How To Land Your Dream Job As A Hotel Front Desk Clerk

We’ve all been there: you’re just about ready to land your dream job, but then something goes wrong. Maybe your shoes don’t match, or maybe you’re late for the interview. 

It’s a nerve-wracking situation for anyone, especially if this is the first time you’ve ever had an interview in person. Fortunately, these things happen to everyone we’re only human! 

So after years of interviewing candidates myself and helping others do so at my company’s HR department, here are some tips on how to avoid common mistakes when it comes time for your next big job interview.

Takeaways
Highlight your customer service skills
Showcase your organizational abilities
Emphasize your attention to detail
Familiarize yourself with hotel operations
Practice effective communication
Demonstrate problem-solving skills
Stay professional and friendly
Gain experience in the hospitality industry
Consider relevant qualifications or certifications
Prepare for hotel front desk interviews
Research common interview questions
Understand hotel policies and services
Practice customer service scenarios
Showcase your relevant experience and qualifications
Prepare a well-crafted resume
Highlight your skills and achievements
Customize your application for each hotel
Network and connect with industry professionals
Stay up-to-date with hospitality trends
Continuously improve your skills and knowledge

Have An Interview Suit Ready

The first impression you give to your potential employer is a lasting one. Your interview outfit should reflect the professionalism that comes with the job, but also your own personality. 

You want to make sure that you look like you belong in that position and that you can maintain it over time.

Wear a suit. It’s customary for most interviews especially ones at large hotels to be held in business casual environments, so showing up in slacks and a button-up shirt won’t be enough to land you the job. 

Bring along some subtle accessories like cufflinks or ties if needed, but keep them minimal.

Make sure it fits well: If possible, try on all of these pieces beforehand so they don’t pull at any seams during an interview or put stress on any buttons or zippers as they might throughout the day (if applicable). 

Many men have had bad experiences wearing ill-fitting suits at work because they were too small or too big; avoid this by taking care of yourself and buying clothes made specifically for your body type.”

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Make Sure Your Shoes Are Polished And Clean

Make sure your shoes are polished and clean. Shoes should be well-fitting, comfortable, and appropriate for the position.

If you’re interviewing for a front desk job in a hotel, it is essential to wear flat or low heels (no more than 2 inches high) that won’t slip on the carpeted floors or cause injury if you have to run or climb stairs. 

And make sure those heels aren’t too thin so that they don’t break off while walking around during an interview! Also, check out our list of other types of shoes that can work well at hotels (such as boots).

Be Active On Social Media, Especially on Linkedin

LinkedIn is a great way to network, and it’s also useful for keeping a record of your accomplishments and professional interests. If you’re active on LinkedIn, people will be more likely to notice your work when they’re searching for new employees.

You can use LinkedIn to connect with recruiters, employers, and potential employers alike. You can even find out about job opportunities through networking groups on the site! 

If someone posts that they are hiring at one of the hotels where you applied earlier in this article, it’s easy enough just by looking them up on LinkedIn (or checking their profile) as well as contacting them directly through the email or phone number listed there.

Clean Out Your Closet

It’s not just the right clothes that will help you land your dream job. You need the right attitude, too!

If you want to be a front desk clerk at an upscale hotel, then make sure your clothing is clean, pressed, and well-fitting. 

Wear clothes that are comfortable and conservative think about what kind of impression you’d like to make on guests checking in or out of their room at night when all they wear is pajamas. 

Wear clothes that are appropriate for the job you’re applying for if it’s a position requiring more casual attire (such as valet parking), then don’t show up looking like someone who works behind their desk all day long. 

And lastly: wear clothes that are appropriate for the weather! It wouldn’t do any good if someone were working outside on a hot summer day wearing jeans and sneakers while everyone else around them was dressed appropriately for an office environment.

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Allow Enough Time To Get To The Interview On Time

Before you get to the interview, make sure you allow enough time to get there on time. It’s easy to think that 15 minutes is plenty of time, after all, it’s just down the street! 

But don’t forget that traffic can be unpredictable, and it doesn’t take much for a minor delay to turn into an epic traffic jam. Also, remember that your interviewer might be running late as well. 

