For over fifteen years, I have helped hotels in India and abroad find the right people. I learnt the art of switching while doing an MBA from Warwick University and received real life examples while helping thousands with placements. I see this all the time that good number of people feel stuck in the same department. A food and beverage supervisor wants to move to front office. A housekeeping executive wants to work in training. A commis chef wants to try sales.
The worry is the same that if I switch, will I lose my salary and seniority? Will HR accept my skills? Will I have to start from zero?
The truth is, you can switch if you plan it properly. The Career reset is very much possible. Many have done it in big hospitality brands like Taj, Oberoi, ITC and others. I have seen this personally. The difference is they knew how to plan, what to show HR, and how to talk about their skills.
Why Switch Departments at All?
Many do this for better work-life balance, new skills, or faster promotions. Some want more guest contact, some want better pay. Some just want a new city where another department is stronger.
Hotels in 2025 need staff who can handle more than one area. According to Skift’s hotel reports (source), hotels worldwide are training staff to handle multiple roles because labour shortage is still real.
When It Makes Sense to Switch
Switch only when:
- Your core skills fit the new department in some way.
- You have done something related like training juniors, upselling, guest service.
- Your performance record is strong as no HR will support a weak performer.
- You are open to cross-training or extra learning.
Real Stories — What I Have Seen
One candidate, an F&B supervisor, moved to front office. He had guest service skills, knew Opera and handled VIP guests already. His CV showed this clearly. He had to go through two months of cross-training.
Another switched from housekeeping to Human Resources. She handled staff training in her team for years. She applied when a HR job opened in her hotel itself and got it.
This is not luck, it is planning and effort in the right direction.
Skills That Help You Switch
These work well in many departments:
Guest service: connects F&B, front office, banquets, sales.
Selling: works for F&B, then moves to sales or events.
Systems: Opera, PMS, POS — all help you switch operations.
Team handling: if you manage teams now, you can do it in another area too.
Training: training juniors helps you shift to learning and development.
Small Table — Examples of Good Switches
| Current Role | Possible Switch | Skills to Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| F&B Supervisor | Front Office | Guest handling, upselling, languages, Opera |
| Housekeeping Supervisor | Training | SOP knowledge, staff training, checklists |
| Chef de Partie | Banquet Sales | Menu knowledge, costing, guest talks |
| Front Office Assistant | Events | Booking, vendor talks, guest coordination |
| Stewarding Supervisor | F&B Cost Control | Inventory, wastage, supplier checks |
What to Show in CV and Cover Letter
Never send the same CV. Make one that shows:
- Your real results in numbers.
- One clear line on why you want to shift.
- Keywords of the new role — find them in the job ad.
- Remove points that do not match.
- A short cover letter on why this switch makes sense.
How to Talk to HR
For Taj, Oberoi, ITC and most chains, internal transfer is the best route. Talk to your manager first. Be honest. Then talk to HR. Be ready to explain:
- Why you want this change.
- What skills match the new department.
- How you will adjust.
- That you are ready for cross-training.
Hotels prefer to keep good staff if they see you are serious.
Use Facts — Why This Is Needed Now
The World Travel and Tourism Council says travel and tourism employ over 300 million people worldwide (source). With more guests, hotels want multi-skilled teams.
STR’s data insights confirm staffing is tight in many regions (source). This means internal shifts are more common than before.
SOEGi — Check Your Next Step
SOEGi helps you find out if you are ready for a switch. Upload your CV. See suggestions. Spot missing skills. Get tips to update your CV.
Many have used it to plan cross-moves instead of applying blindly.
Final Words
Switching departments does not mean losing everything. If you plan it, keep your record clean, train where needed and stay honest, you grow faster than staying stuck. You can also check our post on top new hospitality roles of 2025 and career paths in hospitality to have a better idea on the traditional and new job roles.
Hotels want good people. Show them your next step clearly.
