You’ve found a hospitality job that you really want – and you’ve landed an interview.  Congratulations!

Now, what can you do to make sure you nail it?

Cover all your bases.  Before heading into any hospitality interview, review this check list to make sure you’re prepared, poised and confident:

• Revisit your résumé.  Make sure you know dates of employment, responsibilities, accomplishments, etc. for each position you’ve held.
• Prepare answers to the most common hospitality interview questions.  Make sure you’re ready to answer questions like:  “Why did you leave your last job?”  “Why do you want to work for us?”  “How do you handle difficult customers?” and “How do you handle a rush?”
• Do a practice run to make sure you know the route.  See how long it takes to drive there, factoring in rush hour traffic if applicable.
• Create a great first impression.  Right or wrong, an interviewer will size you up within the first few minutes of meeting you.  Use these tips to create the wow factor from the moment you walk through the door.
• Emphasize your reliability.  Punctuality and reliability are two of the best assets a hospitality worker can have.  If asked about your best qualities, stress your attendance record, willingness to work overtime or to cover extra shifts.
• Focus on your customer service skills.  Whether you work front desk, front-of-house or back-of-house, hospitality is all about service.  Prepare a few examples of situations where you went the extra mile to deliver a great customer experience.
• Thank the interviewer for his time.  You’d be surprised at how many hospitality candidates forget this simple but important step!

Need more interviewing help?  We at Penguin Staff want to do all we can to help you land the perfect hospitality opportunity.  If you need assistance or would like additional resources to help hone your interviewing skills, please contact us directly.