Skills from My Previous Careers That I Have Been Able to Apply to My New Role As Travel Agent

Although becoming a travel agent was a huge leap of faith for me, I have been able to apply a variety of skills that were developed during my previous careers.

Greeting and Interacting with People:

I have always enjoyed meeting people and hearing their stories.  When I think back to my early career working as a bilingual sales coordinator for Mary Kay Cosmetics Ltd., I was quite shy, but talking to consultants over the phone and then meeting and assisting them at seminars proved to be enjoyable.  I worked as part of the sales department team, providing support for the consultants to grow their businesses and planning special events. This experience brought me out of my shell and made me realise that interacting with people is one of my strengths. 

Meeting new people who may become potential clients is a key part of my career as a travel agent.  I am warm and friendly when speaking with them and communicate to them that their opinions and travel intentions are very important to me.  I have also pushed myself out of my comfort zone quite often. I will engage people in conversation, and if the timing seems right, I offer them my services and business card.

Prioritizing Tasks:

I am a structured person, and each of my former jobs required the prioritizing of tasks for the day. When I worked for Peel Police Services, I provided administrative support to several different departments and there was also the seniority of the officers to take into consideration. This experience, although challenging at times, was instrumental in developing my goal setting skills and ensuring deadlines were met each day.  

In the field of travel, there are quiet seasons but also days when several clients will contact me within a short space of time.  My previous work experience and organisational skills have been vital in systematically handling client requests as quickly and smoothly as possible.

Computer and Social Media Experience:

My former employment required keyboarding and computer skills including website and social media updating on a regular basis.

I have found my computer skills to be an asset when communicating with clients via e-mail or through Facebook Messenger.  They are also invaluable when doing travel research for clients; a part of the job that I love!  I have a Facebook business page https://www.facebook.com/nextdoorcruiseandtravel/ and found the guidance and training of TTAND marketing staff to be very helpful. Venturing into the world of Instagram and LinkedIn has brought more challenges, but in a positive way. As a travel agent, I need to be accessible to present and future clients. Marketing my brand in a visually appealing manner that also conveys knowledge and integrity is very important.  

One way I do this is to encourage potential clients to read my client reviews on my Facebook page. Despite our technological age, however, there is much truth in the saying that word of mouth is still the most powerful business builder of all. I enjoy working hard for my clients and trust that their referrals will continue to help me build a solid client base.

For more information about The Travel Agent Next Door please visit
www.thetravelagentnextdoor.com.

Why I Chose to Become a Home-Based Travel Agent

After I left my previous position as office administrator, I began weighing different possibilities for my future career.  I knew that I did not want another 9 to 5 office position and that I craved the freedom of setting my own hours and days of work.  I started to do research on line as to home-based jobs that might pique my interest and be viable as a means of income. 

Having reviewed several different options that sounded suspiciously too good to be true, I googled “work at home opportunities that are not a scam” (or something to that effect) and as I scrolled down the pages, “home-based travel agent” caught my eye more than once. At first, the articles I read seemed rather overwhelming with talk of having to be “T.I.C.O. certified”, the importance of researching a good “host agency” and finding your “niche”. Nevertheless, I decided to be undaunted and check into things further. I have always loved to travel, and as I knew I enjoyed meeting people and providing them with assistance, I started to explore this option in more detail. I felt excited as I imagined the possibility of my husband and I being able to explore new countries and cultures, and sharing these experiences with others in my new career as a travel agent. 

I wondered if I was crazy to consider starting a brand-new career in my fifties, but I knew I would regret not trying. Deciding to take it step by step, I registered for my Travel Industry Council of Ontario exam and began studying the manual in depth. My new journey had begun!

For more information about The Travel Agent Next Door please visit

www.thetravelagentnextdoor.com

What I Did Before Becoming a Home Based Agent

Before becoming a home based agent, I worked as Office Administrator for a large church in the Niagara Region, Ontario. My position there was, in many ways, a balancing act as I was the first point of contact for whoever called in or walked through the office door for assistance. It was definitely not a 9 to 5 job and there was always the challenge of "switching off" at the end of the day. The position required a sympathetic ear and good listening skills for those having just lost a loved one or finding themselves in a life crisis, and the discernment to know whether the person was in genuine need or not. The frequent interruptions during the day sometimes posed a challenge for a structured person like me, but my love for social interaction and assisting people helped keep things in balance.

The church was community-focused and busy, with a plethora of activities going on for each member of the family.  From facility and wedding bookings to standing in front of a video camera doing the weekly announcements, I found myself stretched and encouraged to try new ventures.  To my surprise, I found the video announcements fun and enjoyed working with our creative team to make the presentations fresh and engaging. Who knew I had an extrovert side?  

The team of people I had the privilege of working with became like family in many ways.  We would share ideas with one another and provide support when dealing with difficult situations that due to their nature, had to remain confidential.  There were many times I had to think on my feet such as when our preschool area experienced a flood or when the details of a large funeral needed to be planned for the same day as a band performing a Christmas concert! Not every day was so serious, however, and each one of us found ourselves the object of pranks and surprises, at any given time. There was a lot a laughter in the office and I will always be thankful for the life skills, great memories, and strong friendships that were forged during my 12 years there.  

For more information about The Travel Agent Next Door please visit 

www.thetravelagentnextdoor.com