelists. I participated in a Networking panel called "The Dance". I joked that I signed up because I thought we were discussing "So You Think You Can Dance", one of my favorite shows! The panel was a lot of fun and we even role played to demonstrate the art of proper networking. Following the panel I had lunch with some fellow recruiters and then we were off to conduct the Industry Roundtable portion of the conference. This is a lot like doing several mini info sessions. It was great to chat with the students about Hyatt in smaller groups. I also got to see some familiar faces which is always nice. After the Industry Round Tables I participated in the last panel which allowed students to ask anything that they had not had the opportunity to ask during the conference. We were all impressed by the great questions. The group then took some photos and we ended the night with a great meal.

On Sunday morning I flew back home to Chicago. This week I am off to the University of Houston and the Northeast Regional NSMH Conference in Philadelphia. Maybe I'll have another cheese steak. :)

Phillies, Cheese steaks and Cops

2009-10-15T11:37:00.009-05:00

On Monday morning I headed to Philadelphia for my visit at Temple University. The flight was smooth and we got in early, I didn't use my segments to upgrade this time, definitely not worth it for an hour and a half flight. I got in around noon and picked up my rental, no minivan yay!, and drove to the Hyatt Regency Philadelphia at Penn's Landing. The Hyatt Info Session was scheduled at 4pm. The Hospitality school recently moved to a new building and luckily, with Brandon's help, I found it with no problem. I was very impressed when I got to Speakman Hall. The new building is very spacious and state of the art. We had a great turn out at the presentation thanks to the Temple staff and our Hyatt Ambassador Justin Wusinich!

After the presentation we headed out for some BBQ. Joining me was Rick Ridall, Brandon Mayer, Greg DeSheilds, Jeff Montague, and Justin Wusinich. It's funny because there always is a friendly debate about where we should eat. There are so many great restaurants in Philly and everyone is so passionate about food as are us College Recruiters. Despite this, we always end up at a great place and the BBQ restaurant was no exception. We had a great time at dinner chatting about Hyatt and Temple. The guys were glued to the Phillies game and their team was victorious! Way to go Phillies!

After dinner I gave Justin a ride home. I pulled into a store parking lot to drop him off and out of nowhere a police officer was behind me yelling through his loud speaker. Apparently he wasn't happy that I didn't pull into a parking space. Justin and I think he just wanted to hear himself talk on the loud speaker. Ha! Good thing is we didn't get a ticket.

On Tuesday I headed back to Speakman Hall to interview. I met some great students who are truly interested in Hyatt and the program we offer. At lunch time I was determined to find a cheese steak and Brandon took me to a spot on campus. I was impressed by the number of lunch buggies at Temple. When I was in college, at Ohio University, we had a couple of these that were very popular but the amount of choices at Temple was incredible. Apparently there is a crepe buggy that is really popular that I need to try next time. After lunch I wrapped up my interviews and headed back to the airport. It was a short trip but another great one.

Next week I am off to attend the career fair at Johnson & Wales University, RI and the Regional NSMH conference in Columbus. More adventures to come!

First Class & the Grand Canyon

2009-10-11T09:55:00.016-05:00

On Monday I headed out to recruit at Northern Arizona University. We have a great relationship with NAU and have been recruiting there for many years. NAU is the longest trip I have to make for on-campus recruitment. It's a four hour flight from Chicago to Phoenix and a 2 and a half hour drive to Flagstaff. Prior to my trip Brook and I were chatting about racking up airline miles. She told me how she used not her miles but her segments to upgrade to first class. I had no idea you could do this! So when I got to O'Hare I asked the American representative how many segments I had and how many I would need to upgrade to first class. Well little did I know I had 24 segments and only needed 3! So I flew to Arizona in style otherwise known as first class! :) Wow, what a difference the front of the plane makes. Large comfy seats, lots of leg room, free drinks, dinner and best of all warm cookies. The flight was very comfortable and the four hours flew by, no pun intended.

Once I landed in Phoenix I took the shuttle to pick up my rental car. If you've read my last couple blogs you know I was hoping for anything but a minivan. This time I was in luck. I didn't have to wait and I was given a really cute, red Pontiac Vibe. I though it was kinda funny because my vacuum cleaner and dust buster are called the Vibe too. Pretty sure those aren't made by Pontiac though.

The drive to Flagstaff was smooth and uneventful. I am however always taken aback by the change from desert to evergreens and the change in temperature from 80 degrees to 50 degrees. I made it to Flagstaff Tuesday evening, checked into the hotel and went to bed early so I would be ready to go the next morning.

On Tuesday I was scheduled to speak in three classes. My first class was at 8am and consisted of mostly freshman. Surprisingly, being an early class and a young group, the class was very engaged and asked great questions about Hyatt and the hotel industry. My second class was Senior Seminar and it was great to see a lot of familiar faces. We discussed career opportunities and everyone was geared up for the Hyatt info session later that evening. My last class was a mix of underclassmen who were studying housekeeping. I tested their knowledge and was happy to find out they had learned a lot in just the couple weeks they had been back in session.

I finished up my class visits around noon and didn't have anything scheduled until 6pm. I decided this was finally my opportunity to see the Grand Canyon. I have visited NAU many times and the Grand Canyon is only an hour and half away but unfortunately I never had enough time to make the trip. So I punched in the Grand Canyon into my GPS and off I went!

The Grand Canyon was an amazing site! Even though it was a Tuesday afternoon there were still lots of people there to check it out. I wandered around and asked strangers to take my picture, otherwise I know no one would believe I went, especially Jon Hales from NAU! I had a little over an hour to explore and then I had to head back in order to get back to campus in time for my presentation. On my way back to my car the craziest thing happened! I turned to my right and standing only a couple feet from me were a group of elks. Never in my life have I seen an elk in person. At first I was in awe and then I was scared they were going to charge me. I quickly pulled out my camera to capture the moment and then I took off!

I made it back to campus for the Hyatt info session. We had a good turn out and I was able to sign up 10 students for interviews the next day. After the presentation Jon and I went to dinner at a new Greek restaurant in town. It was great, you can never go wrong with flaming cheese!

On Wednesday I conducted interviews for the majority of the day. I was able to spend my lunch break with our NAU Hyatt Ambassador, Laura Yoccabel. It's always great to see Laura we laugh a lot. She does a great job for us on campus. Thanks Laura!

Wednesday night I was invited to attend the NAU NSMH chapter meeting. I was so impressed by the number of attendees. We talked about Hyatt, career opportunities, and the upcoming NSMH Regional Conferences. The students were excited about our involvement, as are we, and I look forward to seeing them all again.

Thursday morning I headed back to Phoenix to catch my flight home. I was able to fly first class again, I think I'm addicted, and I made it back safe and sound.

I'm heading to Temple University in Philly tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing everyone there and satisfying my cheese steak craving!

Den Pop!!!

2009-09-29T16:46:00.006-05:00

I was really excited and anxious to begin my recruiting season at Purdue University last week. Summer was great and now I was ready to hop back into recruiting mode and visit my schools. On my way to Pudue I stopped at my favortie Fair Oaks Farms to buy my Triple Scoop Mint Chocolate Chip Sundae! See, it all started last Fall on my way to Purdue when I stopped there and found out its buy one scoop get two free and then after the first lick I was sold! If you haven't been there its a must and a delicious treat. Picture this: me driving in my SUV listening to Kings of Leon and eating a 3 Scoop Waffle Cone. Life couldn't be better. :)

Once I got to Purdue I went straight to campus for our infosession. My infosession was scheduled in a different building this semester and I was not familiar with the location of the building. I called our Purdue Ambassador 'Mallory Piekarski' and she informed me it was right behind the big waterfall. Once I got to campus I went to the big waterfall and it wasn't the right building. Then, I asked a student. The student informed me it was the building by the other waterfall across campus. I walked across campus and found two more waterfalls. So, of course I asked another student on campus and she told me it was around the building by the 'big' waterfall. I laughed and followed her directions. Once I reached the big waterfall I finally found the building and called Mallory. How many waterfalls are even on the Purdue campus? I still ponder that question.

The Infosession went very well and then Mallory and I headed to the Senior Reception and then the Career Fair the following morning. We ate dinner at La Scala which was the students' idea and happened to be a delicious little Italian Restaurant. Throughout my trip at Purdue the students kept referring to the must buy 'Den Pop' at a local convenient store. On my way back to my hotel I stopped and purchased a Den Pop. Let me say....this is a fantastic idea! Its just a Large Soda Fountain but they have named their own creations of mixtures of flavors and you can get a 44oz for 75 cents. I don't remember the name of mine but it was 1/3 Coke, 1/3 Cherry Coke, and 1/3 Red Cream Soda. Need I say more...it was DELICIOUS!!! Thanks Mallory and Purdue students for introducing me to my new Den Pop addiction. I can't wait to try another one next semester.

Ciao!

A minivan? Really?

2009-09-25T08:20:00.004-05:00

The rental car saga continues. No offense to all the soccer moms out there but I wasn't very happy when I was handed keys to a minivan. I'm not sure why there is a shortage of cars lately but when I got to Buffalo, NY on Wednesday I was again told that I could wait for an hour or take a minivan. Maybe the problem is I don't have any patience. So off I went to Niagara University rolling up in a minivan! I'm hoping this doesn't become a regular occurrence.

