Example Questions in a Job interview:

Travel and tourism

If you're a graduate looking to get into travel and tourism and need to get a feel for
the kind of questions employers might ask at interview, then make sure you research
these graduate tourism interview questions below. These questions and answers are
taken from real graduate interviews, and compiled to give you an idea of what to
expect and how to prepare your answers.

Example Travel and Tourism Interview Questions:

We get a lot of irate and angry customers. How do you plan to deal
with them?

Any hotel or tourism institute worth its salt spends a lot of time teaching its students
about dealing with tough customers.

-Checking your textbooks for answers is a good idea, before the interview takes place.

-If you know somebody in the industry, then it would be a good idea to speak to him or
her and ask about how such situations are handled in the workplace.

-If you have time, then give an example or two about how you dealt with an angry or
bad customer in the past with tact, politeness and firmness.

Acknowledge that the approach taken with angry customers may depend on the style
and formality of the institution, for example a five star hotel may have a different
approach to a fast food caf.

Why did you join the hotel and tourism sector?

There are two things that you can touch upon as an answer to this question.
-Tell your interviewers that it is a dynamic sector that is growing at a rapid pace and
you want to be in the middle of the boom, the excitement and the energy. (make sure
that you have the required data to support your claims. What is the growth rate of the
industry? What is the size of the industry? When did the boom start? Who says there
is a boom? Basically, doing your homework well is advised).

-The other aspect that you should always touch upon as an answer to this question is
how you and your personality are well suited to this sector. Convince the interviewers
that you are made for the industry and the industry is made for you. Talking about
basic traits like people skills, patience, ability to work under pressure etc, which are
prerequisites to succeeding in the hospitality and tourism sector and how you excel at
all these.

You have been asked to plan a business meeting or a party for

some clients. How will you go about the task?

Many interviewees, either due to anxiety, or because of the overconfidence that comes
from being asked such a simple question, mess this up by missing out an important
step of the process.

-Think this out carefully, remember everything that you have been taught or have done
and then answer this question slowly and methodically, convincing your interviewers
that you can handle a situation under pressure well.

-Attention to detail is key in this industry, as well as following a brief accurately.

Restaurant Interview Questions

Working in a restaurant requires patience, efficiency, and customer

service skills, all in a fast-paced and often stressful work
environment. Youll want to be sure to prepare answers to
questions such as:

Do you have experience taking care of customers?

 How would you handle difficult or fussy customers?

Have you been a customer at our restaurants, and how was your
experience?

Are you familiar with our menu and beverage offerings?

Do you know the Heimlich maneuver?

Tourism Interview Questions

For positions with tour companies, theme parks, or cruise lines,

the focus of nearly every customer-facing position is going to be
on doing your outmost to insure customer satisfaction. Youll want
to show you can handle all kinds of situations calmly,
professionally, and with a smile. Sample questions might include:

Describe a situation where you had dissatisfied customers and you

solved their problem.

Are you able to interact well with people of all ages, backgrounds, and
walks of life?

Have your travelled much on your own, with friends, or family?

Is your schedule flexible? (You may be working seven days at week and
different shifts.)

Are you comfortable in large crowds?

Do you know basic first aid?

Travel Agency Interview Questions

Travel agents help book flights, find the best deals, and plan
vacations for individuals, families and groups. Its important for
travel agents to be customer-service focused, resourceful, and, of
course, passionate about travel! Sample questions might include:

Are you comfortable using computer systems to help customers find the
best deals?

How do you handle difficult or frustrated customers?

Travel agents need to be well-organized. Do you have a reliable

organizational system?

Do you enjoy travelling yourself? What has been your most memorable
trip?

Have you ever booked travel through a travel agency? What has been your
experience?

Making sure youre ready to ace the interview is important. But

its even more important to manage the interview in the first place.
This is where having a properly formatted resume and cover letter
is your friend. Youll want to make sure that your resume and cover
letter show your skills and talents in the best light, so youll
impress more potential employers and have more chances to use
your interview skills to win the hospitality industry job you want.

Turn the Tables: Questions to Ask During Your

Hospitality Interview

Interview Tips
Most job interviews begin with a series of questions for the
applicant and end with a kind of reversal, in which the applicant
has a chance to ask a few questions to the interviewer. About 90
percent of the time, the reversal portion of the interview sounds
something like this:

Interviewer: Well, that about wraps up everything on my

end. Before we finish up, do you have any questions for
me?

