Best jobs for the long run

Jobs: Assistant manager, director of sales and marketing or food and beverage; general manager

There's a shortage of good people working in the hotel industry, said Ashley Hauge, manager of Unbridled Recruiters and Staffing, a member office of MRINetwork.

To get on an upper-management track, she recommends new hotels. "They're looking for people out of college. You can gain levels of experience very quickly," Hauge said.

Hard workers can get promoted early and often. So are those willing to go where the greatest needs are. Recently, Hauge has seen huge demand at hotels in Hawaii.

And while college degrees in business or management are a plus, an even bigger advantage is the ability to fit in with the culture of the hotel. So if you're a laid back personality, chances are the Ritz-Carlton is not a good fit.

What characterizes the best hotel employees from the rest is their love of the job. "They have fun. That's where the payoff is," Hauge said.

Pay: To start, $35,000 to $40,000 in the West; thereafter $45,000 to $50,000; after 10 years and a promotion to general manager, $145,000-plus