Travel Agents

Aspiring travel agents should try to obtain experience in customer service or actual work at a travel agency via internships, part-time jobs, or volunteer opportunities. Some agencies prefer to hire applicants with experience visiting a particular country or region.  

The primary requisite for success in the travel field is a sincere interest in travel. A travel agent's knowledge of and travel experiences with major tourist centers, various hotels, and local customs and points of interest makes them a more effective and convincing source of assistance. Yet the work of travel agents is not one long vacation. They operate in a highly competitive industry.

Travel agents must be able to make quick and accurate use of transportation schedules and tariffs. They must be able to handle addition and subtraction quickly. Almost all agents make use of computers and the Internet to get the very latest information on rates and schedules and to make reservations.

You will work with a wide range of personalities as a travel agent, so skills in psychology and diplomacy are important. You must also be able to generate enthusiasm among your customers and be resourceful in solving any problems that might arise. Knowledge of foreign languages is useful because many customers come from other countries, and you will be in frequent contact with foreign hotels and travel agencies.