Applicant: (slightly flustered) NoI cant think of

anything. I think youve explained everything I need to
know.

Interviewer: Okay, then. Well give you a call. Thanks for

coming in today.

As soon as the applicant leaves the room, he/she is

off the road.

Ask These Questions Before You Leave

Head into your interview armed with at least five substantive
questions for your interviewer, and be ready to ask them when your
moment arrives. Make sure your questions are smart, and make
sure they get you closer to where you need to be. For example:

1. Figure out the target audience: Large hotel chains and small
inns often cater to very different clientele with different needs and
interests. Geography also plays a strong role in this equation, as
do local annual events.

2. Customer service philosophy: Figure out the companys

policy on how they deal with customer issues. Ask how issues are
resolved and if employees have budget flexibility and freedom
when it comes to solving guest problems.

3. Map your future: Ask how you can expand your career with
this company over the next three to five years, and figure out if
theres room for you to grow. If you have a focused area of interest,
like event planning or staff management, make that clear, and find
out how this company can help you develop those skills.

4. Workplace culture: Ask about the company atmosphere. Dont

lead the interviewer toward one answer or another, and listen
carefully to her/his response. Does she/he use words like intense
and driven, or does she/he suggest that the environment here is
team-oriented, relaxed and collaborative?

5. The interviewers experience: Ask your interviewer about

her/his time at the company, how she/he started here in the first
place and what she/he likes most and least about the company.
Theres no need to get too personal, but answers to questions like
these can provide you with some insight into how the company
treats its employees. Youll also give the employer an opportunity
to show off a little.

Theres no need to ask all of these questions. But youre also not
in a rush.

Your interviewer specifically sets aside time to meet with you and
get to know you, so take full advantage of this opportunity.

Most importantly, dont be caught off guard when the tables turn.
Prepare ahead of time so youre ready for your moment in the
spotlight.

The Most Surprising Questions Youll Face In a

Hospitality Interview

Surprising Interview Questions

 Tricky, surprising questions like the ones below have derailed
more than one interviewee in this industry.

And theres a reason why hospitality managers ask these things:

They want to make sure a candidate has not only the background
and experience, but also the attitude it takes to succeed in this
highly social business.

Enlist the help of a friend and practice vocalizing

your answers to questions like these:
1. Describe an episode in your work history involving an unhappy
customer. What went wrong, and how did you handle the situation?
What did you learn in the aftermath?

-Think carefully before you answer this question, since its

designed to test not only your problem solving skills, but also your
sense of teamwork, diplomacy and tact. Weaker candidates may
launch into a story in which a boss or coworker let a customer
down, and the candidate in question swooped in to save the day.
Dont do this.

-Choose your story carefully, tell the truth and let the interviewer
know that you take responsibility for your own mistakes and you
know how to learn and grow from failed projects and poor
decisions.

2. If you have to choose between cutting a corner to meet a

deadline, and missing a deadline in order to attend to a detail,
which do you usually choose and why?

-Dont feel cornered by this question.

-We all face this difficult decision sometimes, and most of us dont
choose one option consistently we choose the option that best
fits the circumstances at the time.

-Simply open up and explain your typical decision-making

strategies so your interviewer can gain a broad sense of who you
are and how you approach tricky problems.

3. Would you describe yourself as more of a leader or more of a

follower?

-If you say leader, this may suggest you dont follow instructions
or work with teams very well.
-And if you say follower, you sound obedient but unambitious.
-Dont worry. Just explain when you typically choose one role and
when you tend to choose the other. Your interviewer will read
between the lines and gain the information she needs to make a
decision.

There are no right and wrong answers to this question, but your
interviewer will probably:
- be looking for candidates who know how to steer group decisions
without technically holding a position of leadership.
-If you can demonstrate influence and get things done without
being able to dictate, youll do well in an industry where
relationships matter more than anything else.
What to Expect During Your Hospitality
Interview
Hospitality Interview Tips

Not sure what to expect from your very first hospitality interview?

Hospitality is a unique industry with its own set of rules and

employee expectations. Most hospitality employers also have a
very specific and carefully cultivated approach to customer
service, and the employees who understand this approach are the
ones most likely to thrive in a given workplace.

As you step into your interview, be prepared for the following

events to take place.

