The rise of digital technology, and the subsequent increase in e-commerce activities, have led to a dramatic shift in the job market. The demand for jobs in computer science, software engineering, and data analysis continues to multiply. However, other fields are also thriving due to changing consumer habits and the adoption of digital technologies. Here is a help for you to know about the jobs available in consumer services.
Jobs available in consumer services—a broad category that includes industries such as travel, hotels, restaurants, and media—are also booming. Nearly every company needs a strong consumer services department because services are essential to any business transaction.
These roles require people who understand their customers’ needs and can meet them through personal attention (e.g., waiters, receptionists) or by creating an engaging experience (e.g., brand managers). Read on to learn more about the jobs available in consumer services and some of its subfields.
Consumer Services Basics
Before understanding the jobs available in consumer services, we have to look for the basics of consumer services. Let’s start at the beginning. The term “consumer services” refers to commercial activities that satisfy people’s needs in their daily lives—everything from buying needed goods to booking a hotel room to watching a movie on demand. Consumer services account for about one-fifth of all U.S. employment (about 50 million workers).
General Jobs Available in Consumer Services
As an industry, consumer services employs diverse people with various skills. The most common types of jobs in the sector include: ·
- Food and beverage workers — Food and beverage service workers, including waiters and waitresses, are the second-largest occupation in the U.S. economy (after office and administrative support workers).
- Lodging attendants — Lodging attendants (e.g., housekeepers, room attendants) are tasked with cleaning, disinfecting, and doing miscellaneous maintenance.
- Customer service representatives — Get in touch with customers to troubleshoot issues or provide customer service. This field surely will grow by 15% by 2026.
- Cashiers — Cashiers process payments made by customers at a checkout counter. The expected growth of this field is by 5% by 2026.
- Marketing and PR workers — Marketing and PR managers and specialists create strategies to promote goods and services to a target audience. This will be grown by 14% by 2026.
Travel Jobs
The travel industry includes jobs in the travel goods and services, tourism, travel, and transportation industries. Here are some common and highly rated travel jobs:
- Travel agent — Travel agents help customers plan and book trips, like cruises and tours..
- Airline and airport customer service representatives — Airline and airport customer service representatives help passengers with issues like lost bags and delays. The expected growth of this field is by 9% by 2026.
- Cruise line customer service representatives — Cruise line customer service representatives help passengers with issues they might have on cruises, like lost bags or problems booking shore excursions. This field will grow by 10% by 2026, according to the expectations.
- Reservation and transportation ticketing agents — Reservation and transportation ticketing agents take reservations and issue travel tickets. The field is expected to decline by 4% by 2026.
Hotel Jobs
The hotel industry is expected to add 2.4 million jobs in the next decade. Here are some common hotel jobs:
- Front desk managers — Front desk managers help guests with reservation issues, missing items, and complaints. This field will grow by 6% by 2026.
- Guest service managers — Guest service managers oversee the front desk staff and make sure that guests are taken care of. The expected growth here is 11% by 2026.
- Hotel housekeepers — Hotel housekeepers, make beds and clean rooms for guests. The expected growth here is 8% by 2026.
- Hotel security guards — Hotel security guards monitor hotel grounds and respond to emergencies. The expected growth here is 12% by 2026.
- Hotel concierges — Hotel concierges help guests plan activities, find restaurants, and make other travel arrangements.
Restaurant Jobs
Here are some common restaurant jobs:
- Host/hostess — Hosts and hostesses seat guests and explain the menu. The field is expected to be massive by 9% by 2026.
- Restaurant kitchen managers — Restaurant kitchen managers, oversee kitchen staff and make sure that orders are prepared accurately.
- Restaurant cooks — Restaurant cooks prepare all types of food in a kitchen.
- Food and beverage service managers — Food and beverage service managers, oversee wait staff and bartenders to ensure that guests are well treated. T
- Food and beverage servers — Food and beverage servers take orders and serve food and drinks. The field is expected to be massive by 9% by 2026.
Marketing and PR Jobs
Here are some common marketing and PR jobs:
- Marketing and sales managers — Marketing and sales managers oversee marketing and sales teams.
- Marketing analysts — Marketing analysts collect and analyze marketing and sales data. This field will grow by 14% by 2026.
- Public relations specialists — these workers are creating strategies to improve a company’s image. The expected growth of this field is by 14% by 2026.
- Advertising and sales representatives — Advertising and sales representatives create and distribute advertisements. According to the future expectations, this will grow by 8% by 2026.
3 Things to Know About the Jobs Available in Consumer Services
As you’ve seen, the consumer services industries are thriving in the job market. But if you are looking to break into these fields, you might wonder what you need to succeed and what skills are needed.
Education
If you are seeking jobs available in consumer services, you need to have a sound education. Many consumer services companies prioritize hiring candidates who have relevant degrees and certifications over those who don’t. This is especially true for entry-level positions.
You should review the job descriptions for consumer services companies you are interested in working for to see their requirements. You should also research degree programs specializing in consumer services to see if any are offered at a nearby college or university.
Experience
While education is essential, you should also be aware that experience matters. Many employers look for candidates who have relevant experience in the industry. Beginners might have to start the journey by being in the lowest position first. Once you have the best experience, you will have a much better chance of getting promoted in the jobs available in consumer services.
Personality
The third thing to know about the jobs available in consumer services is that your personality matters. Many employers prefer to hire outgoing people who can effectively solve problems. Even if you don’t have the perfect education or experience, you might still be able to get hired if you have a positive, helpful attitude.
Conclusion
Overall, the jobs available in consumer services are booming. Many industries traditionally focused on business-to-business (B2B) transactions also cater to consumers. Many employers are hiring workers in jobs available in consumer services to keep up with changing consumer habits. For the people who love to enter into the consumer services related jobs, just enter the market now. Many companies are prioritizing hiring candidates with relevant education and experience. With these tips, you can ensure your resume is up to par and help yourself get noticed by hiring managers in this robust job market.