Usually you don’t need particular qualifications to be a Travel Agent, you normally learn on the job although some employers will probably want good English and Maths GCSE grades as standard.
There are specific college courses you can do including:
- Level 1 Certificate/Diploma Introduction to the Travel and Tourism Industry
- Level 1/2 Certificate in Travel and Tourism (Air Fares and Ticketing)
- Level 2 Award in Principles of Customer Service in Hospitality, Leisure, Travel and Tourism
- Level 2 Certificate/Diploma in Travel and Tourism.
Depending on the travel agent and their program for learning you may be able to do these courses part time whilst working.
Your employer will also be looking for excellent customer service skills and good communication skills especially on the telephone. Make sure that when you apply for the role of a travel agent that you emphasise any customer service experience or reception experience you have or anything dealing with customers and show how well you can provide customer service.
Once you have an interview with a Travel Agent you need to research that company very well before your interview, maybe even by calling into one of their branches and asking them to search for a holiday for you and assessing how they do in their role, what their customer service is like and take notes for what you need for your information.
As a general rule of thumb I would always ensure I was knowledgeable about different countries, packages etc, pick up some holiday brochures and take a look through. As a travel agent you will be selling different types of holidays such as flights abroad, holidays within the UK, cruises etc, be knowledgeable about them all prior to your interview.
Ensure that you dress smartly for your interview, normally travel agents wear a uniform but nevertheless you need to show your future employer how smart you will look when facing customers.
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