Interview tips
Your interview with your potential employer is the opportunity for you to speak more about your motivation and experiences, as well as convince your employer you are the right person for the job.
An employer wants to find out (during a short period of time):
• Can you work well as part of a team?
• Can you take initiative in your position?
• What is your approach to guest service?
• Does your experience and attitude fit well into their company/culture?
Research your future host employer
You should learn as much as you can about the potential employer. Research the organization’s history, products or services and the person you have an interview with (for example through Google or LinkedIn). Find recent news by visiting its website, read industry publications and talk to members of your network. Doing so will help you specifically address the company’s needs during the interview.
Practice makes perfect
You can avoid a potentially embarrassing moment by considering answers too tough or strange interview questions ahead of time. Hiring managers may ask about your greatest weakness, for example. In this case, your response should be candid but brief. Ideally, you will be able to highlight steps you have taken to overcome this flaw. For example, if delivering presentations is not your forte, you might explain how you enrolled in courses to improve your public-speaking abilities.
Develop short, yet informative responses to these questions by practicing interview questions with a friend so you can answer clearly and confidently.
Share something personal
You can use your past to your professional advantage. Keep in mind career achievements that demonstrate hard-to-measure qualities — like judgment, initiative, teamwork or leadership — that are not apparent on your résumé. Perhaps you stayed at the office until 2 a.m. to help a co-worker complete a high-profile project on time. While it was not your responsibility, you saw a colleague in need and were happy to help.
Ask Questions
Ask your interviewer a few questions you may have about their company or their idea of your role in the company. For example: Does your hotel/restaurant offer training classes for me? Asking questions demonstrates that you have knowledge about the employer, about the industry, and that you have a genuine interest in working at this particular place. Employers want to know why you are interested in working for them!
Leave an impression with the Employer
Your first impression is very important to many employers (especially in the USA; as we all know, one of the biggest differences between Americans and Europeans: Americans tend to be more outgoing; Asians and Europeans are more reserved and polite). Especially on the phone (where there is no opportunity for non-verbal communication), this politeness can be perceived as not interested, not excited, etc. Therefore, when interviewing, keep the following in mind and make sure you leave a great impression:
– Make sure you sound excited and enthusiastic
– Smile on the phone: it really works!
– Avoid pauses and periods of silence
– End by expressing your appreciation for the interviewer’s time and consideration. Also, send a thank-you email to reinforce your interest and ability to excel in the role.
You Tube
Want to ace your Skype interview with your host employer? Than visit our You Tube channel http://www.youtube.com/hrcinternational with an online training on “How to prepare best for your Skype interview” and more useful interview tips & tricks.
Common Questions
1. Tell us about yourself
Don’t be confused about this question: The employers are not interested in knowing your hobbies or what type of music you listen to. They are looking for you to give a brief summary of your education and work experience.
2. Where do you see yourself in 5 years or what are your future plans?
The Employer wants to determine if you are career-oriented. They want someone who is going to be dedicated to the job they are hired to do, but also has an interest in helping the company grow and become better.
3. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Employers want to be sure that you have an objective view of your job, your talents, and your desire to improve. Do NOT speak poorly about your (former) boss or co-workers. It looks very bad and is considered poor business etiquette. For your strengths, be sure to give actual examples to demonstrate your skills.
4. Give a scenario of a problem and ask how you would act or resolve the situation
Use real-life examples. How did you handle a guest complaint? Was there an emergency in your department…what did you do to assist your teammates in resolving the situation? Interviewers want to see that you can think critically and develop solutions, regardless of what kind of issue you faced.
5. What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Again, give a real-life example. The BEST type of answer is to name an accomplishment that can relate to the position you are interviewing for.
6. Why do you want to work for our company?
The employer wants to know that you have an interest in working in their company. They want to know that you will have the company’s interests in mind. This also gives you a chance to tell the employer what you know about their company (and it shows the employer that you have done your research).
7. Why did you leave your last job?
Even if your last job ended badly, be careful about being negative in answering this question. Be as diplomatic as possible. If you do point out negative aspects of your last job, find some positives to mention as well. You can mention that you want international hotel experience and this is why you left your job.
8. Why Should I hire you?
Here is the chance to really sell yourself. You need to briefly describe your strengths, qualifications and what you can bring to the company. Be careful not to answer this question too generically, however. EVERYONE says they are hardworking and motivated. Distinguish yourself!
Good luck!
