“Put your makeup on and fix your hair up pretty / And meet me tonight in Atlantic City." It’s been twenty-five plus years since Bruce Springsteen’s famous plea, and millions of tourists continue to pour into New Jersey each year. In addition to the resort/gaming attraction of Atlantic City, New Jersey’s tourism and hospitality industry boasts the leisure opportunities of the Jersey Shore, the Six Flags Great Adventure amusement park and other regional attractions, as well as easy access to and from New York City and Philadelphia.

Tourism jobs generally fall within one of four main career paths:

• Skilled Trade Workers (e.g., food preparation workers, maids/housekeeping cleaners)
• Managers (gaming supervisors, food service managers)
• Customer Service (waiters/waitresses, hotel clerks, gaming dealers)
• Safety/Security (security guards)

Successful workers in the tourism industry must:

• communicate clearly with the public
• work well within a team structure
• be able to solve problems quickly