Kostas Drosos, Experience Hotel Manager & Travel Consultant, MSc. In International Hospitality & Tourism Management, writes for Mykonos:
The Island of the Winds. The island with the most beautiful beaches of all the Cyclades Islands. The island with the famous windmills, the widely known Little Venice and all the private and open parties. Much is said about Mykonos – both good and bad things. Many of them are just stereotypes.
Mykonos is a cosmopolitan island, not a sterilized environment on many levels. It is the island that the world’s elite prefer to visit, while it also welcomes every kind of diversity. Consequently, Mykonos has visitors with great demands, and intense competition in many areas of the local community.
As far as the professionals who wish to work in the tourism and service provision industry are concerned, Mykonos presents the opportunity to build a high-level career! In order to do this, they must work with patience and perseverance, as well as respect their colleagues. It is advisable not to judge those who may not have the required prior experience in the field, both for reasons of politeness and absence of knowledge of their background.
Yes, I am addressing you – the professional who wishes to start their career journey in Mykonos! If I had to give you a single tip, it would be not to be afraid to ask again and again anything you are not sure about – nothing is obvious or self-explanatory. Always keep in mind that we all come from different micro – environments, but at the same time we must coexist in a common macro – environment.
Luckily, this article gives me the opportunity to share more than one piece of advice with you! Grab a piece of paper and a pencil and start taking notes!
First, before your arrival on the island, you must embrace modesty and humility: listen, look and keep quiet. Experience the lifestyle of the island without having stereotypes in your mind.
Secondly, you should pay attention to the island’s infrastructure (i.e roads, pavements, lighting, water service). If you ever rent any means of transport, you have to always drive sober and take care of both your own physical integrity and of those around you.
Thirdly, always remember that in your seasonal work you will gain both work experience and knowledge of the Destination product called “Mykonos”. As an employee, you must be consistent to the business agreement you have signed. If cooperation does not turn out to be like you expected, do not criticize the company you worked for. Rather, face the “failure” as a good opportunity to learn from your mistakes!
RELATED ARTICLE How to prepare your season hiring documents HERE
Nikolaos Kalogeras, Hotel Manager at Vedema, a Luxury Collection Resort, writes for Santorini:
For most of us, when picturing Santorini, we immediately think of the volcano, the caldera, the magnificent sunset, the archaeological site of Akrotiri, the black and red beach, and nights spend wandering the picturesque streets of Fira and Oia. As well, images of great food and traditional products, such as Santorini wine, fava, local cherry tomatoes, caper, and of course pictures of the fantastic view, pass through our mind.
And while some have already planned or are now planning their summer holidays in the beautiful and unique Santorini, others have long been settled on the island and are preparing to welcome guests with the brightest smile on their lips.
Santorini is one of the best destinations on the planet and is bustling with life all year round. Therefore, it offers one of the longest tourist seasons, lasting 7-8 months. Salaries, compared to other destinations, are among the highest in the industry, with good tips as well.
Excellent hotels accommodate discerning guests. Some are located at the cliff edge, with a magnificent view of the Aegean Sea and the volcano. Others are situated in traditional villages that are preferred by fans of the Greek countryside and its wines.
You will also find award-winning restaurants with excellent food and views that will truly take your breath away.
In Santorini the average visitor stay is 3 days. This means the available time we have to satisfy our visitors is very limited. Therefore, persistent effort and hard work is required to achieve this goal!
In order to succeed professionally in Santorini, you need to possess endurance and the ability to work in high stress environments, given the extended season. However, you will be given the opportunity to work alongside the best professionals in the industry. It is unbelievable how much you can learn in a single season on the island!
The professionalism of individuals working in the tourism industry in Santorini is very high. In Santorini you can enrich your knowledge and improve your technique, or network with people who possess international recognition. This can further help you evolve professionally.
Santorini has, for many years, been steadily rising and growing very fast. If you are an individual who would like to work in a relaxing environment, you should turn to other destinations.
However, if you are someone who seeks to become a better professional, Santorini is the right destination. In Santorini, we strive for excellence. Passion for work, concentration, consistency, effort and good rest are valued. It’s a recipe for success.
PS: In your free time, however, the unique views and the best sunset in the world are for everyone, both visitors and employees!
We are very grateful to Mr. Kalogeras and Mr. Drosos who shared their experience with us! We wish their advice to help all those who intend to start their career journey on Santorini, Mykonos or any other Greek island!
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