I was very happy this trip because I was not flying solo. Paul Trudel, HR Director at the Park Hyatt Toronto, made the hour and a half drive to join me at the Hyatt Info session. Thanks so much Paul! Once again it was the Paul & Heidi show and we had a blast. I think the students get a kick out of our back and forth bantering. We were very pleased with the turnout at the info session.

Katie Finamore, Director of Experiential Opportunities at Niagara University, invited us to dinner. Paul and I of course said yes and then convinced Katie to take us to the Casino for crab legs! This has become a tradition that we are determined not to break. We also invited along Brittany Pingtella, our Hyatt Ambassador. We were excited to share the wondrous buffet with Katie and Brittany when we found out they had never been! We proceeded to stuff ourselves and had a great night. Thanks for dinner Katie!

I stayed at the newly renovated Hyatt Regency Buffalo Wednesday night. The hotel looks amazing and the associates are so proud and excited to show it off. If you have not been since the renovation I highly recommend it!

Thursday I headed back to campus for interviews. I was truly impressed by the resumes of the Niagara students. The 800 hour requirement the school has really helps set these students apart. After interviews I was off to return my minivan, thank goodness, and catch my flight back to Chicago. It was a quick trip but a great one. My next trip will be to Northern Arizona University on Monday, October 5th. Here's to hoping a really cool and smaller car is in my future.

Flying solo

2009-09-22T12:31:00.003-05:00

The College Team is back on campus! I kicked off my fall campus recruitment last week at Colorado State University. I flew into Denver on Tuesday night and headed to the rental car facility to pick up a car for my drive to Fort Collins.

Normally when I visit CSU I spend the night at the Hyatt Regency Tech Center and drive up with the HR Director, Todd Jaffee, the following morning. Janell Peterson, HR Director at Grand Hyatt Denver also typically joins us on campus. Unfortuntately this time around I was without my buddies and flying solo. You wouldn't have known it by my rental car though. Apparently there weren't any mid size cars available when I arrived so I had the option of waiting or going with a larger vehicle. Since I was antsy to get to Fort Collins I decided to go with the larger vehicle, not the best decision I've made. In my everyday life I drive a very small car so it felt like I was driving a bus! It all worked out fine and the students thought my ride was pretty cool.

On Wednesday I attended the career fair and conducted the Hyatt presentation. It was great to be back on campus and talking to students! Solo or not there was no way I wasn't going to our favorite dinner/drinks spot, Woodys. You can never go wrong with the "All you can eat" pizza bar for $7.99! On Thursday I conducted interviews and I was back on the road to Denver to catch my flight home.

This week I will be at Niagara University. I'm looking forward to seeing the Purple Eagles!

Hyatt Recognized by Businessweek Magazine as "Best Place to Launch a Career"

2009-09-22T09:18:00.003-05:00

CHICAGO (September 10, 2009) – Hyatt Hotels Corporation has been recognized on BusinessWeek’s “Best Places to Launch a Career 2009” survey, published in the September 14 issue of the magazine. The industry-leading and widely read business publication included the organization as part of its fourth-annual survey of the year’s best companies for entry-level workers. The list of 69 employers spans 14 industries and highlights best-in-class companies, non-profits and government agencies that impressed editors with feedback from career counselors, students and company-specific statistics

Chicago-based Hyatt Hotels Corporation gained its #27 position through a combination of effective intern-to-hire programs, training methods and promotional opportunities for entry-level hires into its internship and Corporate Management Training programs. As noted in the article:

■Nearly 100% of the organization’s entry-level hires into the Corporate Management Training (CMT) program have been undergraduate interns, and primarily hospitality and hotel and restaurant management majors.
■An average of $7,500 per new hire was spent on orientation and training in 2008.
■All new hires participate in a mentorship program.
■New hires into the CMT program are eligible for a raise and promotion in the first year (within five to 12 months, depending on program length).
■Additional benefits include access to health benefits (extending to same-sex partners), 401(k) plans, relocation packages, employee discounts, free meals, among others.

“We are thrilled that Hyatt Hotels & Resorts is being recognized for its ongoing efforts to attract and reward new employees,” said Randy Goldberg, Vice President of Recruiting, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts. “We work hard to create a family-like environment, in which our associates can thrive and feel proud of their accomplishments and company. Our policy to first consider our own associates when filling senior positions reflects our confidence in our training and hiring methods. The fact that 80% of our associates take advantage of these promotional opportunities indicates their satisfaction with their experience at Hyatt.”

About BusinessWeek's "Best Places to Launch a Career"
To compile the "Best Places to Launch a Career" ranking, BusinessWeek polled 60 college career services directors across the country; collected data from a survey of more than 60,000 U.S. undergrads by Universum USA, a Philadelphia research company; and required employers to submit statistics on everything from pay and benefits to training programs and retention.

LATINA Style Magazine Announces the 2009 LATINA Style 50 Report

2009-08-25T09:24:00.000-05:00

LATINA Style Magazine Announces the 2009 LATINA Style 50 Report: "50 Best Companies for Latinas to Work for in the U.S.

We do't usually post press releases here but when Hyatt is being recognized in the 50 best places to work for Latinas, we can make an exception...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- LATINA Style Magazine proudly announces the LATINA Style 50 Report for 2009. Now in its 12th year, this annual evaluation sets the standard for identifying corporations that are providing the best career opportunities for Latinas in the U.S. The LATINA Style 50 Report is the most respected evaluation of corporate America's career advancement opportunities for Latinas. This year, more than 800 of the most prominent corporations in the United States were included in the extensive search."

CHRIE Conference-San Francisco

2009-08-11T09:32:00.005-05:00

At the end of July the Hyatt Recruiting team headed to San Francisco for the CHRIE conference. CHRIE is The International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education. This organization is the global advocate of hospitality and tourism education for schools, colleges, and universities offering programs in hotel and restaurant management, foodservice management and culinary arts. The annual summer conference strives to unite educators, industry executives and associations.

Hyatt has been a part of CHRIE for many years and once again we were a proud sponsor of the annual summer conference. We were delighted to have Brigitta Witt, Hyatt Corporate Vice President of Environmental Affairs, speak at the Opening Session. Brigitta spoke about Hyatt's sustainability program and advised faculty on how to implement these ideas themselves. Our very own Randy Goldberg had the pleasure of introducing Brigitta and did so in great fashion! Check out all those ribbons!

Following the Opening Session the entire recruitment team was involved with The Marketplace. The Marketplace is like a career fair for educators. Industry representatives, associations and vendors set up booths for the CHRIE members to visit, share information, etc. This year we decided to join forces with the HIRE group (Hyatt,Marriott, Sodexo, Red Lobster) and shared a booth. We had a great time speaking with our faculty partners and enjoyed the excitement of the upcoming recruiting season.

The next day we paricipated in the The Marketplace again in the morning and then attended several sessions and committee meetings in the afternoon. For one of the sessions,"From Recent Graduates to New Hires", we were proud to have our very own recent grad and Hyatt Sales associate Lindsay Ingram on the panel. She did a great job speaking to faculty regarding what she wish she knew and what information she learned in the classroom that she was truly grateful. Thanks for respresenting for Hyatt Lindsay!

The majority of us headed back to Chicago Friday morning with the exception of Randy who attended the conference Gala. Ofcourse we did make time for some fun while we were in San Francisco too. Just outside of the Hyatt Regency San Francisco they were filming an upcoming NBC series called Trauma starring Curtis Cook and Derek Luke. It was really neat to see how much goes into shooting just a couple minutes! You really had to tear us away from watching! We also hit the town to celebrate my 30th birthday. We went to a great Italian restaurant and headed to a dueling piano bar after. Once again it was another great trip with the team.

We are all looking forward to the conference next year in Puerto Rico!

My Week with Hyatt

2009-08-04T08:17:00.009-05:00

by Colin Roche Department Chair/Assistant Professor
Johnson & Wales University, Miami

My Hyatt Faculty Internship during the third week of July was educational and fun. I spent time at two Hyatt Regency hotels in the Miami area where I learned a great deal about the modern hotel business including what has changed and what has not since I was in the industry. Please read below for a day by day summary of my week.

In the meantime, I want to thank once again everyone in the company for making my Faculty Internship with Hyatt a great experience. The first hand knowledge and valuable information I gathered at two of your properties will be very beneficial to both me and my students when I share it with them in the classroom. I specifically want to thank everyone at the Hyatt Regency Miami and the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables for giving me their valuable time and welcoming me into their hotels. Your hospitality was greatly appreciated.

Monday 7/13/09
I arrived Monday morning at the Hyatt Regency Miami where I was to spend the majority of my time. I quickly navigated my way to the Human Resources office where I was warmly greeted by the whole department. Kimberly Quigley was my main contact at the hotel and we spent the first few hours of the day together conversing and sharing information. She gave me a thorough overview of the hotel followed by a tour of the property. I also met with Kim’s Assistant that morning, Human Resources Manager Frank Kasunic, who brought me up to speed on Hyatt’s corporate management training program and the use of Hyatt’s hiring software/web page http://www.explorehyatt.jobs/.

Kim took me to lunch in the hotel’s restaurant “Riverwalk Café”. Executive Chef Michael Morris joined us and we spent the next hour talking food as we enjoyed the meal. On Kim’s recommendation, I started with the Roasted Chicken & Tortilla Soup. It was hot and delicious, and had a great at-the-table presentation.

