Hello,

 I am wondering if anyone has any experience with Penn Foster's Hotel/Restaurant Management vocational diploma program. Specifically, how useful is the diploma in the field when it comes to getting employment? Would a potential employer look down upon a vocational diploma? I am investigating this for my wife. She has only a High School Diploma (which she obtained through Penn Foster.) She has been a homemaker for the past 8 years, but is looking to get back into the workforce. She has prior experience as a housekeeper and a front desk clerk at smaller hotels.

Would the vocational diploma be a worthwhile investment? Or a waste of time? Anyone have any experience with Penn Foster's vocational diplomas? How useful are they?

 Thanks in advance for any help!


 

Hi wpa998,

Unfortunately, I only know of folks who are currently taking courses from the Penn Foster Career School, and they haven't entered the workforce or their respective industries yet. Here's some salary data about the field that I found from Payscale.com:

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Victoria is the Web Producer at eLearners.com. She earned a traditional Bachelor's degree in History from Smith College in 2005. She is currently an online course in English grammar.

If I were in your situation, I'd just call or drop by potential employers for people like your wife that are in your area and just ask them what they think.  Let them know she's not looking at the moment, just wants to know whether they'd look favorably on candidates who have the credential she's earning.

-=Steve=- 

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B.S., Info Sys, Charter Oak State College
M.A., Educational Tech Leadership, George Washington University
Doctor of Health Education, A.T. Still University, in progress

My wife is currently going through Penn Foster's Catering course (she writes the "My Penn Foster Career School Experience" blog here at eLearners), and she enjoys it quite a bit.  What she found most surprising is that even though she has several year's worth of experience in the restaurant industry, she has still learned a lot through the course. 

 In the restaurant business, experience counts for more than anything, so if your wife can get a job in the industry while going through the course, that would probably help her chances quite a bit.  I think you also got some good advice previously.  Have her check around and see what potential employers say.
 

there are some useful information : hotelier forum

wpa998:

Hello,

 I am wondering if anyone has any experience with Penn Foster's Hotel/Restaurant Management vocational diploma program. Specifically, how useful is the diploma in the field when it comes to getting employment? Would a potential employer look down upon a vocational diploma? I am investigating this for my wife. She has only a High School Diploma (which she obtained through Penn Foster.) She has been a homemaker for the past 8 years, but is looking to get back into the workforce. She has prior experience as a housekeeper and a front desk clerk at smaller hotels.

Would the vocational diploma be a worthwhile investment? Or a waste of time? Anyone have any experience with Penn Foster's vocational diplomas? How useful are they?

 Thanks in advance for any help!

 

A friend of mine just recently told me that he was also thinking about joining this diploma project. He had already done some background research on these diplomas and said that it all sounded really good.

Did you get any further information on the program? Did your wife take part in it?

I'd really be interested in your experience!