In the USA, professionalism, discipline, and conscientious performance of work are valued

Presentation:

My name is Svetlozar and I have been working in hospitality for about 20 years, most of my career has been in the USA. Currently, I am a consultant and work on projects where I replace the General Manager of a hotel when, for example, this position is vacant. In these cases, I provide leadership, experience, and advice until a new manager is found.

My work is both routine and unpredictable, but that is what makes it interesting. I enjoy interacting with workers, clients, and partners, and my job satisfaction is high. My work capacity depends on the size of the hotel, with the last places I worked including Hilton in Massachusetts (267 rooms), Otesaga Resort in New York (131 rooms), “The St. Anthony Luxury Collection Hotel” in San Antonio (277 rooms), and currently, I am working in a 4-star Marriott in Maryland (229 rooms).

Location and reasons for choice:

I am currently in the USA, in the state of Maryland, near Baltimore. For the last 2 years, I generally travel and work where I wish or where there is a need for my services. Now I am working in a newly built Marriott hotel with 229 rooms and 15,000 square feet of event space. The hotel has about 180 employees, and I manage all employees and a team of 20 managers, assistants, and supervisors.

Challenges at the beginning:

When I came to USA, I had a clear goal to finish my education and then decide in which sector to develop. I was lucky to start seriously in the industry thanks to the internship I did at Langham Hotel in Boston. Before that, I worked at other prestigious brands like Sheraton and Relais & Châteaux, which provided me with a solid foundation for my career.

Language barrier:

Fortunately, I studied English at the National Humanitarian High School in Blagoevgrad and had excellent teachers. Of course, at first, it was difficult to overcome my accent and to improve my language skills, but over time I succeeded.

Resources and networks for adaptation:

I received a lot of help from professors and colleagues at Boston University, where I completed my bachelor's and master's degrees. Also, over the years, I have built a network of contacts in the industry that provided me with great support. Although I have not been active in Bulgarian organizations, there are many Bulgarian immigrants in Boston who have succeeded and are realizing themselves professionally.

Differences in work culture:

I have no experience in Bulgaria in large companies, so I cannot make a direct comparison. However, even in high school, when I worked in construction with my father,  who taught me a lot about hard work and discipline, which are important for success in professional life.

Values and practices in the workplace:

In the USA, they value professionalism, discipline, and conscientious performance of work. Leadership is important, but so is workplace safety. Teamwork, honesty, and initiative are core values. In my field of work, adaptability and the ability to work in an inclusive team are valued. It is important to meet deadlines and achieve measurable results. Individualism is not a priority, but it is part of the culture of freedom and entrepreneurship.

Cultural differences:

There are always challenges, especially when you have to integrate a new person into the team, encountering differences in culture, race, gender, or orientation.

Finding a job:

In my opinion, there are opportunities everywhere for those who want to work. Although the job search process is becoming digitalized, it is important for candidates to have a good resume and recommendations.

Additional qualifications:

After I finished my education, I went through additional qualification courses at Cornell University, New York. I completed programs in "Executive Leadership" and "High-Performance Leadership", as well as courses at Dale Carnegie.

Prejudices and obstacles:

I have rarely encountered prejudices, but of course, there are people with such attitudes everywhere.

Advice for those who want to follow your path:

Dream and do not give up. Maintain a balance between career and personal life. The truly rich are those who can enjoy the moment and the little things, not just the money.

If you could go back, would you choose the same path?

Absolutely. I have always wanted to achieve the American dream and the idea that every person can succeed through hard work and mental capacity. America provided me with the opportunity to realize myself and rise from scratch, but I have always wanted to achieve the Bulgarian dream for a stable family, home, and peace.

Do you miss anything from your homeland?

Professionally, I miss some of the contacts in Bulgaria, with whom I try to maintain connection online. Personally, I miss my family, relatives, and friends.

Have you considered returning?

The future will show and I always carry Bulgaria in my heart, everywhere in the world.

What do you think about money?

Money is not a symbol of success if it keeps you dependent and you have no freedom. The most important thing is to believe in yourself and to have enough for peace and happiness in the present. Tomorrow is not guaranteed, so one should have just enough money to be happy in the moment.