Chef Michael has been out to the Johnson & Wales University’s North Miami campus many times for visits as well as to recruit, and he knows that he and his team have a standing invitation to come out whenever they have the chance. We also discussed the possibility of getting him into the culinary labs the next time he is out to observe a class and maybe conduct a guest lecture and/or demonstration for the students!

Maurice Vanderlinden is the Food and Beverage Director at the hotel who I met after lunch. We spent the rest of the afternoon going over various policies, forms, and reports that pertain to the food and beverage area. He also shared the many training initiatives he is facilitating with his team and I was very impressed. I quickly got the impression that Mo is not only concerned about revenue, profits and outstanding guest service, but also the well-being and continued growth of his team!

Tuesday 7/14/09
The day began early at 8:00 am shadowing the front of the house in the Riverwalk Café. Madge was my host who has been with the hotel since it opened! She shared her vast knowledge of the property with me and told me about the many dignitaries, VIP’s and US Presidents who had stayed at the hotel over the past quarter century, many who she had the honor to serve. In between the great stories, she was sure to care for all of the guests needs in the café, while making sure to stop by and visit every table and greet each guest. All of the dinning room staff that day where not only very professional, proficient and hospitable to the guests but treated me the exact same way.

My next stop was Room Service, just a quick walk into the back of the house. Julie was my host who went over the room service process, from the initial call, to closing out the check, including all of the procedures and standards that go along with it. I even went up to a room with one of the servers to see an order being delivered and to witness first hand the great service a Hyatt guest receives when they utilize in-room dining.

The Stewarding department rounded out my morning where I met with Ernesto who gave me a great tour of the back of the house while explaining the various duties and responsibilities of his department. As someone who was an Executive Chef for many years in hotels and fortunate to have worked with many great Executive Stewards, I laughed when he told me he likes to think of his biggest responsibility as “keeping the Chefs happy”.

After our meeting, it was now time to for me to grab a quick lunch in the employee cafeteria before my next appointment. The meal was good with portions that quickly had me wishing for a nap when I finished. I enjoyed watching the Human Resources flat screen television during lunch; what a great way of updating the employees on what is going on (and the safety trivia was fun as well!) Sitting in there alone as an outsider, breaking bread with the employees, I now realize reflecting back how comfortable it was, a tribute to the welcome everyone extended to me.

After lunch, I met with Sal Quintanilla from the Convention Services team, as well as Raj from Banquets. They both provided me with great information and tours of their prospective areas, showing me what is new in the industry as well as the new setup specs for Hyatt Catering and Conventions. I learned a lot from these two gentlemen and give a big thanks to them for the information they shared with me.

The day concluded with me attending Hyatt Earth training where I learned about all of the great initiatives the company is doing with environmental sustainability. I was amazed at some of the figures mentioned and I don’t think I was the only one. For example, if my notes are correct, global Hyatt purchased 46,000,000 plastic bottles last year. But since it takes about 700 years for 1 plastic bottle to decompose, Hyatt is working on ways to reduce plastic bottles of this type in all of their operations. Another fact that stood out was in 2008, global Hyatt used/consumed 6.3 billion gallons of water, enough to fill almost 10,000 Olympic sized swimming pools. Switching to water restricting shower heads and 1 gallon flush toilets are just two things Hyatt is doing to reduce this number. Some of the things I took away from the training that I can apply at home is to always fix a leaking toilet quickly (it can waste up to 198 gallons of water per day!) and to turn off computers when not in use. I have now put into action the 5 R’s (reduce, reuse, recycle, replace, and rethink) to help in the protection of our natural environment.

Wednesday 7/15/09
My day started at 8:00 am on the loading dock with Fabian Norarse the Director of Purchasing. He took me on a tour of his area as well as the various storerooms and coolers. We also went over all of the purchasing procedures including ordering software, banquet event order sheets, bid sheets, and the inventory procedures. I have to say that his area is one of the cleanest and most organized I have seen in a hotel property in a long time. You can tell Fabian and his team spend a lot of time holding it to that standard and should be very proud of their efforts. I told him I hope to be able to bring students out to visit his area when they are on property during field trips.

The rest of the day was spent in the main kitchen with the Chef and his Banquets team. I watched various banquets being prepared and plated, including watching the camaraderie and teamwork between the Chefs, Cooks and other support departments. Everyone seemed to enjoy their work and appeared to be highly qualified and professional.

The Chef and I then went to the Riverwalk Café kitchen where he expedited on the line for thirty minutes or so to get them through the busy lunch rush. I then attended a staff meeting for managers with him where I was introduced and welcomed. The unity of the employees was again evident here and I got the feeling that the hotel was like a tight community or family in many ways.

Thursday 7/16/09
On Thursday I spent the day at the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables, a beautiful Spanish inspired hotel about thirty minutes away from the downtown property. Upon arriving, I was welcomed by the Front Desk staff that then brought me to my first stop of the day, Human Resources. Martin Grabias is the Director of Human Resources and he gave me a quick overview of the hotel and then a tour.

Since I was only going to be on property for one day, I had a very tight agenda planned out for me. Everyone was ready and accommodating to all of my questions and inquiries. From the Assistant Hotel Manager to the Executive Chef, everyone gave me their undivided attention and time which I appreciated tremendously. I was also glad to see a few Johnson and Wales University graduates on staff and that they were happy and doing well. Though I had visited a distinctly different property than the Hyatt Regency Miami, it still had the same competent, professional feel in a caring hospitable service environment that I attribute to the dedicated service oriented employees working within the positive Hyatt culture.

Friday 7/17/09
I returned to the Hyatt Regency Miami and spent the entire day in the kitchen. During the AM, I spent it mainly in the Banquet kitchen where there were a few parties going out. I watched and helped with quality control on one specific hot plated lunch (I tasted the sliced espresso rubbed beef tenderloin and gave my thumbs up approval! I might have to borrow that recipe?).

After a quick lunch in the employee cafeteria (the ladies behind the line are great and always smiling), I head off to the Riverwalk Café kitchen where I will shadow the Restaurant Sous Chef, Tommy Kasperski, for the afternoon. It didn’t take long after my arrival to realize that he has a great team working with him. They communicated well together, were well prepped and could pump out the food. And once again, the front of the house team that I had shadowed just days before were doing what they do best, keeping the guest happy while making it look effortless.

I ended the day and finished my Faculty Internship with the Chef. I thanked him for allowing me access to his kitchens and staff. The insight and awareness I gained this week from not only the kitchen, but all parts of the hotel, has exposed me once again to the industry and all of the products and challenges of modern day hotel operations. This engaging on-site learning experience has been an immense benefit to me, something I will bring back to the classroom and share with my students. For that, I thank everyone with Hyatt that contributed to this opportunity and gave of your valuable time.

Hyatt's Faculty Internship Program

2009-07-07T08:25:00.017-05:00

Every summer Hyatt participates in the Faculty Internship program through I-CHRIE. The program was developed to promote awareness and enhance the educators understanding of the industry by exposing them to the products and challenges of today’s hotel operations. In turn, Hyatt intends that this offering will benefit the educators and future leaders of the hospitality industry. The Hyatt Faculty Internship is an engaging one-week learning experience comprising of on-site field experience and a final evaluation about the participants experience. This year we are happy to bring on two Faculty Interns. Please enjoy the recap below from our first Faculty Intern participant this summer.

My Experience as a Hyatt Sales & Catering Faculty Intern
by Michael O'Fallon Program Coordinator
James Madison University, College of Business

Before I began my experience as a faculty intern for Hyatt, I had one simple request. I told Heidi and the rest of the Hyatt team to “put me to work”. I had no idea they would take me seriously. When I saw my schedule, I was to start my day at 8:00 am and I wouldn’t be finished until 5:30 pm. What? I teach for a living; I don’t know what a full 9 hour day looks like. At least lunch was on the schedule; something that I can do well :)

I was to begin my first day at 8:00 am with a meeting with Michelle, the director of HR. Due to the fact that the day before my internship began it was father’s day and my wife’s and my 12 year wedding anniversary, I left for Northern Virginia at 5:00 in the morning on Monday. I gave myself three hours to get to work; plenty of time, at least I thought. Well, after fighting the traffic and screaming at the voice in my GPS system (which, according to Tom Tom the hotel was located 2 miles further down the road than it actually was – who knew that a hotel could relocate itself), I finally arrived at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City at 7:59 am. There were a couple of moments where I thought that I was going to be fired (before I even started) for being late. That would probably be a first in the history of Hyatt faculty interns.

The moment I stepped into the hotel, I knew that I was going to have a fabulous experience. I was greeted by a member of the catering team and my time as an intern began. My first day “on the job” was spent with the sales department. I have nothing but great things to say about Deidra (director of sales) and the rest of her team. During the day, each member of the team spent at least an hour with me explaining the duties and responsibilities of a sales manager. It happened to be the end of a quarter and a month, so things were a little crazy in the office. However, each sales manager treated me with kindness and respect, even when I asked the most ridiculous questions such as, “is there really a difference between sales and catering”? Once again, I was probably on the verge of being the first faculty intern ever fired in history.

I spent a good majority of the week observing (or more accurately, bothering) the banquets team. In particular, I spent many hours with Lindsay, the assistant banquet manager. By the time Friday rolled around, I am sure she was glad my time with Hyatt was over. Lindsay showed me the ropes and I have newfound respect for banquet managers. This particular department received the department of the year in 2008. Trust me, they deserve it.

