Being a travel agent seems like an easy profession for many, but is it really?
Through this guide, you’ll discover what you must do to become a travel agent in New Jersey, as well as just how easy this job is or not.
Read on!
Travel Agent Job Description and Duties in New Jersey
Oftentimes, people will know if they want to have a certain job or not based on its description and the duties they must complete.
People hope to have an easier time finding these services through agents:
- Transportation
- Accommodation
- Entertainment
Travel agents need specific knowledge, and skills, and take specific actions, to actually help their customers.
The first step towards these goals is understanding the needs, desires, and budget, of the person they offer their services.
What not many realize is that some people may not be able to reach their destination.
Agents have to ensure this is actually possible by:
- Reviewing visas, vaccinations, and other travel necessities
- Keeping accurate records
- Finding solutions to issues and emergencies
- Handling payments and deposits
- Promoting the various packages resorts, hotels, and cruise companies offer
- Negotiating with hotels, resorts, cruise companies, and more
Depending on a variety of factors, additional steps and tasks could be needed.
In most cases, these professionals are more helpful when they’re more familiar with certain types of or reasons for traveling.
Here are the main types of tourism:
- Honeymoon
- Have some more family time together
- For business
- Go on a cruise
- Luxury
- Budget
- Relaxation
Requirements to be a Travel Agent in New Jersey
You probably wonder what kind of person you need to become a travel agent in New Jersey.
Answering this is pretty easy, as you mostly need some skills and knowledge.
Ideal candidates have the following:
- Good communication skills
- Good management skills
- Able to use various computer programs
- Good problem-solving skills
- Great marketing skills
- Able to work full-time
- Detail-oriented
- Being confident
- Be at least 18 years old
- Having a clean criminal record
- Being honest
- Have a high school diploma or GED
- Speaking a foreign language
- Liking and having the ability to travel
Experience in the field is not always needed, but it can be obtained by working on other functions in a tourism agency.
Education and Certification for a Travel Agent in New Jersey
The knowledge we mentioned earlier is obtained by attending some formal education classes.
These courses also aid with developing most of the skills needed for this job.
Now, if you’re curious to know which schools in New Jersey offer tourism-related programs, have a look at the next table.
Top 16 Schools in New Jersey
School Name | Address |
---|---|
Atlantic Cape Community College | 5100 BLACK HORSE PIKE MAYS LANDING, NJ 08330 |
Bergen Community College | 400 PARAMUS RD PARAMUS, NJ 07652 |
Brookdale Community College | 765 NEWMAN SPRINGS RD LINCROFT, NJ 07738 |
Camden County College | 200 COLLEGE DRIVE BLACKWOOD, NJ 08012 |
County College of Morris | 214 CENTER GROVE RD RANDOLPH, NJ 07869 |
Fairleigh Dickinson University | 1000 RIVER RD TEANECK, NJ 07666 |
Fairleigh Dickinson University | 285 MADISON AVE MADISON, NJ 07940 |
Hudson County Community College | 70 SIP AVENUE JERSEY CITY, NJ 07306 |
Mercer County Community College | 1200 OLD TRENTON RD WEST WINDSOR, NJ 08550 |
Middlesex County College | 2600 WOODBRIDGE AVENUE EDISON, NJ 08818 |
Ocean County College | 1 College Dr, Toms River, NJ 08754 |
Raritan Valley Community College | 118 LAMINGTON ROAD BRANCHBURG, NJ 08876 |
Rowan College at Burlington County | 900 COLLEGE CIRCLE MOUNT LAUREL, NJ 08054 |
Rutgers University | 406 PENN CAMDEN, NJ 08102 |
Stockton University | 101 VERA KING FARRIS DRIVE GALLOWAY, NJ 08205 |
Union County College | 1033 SPRINGFIELD AVENUE CRANFORD, NJ 07016 |
You can enroll in programs with a duration between 2 and 4 years, depending on the type of diploma you want to obtain.
If it’s of any help, many other tourism agents choose the 4-year programs, over the shorter ones.
you should also know that you can find courses that demand you to attend in person but also online programs.
Most of these schools usually require you have at least a high school diploma or a GED upon enrolling.
Here are the main areas of study in a tourism program:
- Introduction to the travel industry
- Professional Skills
- Basic/International geography
- Destination geography
- Introduction to international travel
- Introduction to air travel
- Transportation
- Career development
- Sales and marketing for travel
Travel Agent Salary and Employment in New Jersey
The main perks of this occupation are:
- Being able to travel often
- Being able to work on your own
This doesn’t mean agents don’t work for agencies as well.
This usually means having to obey the rules of the establishment.
Average salaries in New Jersey are higher than in most of the country, and you can see them listed below for this occupation.
Item | Percent |
---|---|
$38K | |
$42K | |
$50K |
Average Salary of Travel Agents in New Jersey
City Name | Salary |
---|---|
Newark | $43,837 |
Jersey City | $46,178 |
Paterson | $44,259 |
Elizabeth | $43,837 |
Edison | $43,069 |
Lakewood | $43,126 |
Woodbridge | $43,069 |
Toms River | $42,311 |
Clifton | $44,259 |
Trenton | $41,484 |
Regional Salary
Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Trenton, NJ | 70 | $47,740 | $22.95 | $79,720 | $35,610 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Additional Information for Travel Agents in New Jersey
If you decide to work on your own, make sure to earn the correct licenses for this.
Thanks for the helpful guide! I’ve always dreamed of combining my love for travel with a career, and becoming a travel agent in New Jersey sounds like an exciting path to explore.
I appreciate the step-by-step breakdown. As someone considering a career change, it’s reassuring to see clear guidelines on how to navigate the process of becoming a travel agent in my home state.