Developing Your Guide Skills

What does it take to be a good tour guide? Personnel directors and former tour guides mention a number of qualities they look for in a prospective employee. Perhaps not surprisingly, the number one quality mentioned by travel insiders is an ability to work well with people.

According to one manager, their employees "really have to love the people and care about them. That's something you just can't fake." Most managers agree, and point out that while the trips might get repetitive, you still have to deal with the customers. Therefore, make sure to stress to tour companies that you really like working with people and helping them have fun before you mention your desire to travel.

Organizational skill is another quality employers seek. Point out any experience you may have leading a group, whether it's leading summer camp groups or organizing school functions. Any leadership and organizational experience looks great to an employer.

Travel knowledge is helpful. If you have knowledge of a particular region or have completed schoolwork in an area of interest to travelers, by all means stress this in your application. Your familiarity with an area shows you've already done some traveling and may give you a leg up on others who have never visited the area.

Knowledge of a foreign language is also a big plus and should be noted on your resume. The number of overseas visitors to the United States has increased dramatically in recent years, leading to a big demand for tour guides who can speak the visitors' various native languages. This also helps in leading domestic tour groups overseas. While tours of famous sites in Italy, for example, are almost always led by local step-on guides with specialized knowledge of the country, tour companies love to hire escorts who can speak at least some of the local language. Other qualities sought by tour companies include a good sense of humor, poise, an outgoing personality, high energy level, and an ability to work independently.

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