I was fortunate to spend a day with two convention services managers, Jenelle and Anna. They both had an event taking place in the hotel and it was amazing to see the two of them at work. On a couple of occasions, I know that I would have lost it with a client (probably explains why I am teaching and no longer in the industry). However, Jenelle and Anna remained calm and acted professionally, even when 100+ individuals beyond the guaranteed guest count arrived for lunch on the last day of the event.

The remainder of the week was spent in meetings. I thought we had a ton of meetings in higher education. Little did I know, we don’t compare to industry :). I sat in on the daily business review meetings with the sales team, the opening day standup meetings with the catering and sales departments, the strategy meeting with the general manager, the menu readings with the food and beverage team, and the 10 day review with the food and beverage director, to name but a few. Joking aside, these meetings are extremely important and there was a purpose to each meeting (again, something we are not used to in higher education).

My internship ended with a recap of the week with the general manager, Jean-Marc, and the assistant HR director, Jill. I explained to the both of them that my experience was phenomenal. It was a chance of a lifetime opportunity and I encourage all faculty to seriously consider participating in this experience. I learned a great deal about the lodging industry in general, and the sales and catering departments in particular. I am now able to have meaningful conversations about sales and catering functions with our students at James Madison University.

I was able to spend a week with the most professional, passionate, and caring individuals I have met in the lodging industry. I thank each and every person who made this experience a reality for me. I am forever grateful.

Avoiding study hall leads to calling as a chef

2009-06-29T13:25:00.004-05:00

Hyatt's youngest executive corporate chef says many mentors took him under their wing.

While we often blog about our corporate level recruiting efforts, so much of what we do takes place by our local hotels in our local communities. This story is a great one that speaks to our community efforts at the high school level. Hyatt has been a long time supporter of Roberto Clemente High School in Chicago. Fortunately for Hyatt ,we ran into Roberto Alicea in the early 1990's. He has worked in several Hyatt locations and is now an Executive Corporate Chef.

Click the link above to read the entire story from the Chicago Tribune.

Careerbuilder takes Hyatt to the Cubs game!

2009-06-19T11:30:00.007-05:00

On Wednesday I was pleasantly surprised when my boss called and told me to get in the shower (how did she know I hadn't done that yet? :)) and put my Cubs shirt on because I was going to the game! Lucky for Brook, Jason and myself, the Hyatt individuals who were orginally invited by Careerbuilder to attend couldn't make it. So we were in! Cassie was at Impact training so she wasn't able to join us :(. I did as I was told, I have the best job, and got over to the field. Little did we know, Careerbuilder has a suite at Wrigley! This was a first for the three of us and let me say, it is not a bad way to watch the game! We had a blast eating endless hot dogs and savoring frosty beverages with such great company. Unfortunately the Cubs didn't win but it was an amazing day. Thank you Careerbuilder!!

Does Hyatt Stand Out?

2009-06-10T08:53:00.002-05:00

We do! Many of us are faced with cutting cost and showing value during this tough environment. The Human Resources team is no exception and many cost savings measures have been implemented, while we continue to pursue initiatives that support the values, goals and mission of Hyatt. When these initiatives go well, it’s great to be recognized and stand out. Recently, three separate trade publications picked up on a few that the team is particularly proud of.

HRO Today magazine released a Case Study called “Attracting College Grads with Tech Driven Tools”. In this study, Randy Goldberg, VP of Recruiting, talked about how Hyatt is embracing emerging technology to attract talent. The article focused on the Corporate Management Training program, however the recruiting efforts are reaching a larger audience. Hyatt is attracting talent by using methods that are most comfortable and used more often. We have really re-worked the way we use our applicant tracking system, Taleo, to streamline our application, interviewing and offer process. In addition, social media platforms have been a real treat to tackle. Text messaging on college campuses has eliminated all paper and promotional giveaways. A “win” for our pocket book and the environment. For more on our efforts (Facebook, YouTube, and the Ning group), read the full Case Study by clicking here: http://www.hrotoday.com/content/3706/attracting-college-grads-technology-driven-tools#comment-form

Last month, Talent Management highlighted Hyatt’s successful management of leveraging tax credits to bring in additional revenue. Hyatt can earn tax credit for hiring individuals that have been designated by the federal, state or local government as tax eligible groups. Credit may be collected based on location, community or individual history. In addition, these efforts really show that Hyatt is investing in the surrounding community and local environment. The success of Hyatt’s tax credit program is largely attributed to each hotel ensuring that every single person hired is screened and processed. Hyatt has earned over $14 million dollars in the past 5 years. Read the full article by clicking here: http://www.talentmgt.com/departments/application/2009/May/942/index.php

And finally, the Chief Learning Officer publication printed an article called “Partnering with Operations”. As quoted in the article by Christy Sinnott, VP of Learning and Development, “Corporate learning cannot exist on its own, as its success depends on collaboration with the business.” In this article Christy describes how her team collaborates on their training efforts with Hyatt’s North America Operations departments, in order to deliver relevant and efficient programs to our hotels. The Learning and Development team and Operations have done a fantastic jobs working to improve guest service. The article really articulates this and speaks that to remain competitive; this partnership will and must never stop. The Learning and Development team and Operations are continuously analyzing, evolving and progressing into new areas. Has the partnership paid off? You bet! Service scores hit 67% in Q1 even in current environment . Click here for the full story: http://www.clomedia.com/profile/2009/May/2630/index.php

Life as a Hyatt Ambassador

2009-06-02T16:06:00.003-05:00

Every summer the Corporate Recruiting team places Corporate Interns around our North America properties. From these corporate interns we place, we have students self elect to be a Hyatt Ambassador and go through an interview/selection process by the hotel and college team. We will select an Ambassador to represent Hyatt at their school and promote their experiences as a Corporate Intern. As an Ambassador they get discounted Hyatt rooms, service honored from internship, premium salary as a future management trainee, priority placement in the CMT program and location options, Hyatt business cards / resume boosting experience, contacts of future hospitality leaders, and an opportunity to apply for a $1000 scholarship. This year we awarded five $1000 scholarships to our Hyatt Ambassadors who went above and beyond their scope of duty. This year our $1000 Scholarship Recipients were Alanna Kirwan from Mercyhurst College, Whitney Burns from Oklahoma State University, Matt Cousino from Michigan State University, Leslie Plott from Virginia Tech and Samantha Konner from San Diego State University.
We have asked Whitney Burns, the Oklahoma State University Hyatt Ambassador, scholarship winner, and future Catering CMT at Hyatt Regency Century Plaza to give us insight into the Ambassador program in her own words.

Life as a Hyatt Ambassador
By: Whitney Burns, Oklahoma State University

When I first heard about the Hyatt Ambassador program at the end of my Hyatt Corporate Internship, I honestly didn’t know what to expect. Questions raced through my head, like “What might be expected of me? Will students actually respond to a company’s ambassador? How much time will I need to devote to this?” All I knew was Hyatt had given me a great experience over the summer and I wanted to share those experiences with as many other internship/job seeking students as possible. The Ambassador program seemed like the perfect way to go about spreading what I now refer to as “the Hyatt buzz” and I jumped on the opportunity.
After a year of serving as a Hyatt Ambassador, I have great answers to those questions that initially popped into my head. I found that my main purpose was to be a resource to the students on my campus. It was my job to promote Hyatt on campus in an informal, inviting, fun setting where students could show up in their hoodies and flip flops and ask me any questions they might have. It felt so great when other students would come to me, knowing I was someone who would gladly sit down with them over a one on one lunch to talk about my internship experience. To be entirely honest, I wasn’t required to devote a staggering amount of time to this program, but just enough for people to realize how passionate I am about Hyatt and continue to spread the ‘buzz’ about Hyatt. I dedicated myself to this program just enough for my professors and fellow students to understand how one company changed my life enough in only one summer for me to voluntarily spread the word to everyone around me. It is a great program; it is one I am thankful had been available to me and one that I am proud to have been a part of.

Hyatt is a Dream Employer

2009-05-27T10:59:00.002-05:00

BusinessWeek released the Universum USA's annual ranking of the “Most Desirable Employers” list last week. A survey was completed by undergraduate students from December 2008 through April 2009. Almost 61,000 students completed the survey representing 227 schools. They were asked to rank their top 5 companies to work for by category. The survey results identify the most attractive and ideal employers. We are extremely proud to announce that Hyatt is ranked #64 on this highly regarded list.

Click here for the Top 100 list = http://bwnt.businessweek.com/interactive_reports/most_desirable_employers/index.asp

Click here for the BusinessWeek article= http://www.businessweek.com/managing/content/may2009/ca20090518_135713.htm

HIRE Reception at the Sears Tower

2009-05-20T10:24:00.016-05:00

This past Sunday evening you could find the Hyatt Recruiting team at the Metropolitan Club on the 67th floor of the Sears Tower. We were there not only enjoying the amazing views and food & beverage but we were in the company of our HIRE and university partners.

HIRE is a collaborative partnership between Hyatt, Marriott, Red Lobster and Sodexo focused on increasing diversity in the hospitality industry. By working together, in a non-competitive environment, these four companies leverage talent and resources to sponsor and support our industry in various ways such as funding of scholarships, support to hospitality and/or collegiate organizations and by hosting industry events.

