IHM - Most Frequently Asked Interview Questions & How To Answer Them: Hospitality Edition

There are many prospects in the hospitality sector, but there is also a lot of competition. As a result, professionals must go through a rigorous interview process. This step considers them for a job, particularly if it is a senior management position. Many top hotel management colleges in India help you prepare for your interview.

In this post, we'll go through seven hospitality interview questions, the responses to which will help you narrow down your selection.

1. How would you describe yourself?

Isn't it simple and straightforward? Because this is an open-ended question, you don't have to provide the interviewer with a lot of information. No matter which degree you carry from the top hotel management colleges in India, you must be confident with this answer and your personality.

The interviewer is looking for a 2-minute summary of who you are and why you believe you are the best candidate for the job.

Be direct and specific in your response to the position you're applying for. Recruiters want to learn more about you, your interests, and your past in order to determine if you are a good fit for the position you are looking for. Talk about the skills that you've acquired while you were in one of the top hotel management colleges in India relevant to the position.

2. Have you ever had to deal with a difficult customer? If so, how will you deal with the situation?

Every hotel/hospitality business revolves around customer service, which is why top hotel management colleges in India teach you how to tackle them. You will undoubtedly encounter angry, unsatisfied, or demanding customers.

The most crucial success aspect in the hotel industry is service. The recruiter wants to discover how you handle pressure and how you can use the situation to your advantage by asking this question. This question assesses your soft skills, including those you already have and those you can develop in the future.

The interviewer wants to know what you learned from the instance where you had a particularly difficult customer. If you haven't encountered such a circumstance yet, as a hotel management newcomer, you should not be hesitant to speak out. Simply state that there is no such event experienced.

3. What makes you want to work in this position?

For freshers who graduated from top hotel management colleges in India, this is arguably one of the most typical hotel interview questions.

The employer is more interested in your enthusiasm than in the specifics. The answer will reveal whether you are a quick learner who is passionate and has a positive mindset.

For starters, the hotel would like to hire someone who is really interested in working there long-term. If an internship while studying in one of the top hotel management colleges in India motivated you, talk about it. The planned responses about job progression, improved prospects, and so on don't work in your favor.

Demonstrate your excitement, as well as your knowledge of your hotel's culture and potential contributions. Let them know you have had the best training at one of the top hotel management colleges in India.

4. What do you know about our company?

You have around 2-3 minutes to respond to this.

This is where your research and interest in the hospitality industry come in handy. The hotel industry is fast-paced, and businesses like what they do.

Similarly, they are looking for someone who is familiar with the company's operations and services. As a result, ensure that you have a prior understanding of the organization, such as the services offered or the senior management team.

It's also crucial to consider the company's culture, since understanding it will provide you a distinct advantage over the competition. Make sure you read over the company's website, social media profiles, and any recent NEWS or talk about the hotel.

5. Can you tell us about your prior experience in this industry?

Due to their busy schedules, hospitality sector employees sometimes fail to adequately prepare for their interviews. However, this is the first error to make. You should prepare as you graduate from one of the top hotel management colleges in India.

If you're applying for a job in the hospitality business, you probably have a lot of experience. You should highlight the experience gained from doing Internships while in top hotel management colleges in India from the beginning to the finish.

If you're changing careers, however, make sure you're being creatively honest about it.

This question allows you to answer all of the interview questions at the same time.

To come up with an ideal response, keep the following in mind.

• Never bluff unnecessarily. They can read your expressions.
• Never discuss anything negative about your former job.
• When describing an experience, always cite one major accomplishment.
• Don't rehash what you've already said in your CV. Instead, start with the most recent experience.
• Maintain eye contact with the interviewer at all times, looking for indicators that he or she wants more information.
• Make your interview response as innovative as possible.

6. What according to you are the challenges of this industry?

This is your chance to demonstrate your understanding of the hospitality sector. This is also a reminder to learn closely about the industry while being a student at top hotel management colleges in India.

The question might be phrased differently, but the interviewer's goal is to see if you understand the what, where, and how of the hospitality industry. Top hotel management colleges in India try to cover these things in your training.

You must demonstrate to them that you are capable of handling whatever difficulty the corporation may throw at you.

You must answer both sides of the question because it is a two-sided question. Consider the following points.

• How well-versed are you in the latest developments in the hospitality industry?
• Are your skill sets a good match for these after attending top hotel management colleges in India? Be truthful.
• What are the areas of weakness that you want to improve?
• What fuels your passion and how do you stay motivated in the hospitality industry?

7. What are your career goals in the hospitality industry?

This is one of the questions given in a hospitality interview to determine your goal. Ensure that you are portrayed as a person who is ambitious, as this will imply that you are hardworking. The ability to manage one's career is crucial in this situation. It all starts with determining your goals and devising a strategy to achieve them. Assure them that you've laid out your objectives and are striving to achieve them.

• No more than 3-4 goals should be mentioned.
• Mention one long-term aim and two or three short-term objectives.
• While explaining these objectives, talk about your skills.
• Keep yourself motivated by mentioning each aim.
• Explain the action strategy for achieving the target quickly.

So there you have it. You may be asked some of these top questions during your hospitality interview. If you're a newbie, meticulously preparing these interview questions can help you get over the interview jitters.