Hartford Institute Singapore

WORKING and studying at the same time wasn't easy.

But Elbina Joyce Vijayan, 21, was doing just that to achieve her dream of working in the hotel industry.

She had been working as a service agent in a five-star hotel here and studying part-time for a degree in hospitality management.

She is now in-between jobs.

Elbina had decided to go for a career in hospitality management after a short stint as a waitress in 2003, while waiting for her O-level results.

"I enjoy interacting with different kinds of people," she said.

She is now completing her bridging modules before advancing to a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Business (Hospitality Management), validated by the federal University of Wales, UK, through Hartford Institute Singapore.

The coursework she has to do, she said, is relevant to her chosen career path.

For example, one module she is currently studying is on visitor attractions.

She said: "We're learning about different attractions around the world and how they influence the tourism industry."

Students in the degree programme will be exposed to business ideas, hospitality concepts and trained to develop higher-level skills in managing hospitality organisations.

Some course modules include strategy and operations for hotel and resort management, food and beverage management and special events and club management.

Elbina, who juggled her work with her degree course, said it did get hectic but "it's all about time management".

She often had to rush from work to attend her classes, but says her bosses were flexible in letting her get off work a little earlier to make it to class on time.

A Ngee Ann Polytechnic graduate with a diploma in Film, Sound and Video, Elbina said she decided to make a career switch to the hospitality industry because she felt that it held better prospects for her.

She decided against starting a career in the media industry because she felt the industry was "too saturated". For now, film-making remains a pursuit she does on the side.

She says her family is supportive of her career choice because she has the passion for this field.

As a service agent, she manned the cash register and was a hostess at the hotel's restaurant.

She says she enjoyed the exposure the job gave her and the opportunity to interact with people from other countries.

"You get to learn more about their culture and way of life and the different service expectations they have," she said.

Going forward, Elbina says she has her sights set on a career in one of the Integrated Resorts here.

She said: "Hopefully I'll be able to do a sales or marketing related job for one of the resorts.

"That's what brings in the money."

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