For the past nine years the HIRE group has hosted a reception in conjunction with the National Restaurant Association's Restaurant Hotel-Motel Show in Chicago. This event has been held at Navy Pier, The Planetarium, and for the past two years, the Sears Tower. The reception is a great way for all of us to come together while everyone is in town for the show.

Once again the event was a success! We enjoyed catching up with our partners as well as meeting new students. We are looking forward to hosting this event again next year and for many years to come. We wish all of our partners the best this summer!

The HIRE group was featured in the Nation's Restaurant News, to read the article click here http://www.nrn.com/article.aspx?id=366944#

Join the Hyatt Recruiters and Go Green!

2009-04-24T14:09:00.003-05:00

Earlier this week the 3 Hyatt Recruiters: Brook Luedke, Heidi Radakovich, and Cassie Hale all had the opportunity to go see the Oprah Show! Of course, anytime us 3 can hang out together we are all in and this time wasn't any different except of course we went to see Oprah which doesn't happen everyday.

The great thing was it was a live show and it was 'Earth Day!' Oprah discussed some going green initiatives that you can do at home to help save the planet and money. It was truly a great show! Afterwards, we were all discussing over lunch how much we really do waste each day. Each of us had a togo box from lunch and of course the restaurant was going to give it to us in plastic bags. We took the initiative and used our 'green recycled bags' we received from the show and put our goodies in there. It made us realize what great initiatives and strategies Hyatt has taken towards sustainability and continuing to save our environment.

Each of our hotels have a green team to assist in promoting green efforts and taking the initiative to continue our sustainability efforts. “Hyatt is committed to fostering a culture of environmental consciousness among our
employees and this training is an important step toward that goal,” said Mark
Hoplamazian, president and chief executive officer, Global Hyatt Corporation. It's about making a conscious effort to minimize our waste and energy use within the hotels while continuing to provide authentic service to each and every guest. In the corporate office we do not use any plastics, paper plates; and each desk contains a separate recycle bin to use. Our new training efforts at each of our hotels will provide the educational foundation to our employees to even further our efforts. It is important that each individual be properly educated on the fundamentals of waste, energy use, and our overall awareness of waste.

Brook, Heidi and myself are each taking our own initiatives to further our efforts in our homes. Making our own household cleaners, recycling, no bottled water, and eliminating plastic bag usage are just a few. Each of us can make a difference everyday and help save our planet. The next time you go to grab a bottled water think twice; make Earth day everyday!

Enjoy the weekend!

HYATT HOTELS & RESORTS LAUNCHES GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL TRAINING PROGRAM TO CELEBRATE EARTH DAY 2009

2009-04-22T09:39:00.003-05:00

We don't typically post our press releases on our blog, but this was one that we really wanted to share. While going green is all the rage these days, the hotel industry has some real opportunities. We are thrilled to see our company taking some great steps towards really making a difference.
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CHICAGO (April 21, 2009) – Hyatt Hotels & Resorts is launching a proprietary worldwide training program to teach employees additional ways to reduce their environmental impact in hotels and in their own homes. The training program focuses on the following areas, which align with Hyatt’s overarching environmental mission to minimize:

• Carbon emissions and other harmful pollutants
• Waste
• Energy consumption
• Water consumption

“Hyatt is committed to fostering a culture of environmental consciousness among our employees and this training is an important step toward that goal,” said Mark Hoplamazian, president and chief executive officer, Global Hyatt Corporation. “Across countries and cultures, members of the Hyatt family have embraced various environmental initiatives. We’re confident this training will provide additional tools to support efforts to continue minimizing the company’s impact on the environment while providing great service to our guests.”

Hyatt’s vice president of environmental affairs, Brigitta Witt, developed the training program in conjunction with noted environmental consultant Sustainability Partners, whose clients include Starbucks, Nike and the United States Army.
The training, beginning today, will be conducted by Hyatt Green Teams, which are in place at every full-service hotel. These cross-functional teams include representatives from every hotel division and are dedicated to local execution of Hyatt’s companywide sustainability initiatives. During this training, which will be localized for every hotel, employees will learn more about what steps they can take to decrease consumption of valuable resources in their daily tasks without compromising the Hyatt experience for guests or fellow associates.

“Our employees are the most critical part in achieving our sustainability goals and this comprehensive, interactive training provides the knowledge they need to take immediate action and recognize innovative ways to make our processes even better in the future,” said Witt. “In our experience, harnessing the power of employees is key to successful corporate sustainability initiatives that have real impact,” said Dr. Brian Nattrass, Sustainability Partners. “Cultivating awareness and understanding empowers employees to make the right environmental choices consistently at work and at home.”
For additional information on Hyatt’s sustainability efforts, please visit www.hyattpressroom.com.

About Global Hyatt Corporation Global Hyatt Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is one of the world’s premier hotel companies. The hotels owned, operated, managed or franchised by its subsidiaries provide authentic hospitality to guests in 44 countries through a passionate commitment to personalized service, cultural relevance, and the environment. Global Hyatt subsidiaries own, operate, manage or franchise more than 370 hotels and resorts worldwide under the Hyatt®, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt Resorts™, Grand Hyatt®, Park Hyatt®, Hyatt Place®, Hyatt Summerfield Suites® and Andaz™ brands with additional properties under development on five continents. Global Hyatt Corporation is also the owner of Hyatt Vacation Ownership, Inc., operator of Hyatt Vacation Club®. The success of Global Hyatt is driven by the commitment and energy of the thousands of men and women around the world who provide exceptional service to hotel guests. From the U.S. and Canada, reservations for any Hyatt hotel worldwide may be obtained by calling 1-800-233-1234 or visiting www.hyatt.com.

Service to our guest using Twitter? Hyatt comes through….(Part 2 of 2)

2009-04-08T09:08:00.003-05:00

I previously described social media/networking as a scary “viral monster” and I stand by that, because it is. But in many cases the “monster” can take on a positive form, like “Sully” from Monsters Inc. or “Gigantica” from the new Monsters vs. Aliens. The point is Twitter has already been used in the sense of service recovery in attempt to slow or lessen the viral spread. But it can also be used to promote service opportunities and push out positive viral messages. Starbucks recently visited our Corporate HR team in person for a tasting of their new product VIA as a result of a tweet they sent linking us to a Facebook challenge for Chicago businesses. In this case, they used this social technology to promote their new product. Here are a few Hyatt examples to demonstrate just how powerful Twitter can be.

In Part 1, I referenced the Hyatt Penn’s Landing story. To make a long story short, a guest checked into a room and the desk chair was missing. He phoned guest request to get a chair, it took a long time to arrive and it did arrive, after he went to bed- of course, right? To top it off, the chair was by no means presentable. (Let’s leave it at that.) This particular guest just happens to be a VERY active Tweeter, blogger, known author, speaker and social networking expert. Not only did a picture of the chair and his story hit Twitter, an entire blog entry about his poor experience hit the blogging circuit. His blog gets over 1000 hits a day, he has thousands of followers on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn and he just presented to over 2500 on social media. Need I say more in regards to the negative exposure, however, it was quickly turned around by Julie Coker, General Manager at Penn’s Landing and her team. The hotel did a great job in the service recovery process which included the usual efforts and with a little research, they discovered that this gentleman was due to stay at the new Hyatt Olive 8. The kicker and added touch was the amenity and personal note from Julie waiting for him in Seattle upon arrival. Soon thereafter, the avid social networker added a blog entry to thank Julie for the personal and human touch. He praised the efforts and “endorsing his voice”. In the same entry he commented on how nice the new Hyatt Olive 8 is. Bravo!

Sometimes the posts you see are quite entertaining and on occasion inappropriate. I remember a meeting attendee at the Grand Hyatt Denver posting something to this affect: “Auto flush on the toilet I used on the 37th floor Hyatt women’s restroom sounds like a creepy crying baby doll. In case you wondered”. As funny as it was, I sent it over to Janelle Peterson (the HRD) for the handoff. She later shared with me that she and her DOE did in fact visit the restroom and after a chuckle, found it to be true. The toilet was making a “crying” noise and needed attention. My gratification is responding to these tweeters and in this case it was: “Glad you mentioned this! We will send out toilet tech to rescue the crying baby!”

Above are just two examples of what’s out there on a daily basis. Also know that Hyatt has MANY fans out there that promote Hyatt or tweet their story! If they enjoy their stay and have a great experience, they love to tell their story. I can’t tell you how many people have re-lived the “Lost In Translation” movie at the Park Hyatt Tokyo. Here are a few stories of how we were able to maximize service through Twitter.

Early in our tweeting efforts we came across a gentleman in San Francisco who tweeted something to the effect of: “Hey naked man at the Hyatt in San Francisco, please close your shades.” For those who know me you won’t be surprised, I had to comment with: “Sorry about the naked man! Not sure we can control that one.” He then informs me that it’s an “occupational hazard” as he stares at our property from his office every day. He then informs me that he is staying at the Hyatt Coconut Point and from his profile I can tell he’s a marathoner. He requests longer running routes prior to his arrival. After speaking to the hotel, they emailed him directly some routes to consider during his stay.

