I was born and raised in Siberia (Russia). I studied in linguistic gymnasium and then went to Kuzbass State University, major Social Service and Tourism. I moved to USA 4.5 years ago.

As for now, I am currently working in hospitality management, but not in the field I want. I feel myself lucky because for 3 years I worked for one of the best hospitality group in New York City and it made me very proficient in networking, developed my organizational skills, and helped me to understand market and trends. After trying myself in nightlife and restaurant business, I have decided that now it is a perfect time to get an additional education in my major and try myself in the hotel management. Talking about the departments in hotel, I see myself as a Guest Service Agent or Concierge. In this assignment, I will mostly review Concierge as my potential career choice.

After considering all my options of continuing education and different institutions in New York City area, I made my choice towards New York City College of Technology. Founded in 1947, the Hospitality Management Department offers two internationally recognized degree programs for men and women seeking professional preparation for careers in Hospitality Management: a two-year lower-level program leading to the associate in applied science (AAS) degree; a four-year program leading to the bachelor of technology (BTech) degree. Students benefit from studying in small classes under the guidance of professional, industry-oriented faculty and learning in industry-standard facilities.

New York City is an unlimited resource to further enhance the dynamic and diversified course offerings. Students have opportunity to volunteer their time to enrich the department, the College and the community. College’s electives allow students to choose an area of focus and explore the multi-faceted world of hospitality management. The bachelor degree in Hospitality Management is an accredited program of the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration (ACPHA).

Students completing the baccalaureate degree will:

• Demonstrate enhanced technical and managerial skills within the diverse curriculum offerings of Hotel and Resort Management Culinary Arts, Pastry Arts Travel and Tourism Food and Beverage Management Career and Technology Teacher Education
• Develop an expertise within the hospitality management curriculum that will be further enhanced by courses in the College’s diverse liberal arts.
• Research, analyze and evaluate industry changes and trends incorporating local, national and global perspectives.
• Evaluate various service enterprises and the relationship between human resources management and the achievement of organizational objectives within the hospitality and services industries.
• Synthesize knowledge, teamwork, interpersonal skills and an appreciation of both classroom and workplace diversity – crucial to managing and succeeding in today’s global marketplace.

Alumni have become accomplished as executive chefs, directors of housekeeping, human resources directors, food and beverage directors, restaurant owners, and district food service managers, directors of marketing and general managers. Students interested in a teaching career may take education courses in career and technical teacher education to become licensed to teach in New York State high school culinary arts programs such as Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP).

Observing hospitality industry from the view of event planning and coordination of the best venues in New York City, had taught me a lot.

But also it showed lots of pros and cons and unprofessionalism of the curtain individuals, who got their positions because of family or connections.

Talking about concierge job as my dream career, I want to describe the definition of this job and my skills more in this paragraph. In hotels or resorts, a concierge assists guests by performing various tasks such as making restaurant reservations, booking hotels, arranging for spa services, recommending nightlife hot spots, booking transportation (limousines, airplanes, boats, etc.), coordinating porter service (luggage assistance request), procuring of tickets to special events, and assisting with various travel arrangements and tours of local attractions. Concierge also assists with sending and receiving parcels. This job not necessary requires having degree in the hospitality management, but you need to know psychology, management and be very friendly. The main skills, that need to be present in successful concierge are: networking, ability to help, ability to make a quick decisions and work in the stressful environment, strong knowledge of the city landmarks, events and dining places, great customer service skills, team work, self-motivation, organizational skills along with the excellent management skills and determined in accomplishing or exceeding set matters.

I think, I am meeting almost all required skills, which can help me get this position and grow my professional skills with time and gaining experience. Now in luxury and boutique hotels there is a new type of concierge. For VIP guest’s hotel management can provide personal concierge. Previously a line of work specific to the hotel industry, personal concierge services have evolved into hyper-individualized services across broad range of industries. From domestic help and home contracting to fitness, pets, errand running, auto care, and even pregnancy, personal concierge services can be tailored to suit any number of individual needs.

Assistants can do it, but nowadays hotel owners are bringing guest service on totally new level. It is more about one-to-one service, maximizing time for completing any request. At the start concierge is getting regular salary and bonuses. But it is very high chance of extra tipping from clients. Additionally, good concierge is getting deals from the venues he/she has business with. Extra tickets, menu tasting, presentations are only small compensations concierge can get from operating the daily tasks. Concierge services are definitely a differentiator. They’re a particularly good way to demonstrate a firm’s quality to existing clients, who will likely remember, when a planner went out of the way to help them. There is also smile management. Make client feels welcomed is one of the keys in being successful concierge.

I am very exciting to get knowledge in the field. I know that it will help me to provide better service and be more proficient at my job. Combination of already existing experience and being educated in the hospitality management will help me to achieve the desire results. I always believe in big role of education and I think, having both (international and USA) degrees will increase my chances to get to the level of management, that I am looking for. Hopefully, New York City Tech is a right school and base for this journey.