The last thing you want is for them to be waiting around their office while you’re stuck in traffic or still trying to find parking! Plan out your route carefully and allow enough extra travel time just in case something does go wrong along the way.

Research The Company You’re Hoping To Work For

The first thing you’ll want to do when researching a company is looking at its website and social media pages. Are they active? What sort of content are they posting? Do their posts seem like they’re from an actual human, or something cobbled together by a marketing team?

Next, look up the annual report for the last few years (if possible). How much profit has been made each year? How does this compare with competitors’ profits? 

If it’s just not bringing in enough money for its investors, then you could be looking at a dying industry that might soon go bankrupt and close down your job opportunity.

Finally, take a look at how much money the company has made in recent years and where those profits came from. If they’re mostly coming from hotel rooms booked through Expedia and Priceline instead of directly through their booking engine (like Booking).

Then this might mean that your dream job isn’t so dreamy after all: because most people don’t book directly on hotel sites anymore thanks to services like Expedia and Priceline offer.

With such low prices; hotels are forced into cutting corners when it comes time for hiring new employees because fewer guests mean less revenue coming in through room sales–and therefore less money spent on labor costs!

Invest In Quality Stationery And Thank-You Cards

Buy quality stationery and thank you cards.

Do you know how you always end up with more than one pen that doesn’t work? Or a pair of socks that just don’t quite fit right? 

Or maybe a cable that arrives at your door in the wrong color? It’s not that these things aren’t worth buying, but they’re not worth paying full price for either and they’re not worth keeping if they don’t meet your needs. 

This is how I feel about generic greeting card sets, business cards, and email signatures. 

You don’t need to be over-the-top or spend exorbitant amounts on every single thing you use as a hotel front desk clerk (lord knows my budget doesn’t allow for it), but you should put some thought into what goes on paper in front of clients before presenting it to them.

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Do Your Research

As a front desk clerk, you will be the first person that customers encounter when they arrive at the hotel. 

You’re responsible for welcoming them and making them feel comfortable. If you want to land a job as a front desk clerk, you must understand what this position entails so that you can prepare yourself accordingly.

To do this research, there are several things we recommend doing:

Researching the company/hotel where you’ll be working as well as its history and culture through interviews with employees or other sources of information like social media pages and websites (if available). 

This will give insight into how things are run at the company level and help answer any questions related to scheduling or clocking in/out procedures;

Researching your city by learning about neighborhoods, transportation options (i.e., bus routes), tourist attractions (i.e., museums), restaurants/bars nearby, etc.;

Be Prepared

Be Prepared To Answer Questions About Yourself

The first question on the test may be “Tell me about yourself” or “What do you want to be in five years?” If you’ve researched the company, this shouldn’t be too difficult of a question for you to answer. 

You should know what they’re looking for and have examples ready to back up your claims (examples might include things like “I’m good at working with people” or “I love coming up with solutions”).

Be Prepared To Answer Questions About The Position

If they ask if any opportunities can help them improve their business, it’s time for some quick thinking! 

You don’t want them thinking that all your answers are rehearsed or generic so think about how each question relates specifically back to that position and come up with an answer based on what’s important for filling that role well.

(for example: If someone asks if there’s anything else I could do besides answering phones well I’d say ‘I also know how to run front desk check-in’ because being able to check people in efficiently would make me more valuable).

Be Confident

When you are interviewing, you need to be confident in your abilities. You should know that you are being interviewed for the job because of your skills and education, not because of who knows who or some other reason. 

The interviewer may ask about your experience or if there is anything different about you as compared to other candidates. Regardless of what they ask, it is important not to doubt yourself when answering these questions. 

If anything is off-putting during an interview, such as being hesitant or nervous when answering a question, then this could potentially hurt your chances of landing the job offer.

A good way to prepare is by practicing what answers would be appropriate so that they come out naturally during an interview rather than sounding rehearsed or canned at all times.”

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Be On Time

Don’t be late. This is a no-brainer, but it’s important to reiterate that you should be on time for your job interview. 

If your interview is at 10 a.m., don’t show up at 10:15 or 10:30, even if traffic was rough and you were stuck in gridlock your interviewer doesn’t want to hear excuses; they want you to apologize and reschedule.