We have also given instant restaurant and venue recommendations for many of your hotels and most recently Calgary. A guest tweeted for steak house recommendations near the Hyatt. After a short conversation with the hotel’s Concierge, I had two steak houses to her in minutes. Imagine if it was you on your handheld or pc in our Hyatt lobby. You send out the request or make comment and “BAM”, a reply! This happens frequently and they are pleasantly surprised to get a timely response.

A few individuals reach out about meeting space through Twitter. Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport received a few inquiries a while back and most recently an organization reached out through Twitter for contact information to seek meeting space in major cities. Some may find this an odd way of doing business but just last week a hospital in Detroit announced they were using twitter during surgery to train future docs by providing a step by step dictation as it’s happening. A police department in the Chicago area has begun using it to communicate police related news like road closures, traffic delays, etc. Neat stuff!I hope you get an idea of why we got “more than we bargained for”. For those still skeptical about our initiatives in social media, I’ll close by providing a few statistics of how many applications were submitted in just the first quarter from social media sources.

Facebook - 197 applications

Blog - 99 applications

LinkedIn - 77 applications

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Recruiters Tips for Staying Positive in Tough Times

2009-04-06T12:42:00.007-05:00

Susan Strayer, works in corporate HR for one of the world's best known brands, is a professional career coach, and the author of The Right Job, Right Now: The Complete Toolkit for Finding Your Perfect Career, one book for your entire career., recently reached out to us via Twitter requesting some corporate recruiter insight. She was looking for our advice regarding employment in the current economy. We were honored and happily obliged, see below. You can also view the blog on Susan's page by clicking the above title. Twitter users can follow Susan and get daily career tips at @dailycareertips

You’re about to graduate and what seems to be the worst possible scenario has happened, a bad economy. You’ve spent the past four years preparing for your future, have a loan in your name and now there are limited opportunities and a massive amount of candidates all applying for the same positions. How can you possibly stay positive?

Well, staying positive just happens to be the key to your survival. Heidi Radakovich graduated in June of 2001 only months before a horrific tragedy that affected our country and economy. All around her fellow students, colleagues and friends lost job offers or were laid off. The good news is things turned around, they always do, and it’s just a matter of time. In the meantime, it’s important to not only stay positive but be flexible.

As the 3 Hyatt College Recruiters each of us recruit at minimum 8 schools per semester, meet over 65 students at each campus and average about 20 interviews per university. Therefore, each one of us interview an average of 100 students per semester all looking for the same position. Consider this: Candidate A and B are top students, leaders within their university, involved in extracurricular activities, great experience and both have a 4.0 GPA. The difference is, Candidate A is willing to start anywhere including a Front Desk Agent because he understands that within 6 months he will have proven himself and will be promoted. Candidate B only wants an Asst. Manager position upon graduation and will only reside in Virginia. Due to Candidate A’s willingness to be flexible this candidate will most likely be chosen.

Willingness to swallow your pride and be open to entry level positions to get your foot in the door is key. Whether it is a line position or an internship, these opportunities allow you to prove yourself to the company. Most likely if you are successful in these roles you will be considered for future supervisory and management openings.

Expanding your relocation preferences is also necessary. The more open you are to relocation the more opportunities will be available to you. This can be difficult as most companies do not provide relocation for non-management roles. However, relocating on your own dime can be worth it in the end. When a candidate decides to relocate on their own because of an opportunity within the company-they are really differentiating themselves amongst their competition. Taking the initiative and taking any opportunity the company offers shows dedication and true commitment.

It is difficult for students to realize they are not just competing amongst the students in their own class or their university. Each candidate is competing amongst all students at each school with the same degree, same experiences, and for the same limited management role. Realizing there’s more than one road that leads to their desire goal is the key to obtaining their career path. Sometimes looking at the whole picture is the solution. If becoming a Rooms Director is their goal, there are at least 5 positions underneath the Managers in the Rooms division that will allow the candidate to gain more experience and create a better foundation for their future career. All of these entry level experiences will give the candidate an advantage over their competition.

Along with staying positive and being flexible under the current conditions, it is also important to network. This means creating new networks with those you have recently come into contact with, and continuing those relationships you have already made with industry leaders, professors, and peers. Many companies are using social media tools to keep you up to date with their company. Media tools such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook are a great way to learn more about companies you may be interested in. Let’s face it; sometimes it may not be just about who you know, but who knows you. If you have created a great relationship with a representative from a company, they may be the one to help you get that first interview!

If you are currently in a situation where relocating and flexibility is not an option for you, now is the time to consider making yourself a more qualified candidate for when things turn around. Develop a second language and travel to unique cultural destinations around the world to broaden your experiences. If going to graduate school is an option for you now is the time to continue your education. In addition, consider refining and developing specific skills that set you apart from another candidate.

The bottom line is, don’t let a bad economy stand in your way. Let it drive you to be more passionate about your search. Have the best resume you can, apply for as many jobs as you feel qualified for, be as positive and flexible as possible and don’t lose hope. Remember, there are many roads that you can take to achieve your goal and there is no wrong direction to begin. Things will turn around and when they do you want to be on the top of the list and on top of your game.

Beverly Hills of Miami!

2009-03-27T14:49:00.006-05:00

This week I headed to Johnson & Wales Univeristy in North Miami! I always love going to J&W because of course its in Miami. Being in Chicago for most of the winter and then traveling to Miami I am always READY! I left Tuesday afternoon and landed in Miami. When I got to the rental car agency to pick up my car they told me the lot number and I headed to the parking lot. It was the last car in the furtherst lot and to top it all off...it was an old school cadillac the size of a boat! Seriously, I put my bags down and looked around for the hidden camera of "What would you do" or something. I just laughed and thought this was a joke. I head all the way back into the rental room and went back to the agent and said "Is there any other car available I don't think that boat will do." She smiled and said let me check. The gentlemen next to her told me that its a great car because you won't be pulled over by the Miami police in that car because it isn't attractive. In response, I said: "Well, I would get pulled over for sure after I ran over every curb and probably would hit so many cars because I won't be able to see over the steering wheel." They both laughed and gave me a Honda Accord; much better! :-)

I then went to Hyatt Regency Coral Gables. Its my first time at the hotel and it truly is a hidden treasure. Its gorgeous and as Martin Grabias (HR Director at Coral Gables) and I referred to it its like the 'Beverly Hills' of Miami.

After the first night I headed to the campus bright and early to speak to several classes. I think I ended up speaking to 7 classes but I lost count after 5. I do know, that I love sharing my experiences and passion for Hyatt with as many people as possible. It is very true...if you truly LOVE what you do and it gives you the tingles in your stomach and tears of joy in your eyes then you can definitely be proud to speak about it and work is no longer work it is a passion and you just happen to get paid to do it! So, obviously after 7 classes I was still pumped and headed to our infosession. We had a great turnout and afterwards my feet were very sore. I went straight to Macy's in my fancy rental car and bought a new pair of shoes for the following day. Any excuse for a new pair of shoes is good for me! :-)

The following day I started off with a hearty breakfast and who did I run into but a previous F&B CMT who has been placed as the Asst. Restaurant Manager, Andres Barrera-Congratulations Andres and thanks for your hospitality! Martin and I went to campus early again and we were pumped up! It was a great day at campus again and we met some great students. When we finished we headed back to Coral Gables and I walked around the area. It just so happened that the annual 'Taste of Wine and Food' celebration of Coral Gables was that evening. Of course I walked to each vendor and ooohh and awww'd over everything. It was alot of fun. I lost track of time and barely made it to my 10:30PM flight...oops.

It is sad that recruitment trips are over for the semester but thank you to everyone! It was great fun as always.

Until next time...visit Beverly Hills of Miami! :-)

Spartanville

2009-03-27T12:01:00.005-05:00

This week I hit the road for Michigan State, my last recruiting trip of the semester. I left on Wednesday and had a smooth four hour drive from Chicago to East Lansing. I remembered the GPS! :)

Wednesday night myself, David French, HR Director at Hyatt Regency Dearborn, and our Corporate Ambassador, Matt Cousino conducted our campus presentation. We had a great turn out thanks to Matt and the team at MSU lead by Authella Hawks. Our flyers were prominently displayed around campus and our visit was also advertised on the flat screens!

After the presentation we went to The Post which has become our new hang out. It's located right across from the hotel and offers great bar food and drinks including chicken chunks, Matt's favorite. Last time we were there we watched Barack Obama win the Presidential election. I was hoping to catch some American Idol this time but no such luck. Apparently there are some important basketball games going on...hahaha. Good luck Spartans!

On Thursday we interviewed about 15 candidates for our internship program. After interviews I had lunch with Authella and Shelley MacMillan from The School of Hospitality Business. Thanks for lunch ladies!

I was on the road around 1:30pm and made it back to Chicago at 4:30. The ride was smooth until I hit the city and it turned into a parking lot. I made it home around 5pm so I can't complain, it could have been much worse!

This recruiting season went by so fast! It will be nice to be home for a while but I will miss my campus visits. My next excursion will be with the entire recruiting team for the CHRIE Conference in San Francisco this summer. Until next time...

Where have I been?

2009-03-22T13:35:00.004-05:00

I haven't blogged in awhile, but that doesn't mean I haven't been busy! At the end of February, I headed to State College to visit Penn State. What a great trip! Even though I was delayed getting there, it didn't matter, as I flew into State College, instead of having to drive from Harrisburg. Fifteen minutes is much better than two hours, especially when you are by yourself! I reconnected with a few students from the fall semester. I love their dedication to make sure we spent some time together again on this trip!

