Careers Advice

Vibrant, Exciting Careers!

Loads of opportunity in hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism.

You’ll find information on all of the different roles and career paths available to you, as well as real life career stories, the Good Employers to work for and live job vacancies. You’ll also find information on the qualifications and training that Good Employers look for and the best places to get them.

Youth Hostels

For those travelling on a budget - especially young people - youth hostels provide an ideal accommodation solution every year. If you want to work in a new and energetic environment with flexible hours, a career in youth hostels may be well worth considering. The jobs are widely varied and can involve anything from meeting and greeting guests to cooking and cleaning.

Whether you enjoy the hustle bustle of the city or prefer the quieter life, you will find the ideal place for you - hostels range from buzzing city centre locations to stunning coastal or countryside areas.

Many of those staying in hostels will be travelling through the UK, giving you a great opportunity to meet people from different places and promote the local area. Many hostels also run activities, so if you enjoy helping and inspiring people, you’ll love working in a youth hostel! Accommodation is often provided as part of the role, making it a great way to see new areas without the hassle and cost of finding a place to live.

Youth hostels can be categorised in two different ways - by ownership (typically hostels are either owned by the Youth Hostel Association or are independent backpacker hostels) and by location (whether they are in a city or more rural location). The Youth Hostel Association runs over 200 hostels across the UK. Independent backpacker hostels tend to be single hostels or small chains of two or three. City hostels tend to be larger and are more likely to have a bar or catering on-site.

Career opportunities and skills needed

There are a variety of jobs in the youth hostel industry. These are largely based around the preparation of food but also include roles like housekeeping and reception, rising to senior manager level occupations.

For a lot of the ‘entry-level’ positions, many employers say that willingness to work hard and a good attitude are the most important things they look for. For public-facing roles, such as waiting or reception staff, good people skills and an appreciation of the importance of customer service are essential.

Committed workers who are willing to take on new responsibilities are most likely to progress in the industry.
Many youth hostels find it difficult to hang on to their staff as employees sometimes do not stay in their job for long. Individuals who show enthusiasm and commitment to their job are often rewarded by employers with rapid progression up the ladder.

Individuals wishing to move into more senior positions are likely to require previous managerial experience and be able to display a solid understanding of the industry.

Click here to download an industry profile factsheet.