Graduate Travel Jobs

Leading graduate employers

Helping you find a career in the travel industry

Travel is one of the fastest growing sectors in the world. Although commercial and leisure travel is the most common, globalisation means travel has also become essential to keeping businesses running. Because of this, it's important to make international travel as simple as possible.

There are a huge range of roles within the travel sector that you could choose from. All travel agencies require customer-facing roles to help people to organise their travels. Most agencies also require an office team who run the finances, marketing, HR and I.T components of the business.

Working in the travel industry could give you the opportunity to travel the world with various expenses covered. Many companies also offer benefits including staff discounts on their products. For many, these factors are a huge draw towards the industry.

It's also an incredibly fun industry, and you'll be surrounded by like-minded people with a passion for travel and new experiences.

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FAQs

FAQs

Skills & interests required for a career in Travel

A lot of the roles in travel will be customer-facing, so good communication skills and a friendly attitude will go a long way. In some agencies there will be an element of planning and organisation on behalf of the customer - if you get a buzz from planning this will be the path for you.

Most people who work within the travel industry are truly passionate about the experience and enjoy sharing it with others. Holidays are often the highlight of people's years and you would be a part of making that happen.

Travel agents in particular have to remain up to date with the news and current events in order to advise people on the best (and often safest) holiday destinations.

Other skills that will benefit you in the travel industry include:

Graduate schemes & other typical career progression routes in Travel

There are many opportunities for career progression within travel that can make it a wide and varied career.

No matter which role you start out in, whether it is in the head office, a travel rep, a tour operator or something else entirely, you could climb the ladder up into managerial positions.

Many of the skills that you learn in the travel industry will be transferable, and some will allow you to choose to move into leisure and tourism.

Tips for getting into the field

Get on LinkedIn and connect with industry professionals to keep up to date with changes and conversations that are going on within travel.

Some large travel companies, such as EasyJet and RyanAir, offer rotational graduate schemes within different parts of the industry. This could be a strong start to a career in travel.

How much can graduates earn in Travel?

The salary for a travel agent typically begins at £14,000 and can increase to £40,000 per year with experience. A few can also earn commission.

A travel agency manager can range from £25,000 to £35,000 and will usually depend on the size of the company that you are working for. Some of the largest companies will likely pay more than this.

Working in travel could also see you receive an enviable benefits package, such as heavily discounted flights, holidays and insurance.

What qualifications do I need for a career in Travel?

A degree in tourism, business, or marketing might be advantageous but is not necessary to have a successful career in travel.

If you want to be a travel agent the most important thing will be your experience and communication skills. However, for other more technical roles, like logistics, you may have to have a degree.