Shirley Little went from serving up fast food as a manager at McDonald's
to sending people on world cruises -- all in about six months.
"I was tired of the job I was in, so I started researching on the Internet
for something I could train for in six months," says Little,
a travel counselor.
After more than eight years in the business, Little has never looked back.
"I definitely wanted to go into something where I'd be dealing with people
face to face," she says. "I really like meeting new people. I'm not really
in it for the money -- I like working with people and I like the perks."
Little is known within her company as a floater, someone who floats from
one office to another, working in different areas.
"I've worked with corporate clients, seniors, the Asian market, as well
as a lot of bankers and businesspeople," she says.
Little is quick to mention that the job is not as glamorous as people seem
to think.
"I do get to do a fair bit of traveling, but not as much as people think.
When you walk through the doors, it's like any other office environment. For
the most part, it's an office job."
It can also be a high-pressure, stressful job, adds Little.
"You have to be really precise about your work -- the legalities are stressful,"
she says. "If something goes wrong and it's our fault, we could be sued. Absolutely
everything has to be in writing. We have to tell people about passports and
visas, so we really have to be on top of things."
Besides being thorough and precise, Little says building a good rapport
with her customers is her top priority.
"In travel, you go from one office to the next and see exactly the same
product. So being able to develop a relationship with people is really important,"
she says. "It's not so much what you sell but how you sell it."
Being a good travel agent can also mean that you have to work more than
a 40-hour week sometimes.
"Nobody in travel works only a 40-hour week," Little says. "It's hard to
set your hours to the clock when you're working with people -- you'll help
them until you're done. Right now I'm supposed to be home, but I'm here entering
information into the computer for a Jamaican holiday I just booked for some
customers."
While the work can be stressful, Little admits there are rewards. Agents
in her company get one free trip per year. They also attend presentations
hosted by local hotels and tour companies.
"We listen to their spiel [story], and they give us free food and drinks,"
she says. "There's also draws for lots of free stuff. I just won a cruise
to the Mediterranean by entering my business card in a draw!"
What some people see as work, Little sees as an opportunity to enjoy herself.
"Some people think going to these presentations is work, but a lot of us
go to socialize, meet people and make contacts," she says. "It's a really
fun industry."
Little herself has traveled to Europe, Jamaica and Mexico, and wants to
continue helping others to travel.
"I'd like to keep doing this, although maybe behind the scenes a little
more. Dealing with the public can be hard to do for a long time," she says.
"Who knows where I might be in 10 years!"
Mike Carey knows where he is after 10 years: he's the owner of his own
travel agency, which he runs with his wife.
Carey says he doesn't think of the job as being particularly difficult.
It's more of an adventure.
"Researching the individual countries is my favorite part of the job,"
he says. "The real challenge is putting together an independent trip."
Independent trips are arranged without using a group service. They require
a lot more planning because the agent is sending individual travelers into
foreign countries to get by on their own.
"We help them understand things like currency conversion and discuss the
itinerary before they go," Carey says. For individual travelers, the agency's
assistance stops when they board their plane, ship or train.
The travel business is changing -- a lot. The airlines used to pay generous
commissions, but in the era of deregulation and downsizing, money is tight.
Agencies are still getting commissions from the airlines, resorts and cruise
lines they book for, but they're not as good as they used to be.
Carey's advice to prospective travel agents? Go to a travel agent school.
It'll give you the best preparation for the exciting road that lies ahead.