Business law marketing

Careers and Colleges, Jan-Feb, 2003

CHALLENGES: "Keeping fresh." The media landscape, not to mention today's business climate is ever-changing. Meeting deadlines can also be challenging.

MORE INFO: American Association of Advertising Agencies, www.aaaa.org; AdAge.com, AdWeek.com

Courtnay Sander

TRAVEL MANAGER

Kelly Camps

AGE: 34

LOCATION: Anaheim, CA

JOB: Operations Manager, Contiki USA

EDUCATION: Camps has a bachelor's degree in history and a master's in American history from San Diego State University. "[Contiki] likes to hire people with bachelor's degrees," she says. "However, it is also important that people have experience working with the public and are friendly and outgoing." Travel experience is also an asset, as well as patience and a mind for details. Some colleges offer majors in travel and tourism. The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) has a correspondence course that provides a basic understanding of the industry.

SALARY: Tour managers can earn around $14,000 per year plus gratuities due to the seasonal nature of the work. Those with office positions can earn $25,000 to $40,000 a year.

ON THE JOB: "As an operations manager, I train and work with tour managers. Tour managers travel from one destination to another and give passengers city tours and practical information. They are responsible for all the on-the-road organization, such as accounting, organizing group activities, and booking all excursions. Tours usually arrive at their destinations by 5 p.m., and the tour manger takes them to dinner and organizes night activities. Some days start at 7 and end at midnight.

"Part of my job is making sure all of our suppliers -- restaurants and excursion operators -- have our tour dates, menus, and prices. I begin hiring tour managers around January and set up training. During the summer, I schedule our tour managers, do payroll, liaison with suppliers, operate the tours, and handle any problems that arise.

"Communication skills are essential. We meet the needs of a lot of people of different nationalities from different walks of life. Multi-tasking is key to being a tour manager so you need strong organizational skills."

STARTING OUT: "I actually backpacked through Europe with a friend and came back and saw an ad saying 'travel with 18- to 35-year-olds.' I started out as a tour manager."

REWARDS: "As a tour manager, I got to take people around the U.S. and Canada and know that they had a great time. I got to travel all over North America, which was amazing."

CHALLENGES: "Being flexible when something goes wrong is sometimes a challenge. Tours can experience weather delays, hotel changes, medical emergencies, but we always have a contingency plan. Being a tour manager is not just a summer job. We do pretty intensive training [during the year], and work from April to October."

MORE INFO: National Tourism Association, www.ntaonline.com; ASTA, www.astanet.com

Heather Lindsey

BUSINESS MANAGER

Jose Landaverry

AGE: 33

LOCATION: El Monte, CA

JOB: Market training manager for Taco Bell

EDUCATION: Landaverry has an associate degree in business from Los Angeles Trade Technical College and a bachelor's degree in business administration from California State, Los Angeles.