Works Cited

1. Barylski, Nicole. “Life@Night:The Surf Lodge In Mountauk Is The Hottest Spot This Weekend.” The New York Post. (August 2014).
2. Case, I. “Let Me Help You With That.” Financial Planning, 42(12) (October 2013): 67-70.
3. Elliott, H. “ For A Good Time In Montauk, Stay At The Surf Lodge.” Com, 8. (October 2012).
4. Ienna, G. “Not Just for the Hotel Industry.” Home Business Magazine: The Home-Based Entrepreneur’s Magazine, 4 (June 2014): 61.
5. New York City College of Technology (City Tech). “Hospitality Management.” New York City College of Technology College Catalog 2014-2015. Web, 20 April 2015
6. Stoessel, E. “More Than A Concierge.” Lodging Hospitality, 66 (September 2012): 35-40.

• Introduction

That was a very interesting assignment. People are always busy with their daily routine and it is very hard to stop for a moment and just start writing down what is happening with you at the moment.

In this project, I took time out of my daily thinking and put my thoughts under consideration and analysis. Watching how it can reflects my motivation and affects of my brain.

I never have daily dairy or blog (even though it is very popular in the 21st century). But I always have a daily planner, which helps me to organize my daily schedule and be aware of upcoming events. I would never write my thought down and later analyzed them if professor Ellis did not give us this assignment.

• Thinking in Writing

So, that was a day, when I woke up with “Napoleon” plans to make my dreams come true and work harder towards getting where I see myself in the near future. Analyzing even that sentence, I can tell that for the past couple od months the idea of starting the new path in my career or just growing professionally is coming to my mind almost every day. Maybe because of the age factor or because I start being around a lot of successful and ambitious people, make me realize that I need to channel my energy and knowledge towards achieving this goals. I love the fact that I wrote down that phrase: “ Starting from now for myself I need to set up priorities, things that I need to stand for and work hard every day.” It is very promising to see that I am trying to motivate myself even in my daily thoughts. I became more organized in the past few years and living away from home in such huge megapolis as New York City, gave you a lot of uncertainties and teach you every day to get up and fight for your future, your rights, your beliefs and be more faster, more aggressive, more competitive than yourself yesterday.

I don’t think that I am the kind of person who will have live journal. I am very introverted about my personal thoughts and opinions, but its quiet an interesting experience to have a chance to look up for what was on your mind at that moment, why did it bother you, why you were overthinking this particular situation or thing. It is probably will be very helpful in my self-analysis.

• Thinking Visually

1) It was Friday when I wrote my “Day of Thoughts” and I was on my way to Shabbat Dinner that evening. This picture shows material with special brachia (prayer), which covers Challah bread. I love traditions and enjoy sharing them with my friends. It was a perfect end of that day.

2) On my way back home, after thinking all day about my career path I decided that when I will get home and I will start looking for posts regarding finding jobs. While I was on the train I opened Facebook and saw this post on the page of Hospitality management group.

3) Also that day I got an e-mail with all my 1099 forms which was not the most pleasant reminder that tax season is here and its time to pay the taxes. That definitely was not a highlight of my day.

4) I got my Amazon delivery, which contained all my books for this class, and tea that I tried in my favorite French dessert place next to my house. Now it is the time to kill this long cold winter days and commutes with a good and necessary reading.

5) Maybe after reading of the first chapter of Medina or just feeling less active, I went to the gym. I love to work out and I am trying to do it more regularly plus for the former athlete it is not that complicated to stay in shape. Just all the gyms are overcrowded and I want finally jog or ride my bike in the Central Park. I do really miss spring.

6) I found this quote on somebody’s instagram and found that it is a good motivation point for me right now. There are not lot of text but there is exactly that point – time to focus!

• Thinking Reflectively

It is very hard to analyze your present. I think it is even harder to predict your own future. If somebody will ask me today to imagine say and myself back in 2010: “Where are you think you are going to be in 2015?” I will never answer…

We can only plan and work hard for our goals or just wait patiently for something might or might not happen to us. You can easily create a path in your head and lead towards what you want or take some risks and opportunities and change your path completely.

Do not forget that there is an age factor. It is getting much easier to form your goals, plan your actions, plus your experience are helping you to avoid making wrong decisions and waste your time.

I realized that my main focus is career. And in the next five years I will put more efforts in getting the position I want. To join a corporation that I am planning to work for. Finish college with good grades and follow my dreams.

Sometimes when I am analyzing where my mind was, when I was in my early teenage years, I realize that I did so many mistakes and wasted my time on the wrong jobs, with the wrong people… Timing is a very awkward thing. It can help you to recover through the problems, but sometimes it limitation can cause you stress, also sometimes the timing is just not right.

I wish I could have a time machine. Even thought, I heard many times, that it is my life experience and I should get the best out of it. Right now, time management will probably be my main goal. Right time management. I need to pay more attention on my sleeping habits because they affect my mood, productivity and health in general.

I need to create an extra time for physical activities and meetings with friends. Time for extra reading and exploring new things.