The work of a Housekeeping Executive requires consummate skills in ensuring that all housekeeping work processes are properly managed. Therefore, recruiters concentrate on hiring and interviewing the right candidates for the job.
Technically, the Housekeeping Executive interview process includes questions aimed at determining if an individual is a good person to hire because of their leadership skills and experience.
A set of interview questions and answers particular to the position of a Housekeeping Executive position is provided here for you to practice with:
Housekeeping Executive Interview Questions and Answers
1. Tell me a little about yourself.
My first job in the hospitality industry was that of a room attendant. Due to my excellent skills, I was soon promoted to a supervisory role, and now, I am working in a management role within the same capacity.
2. What duties have you performed while working as a Housekeeping Executive?
During the 5 years that I have worked as a housekeeping manager, I have performed many duties including hiring and training staff members, and scheduling housekeeping staff to ensure that they work properly and in a timely manner. In particular, I have been busy checking rooms to ensure that high standards are met. Also, I have been busy overseeing the work of the housekeeping staff. My work also includes ensuring that all equipment and supplies needed to ensure high levels of housekeeping are available at all times.
3. What specific skills do you possess which make you an excellent person to hire as a Housekeeping Executive?
I am an excellent leader, who has a great capacity to help and mentor teams. I am also thorough, which is a solid requirement for this job. In addition, I am exceptional at handling complaints and problems, by quickly resolving them.
4. What do you like most about this work?
Working as a Housekeeping Executive keeps me constantly busy, as there is so much to do. And remaining busy in providing excellent guest services is what I like doing the most.
5. What do you dislike most about this work?
I would not say that I dislike it, but the work can become quite draining especially during peak months.
6. How do you handle the stress associated with this work?
I cannot say that I do not get stressed. However, my method of handling stress is to take a breather and analyze how things can be managed. Taking a minute out always works.
7. How do you handle adversity at the workplace?
Working in a leadership role, adversity is all in a day’s work. I can handle adverse situations quite well, to be honest. I ensure that I get to the root of why it is happening and then deal with it before it can affect my work.
8. Describe your perfect work environment.
A perfect work environment is when all housekeeping personnel is working towards a common goal and on schedule.
9. Have you ever experienced a perfect work environment?
I can honestly say that I have experienced pockets of perfection when all things were aligned properly. Those instances were dream days.
10. Tell us about a time when you handled a difficult situation.
A guest once complained that his money was missing from his wallet. A room attendant had cleaned his room shortly before but he swore that he hadn’t stolen the wallet. There are of course no cameras in guest rooms so it was quite impossible to say what had happened. However, my gut feeling kept saying that the guest was right, and the room attendant had something to do with it. So, I purposely sent the room attendant on an errand and checked his belongings in his locker. Sure enough, the stolen wallet was there. I had no choice but to fire the offending employee and apologize profusely to the guest.
11. Why did you choose to work in hospitality?
I have always seen myself working in the hospitality industry. And I trained specially to work in hospitality right after I finished my education.
12. What is your greatest strength?
I believe that my greatest strength is my ability to work nonstop, without compromising on the quality of the work that I am trusted with.
13. What is your greatest weakness?
My greatest weakness is perhaps my inability to stop working, even when I have time off. I am in a constant state of service which can sometimes exhaust me.
14. Tell us about a time when you had a conflict with a coworker?
A fellow housekeeping manager, catering to a different wing of the hotel once asked me to do something nefarious for monetary gain. He wanted me to create a fake guest entry book in order to collect money from guests. He said he had done it at a previous workplace and was highly successful in earning double his salary. Of course, my answer was a big resounding no. Not only did I refuse to do something criminal like this, but I also reported him to the management, as I was afraid that he might be doing other nefarious things that could be harmful to the organization.
15. Have you ever resolved a conflict between two employees?
Yes, I have resolved conflicts between employees many times. Quite recently, I found myself telling off 2 employees because they were constantly bickering with each other. Both of them did not get along with each other, and I could foresee that they wouldn’t ever be able to do that. But I made sure that they understood what professionalism was all about, and ensured that they never had a conflict again.
16. Why are you leaving your current job?
I am in the market to work in a position more conducive to my skills and experience. Even though I love my present workplace, I feel that I have stopped growing as I am at the highest pinnacle of my career there. In order to grow, I have to move to an organization that will allow me to truly showcase my skills.
17. Why do you want to work for us particularly?
I am interested in working for your hotel specifically because of its excellent standing in the hospitality industry. I firmly believe that I can grow and prosper here while ensuring that the facility moves to greater heights.
18. What motivates you?
Being trusted to do my work with diligence is what motivates me the most. I am also quite motivated by working in an organized environment.
19. What demotivated you?
I am demotivated by micromanagement. I feel that I am professional enough to work on instructions, which is why someone supervising every move is quite discouraging for me.
20. What is your greatest accomplishment?
About 9 months ago, I was asked to ensure that all 100 guest rooms in my wing were deep cleaned and readied for a foreign delegation coming to stay there. And all this needed to be completed within 5 days. Even though the target was high and the timeline was tight, I managed to complete my work within the set time. And I was highly appreciated and rewarded for this.
21. What makes a workday worthwhile for you?
Hard work always pays off. When I achieve my goals successfully, which is actually quite often, I feel that my workday is quite worthwhile.
22. How do you define success?
For me, success is always in synchronization with the success of the company that I am working for. I focus completely on achieving success keeping my workplace’s goals and targets in mind.
23. Have you ever been in a situation when you had no choice but to be straightforward with a guest?
As a Housekeeping Executive, I have to be in contact with guests quite often. Yes, I was once in a situation when I had to straightforwardly tell a guest that he could not do drugs in his room.
24. When can you join us if we decide to hire you?
I can join you within 30 days of providing notice to my present workplace.
25. Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
I am positive that within the next 5 years, I will be working as a housekeeping director.
26. Do you have any questions for me?
I would appreciate it if you would shed some light on how your hotel has continuously kept a positive reputation over the years.