1. You will be asked plenty of questions that are open-ended.

Its harder to learn

1. How to hold up one end of a conversation
2. How to speak freely with humor and grace
3. How to maintain poise under pressure
Open-ended questions offer candidates an opportunity to
showcase their speaking and listening skills. In this business,
interviewers like to encourage applicants to talk and then sit back
and see what happens.

2. You will be asked to describe your last position (probably in an

open-ended way)

When youre asked about your most recent position, youll need to
show some initiative and decide which details are the ones you
should share. Talk about the size of the establishment, describe
the culture, and explain some of the difficulties you faced on the
job and how you overcame them.
3. Your interviewer will want to know how you handle a variety of
negative situations.

Hospitality management can be fast-paced and demanding.

Frustrated customers can be difficult to smoothe, and
expectations from clients, supervisors, and shareholders can be
very high. In some cases, simply meeting these expectations wont
be enough. And sometimes you may need to influence other people
(team members or business partners) without having any official
authority. Can you handle these challenges? Have you handled
them in the past? Your interviewer will want to know how much
she/he can trust you when things get difficult.

4. There will be plenty of smiling.

5. At a certain point, youll need to take the lead.

When she/hes reached the end of her/his list of questions, your
interviewer will probably turn the tables and ask you if theres
anything else youd like to discuss. Whatever you do, dont just say
no and walk out the door.

Tourism Officer Interview questions

In this post, you can reference some of the most common interview
questions for a tourism officer interview along with appropriate answer
samples.

1. Tell me about your ability to work under pressure?

Answer tips

-You may say that you thrive under certain types of pressure. Give an example
that relates to the type of position applied for.
-Mention routine pressure you face, such as dealing with deadlines on a
regular basis.
-Try not to use an example where you created the pressure yourself, by
waiting too long to start something, or by handling a task irresponsibly at the
beginning. For example, working under pressure to meet a customers
deadline could be a good example, but not if you had waited too long to start
the project.

Answer samples

Pressure is actually a catalyst to my work. When there is an imperative

deadline, I refocus my energy into my work which in fact, has helped me to
produce some of my best works. (Give examples) I guess you can say I thrive
under pressure.

2. What field experience do you have for a TOURISM OFFICER

POSITION?
Answer tips

-Speak about specifics that relate to the position you are applying for. If you
do not have specific experience, get as close as you can.

-If you are being asked this question from your employer then you can explain
your experience. Tell the employer what responsibilities you were performing
during your job. You can tell what programs you developed and what modules
you worked on. What were your achievements regarding different programs.

Answer sample

I have been working with computers since 2001. I also have a degree in
network support/computer repair. I have built my last 3 computers, have
work with Dell as an employee. So I have around 15 years experience
working with computers.

3. What have you done to improve your knowledge for a

TOURISM OFFICER POSITION IN THE LAST YEAR?
-Try to include improvement activities that relate to the job. A wide variety of
activities can be mentioned as positive self-improvement. Have some good
ones handy to mention.
Employers look for applicants who are goal-oriented.

-Show a desire for continuous learning by listing hobbies non-work related.

Regardless of what hobbies you choose to showcase, remember that the goal
is to prove self-sufficiency, time management, and motivation.

Answer samples

Everyone should learn from his or her mistakes. I always try to consult my
mistakes with my kith and kin especially with those senior to me.

I enrolled myself into a course useful for the next version of our current
project. I attended seminars on personal development and managerial skills
improvement.

4. Tell me about yourself

This is a common question during an interview, possibly the most asked. It is

used as an ice breaker, gets you talking about something comfortable, but you
need to have something prepared for a response.

-However, you dont want it to sound memorized. The fact is, the interviewer
isnt interested in your life story. Unless asked otherwise, focus on education,
your career and present situations. You should work chronologically, starting
as far back as possible and working until present.

5. Why do you believe we should hire you?

This question needs to be carefully answered as it is your opportunity to stick

out from the rest of the applicants.

-You should focus on skills that you have, including those not yet mentioned.
Simply responding because Im really good or I really need a job isnt going
to work.
-You shouldnt assume the skills of other applicants or their strengths, focus
on yourself. Tell the interviewer why you are a good fit for the position, what
makes you a good employee, and what you can provide the company.

-Keep it brief while highlighting achievements.

6. What knowledge do you have about the company?

Do your research before the interview!

-Look into background history of the company, this will help you stick out.
Learn about main people, have they been in the news lately?

-The interviewer doesnt expect you to know dates and certain people, but
showing that you have enough interest to research the company is a positive
impression.