Don’t be early either but try not to arrive more than 10 minutes before the scheduled interview time either (unless the employer requests otherwise). 

If you arrive too early, it can make them feel like they’re wasting their time waiting around for you when they could be doing other things with their day like exercising or eating lunch without having someone staring daggers into their backside for being “late” (even though technically speaking no one has shown up yet).

Dress Appropriately

You should dress professionally. You have to look good. If you want to be taken seriously, you need to present yourself that way. 

That doesn’t mean go all-out like a movie star or anything just make sure your clothes are neat, your shoes are clean, and your hair is neat (no hats allowed).

If someone was interviewing for a job as a clerk at an office supply store, they wouldn’t wear sweatpants and flip-flops into the interview. They’d wear their best button-up shirt with slacks or khakis along with some comfortable flats or loafers (depending on how fancy the store was).

Think about what kind of environment you want to work in when preparing for interviews and then dress accordingly!

Be Outgoing, But Don’t Be Overbearing

Don’t be too quiet. It’s important to have a personality and show some enthusiasm, but it’s equally important not to be overbearing. Guests like a warm welcome, but they don’t want someone who is too loud or intrusive.

Don’t be too loud and obnoxious. If you’re the kind of person who likes to tell jokes or make small talk, avoid being overly chatty in front of guests unless they initiate a conversation with you first! Your job as a front desk clerk is primarily customer service oriented: 

Put your best foot forward when greeting people at check-in; smile when handing over keys; offer assistance while they unpack their bags; help them find anything else they may need during their stay (restaurants nearby, local attractions). 

These activities demonstrate that you care about making sure each guest has an enjoyable experience at your hotel but don’t forget that there are also other tasks at hand!

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Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed learning about how to land your dream job as a hotel front desk clerk. If you’ve got any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’d love to talk with you and see how we can help make your job search a success!

Further Reading

Here are some additional resources to help you further explore the topic:

Hotel Front Desk Interview Questions – Indeed Career Advice: Discover a comprehensive list of interview questions commonly asked for hotel front desk positions. Prepare yourself for your next interview by understanding what to expect.

How to Work the Front Desk at a Hotel – wikiHow: Learn the essential skills and techniques required to excel at the front desk of a hotel. This step-by-step guide provides valuable insights and practical advice for aspiring hotel front desk clerks.

Hotel Receptionist Resume Example – Resume-Example.com: Craft an impressive resume for a hotel receptionist position with the help of this resume example. Get inspired and learn how to highlight your skills, experience, and qualifications effectively.

FAQs

How can I prepare for a hotel front desk interview?

Preparing for a hotel front desk interview involves researching common interview questions, understanding the hotel’s policies and services, and practicing your customer service skills. Familiarize yourself with the hotel’s operations, anticipate potential scenarios, and emphasize your relevant experience and qualifications.

What are the key responsibilities of a hotel front desk clerk?

Hotel front desk clerks are responsible for various tasks, including greeting guests, checking them in and out, managing reservations, addressing guest inquiries and concerns, handling payments, and ensuring a smooth check-in/check-out process. They may also provide information about hotel facilities, local attractions, and assist with concierge services.

What skills are essential for a hotel front desk clerk?

Effective communication, excellent customer service, organizational skills, problem-solving abilities, and attention to detail are essential skills for a hotel front desk clerk. Additionally, proficiency in using hotel management software, multitasking, and maintaining a professional and friendly demeanor are important for success in this role.

How can I gain experience in working at a hotel front desk?

To gain experience in working at a hotel front desk, you can consider applying for entry-level positions, such as a front desk receptionist or a guest service agent. This will allow you to familiarize yourself with hotel operations, customer service protocols, and develop essential skills in the hospitality industry.

Are there any specific qualifications or certifications required for a hotel front desk clerk?

While specific qualifications may vary, most hotels look for candidates with a high school diploma or equivalent. Some hotels may prefer individuals with previous customer service experience or a degree in hospitality management. Additionally, certifications such as Certified Hotel Front Desk Associate (CHFDA) can enhance your credentials and marketability in the industry.