RISING STAR

COLETTE TIERNAN, 22, is working her way up the career ladder in the Sligo Park Hotel, moving from the housekeeping department to the front office,  and picking up a Rising Star Award along the way.

Fact File

**Name:** Colette Tiernan
**Job:** Receptionist
**Works:** Sligo Park Hotel

“It’s very important to find an employer that will invest in you and your training and development. You should feel valued in your work.”

Did you always want to work in tourism?

No, I originally did a one-year PLC pre-nursing course after school but I decided nursing wasn’t for me. I was working part-time in the Sligo Park Hotel as an Accommodation Assistant and I really enjoyed the job. I loved how every day is different when you work in hotels; it’s not the standard nine-to-five, and so I applied to work full-time in the hotel and spent the next three years working in housekeeping.

What steps did you take to move into reception?

I decided last year that I wanted to go back to study so I took a one-year course in Hotel Front Office and Accommodation Operations at Letterkenny Institute of Technology (LKIT) in Killybegs. I studied part-time while working in the hotel and trained for one day a week on the front desk before moving up to reception full-time in the summer.

Did you enjoy the course?

I really liked it. Until then, all I knew about was housekeeping so it was great to learn more about the front desk and I really enjoyed the theory side of the course. I got the highest marks in my class so I was delighted. It was definitely worth the effort as if I hadn’t done the course it would have taken me a lot longer to make a move into reception.

What’s it like working on reception?

I love it! It’s an important role as you are often the primary point of contact with the guest so you get to make the first impression for the hotel. I love meeting people. From the regular corporate guests whom you become friendly with to the visiting tour groups from all over the world, there’s always someone interesting to talk to.

What does an average day entail for you?

There is no such thing as an average day! You never know what the day will bring when you work in hotels and there is so much to working in reception that you don’t see, from processing payments to making sure everyone enjoys their stay. It’s a very busy job.

What are the hours like?

We work eight-hour shifts but the times can vary. I was used to working 8am–4pm in housekeeping so it took a while for me to adjust to the new hours. If I’m on the early shift it’s usually 7.30am–3.30pm and the late shift is 3.30pm– 11.30pm or 4pm–12am at weekends.

Is it hard working when your friends are off?

I don’t mind it. There is so much more activity in the evenings that it makes the day go quicker. Plus there is great camaraderie here in the Sligo Park Hotel so it feels like you are working with your family and friends.

Where do you see yourself in the future?

I plan to keep learning as I would like to better myself. There are so many opportunities in this hotel so I would like to stay here and progress up the ladder. The management team has been very good to me; they are committed to training me and helping me learn and I would like to repay that loyalty. It’s very important to find an employer that will invest in you and your training and development. You should feel valued in your work.

What kind of person suits your role?

You have to be outgoing and like dealing with people to work as a receptionist as you will be interacting with guests every day. Don’t be put off if you’re shy as this job will help you improve your communication skills, but you must have a positive attitude. There is no such thing as coming in to work in a bad humour. However, if you want to work in an interesting job, with a good atmosphere, where no two days are the same, then this could be the right job for you.

You won a big award recently. Tell us about it.

Yes, I won the Rising Star Award at the Irish Hotel Awards. Our HR Manager, Mary Halton, nominated me for it and I was absolutely delighted to be shortlisted. I never thought I’d win, but I did! It’s a great award to have on my CV.

See where Colette works at sligoparkhotel.com.