Can’t Make It To An Alcohol Awareness Class? TAM® of Nevada Offers Online Training!

Classroom training isn’t for everyone. If you have a busy schedule, or just prefer to learn in the privacy of your own home, you may want to consider the option of taking your alcohol awareness training in an online environment. Let’s be honest, you can’t beat the option of completing your training at home in your pajamas!

Some other alcohol awareness providers have made claims that TAM ® of Nevada only offers classroom training. In reality, TAM ® of Nevada works to make training convenient to all learners, onsite AND online. There are many benefits to online learning that are worth considering:

1. Learn at your own pace. By taking your TAM® course online, you’ll have the option to move through lessons as fast or slow as you like. Additionally, you’ll have the option to pause your training and come back to it at a later date and time.

2. Learn any time, day or night. Not everyone has time in their busy lives to head to a training center and complete 4 hours of training during the day. With our online course, you can work through lessons when it’s convenient for you; morning, noon, or night.

3. You have the option to review information and refresh your memory about what’s covered in the course prior to your exam. Nevada’s Commission on Postsecondary Education requires that all participants in alcohol awareness training take an in-person proctored exam to pick up their TAM® Card. After completing your online course, you’ll need to come to our training center at one of our scheduled exam times to take your test. There’s no need to call and schedule a class, just drop in during one of our sessions when you’re ready for your test.

4. For a limited time, you can obtain your alcohol awareness training online for only $19.95. TAM® of Nevada is offering a discount price on our online course; you’ll save $15 over our classroom training if you choose this option.

Students respond that they find our online course to be engaging, easy to follow and an excellent option for busy service professionals. If you’re curious just how our classroom training works, you can demo the course on our website here. If you’d like to learn more about requirements to obtain your Drink Card in Nevada, you can read more in our blog post, “Call It What You May … But There’s Only One TAM Card!

What have your experiences with online learning been like? We love to hear feedback from our students!

© 2011 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada

Did You Know? TAM® of Nevada Now Offers Alcohol Awareness Training in Spanish

As you may know, all hardworking hospitality industry professionals in Las Vegas, and much of Nevada, are required to obtain alcohol awareness training and procure an alcohol awareness card prior to the start of work in a setting that deals with the sale and service of alcoholic beverages. Las Vegas is a growing and diverse town, and there are a multitude of Spanish-speaking and bilingual service professionals working in area casinos and clubs who are required to obtain this training.

In response to a growing demand, TAM® of Nevada is now offering alcohol awareness training to Spanish speakers at our Training Center in Las Vegas. If you want to take your training in Spanish, you can join us on Tuesday nights at 6:00pm for a course taught by instructor Roberto Valencia-Vega. Training will follow the same format of our English-language course, and you’ll be able to obtain your TAM® Card on-site immediately after passing your exam. For more information, or to enroll in one of our training sessions, please visit TAM® of Nevada’s website or call us at (702) 545-6664.

© 2011 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada

Promote Nevada as a Safe Vacation Spot!

Nevada in general and Las Vegas in particular has something for everyone. People come to town for sight-seeing, family vacations, bachelor parties and weddings, shows, gambling and more. We’ve all heard the saying “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas,” but let’s not keep it all a secret; let’s show everyone that Las Vegas is a safe and exciting place to spend their time.

By promoting and practicing safe alcohol service, you can help do your part to ensure that newcomers to Vegas can have a blast, but make it around town and back home without harming themselves or others. Hopefully, they’ll return home to tell their friends what a great time they had! By sharing what the great state of Nevada has to offer, you can not only impress your guests and help them to enjoy a memorable experience, but hopefully they’ll spread the word, and that benefits everyone in the long run.

Here are a few things you can do to help promote Nevada and increase interest in our state:

  1. Always practice safe alcohol sales and service. The lessons you learn in your TAM® course will help you to serve responsibly. A well-educated server is familiar with alcohol’s effects on the body and can recognize the dangerous signs of over-intoxication. Watch how much you are serving and how often. You can help to cut down on the number of over-intoxicated individuals who ruin the atmosphere for others, or potentially harm themselves. Also, call a cab for any inebriated drivers on your premises. Keeping them off the road helps keep us all safe.
  2. Have a working knowledge of what is going on in and around town. Refer to our blog postings “Where’s the Party,” and, “Share the Vegas Inside Scoop For Bigger Tips,” for information on how to impress your guests and introduce them to all of the fine things going on around town. Helping to steer vacationers towards sights and attractions that are fun, appealing and safe is a great way to share all that the state has to offer. The Nevada Commission on Tourism’s website also has a wealth of helpful information and resources.
  3. Don’t be afraid to share your opinion and tips on less well-traveled spots. Having a basic knowledge of tourist attractions to share with newcomers is imperative, but many guests will also appreciate your insider knowledge about where locals like the hang out, off the beaten path sites to visit, etc.

How do you promote Nevada and Las Vegas among your hospitality guests?

Resources

Nevada Commission on Tourism – The official Nevada Travel and Tourism Website

© 2011 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada

You’re Hired! Landing a Job in the Hospitality Industry

We all know the economy is tough right now, and the job market is competitive. However, this year things are slowly starting to turn around, and we can all breathe a little easier. According to the Nevada Department of Employment, Training & Rehabilitation and Clark County Comprehensive Planning, five of the eight largest employers in Clark County are in the hospitality industry, great news for those looking to get hired. (Clark County, NV).

For dedicated job searchers, it helps to stay ahead of the pack and use all of the resources available to you if you want to land a great job in a tight market. In this day and age, it’s not enough to look through the ‘Help Wanted’ section in the newspaper. Employers are using job search websites, word of mouth, and social media tools to reach potential candidates, and connecting has never been easier. Here are a few sites that will help you to jump start the search for your next hospitality career!

Job Listing Websites – There are jobs out there, you just have to know where to look. A great first step is doing a job search on any number of reputable employment websites. Sites like Nevada Job Connect and Recruiting Nevada are great for finding Nevada-area careers. Also check national sites like Monster and Indeed for additional listings, and industry specific sites like Hospitality Job Site. Also, if there is a particular company you want to work for, but sure to check their company website. Casinos, restaurants and clubs often have sections on their websites dedicated to employment listings, and this is one of the first places you’ll find out about available positions.

Social Media Networks – Many employers are now using Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and even YouTube to reach out to candidates. If you use Twitter or Facebook, make sure to ‘follow’ or ‘like’ companies you would be interested in working for, and watch for updates. Also, consider connecting with TAM ® of Nevada as we often rebroadcast any job postings or casting calls that we feel may be of interest to those in the hospitality or beverage industry on Twitter and Facebook. There are many individuals and organizations on popular social media platforms that focus on broadcasting job alerts, so you want to make sure to get out there and network socially. Let your social circle know you are looking for work, and don’t be afraid to reach out to others to help with the search; word of mouth can be invaluable.

Industry Websites and Blogs – It’s a great idea to stay up-to-date on what’s going on in your industry while you’re searching. Visiting hospitality industry blogs and websites will keep you in the loop with updates on what’s new in your industry and local area. Sites like Vegas Chatter are great for learning about new restaurant and bar openings in Las Vegas; you can easily get a heads up on who might be hiring new workers. Also check blogs like Hospitality Job Site’s blog or sites like Nightclub & Bar for tips and industry news.

Searching for a great position that you’ll enjoy and excel in can be a daunting process, but having the right tools to help you get started can greatly boost your chances of success. What are your favorite sites when searching for a job?

Resources

© 2011 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada