A blockbuster of a career

Updated on: Monday, November 08, 2010

Call centres are out, multiplexes are in. With multiplexes increasing a dime a dozen in cities across India, the employment opportunities in the field have doubled in the past few years. The entertainment industry is growing at about 18-20 per cent per year, making the multiplex industry grow at about 35-40 per cent annually. However, there is still a lack of understanding about what the sector entails and the career opportunities it offers.

Understanding the field
A multiplex operation is essentially a mix of three businesses: retail, hotel and airlines. The similarity with the hotel industry comes from several factors. For instance, both are highly service driven, food and beverage (F&B) forms an integral part of the business and the staff line-up is almost similar.
People with expertise and specialisation in various aspects of the service industry like F&B, housekeeping, facilities and operations, cinemas etc. are just what multiplexes look for. In short, anyone who would like working in a people-centric, challenging work environment. So, if you are adaptable and willing to multi-task, you will make a good candidate. Hospitality graduates are at an advantage (and valued) in this profession, since ‘service with a smile’ is already a way of life with them. These candidates fit into a number of areas from the entry level to higher positions, depending on their experience. Some relevant service areas for hospitality candidates are: F&B, Operations and Facilities, Marketing and Sales, Ticket Window Sales, etc. Positions offered include Team Members, Team Executives, Team Leaders, Special Service Agents, Corporate Relations Executives and even in some cases Trainee Assistant Managers. Salaries are in keeping with current industry norms and so are the benefits and perks. Remuneration can be anything from Rs5000-10,000 for an entry-level position to Rs 15,000- Rs 25,000 for a managerial post.

Career opportunities
Recruitment for the industry is done mainly from the entertainment, service and hotel sectors. Students who have passed their 10+2 from reputed schools or those who are graduates can also apply for frontline positions. The ‘basic qualifications’ needed include a positive attitude, a customer service mindset, a love for the movies, a pleasing personality, good communication skills, enthusiasm and the patience to deal with customers.

Post recruitment, candidates have to go through an induction programme for a week, followed by on-the-job training for a month. Opportunities start from the day-to-day operations of a cinema to Sales and Marketing, Finance, Programming, Design, Engineering and Architecture. The best training is on-the-job if you are not a pass-out from a hospitality management institute. Smartness and confidence is the ideal mix a candidate must have to excel in this field.

The scope
So great are the opportunities being offered by this sector that even MBA professionals from top B-schools are foraying into the entertainment industry today. Beginning from the overall visibility of the growth factor of this area into urban markets and entertainment attaining the status of an industry, fresh and experienced MBA’s are realising that it is a sunrise sector that has a lot of scope for their personal and professional growth.

From kids to elders, entertainment is an integral part of everyone’s life. And multiplexes constitute an important segment of the entertainment industry today.

A blockbuster of a career

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