Hotel workers; how easy is it to get a job working for a hotel like a Holiday Inn? Besides dressing nicely and being polite and friendly when I hand in my application, what else can I do to increase my chance of getting an interview or even a job there? I went to this Holiday Inn hotel and I got an application and am going to type up a resume. They are hiring, but I would like to know, how easy is it to get a job at a hotel like Holiday Inn. The best way to get hired is to know about the company. Working at Holiday Inn doesn't sound like it takes a genius(no offense, just couldn't figure another way to say it).
There are basic things that need to be done at any interview. One is dress properly, where pressed slacks and a white button down shirt and tie. You basically want to dress the way you would if you work there. For example, if you were applying to a retain store for a cashier position a clean pair of kaki pants or even a nice pair or jeans would work. If you were applying at a place like a bank it would be more formal(possibly a suit). You get the idea.
There are basic questions the interviewer is going to answer. Many of these are protocol, by the book questions. Most interviewers will ask "Why do you want to work at...? or a variation of this. You need to tell them what they want to hear. I don't know anything about Holiday Inn, but lets say their website promotes excellent customer service, and they provide an atmosphere that makes people feel like they are at home. You are going to want to spit that back at them, in your own words.
Directly from their web site:
"We seek enthusiastic, friendly people who will lend their talents to help us realize our vision of being the world's leading hospitality brand owner. Not only are we passionate about our growing business, we're also dedicated to the people who help deliver our promise of excellence. Through individualized training programs tailored for all levels of the organization, you'll achieve higher performance and more satisfaction from work than ever. We also strongly value personal, family time, and strive to help our team members gain balance. Within an atmosphere of appreciation and respect, we are zealous in our belief of equality and pursue an active diversity program. Explore the links at left to learn more about our global organization."
This is what they want in an applicant, you need to hit on this in an interview.
So basically, they will ask:
"Why do you feel you will be a good fit at Holiday Inn?
You answer:
"I really like Holiday Inns practices regarding customers. I feel as if I can live up to their expectation of excellence. Holiday inn is the kind of company I would love to work for. I believe they surpass other hotels on their customer service and genuine care for employees.
They may ask you about this answer: What policies do you like? You need to know the answer. Find their policies regarding customer service.
They may ask you Why should they hire you over someone they interview tomorrow. You need to hit home that you are a hard, dedicated worker. You have a flexible schedule(only say this if it is true), you can bring more than any other applicant, with regards to dedication, and service.
They may also ask about salary. Ask them what the pay range of the job is. Know how much they start people on. They may ask "What salary are you looking for?" You need to say "What is the pay range for this position." All jobs have pay ranges based on experience. If they say "That depends, what is it you are looking for"(which is likely that they will ask this and not give an outright $ amount. You need to know what the job actually pays and quote that amount or a little above. So you could answer(lets say the starting pay is $8/hr "I am looking for about $10/hr however that is not set in stone for me" Makes you sound flexible and if they cannot pay you 10, the interviewer doesn't think you will not take the job for less.
If they ask you if you would start at a lesser position(which is up to you) You need to answer truthfully. "I really would like to work for Holiday Inn, so yes I would be willing to start as a .... If it would lead to the position of.... in time." Or you could say no, but be aware that this could cost you the job, since they are not willing to hire you as the position you want.
Basically you need to find info on the company and tell them what they want to hear. Go in confident and strong, eye contact, smile. Etc. Be personable above all things. They are looking for someone who they can rely on. You need to make turn the questions into positives about you. Think of every question they ask as a way to sell yourself to the interviewer. Never just answer the question yes or no, add more. More about yourself and the company you are applying for. Talking about yourself gets the interviewer to see what you are about and talking about the company will let them know you did your research and didn't just pop off the street and decided to apply for the first place with a help wanted sign.
It may be benifical to practice with someone who knows about interviewing or has a business degree, etc.
Start here:
http://www.careers.ichotelsgroup.com/app...
This is their about me info, which will give you an idea about the company and what they strive to achieve. sometimes its perfect timing like them having a need for personel Tell me when you fid out, I've been filling out apps for hotels for two weeks and I've been calling and calling and they say that they will give my name to the other manager, whatever! To be plain & simple with this question, do everything you should do to impress at an interview. It also helps if you do some research on the not only the Holiday Inn as a company, but the management or ownership as well. Some are owned by private owners or small corporations and are franchised out, so there operations may be slightly different from the corporate Holiday Inn-run hotels.
Also know what is expected of you for the job you are seeking and if you are unsure, ASK! Don't ask about wages until you are certain you have the position.
When you drop off your application and resume, see if you can speak to a supervisor or manager. Sometimes, this is the quickest way to get your foot in the door. If he/she is not available, ask the front desk (who you should leave the info with) when it is likely someone will contact you. Give them a few days, and if no response, call the hotel. The management could be busy and hasn't had a chance to get to your application yet. |