For those of you that know me, I LOVE sports. As I was leaving the hotel to go to the presentation, I heard the Front Office staff one the radio, saying that the basketball team had just checked out. Of course it peaked my interest, so once the students started arriving to the presentation I ask them which PSU team was playing at home....it was the Women's BBall team versus Northwestern! I was in...all of a sudden had plans for the night. It was a great game and PSU won! BTW-I am still waiting to have my picture taken with the Nittany Lion.

Next following week, I headed to the University of Massachusetts for a career fair, presentation, and interviews. A BIG thank you to John Huang for being my company ambassador and standing at the booth with me for almost the entire five hours! I truly appreciated his help! As always, I the turn out for our company presentation was great. After a full day of interviews, I headed back to Hartford, CT to catch a flight. I am still asking myself why for the past two years I flew into Boston, instead of Hartford?

Only home for two days, I headed to the University of Delaware for their career fair that always takes place on Sunday. The career fair was shortened this year to only 1 1/2 hours. I have to tell you, when I looked at the clock for the first time there was only 10 minutes left! It was crazy, but I loved every minute of it!! :) Michelle, our Corporate Ambassador, has done a great job getting the Hyatt word out! Michelle, thanks for all you are doing!

After being at U Del, I headed to San Diego State later that week. We set up our trip there a bit differently this semester, two presentations, and a special session for the Seniors. We also had Tom Jones, HRD at Mission Bay, there for hourly summer openings at his hotel. We again had a great turn out for the day, and a successful day of interviews. Samantha Konner, our Corporate Ambassador, held a presentation the week before we were on campus to build excitement. I wish I could have won one of the ITunes gift cards she was giving away. :) I am pictured here with Brian Blake, Director of Internships at SDSU, Samantha, and Rob Spooner, HRD at Manchester Grand SD.

Mercyhurst College was the destination this past week. Good old Erie, PA! I always fly into Pittsburgh, PA when going to that school, even though it takes over two hours to get there, I don't trust Erie weather enough to fly in there. One student told me that it snowed in Erie last year in May...see I told you! When I arrived in Pittsburgh and got to the tram to go to baggage claim, I was pleasantly surprised to see the following ad on the doors that open when you get on the tram. I big smile was on my face, and the camera came out. I was so proud, I instantly sent it to my entire team to show them what I had found! I once again had a great turn out to the presentation, thanks to the three CMTs I have there that will begin their programs this summer. Thanks ladies for all you do!

Well, that is where I have been over the past four weeks. I hope all my Facebook friends have enjoyed my status updates of my travels! :) My last trip is next week when I visit the Hokies of Virginia Tech.

Service to our guest using Twitter? (Part 1)

2009-03-20T16:22:00.003-05:00

That’s right! What started as a recruiting initiative and a way to communicate our employment brand and promote jobs under the alias of “hyattcareers”, has turned into so much more. (Quite frankly, it’s more than we bargained for, yet very addicting!) And as covered repeatedly in the media, we have discovered a world of potential on Twitter. Even Nightline and CNN use Twitter. Little did we know, we’d find ourselves in the middle of an un-tapped arena for a little PR, marketing, and customer service opportunities.

We define Twitter as micro-blogging and instant messaging combined. Getting your message across is not easy in just 140 characters and yet that is what it takes. It’s not about posting something once a day. The key and most important elements are to maintain presence and engage with fellow Tweeters. It is estimated that millions of people are on Twitter and after experimenting with it, we believe it.

Many of you have said “All I see are random thoughts out there. I don’t get it. Why are you doing this?” In addition to the random thoughts are those tweeters sharing information, providing advice, and getting instant news. Our original goal was to promote career opportunities and connect with potential candidates. This we do and have found many helpers on Twitter who “re-tweet’ our posts. This happens when a person likes what they see or take interest in your post. They then re-send or re-publish your message to a larger audience. Re-tweeting is good in our eyes as our messaging hits a larger audience.

You can also follow fellow tweeters or be followed. I do get a little slack as I follow John Mayer, Ashton Kutcher and Shaquille O’Neil as they are pioneers in this arena. I’m sure they wonder why “hyattcareers” is following them! Maybe they’ll stay with Hyatt more often or perhaps I should get my own alias. Many industry organizations are on Twitter and support our posts by re-tweeting and we of course support them by re-tweeting and promoting their messaging also. (For example: AHLA, hotel chatter, travelzoo, foodbevfeed, Thehotelshotel, 10best, and numerous recruiters) Excitingly, many of our Hyatt properties have started to experiment too. McCormick Place, Tamaya, and Austin, to name a few, are using Twitter. I have never met my fellow tweeter at McCormick in person, but know she was one of the first to be on board. She has taken reservations over Twitter, promoted group arrivals and city wide events. And last, we do see Hyatt employees out there on their own personal accord. They have been fun to connect with and seem happy in their roles. (Right, Hyatt Regency Austin?)

Social media/networking is also a “viral monster”. No offense to big fans of social media, but let’s be honest, simple posts and blogs can quickly turn into a high speed bullet traveling towards the company. Once it’s out there it will grow and compound super fast! I’m sure Julie Coker, General Manager at Penn’s Landing, could attest to this as she just experienced it to the extreme and made a fantastic recovery. Stay tuned for the Penn’s Landing story and keep an eye out for Part 2 where we’ll give you a few fun examples of how powerful Twitter can be. (I could write a book full of examples at this point.)

Don't forget the GPS!

2009-03-20T15:05:00.004-05:00

If I had to sum up my most recent recruiting trip in one word it would be LOST! If you know me then you know that I never claim to have a good sense of direction. I am usually spoiled on my trips because I have someone with me from the area who is nice enough to drive me around. I really should start paying more attention. This past trip I was on my own. Although I've been to Johnson & Wales many many times it didn't matter, I still got lost. I flew into Providence, RI late Wednesday afternoon. I rented a car and realized I forgot to bring my GPS, a gift from my boyfriend, probably since he's tired of giving me directions :). I left the airport with the intention of driving to the hotel. This should have taken about 15 minutes but it took me over a half hour. The next morning I was off to the career fair and don't you know it, I got lost again! I ended up in Warwick which is way out of the way! I stopped and asked for directions at a gas station. I have no shame. The guy there looked at me like I had lost my marbles but luckily knew where I needed to go. The career fair was from 10am to 3pm and as usual was jammed packed with eager students. My Ambassador, Jose Fuentes, was at the booth with me. Thanks Jose I would have been so lonely without you! Unfortunately, eventhough we met a lot of students, we were unable to find any Sophomores or Juniors interested in the internship locations we have available for the summer. Since we didn't have anyone to interview today I decided to try and fly standby on the only other nonstop flight back to Chicago with open seats. The flight left at 6:30am so I got up at 4, not a pretty sight! I finally got smart and asked for directions. There was a shuttle leaving from the hotel to the airport and the driver offered to let me follow him. Now that I can do! The airport was crazy this morning, I have never seen a longer security line and I've been to a lot of airports. The good news is I made it on the flight and was home by 10am. Next week is my last recruiting trip of the season. I will be road tripping to Michigan State. Fingers crossed for no snow!

Cooking at the Peak: Interview with Rolf Knecht of Grand Hyatt Shanghai

2009-03-18T11:01:00.001-05:00

From Suixuntong Learning in China. Listen to Rolf Knecht, Executive Sous Chef from the Grand Hyatt Shanghai.

One key definition of a great city is the diversity and quality of its restaurants. In recent years, Shanghai’s dining scene has seen a surge both in quantity and quality, thanks to a flock of talented chefs. Today, my guest is a Swiss who brought his skill and talent to refine the palette of the city. Rolf Knecht is the executive sous chef at Grand Hyatt Shanghai. In a country famous for large scale operations, Rolf faces the same: 16 restaurants, 250 chefs and 400-people functions. Where does he begin? (That’s why he signed on for the job.)

What do Philly and Miss Pacman have in common?

2009-03-16T19:43:00.006-05:00

HEIDI & ROBIN!

Let me explain. On Thursday I headed to Philadelphia for my visit to Temple University. Robin Michel, HR Director at Hyatt Morristown, AKA my partner in crime, joined me on the trip. Thursday night we conducted the campus presentation. We had a great turn out even though the students were on spring break. Thanks for your attendance Temple!

After the presentation Robin and I as well as Greg DeShields, Brandon Mayer and Jeff Montague from Temple, went to dinner at El Vez downtown. After a great meal and some margaritas, Robin and I decided it was time to go to one of our favorite Philly stomping grounds...McGlinchey's!

We LOVE McGlinchey's because it is casual, cheap, and most importantly they have Miss Pacman! I know a lot of you who read this blog are too young to have played Miss Pacman back in the day but it brings back great memories for me! My brother and I used to play at a restaurant in our neighborhood when we were little. He would beat me every time! HA!

Anyways, I was introduced to McGlinchey's during my very first and extended visit to Temple. Long story short my flight home was cancelled for two days due to an ice storm and I spent the weekend in Philly. Thankfully not only did Robin stay with me but being a Drexel alum she also showed me around town including McGlinchey's ofcourse.

I'm looking forward to another visit in the fall. Thanks for a great trip Robin!

This week I will be flying to Rhode Island to attend the Johnson & Wales career fair. More to come. :)

Lets Head to West Lafayette...PURDUE!

