Back 29.09.2026 Blog, Careers

Preparing for Recruiters: Inside BHMS Career Days and Internship Support

A recruiter is sitting across the table. You have a few minutes to make an impression.

Your CV matters, but it is not the whole story. Can you explain what interests you, show that you understand the company and communicate that you are ready to learn?

In the BHMS Behind The Scenes podcast, host Athina speaks with Melina from the BHMS Internship Department about preparing for employers, choosing meaningful internships and making the most of Career Days.

Whether you are approaching your first interview or refining your career direction, this guide offers practical advice to help you prepare with greater confidence, make a stronger impression and approach recruiters with purpose.

Sometimes students focus on the name of a company without thinking enough about the actual role. We encourage them to look at the learning opportunity, the responsibilities and how the experience fits into the bigger picture.

More Than Finding an Internship

Finding an internship is only one part of the process. At BHMS, the Internship Department supports students in preparing for professional life through CV and interview guidance, career coaching, company research and advice on professional presentation.

Students can also benefit from internship seminars, mock interviews, CV photoshoots, one-to-one feedback and practical support with work contracts and visa processes. The goal is to help them understand their options and approach each opportunity with confidence.

A well-known hotel name may be appealing, but it is not always the best fit. The most valuable internship is one that offers meaningful learning, relevant responsibilities and supports a student’s longer-term goals.

This could be a role with a global hotel group or a family-run Swiss hotel or restaurant, where students may gain broader exposure to daily operations. BHMS helps students consider their interests, experience, language skills, location preferences and the skills they want to develop before making a decision.

Employers want examples. Instead of saying, ‘I am a team player,’ explain a situation where you worked with others, solved a problem or supported a guest.

Preparing for the Interview

Interview confidence is built through preparation. Before meeting employers, BHMS students receive support with CV reviews, interview practice, company research and professional presentation. The aim is to help them speak naturally and clearly about what they have done and what they can bring to a role.

Students do not need a long CV to stand out. Recruiters also look for curiosity, reliability, clear communication and a willingness to learn. Specific examples are particularly important. Describing how you supported colleagues during a busy shift, helped a guest or contributed to a group project is far more effective than relying on broad statements.

Career Days at BHMS don’t just open doors. They help students walk through them.

Career Days: Meeting Recruiters on Campus

During the Spring and Autumn Career Days, international hospitality recruiters visit the BHMS campus to meet students. Participating organisations can include Swiss luxury hotels, international hotel groups and cruise lines, giving students direct exposure to a wide range of career opportunities.

Each company has its own dedicated day rather than being part of one large career fair. This creates a more focused setting where students can learn about the company, meet recruiters one-to-one and have meaningful conversations about potential roles and career paths.

Behind the scenes, the Internship Department builds employer relationships, coordinates schedules and prepares students for interviews.

For a student preparing at short notice, the advice is straightforward:

Research the companies you genuinely want to meet.
Prepare a short introduction: who you are, what you are looking for and the experience you have gained.
Bring thoughtful questions, so the conversation goes both ways.

You do not need to be perfect. You just need to show who you are, what you are interested in and that you are ready to learn.

From Internship to Career

Internships offer more than industry experience. They help students develop confidence, adaptability, communication skills and the ability to work well with people from different backgrounds. These are qualities that matter in hospitality and in many other service-focused industries.

Through BHMS’s three-internship model, students have repeated opportunities to apply what they learn in the classroom to real professional environments. Career support continues beyond graduation, helping students take the next step towards their first role with stronger experience, a broader network and a clearer career direction.

Want to hear more from behind the scenes? Listen to the full episode, “Behind the Internship Department & Career Days,” where Athina and Melina discuss internship preparation, employer expectations and how BHMS Career Days work.

Ready to explore your own career path? Discover how BHMS combines academic learning, practical internships and personalised career support. Join a BHMS Open Day or download our brochure to learn more about BHMS.