Interview Preparation

The biggest mistake in interviewing is not being fully prepared. Job seekers should be using every conceivable means to prepare for the interview and learn about their prospective employer. Interviewing is a skill that requires preparation and practice. Preparation will make the difference between receiving an offer and getting rejected.

Hospitality in Healthcare has provided you with some of the best tips for resume development, interview preparation and resigning your position with dignity.

Resume Tips

Creating an Effective Hospitality Resume
A great resume won’t guarantee you a job offer, but a bad one can cost you the opportunity to even be considered! This is true for almost any hospitality management role, regardless of if you’re managing a kitchen or running an entire company.This video will help make resume preparation a less daunting task, and provide some tips on formatting and selecting content to help get you started.

Feel free to download and use any of the templates below to create your custom resume.

More Resume Tips

Be prepared to provide both a paper and a digital copy of your resume. Employers use a wide variety of organization methods and software for their recruitment process. If you aren’t able to provide your information in a way that works with their system, it’s going to be difficult to have it seen by anyone!

Finally, a resume is not a personal statement or just a history of your past movements. It should focus on the skills and experiences that can benefit the prospective employer and why they should hire you. If you keep this in mind when writing your resume, the final product will be much more informative and persuasive than if you simply catalog your job history.

 

Recommended Resume Structure

Objective. The “Objective” should wake up a hiring authority and make them immediately interested. This first sentence conveys some very important and powerful messages: “I want exactly the job you are offering. I am a superior candidate because I recognize the qualities that are most important to you, and I have them.”

Summary. The “Summary” or “Summary of Qualifications” consists of several concise statements that focus the reader’s attention on the most important qualities, achievements and abilities you have to offer. Those qualities should be the most compelling demonstrations of why they should hire you instead of the other candidates.

Jobs. List jobs in reverse chronological order. Don’t go into detail on the jobs early in your career; focus on the most recent and/or relevant jobs.

Education. List education in reverse chronological order, degrees or licenses first, followed by certificates and advanced training. Set degrees apart so they are easily seen. Put in boldface whatever will be most impressive. Don’t include any details about college except your major and distinctions or awards you have won, unless you are still in college or just recently graduated.

Awards. If the only awards received were in school, put these under the Education section. Mention what the award was for if you can (or just “for outstanding accomplishment” or “outstanding performance”). This section is almost a must, if you have received awards.

Professional Affiliations. Include only those that are current, relevant and impressive. Include leadership roles if appropriate. This is a good section for communicating your status as a member of a minority targeted for special consideration by employers, or for showing your membership in an association that would enhance your appeal as a prospective employee.

We do not recommend including anything about Hobbies, Personal Interests or References.

Preparing for the Interview

The interview is where you will make the most impact in the hiring process. Not only will the employer learn information about you that a resume just can’t provide, they’ll also be able to assess if you’ll be a good fit with the company culture. It’s also an opportunity for you to figure out if this opportunity is in line with your own career goals.

Take a look at this 10 minute video for some tips on getting the most out of your next interview

More Interview Tips

Interview Prep

  • Research the company and the people you are meeting with
  • Get a job description and learn as much as possible about the role
  • Prepare a list of questions about the job and company to ask. For example: What is your current vision for the company? What does the opportunity for growth look like for my position? How does your business philosophy differ from your competition? What is the next step in the interview process?
  • Be prepared to answer the questions mentioned in the Interview Preparation Guide video above
  • Create a list of your strengths, with specific examples, and how they will be an asset to the company
  • Have the recruiter and the interviewer’s contact information on hand, in case you are running late or unable to find the interview location

During the Interview

  • Arrive on time! If a true emergency does occur, let your recruiter and interviewer know as soon as possible.
  • Always be professional (no course language, derogatory speak, or inappropriate jokes), but don’t be afraid to show your personality
  • When answering situational questions, focus on solutions and results.
  • Close by asking about the next steps and thanking the interviewers for their time.

What to Wear

Reach out to your recruiter if you are unsure of the structure of your interview and what to wear (whether it is a working interview or a sit-down meeting). But if it is just a sit-down interview, the following are generally safe rules to follow:

  • Stick to dark and neutral colored suits
  • Keep hairstyles and make-up subtle
  • Avoid wearing overly strong cologne or perfume

No matter what kind of interview you are preparing for, presenting a clean and neat appearance shows an employer that you have respect for yourself and the company.

Preparing to Submit Your Resignation

This 12-minute video will help you create a smooth resignation process. We are pleased to offer this video to our clients and candidates and is part of our search process. Our recruiters are always available as a resource to you.

Relocation Tools

Hospitality in Healthcare offers a comprehensive array of relocation services offered to our clients and candidates, including:Salary Calculator – Find out how much you would need to make in your new city to keep your current lifestyle.

Moving Calculator – Use the moving calculator to help you budget for your upcoming move.

Free City Reports – Get your side-by-side reports with comparisons of up-to-date information on demographics, cost of living, helpful local contacts and more.

Free School Reports – Obtain in-depth reports on over 12,000 public school districts and local child care.

Mortgage Qualifier – Figure out how much you can expect at today’s mortgage rates.

Ready to Start the Next Chapter in Your Career?