Required Skills
Most aspiring travel agents will start of their career with an agency, which will teach them all the required skills for the profession. Candidate preferred by any agency will either have a high school diploma and determination to travel. Travel experience is also welcome, so if you have already travelled a little, you may be at a benefit. It requires candidates with quick decision making skills and with the ability to perform research and find the information from varied sources. You also need to have customer satisfaction skills.
Travel agencies also specialize in one specific travel area like, ocean cruises or even travel to a specific area or location. So you must be thorough with all your knowledge of any and all parts of the travel industry. Rehearsing before you go for the interview will be helpful.
As a travel agent you will be required to work in fast paced environment throughout the day. You also got to develop your communication skills. You will constantly communicate with people, either in person or on phone for booking transportation and staying. Thus it would be expected of you to have superior phone skills because that will be one of your main resources while working as a travel agent.
Use of Technology
It is recommended that you possess computer knowledge in the career as a travel agent. He requires using complex computer systems to coordinate the travel routes and plan all the trip-s details.
Certification
The American Society of Travel Agents offers courses for aspiring travel agents. Though certification is not essential, but will certainly help you land a job with a more growth prospects. If you don-t have much computer experience, than there are technical schools that offer courses on special software that travel agents use. Upon completion of the course, you will be presented with a certificate. Certificate will certainly make you more eligible for the position. A travel agency will always prefer a person who is eager to learn rather than someone that just walks in and wants a job.
If you are confident to either possess all the above mentioned skills or are ready to train yourself, then the job of a travel agent is just waiting for you. Get ready to go to the agency and start booking hotels and flights.
