How to Get a Job at Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express use similar hiring processes to screen for eligible workers. Both operating as part of the InterContinental Group family of brands, the popular hotel chains provide hundreds of thousands of job opportunities for entry-level work and professional careers in the hospitality industry. Close to 3,500 locations use traditional paper and online methods of screening candidates. The hotel chains also use in-person interviews, drug testing, and background checks to screen and hire new workers.
Getting the Ball Rolling
The hiring process largely features a single job interview for most entry-level positions. Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express job interview play out in brief fashion, with many job seekers spending as little as 10 to 15 minutes with hiring personnel. Most interviews average out to 20 or 30 minutes. Job hopefuls should understand that merely participating in the interview process often means the company is already interested and a job offer rests only a few short interviews away, if that.
Typical Interview Questions
Due to sometimes high turnover rates in the hospitality industry, and especially for entry-level opportunities, Holiday Inn regularly asks applicants about long-term plans with the company if hired. Interview questions like: "Have you ever no-call, no-showed for a position with a previous employer?" and "Why did you quit your last job?" allow hiring managers to screen candidates appropriately and make final employment decisions confidently without fear a worker might walk-out unexpectedly. Admission of only needing a job for the short-term often carries some weight in the hiring process but does not necessarily exclude a candidate from receiving a job offer. Regardless of topic, potential workers should answer any and all interview questions honestly.
Pull From Previous Experiences
Previous experience, related abilities, and personality factor into gaining employment at Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels, as well. Job applicants without experience may also gain hiring consideration, but due to the unexpected and sometimes rushed needs of the hotel chain, workers with experience may receive preferred treatment if interviewed. The hiring process looks at applicant integrity, work ethics, and overall abilities to provide excellent customer service and work as part of hotel staff teams. Candidates who take initiative, maintain well-kempt appearances, and genuinely want to work in the hotel industry represent outstanding individuals who successfully navigate the hiring process with regularity.
Holiday Inn Breakfast Bar Attendant Interview Video
Video Transcript
Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.
Holiday Inn Employee: I worked as the breakfast bar attendant. So, my duties were to, just on the weekends, were to put out the breakfast bar, serve the guests, and clean up everything at the end.
Interviewer: What was the work environment like?
Holiday Inn Employee: It was really nice. I really enjoyed it. There weren’t as many guests on the weekdays. There were only a few employees, and I was the only one working the kitchen. I really enjoyed working alone, and also the other workers were really nice, and the guests were really nice, as well.
Interviewer: Please describe a typical day as an employee.
Holiday Inn Employee: Saturday and Sunday, I would go in at 5:30 in the morning, start getting everything ready. Breakfast usually started at 6:30. Everything was pretty much all prepared. You just had to heat everything up and then assemble the whole lineup of the food. About 6:00, 6:30, no one really came in because everyone was sleeping. But we served it until around 10:30 or 11:00. It was just the upkeep – making food, making coffee – and then when it was done, clean everything up, get ready for the next day. Then, in that time that we were serving it, it was easy. You just had to deal with complaints, which there weren’t often many complaints, and just keep an eye on everything.
Interviewer: How would you describe the application and interview process?
Holiday Inn Employee: The application was a very simple, standard application. I’d seen it before. Then, the interview process was also pretty easy. They talked about pretty much what you put on the application, and I was in high school at the time, so they asked what I was doing in school, what I wanted to do, and then they asked a few questions about customer service, other things, past experience with hotels, what you would do in a particular situation, if someone had a complaint, just general questions.
Interviewer: What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview?
Holiday Inn Employee: I think they really just focused on the customer service aspect of it. They wanted to know I would be okay talking to people, handling any questions or concerns from customers, and that was about it.
Interviewer: What set you apart from other candidates?
Holiday Inn Employee: Normally, younger kids aren’t that great for certain jobs, and I think they did like that fact that I was in high school and young. They had many prior employees that would work the job for about two weeks or a month and then quit. So, they liked that I was just young and motivated.
Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
Holiday Inn Employee: Based on Holiday Inn values – which is the customer service – definitely stress that. You also care about the customers and do whatever it takes because they don’t want someone who is rude, not helpful. So, I’d say definitely stress the importance of customer service to them. It’s what they like to hear.
Holiday Inn Line Cook Interview Video
Video Transcript
Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.
Holiday Inn Line Cook: I was a breakfast line cook. My primary duties were to take care of a lot of things. I did a lot of positions there. I did prep work, I did salad line, I did cooking, which included sautéing.
Interviewer: What was the work environment like?
Holiday Inn Line Cook: It was actually really pleasant. There was a lot of good people I worked with.
Interviewer: What was your favorite part about working there?
Holiday Inn Line Cook: It was actually the people I worked with. It was a good, cohesive group that worked together. We got things done and had fun at the same time.
Interviewer: Please describe a typical day as an employee.
Holiday Inn Line Cook: Really depended on if I worked the morning shift or the evening shift. Morning shift typically started at 5:00am, and I started off doing breakfast, lunch prep to get ready for lunchtime that day, and then anything we had going on with banquets or for special events would also have to be prepped. Evening was just cooking for the dinnertime, either grill or sauté. Then if we had any banquets, we would also do those.
Interviewer: How would you describe the application and interview process?
Holiday Inn Line Cook: Application and interview process was pretty typical of any place you interview at. I went in, filled out an application, turned it in, got a call a day or so later for the interview, had the interview, and I actually got the interview on the spot at that one. They were really looking for someone at that time, and I really fit what they were looking for.
Interviewer: What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview?
Holiday Inn Line Cook: They kind of just asked what my experience in the restaurant industry was, if the hours were going to work for me, just really typical interview questions. Nothing in particular that would be special.
Interviewer: What set you apart from the other candidates?
Holiday Inn Line Cook: I had my degree in culinary arts, so I think that definitely helped me out from other applicants who may not have had that.
Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?
Holiday Inn Line Cook: Obviously, it would depend on the position. If you were going into the kitchen, where I worked, I would tell them to expect to work hard. It’s not easy. And, have fun while they’re doing it. Don’t let it stress them out.
Bethany says:
Let’s have a pretend interview here, why did you choose to apply at Holiday Inn?
Barbara Frisch says:
A position of front desk became available. I was a travel agent for 19years and was always impressed with the good feed back from my clients when they stay at Holiday Inn’s worldwide. I wanted to get back into the industry, but at reduced stress level than full time travel agent
Paul says:
My wife recently interviewed with Holiday Inn for a front desk position. She hasn’t worked in ten years, but had many years experience with credit card customer service and as a Library clerk. She really enjoyed the interview process, and felt comfortable with the experience. Being more personable than myself, and having an ability to make others around her feel relaxed, may work in her favor. She was impressed with the interviewer, and is looking forward to a call back in the next week or so.
Rebecca says:
Does Holiday Inn have an Employee Assistance Program Benefit (EAP)? If they do, what is the #. Thank you
Andrew says:
Does Holiday Inn drug test?
Cynthia says:
does Holiday Inn drug test?