7. Why are you leaving last job?

-Never mention salary being a factor at this point.

-If youre currently employed, your response can focus on developing and
expanding your career and even yourself.

- If youre current employer is downsizing, remain positive and brief. If your

employer fired you, prepare a solid reason.

-Under no circumstance should you discuss any drama or negativity, always

remain positive.

8. What do you consider to be your best strength?

Keep in mind that the interviewer wants strengths relative to the position. For
example, being a problem solver, a motivator, and being able to perform
under pressure, positive attitude and loyal.

-You will also need examples that back your answers up for illustration of the
skill.
9. What do you consider to be your biggest weakness?

This can be a tricky question to respond to, if you suggest you have no
weaknesses youre going to appear as a lair or egotistical.

-You should respond realistically by mentioning small work related

weaknesses. Although many try to answer using a positive skill in disguise as
a weakness, like I expect co-workers to have the same commitment or I am
a perfectionist.

- However, it is recommended that there is some honesty and the

weaknesses are true, and then emphasize on how you have overcome it or
working to improve it. The purpose of this question is to see how you view
and evaluate yourself.

10. What do you see yourself doing in five years?

This is another question looking towards job commitment.

- Some people go through jobs like socks because they dont have a life plan,
and your answer can show insight into this.

-It can also be used for finding out if you are the type that sets goals at all in
life, because those that make long-term goals are usually more reliable.

-Also, your goals can provide insight on your personality too.

Your answer has to show if progression in your career is on track with your
route in the company.

Its important to do your research on company prospects, this way you

understand what to expect and if its in your long-term goal.

-Interviewers dont want to set you on a path that wont provide the results
you want, resulting in you resigning.
11. What are your salary expectations?

-Again, this is an area where doing your research will be helpful as you will
have an understanding of average salary.

-One approach is asking the interviewer about the salary range, but to avoid
the question entirely, you can respond that money isnt a key factor and
youre goal is to advance in your career.

-However, if you have a minimum figure in mind and you believe youre able
to get it, you may find it worth trying.

12. Do you have any questions?

By asking questions you are able to show that you have enough interest to do
some research, and that you want to learn all that you can.

You should limit the questions to no more than three or four.

You can try asking questions that focus on areas where you can be an asset.
Other options include asking about what your position would be, and how
fast they expect you to become productive. Also, asking about the next step
in the process and when to expect to hear about the position.

Job interview materials

Tourism Officer Interview Questions
& Answers.
1. Research
 Prior to the interview, doing your research is important. You need to know
as much as you can regarding products, services, customers, even who the
competition is, as this will provide an edge in knowledge and being able to
address the company requirements. The more knowledge you have about the
company, the higher your chances for selling yourself for the position during
the interview. Also, knowing the culture of the company will provide great
insight into how satisfied you will be with the job.

2. Practice

Interviews are not always the same format, and they do not have to follow a
certain style, but there are certain questions that can be expected. It will help
if you practice giving your answer to the more common questions asked in
interviews, these regard personal strengths and weaknesses, and why you are
the best for the position.

3. Examples

You can say you can do something, but being able to provide examples of
you doing these things is entirely different. Consider examples with strong
strategies used, and answer with details rather than generalities. For instance,
say Yes, that is something I have done previously. Here is an example. Ask
the interviewer Did that help answer your question?.

4. Dressing for Success

First impressions can break or make any relation, including with the
interviewer. You will be judged from the moment you arrive at the door. If you
reached this point, you have hopefully done company research already and
have an understanding of their culture, what they expect, and if they have a
dress code. If you under-dress, you can appear to be too relaxed and doesnt
take things seriously. However, overdressing can be perceived s over
compensation. If you were not able to find dress code information, its best to
dress sharply, but not over dressed.

5. Remain calm
 By preparing early, you can maintain control. You should have your route
planned out, provide additional time for unexpected delays such as traffic,
and prepare what you need the day before the interview. You need to speak
clearly, and body language is important. You should smile when greeted, and
keep in mind that the interviewer is a regular person like you, and they could
be nervous as well.

6. Honesty

Some candidates think using techniques to avoid difficult questions is a

good thing, but if you simply dont believe you have a strong skill, just let the
interviewer know rather than answering with examples that do not relate to
the position. It appears better to be honest that you may not have that
certain skill, but have skills related, and that you would be glad to list them.