2009-03-11T14:05:00.003-05:00

Usually, when any of us head to campus we fly; however, if its in close proximity to Chicago we will drive. Last week I drove to the Purdue campus in West Lafayette. Its an easy 2 hour drive and I had perfect weather the whole way. When I got to campus I was given a map by the front desk agent (who will remain nameless) and when I asked for directions I was informed to take a look at the map. Well, the problem is if you know me at all there are a couple things that I admit are not my strongest points. The first one being reading maps. I've never been good at looking at them and figuring out where I need to go; especially campus maps. So, here I was wondering around Purdue University trying to find MTHW Hall. I was talking to Jessica on the phone (student at Purdue) and luckily she was able to point out directions via buildings I was around. The classroom where we had our infosession was just like the movie 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' because it was very old school. The History at Purdue is amazing. Following the interivews the next day; Eric and Clint (both Purdue Seniors) decided to take me out to Scotty's (a local favorite) to grab a bite for lunch. It was delicious and the fried pickles reminded me of Oklahoma! Afterwards we all went back to campus and I made them take a pic with me by the Big 'P'! It was awesome. Thanks Eric and Clint!

On the drive home I stopped off at Fair Oaks Farm on Hwy 65. One thing I do love is food; and of course Ice Cream. I had 3 scoops at the Fair Oaks farm of Mint Chocolate Chip on a waffle cone and let me tell you...that ice cream was the best thing since Hyatt started in '57! I was in complete heaven and cannot wait for my next trip to Purdue! :)

VEGAS! Need I say more?

2009-03-11T12:55:00.004-05:00

I recently went to UNLV for their Spring Career Expo; which is always a lot of fun and very busy. I usually take an HR Director or atleast a previous CMT who is an alumni from UNLV back with me to recruit; this time I didn't. I thought I would be ok by myself but little did I know how popular the Hyatt booth would be! :-) I mean, we are usually very busy and of course popular with the students but this year with less companies attending it was busier than ever. I took this photo of my line I had going down the career fair and wrapping around the corner. Thank you to all of you who stood in line for so long and your continued interest with Hyatt Hotels. It was great seeing all of you and thank you for attending our infosession. I went to In-N-Out burger for lunch; all of the students had suggested I go and of course I LOVED it! Thanks for the suggestion. Also, I had to have my chile relleno burrito from Roberto's Tacos which I guess is the place where the students love to eat at 3AM. I didn't care what time it was it was delicious. Until next fall at UNLV...take care Vegas!

Camp Hyatt Career Day-ROI comes 10 years later!

2009-03-09T13:31:00.014-05:00

In 1999, Adam Hickman was a young boy attending Westlake Elementary school in Westlake Village, California. It was during this school year that Adam took part in Camp Hyatt Career Day at the Hyatt Westlake. Hyatt offered the Camp Hyatt Career Day for children allowing them exposure to the hospitality industry. The 5th graders shadowed various employees in full uniform, had lunch and toured the facility.

I have often wondered about those 5th graders and if any ever made it into industry. A few weeks ago, I crossed paths with Adam at the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality Annual Conference. I was excited to hear his story and could barely believe it. Little did Adam know as a 5th grader, ten years later, he would be attending San Diego State University majoring in Hospitality and Tourism Management. Adam is currently a Junior and is looking forward to graduating next summer to begin his hospitality career. Before attending SDSU, Adam worked as a laborer and carpenter assistant on several construction projects, which just encouraged his desire to make his career in the hotel industry. Adam recently completed a summer working as a Chef at a local hotel. He also took on a number of other positions including front desk, maintenance, housekeeping, and sales where he earned the Intern of the Summer Award.

So the question is…………will Adam turn out to be a Hyatt manager? I guess time will only tell.

HIRE awards scholarship to Penn State Student

2009-03-06T09:44:00.004-06:00

You may know us individually, but do you know us as HIRE?

Joining forces to provide more opportunity for tomorrow's hospitality leaders is a group of Hospitality Industry Recruiting Executives known as HIRE. HIRE is a collaborative partnership between Hyatt, Marriott, Red Lobster and Sodexo focused on increasing diversity in the hospitality industry. The HIRE group has been working together since 2000 and the goal is to have fair representation of hospitality, restaurant and outsourcing at various industry events and to support organizations such as NSMH. By working together, in a non-competitive environment, these four companies leverage talent and resources to sponsor and support our industry in various ways such as funding of scholarships, support to hospitality and/or collegiate organizations and by hosting industry events.

The HIRE scholarship was introduced to NSMH 6 years ago. Recent recipients, Sara Quinteros-Fernandez of Penn State University (2009 and pictured above), Robin Brewster of Boston University (2008) and Aaron Solamani of Washington State University (2007) all received a $2000 scholarship.

Heading West

2009-03-05T12:32:00.005-06:00

I just got back last night from a whirlwind trip to Northern Arizona University. I left for Arizona Tuesday morning. When I woke up that morning I couldn't turn to my neck to the left, I'm guessing it's because I slept funny. Unfortunately, I'm still having that problem today leaving me laid up on the couch with my neighbors heating pad from the 1950s. You should see the pattern it's hilarioius! I shouldn't complain, I'm grateful that I can be on my couch with my lap top! It's crazy how a stiff neck can make everything a lot more difficult...drying my hair, lifting my suitcase, driving, etc. Speaking of driving, on my way to O'Hare my car started slowing down on it's own and once I made it to the airport parking lot and put it into park it died! Looks like I'll have to take my good 'ole Pontiac Sunfire, aka the silver bullet, to the shop. Last night when I got back to my car it started, phew! So back to my trip...

It's a 3 and a half hour flight from Chicago to Phoenix with an hour time change. I start getting antsy after 2 hours on the plane but I brought my People mag and a good book to keep me entertained. I got into Phoenix on time Tuesday, about 1:30 pm, got my rental car, a very cool Ford Escape Hybrid in green, and drove 2 and a half hours to Flagstaff. Although this is probably my 5th trip to NAU the drive still ceases to amaze me. I guess it's because I'm a midwest girl and we don't have desert or mountains. I think it's the coolest thing to start off in the desert and within 2 and a half hours you are seeing pine trees! Absolutely goregeous! Also, it's fun to watch the tempature gauge. In Phoenix it was 86 degrees and upon arrival in Flagstaff it was 58 degrees. Ofcourse the drive wasn't as fun as usual since I was flying solo. Normally Donna Lowell, HR Director at Hyatt Regency Scottsdale and Jana Loucks, HR Director at Hyatt Regency Lost Pines are with me but unfortunately they could not attend this time. My boss, Randy, joined me on the last trip. He'll never forget it either because I almost ran us off the road! HA! I made it to Flagstaff safe and sound and checked in to my hotel. I held an info session that evening and interviewed intern candidates the following day. I was on the road back to Phoenix by 1:30 pm Wednesday afternoon to catch my 5:30 pm flight home.
One of the highlights of the trip was having lunch with our Hyatt NAU Ambassador, Laura Yoccabel. It was good to catch up with her and celebrate her newly appointed role to the NSMH National Board.
Heading East next week to Temple University in Philadelphia. Hopefully by then I'll be able to turn to the left!

Hyatt partners with Historically Black Colleges & Universities-Hospitality Management Consortium

2009-03-04T10:53:00.008-06:00

As a way to enhance the partnership between Hyatt and the Historically Black Colleges & Universities-Hospitality Management Consortium (HBCU-HMC), Hyatt committed a grant available to HCBU-Hospitality Management Consortium universities to help their students defray costs of attending the National NSMH conference. Hyatt has partnered with the HBCU-HCM on other initiatives, but organized this opportunity as a way to reach a larger audience and allow students access to development and career opportunities with NSMH.

Because of this partnership, over 100 students representing 6 HBCU schools attended the NSMH National Conference in Greensboro, North Carolina. Participating schools included: Virginia State University, Howard University, University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, North Carolina Central University, Delaware State University and Cheyney University.

To encourage conference enthusiasm, spirit and camaraderie amongst the universities, a photo challenge was added to spice things up a bit! Students were asked to take pictures in their T-shirts in fun and unique places while traveling to the conference. The participating students shot pictures EVERYWHERE: the WAFFLE House, in a Mack truck, jumping on a bed, at rest stops, and one group re-arranged letters on a sign to spell out NSMH HU. Humm, I wonder who HU is? Feel free to join the other 7400 fans at Hyatt Hotels & Resorts Careers Facebook Fan page. Check out all the pictures from the challenge. For additional information and career opportunities with Hyatt please visit explorehyatt.jobs.

Hyatt offers kitchen training to disabled

2009-02-28T11:12:00.013-06:00

Hyatt has always been very connected to our local communities. This article speaks to our partnership with Hands on Education. If you dined at a Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa ballroom in the past two weeks, chances are Brett Myrick had a hand in preparing your food.

Myrick, 27, who is visually and hearing impaired, will become the first to graduate today from hands-on kitchen training held at the Estero resort.

Hyatt chefs serve as the teachers in Hands On Educational Services’ 100-hour training program for individuals with disabilities. Click here to read the full article.http://news-press.com/article/20090227/BUSINESS/90226080.

You can also watch the short video below about our partnership. If you are a recruiter, looking for loyal dedicated employees, this could be a great source of applicants.