Interview questions and answers in the hotel industry

The best hotel interview questions will provide an opportunity for both parties to get what they need, but how do you as a recruiter know what to ask? Are there specific hotel manager interview questions and answers? Are hotel supervisor interview questions different to hotel front office manager interview questions? And what about best practice interview questions and answers for hotel receptionist roles?

This article will give you an overview of the best hotel industry interview questions while also exploring the different questions you should be asking for different roles.

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10 common hotel interview questions

Hotel job interview questions and answers will vary depending on the type of hotel as well as the position you are interviewing for. For example, a large 5-star hotel interview in a major city will be different to a boutique hotel in a rural area.

However, there are some common questions that can be used to get the conversation started for any type of hotel role. Note: You certainly don’t have to ask all of these questions, but they are a good selection for getting to know your candidate and their aspirations.

1) Tell me about yourself

This is an easy open question that will give the candidate some time to shake off the nerves. There isn’t necessarily a right or wrong answer to this question, but if they go into a 10 minute tangent about their pet cats… it might be a sign that their interpersonal skills need a bit of work.

2) Tell me about your career so far

This is another gentle opener to get the conversation going. A good candidate will give you all the relevant highlights without going through their whole CV point by point.

3) Why do you want to work at this hotel?

This is a good opportunity to see whether they have researched your brand. They don’t need to recite its entire history, but they should display some basic knowledge that shows they prepared for the interview.

4) Why are you interested in this role?

Again, there’s no right or wrong answer but a good candidate will demonstrate enthusiasm for the role in question.

5) What skills and experience will you bring to the role?

This question works for both entry level and senior positions. Even if they have no experience, a good candidate will be able to identify some transferable skills.

6) Why did you leave your last position?

People leave their jobs for a number of reasons so, again, there isn’t necessarily a right or wrong answer. However, if the candidate launches into a tirade about their previous employer, it’s not a good sign.

7) What are your 3 main strengths?

This is a question that good candidates will probably be prepared for. However, it can still give you an insight into what they think are good qualities for the role.

8) What are your 3 main weaknesses?

A good candidate will be honest while also finding a way to put a positive spin on things.

9) What are your long term career aspirations?

This answer will vary depending on the type of role you are interviewing for. A good candidate will give you an honest answer about where they want to be in future while also displaying enthusiasm for the current role.

10) Tell me one interesting fact about yourself

Don’t put too much pressure on this question — just consider it a great ice breaker!