7. Closing the deal

During an interview, this is one of the biggest on more common mistakes.

Once the interview is over, both you and the interviewer should have a good
idea on where you stand. Interviewers likely already has a good idea by the
last handshake if you will move to the next step or not. During the last
handshake, be upfront. Being confident can go a long way.

If you believe the interview went well, be bold and ask the interviewer
where you stand. If you dont think it went well, you probably have your
answer already.

8. Ask questions

Prepare great questions for the interview. Nothing impresses more than a
great question that indicates company research was conducted, but research
on the position too.
Top 10 questions you'll be asked in a
hotel interview

Whether youre applying for a guest service positionsuch as front desk agent,
porter, concierge or housekeeperor are seeking employment in hotel
administration, youre going to have to ace one or more interviews before you land
a job.

A professional appearance and comfortable body language will certainly play a

role in your success, but the most important consideration for hiring managers will
be your ability to answer their interview questions with confident honesty.

As you prepare for your next opportunity to show a potential employer your
passion for hospitality, dont neglect practicing your responses to these top 10
interview questions for hotel jobs.

1. Why do you want to work for this hotel?

Obviously, you have bills to pay. However, comments about compensation or I

just need a job are the last thing a hiring manager wants to hear.

- To best answer this question, you need to spend time learning about the hotels
history, mission and culture. Check out their website and search the Internet for
press releases and other news.

-If you have access, talk to a few of their employees. Then put together a response
that shows youve done your research and are a good match for the hotels current
and future needs as well as culture.

2. How long will you work for Hotel ABC if youre hired?

Turnover is often a major challenge for hospitality employers. They dont want to
spend the hotels time and resources to train you if you dont intend to stay for long.

-You can reiterate your response to the previous question and assure the hiring
manager that you see yourself working for Hotel ABC for a long time.
- However, if there is a reason you may need to leave in the near futurea cross-
country move or going back to school for examplebe honest. Accepting a
position and then disappointing your employer by moving on too soon could be
worse for your career in the long run.

3. Why did you leave/are you leaving Hotel XYZ?

Maybe you want a more competitive salary.

-Perhaps you cannot abide your current manager. You may even be bored.
Whatever the actual reason, find a way to stay positive.

- It may be easiest to focus on what you want from your new jobgreater
challenges, more advancement opportunity, a chance to learn a new aspect of
hospitalityrather than what you didnt like about your last one.

4. Why are you the best candidate for this position?

Employers want to hear about more than the hard skills youve listed on your
resume.

-Think about the job description as well as what youve learned about the hotels
culture, mission and current needs.

-Then, use your response to emphasize your compatibility and ways you will use
those skills to help them tackle their challenges.

5. What does good guest service mean to you?

Hospitality is all about customer service, so youre just as likely to get this
question when you apply for an administration position as when youre after one at
the front desk.
-While the answer is common sense, a good way to make a memorable impression
is to work language from the hotels own marketing materials (such as their
website) into your response.

6. Describe a time when you had to deal with an unhappy hotel guest. How did you
handle the situation?

When presented with situational interview questions like this one, its important to
create a clear and concise answer that describes the problem you encountered,
the steps you took to address it, and the ultimate solution.

-Stay positive and show that you learned something from the situation whenever
possible.

7. Describe a time you had to disappoint a guest. What was the situation and how
did you handle it?

Not all guest problems can be solved.

-Hotel employers want to hire someone who can empathize and remain
professional even when theyre faced with an impossible task.

8. Lets say your to-do list has five tasks and you only have time for three. How
would you prioritize them?

Whatever your hotel position, there are guaranteed to be days when you cannot
complete everything that needs to be done.
-Hiring managers want to see that you have the ability to analyze such a situation,
think clearly when under pressure, make a decision on a course of action and take
responsibility as you proceed.

9. A guest asks you for local restaurant and entertainment suggestions. Where
would you recommend if they were a single business traveler, young couple or
family with children?

Front desk agents and concierges are not the only hotel staff guests turn to for
advice.

-Before any interview, make sure youre familiar with local attractions and think
about those that would best appeal to a variety of travelers.

10. Tell me about a time you disagreed with a coworker. What did you do to
resolve the situation?

Hotels employ a diverse spectrum of personalities as well as nationalities.

- Regardless of your position, teamwork will often be required. The hiring manager
wants to select a professional who can work well with others even when they dont
see eye to eye.