In order to be considered eligible for a housekeeping manager position, it is imperative to ace the interview process. This will include questions and answers to determine what you know about heading a team of housekeeping personnel, as well as your ability to lead and mentor them.
During the interview process, you will be asked several questions to determine if you’re fit for a leadership job. Technically, your knowledge of leading and working in the hospitality industry will be tested. Also, interview questions will aim at finding out what you know about housekeeping work at the ground level.
The work of a housekeeping manager is a mix of actual housekeeping work, and leading a team of housekeepers which is why you will be judged in both these areas.
Typical questions (and expected answers) that you may come across during an interview for a housekeeping manager position include:
Housekeeping Manager Interview Questions and Answers
1. Tell me a little about yourself.
I started working in housekeeping 7 years ago. And I have been working in a managerial capacity for 4 years. I have an inherent love for housekeeping work and consider my workplace as a second home.
2. What duties have you performed in a housekeeping manager role?
As a housekeeping manager, I have been involved in many tasks, including overseeing and training individuals to ensure the provision of excellent housekeeping services. Typically, my duties have included creating and maintaining schedules for all housekeeping staff members and ensuring that they are properly performed. Also, my work includes training staff members to clean and maintain assigned work areas in accordance with the protocol. Moreover, ensuring excellent guest services through proper training and mentoring is a huge part of my work.
3. What skills do you possess which make you an excellent person to hire as a housekeeping manager?
I have great leadership qualities. Since I do not believe in bossing people around, I lead them by example. Also, I am well-versed in creating and implementing housekeeping policies and regulations. Furthermore, I possess excellent knowledge of the hospitality industry pertaining to hotels, guest houses, and cruises.
4. What do you find most difficult about working in this position?
I do not find the work difficult at all. At times, it is a bit challenging but I have yet to come across a situation that I cannot handle.
5. What do you like most about working in housekeeping?
By nature, I love assisting people. The fact that I can do what I love doing is quite encouraging.
6. What do you dislike about working in housekeeping?
At this point in time, I cannot think of a single thing that I dislike about this work.
7. How do you handle adversity at the workplace?
Adversity is common when you’re working with so many people. It comes from colleagues, team members, and even clients at times. I don’t have any issues working around it. I don’t usually pay much attention to negative situations unless they are at risk of affecting my work.
8. What is your most significant achievement in a leadership role?
Quite recently, I initiated a solid training and mentorship session for team members, which proved to be highly successful in bringing the team to deliver a high level of housekeeping support and services.
9. Have you ever failed at doing your work?
Success and failure are all part of the game. Yes, I have failed at achieving a team-building aim that I was quite insistent on gaining. But then, I made an extra effort to achieve it later, and I did.
10. Tell us of a time when a guest became angry at you or a team member?
My attention was once called to an incident that had transpired between a housekeeper and a guest. The guest had been quite rude to the housekeeper because the former erroneously believed that the latter had stolen her bag from the room. It became quite a problem until I checked the CCTV footage and realized that the guest had entered her room without her bag. It had so happened that she had accidentally left her bag in the rental car that she had been using. It was recovered from the rental car company, and she was quite sheepish about it later.
11. In your opinion, what is the most important part of working in housekeeping?
I believe that a certain sense of decorum is required when working in housekeeping. One is involved with guests’ personal things, which is why appropriateness is of the utmost importance.
12. What is your greatest strength?
I believe that my greatest strength is my adaptability. I can work in any kind of circumstance without any trouble, and learn the ropes easily.
13. What is your greatest weakness?
Perhaps I try too hard which makes people feel that I am overeager. In order not to appear annoying, I am making an effort to tone it down.
14. Describe your perfect work environment.
I am of the opinion that one makes one’s own ideal work environment. So, a perfect one is not put on a plate and given to you. It is something that you make an effort to create. Mine is one where I can work in harmony with my goals.
15. Why do you think you were promoted to a managerial position?
I was given a thorough rundown of why I was being promoted. The reasons outlined were my willingness to help and lead my coworkers without thought of competition, and my ability to stay grounded in adverse situations.
16. What do you think your current supervisor will say about you?
I am positive that he will tell you that I am a joy to work with.
17. What does client service mean to you?
Hospitality is all about high-end client services and client satisfaction. To me, client services mean everything, and I work very hard to ensure high levels of satisfaction amongst my clients.
18. How would you handle insubordination?
I am generally an easygoing but firm individual. Subordination is not usually a problem in my domain. However, if something like this does happen, I make sure that I deal with the issue immediately by putting people in their places – nicely, yet firmly.
19. In your opinion, what is the main cause of insubordination?
There can be many causes for insubordination. Usually, it is unhappiness in one’s current position and retaliation due to the same.
20. How would you ensure that insubordination does not transpire?
I feel that is it important to keep your team members happy while remaining within the diameter of the protocol. This way, people remain happy and satisfied with their work and do not usually revolt.
21. What motivates you?
I am highly motivated by work well done.
22. What demotivates you?
I have yet to figure out something that demotivates me. Technically, I am an extremely positive individual. Even when the going gets tough, I am hardly ever demotivated.
23. What do you think makes you unique?
I believe that I am one of a kind because of my ability to look at things objectively. Also, I always go the extra mile to make things work for my organization. And I am generally quite disciplined as well.
24. What are you most passionate about?
I am most passionate about getting my work done well, and on time.
25. Why do you want to leave your present job?
Even though the place where I am presently working is a great one, I feel a bit stagnated there. While I still want to work in a housekeeping manager position, I feel that there is more to it than what I am currently doing.
26. Why do you want to work for us specifically?
I have been following the leaders in the hospitality industry for a long period of time. Your hotel is at top of my list of excellent employers, and service providers. Hence, I want to work for your hotel.
27. What do you like most about your present position?
I love the people whom I work for, and my colleagues as well. They are a wonderful bunch of professionals, and I regret having to leave them and move on.
28. How do you define success?
Success is never a single event. The organization where I am working has to be successful for that success to trickle down to me. For me, success is something that is dependent on the organization as much as it is dependent on an individual.
29. How do you work under pressure?
I work quite well under pressure because I know how to handle pressure without letting it affect my work.
30. If we decide to hire you, when can you join us?
I can join you within 30 days of handing in my notice after you have made me an offer.
31. Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
My ambitions are always in sync with my company’s objectives. I see myself growing with your organization and eventually becoming a housekeeping director.
32. Do you have any questions for me?
Yes, I am interested in knowing a little more about your expectations from a housekeeping manager.