We caught up with Nikoleta Gvozdeykova, Hospitality Supervisor at Lexington Catering who is based at JLL, one of the largest commercial property and investment management service provider. Here she tells us more about her role as Hospitality Supervisor and how she got into hospitality.
How long have you been in your role?
In 2016, I was promoted from Hospitality Assistant to Hospitality Supervisor. I had been working for JLL for two years, during which time I learnt so much about JLL’s service standards and how the hospitality offer works, so I was delighted to take on the role of supervisor.
Tell us more about how you got into hospitality…
I had always had a passion for food and been interested in the industry. Before starting my catering career I was studying and working in an office, as administration assistant. However my love for food was just too strong for me to ignore therefore I decided to move into the hospitality industry and haven’t looked back!
What does your role involve? Talk us through a typical day…
On a typical day at work we will have handful of functions, ranging from Full English breakfasts for ten people to canapés parties for over 150 guests. Throughout the day I work between three main areas within our Warwick street office, I organise the team to ensure we provide the catering services required and I am always visible on the floor to manage our client and guest relationships. Most afternoons I assist my manager with admin tasks and help prepare for the next day’s functions.
What is the biggest challenge you face working front of house?
Being part of the front of house team is a huge challenge – we deal with different people daily, all of whom have different requirements. I always strive to make clients happy with our service and food.
As a supervisor I also have to manage a team of five team members. In the past I have found it difficult sometimes to make decisions quickly, however, I have become more confident in the role and as a result I am much more decisive.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
My favourite part of the job is the interaction with people. I get real enjoyment out of seeing people happy with our service and food – it’s great to see clients come back to use our service.
Top three skills required when working front of house
The top three skills, which I feel you definitely need to succeed in hospitality, are:
– To have a good attitude with a strong work ethic
– To be bold and brave to make decisions
– To be positive and hardworking
What advice would you give to anyone wanting to get into the industry?
My advice to those who want to work in the hospitality industry is to make sure you are really passionate about food and service. Always have a good attitude towards, customers, clients and work! With the right attitude you can accomplish anything
If you are interested in a career in hospitality and want to find out more about how you can join Lexington Catering please visit our career page.
