If you’re preparing to level up your career in the hospitality industry into a more senior position, there are plenty of great career paths in mid-level management or supervisory roles throughout the hotel and restaurant industries. The job interview for these positions will likely include a combination of traditional skill- or knowledge-based questions and also behavioral questions where you will be prompted to recall previous examples of when you exhibited the behaviors, skills, or core competencies expected in the new role. 

Since most of these roles involve managing or supervising other team members, you should also be prepared to speak to your leadership style and on-the-job problem-solving or conflict resolution skills. 

Here is an overview of what you can expect to be asked in a job interview for some of the hospitality industry’s more common mid-level management roles:

Front Desk Manager

In addition to having previous hotel front desk experience, when you’re interviewing for a hotel front desk manager or front desk supervisor job, you’ll likely be asked several behavioral questions where you’ll have to demonstrate how you’ve handled certain situations in the past that will be directly relevant to the new role.  

If you’re applying for a job as a front desk manager, you will likely be asked questions like:

1. How would you settle a dispute between a guest and a front desk agent?
2. Describe a situation when you motivated others at work.
3. What are the most important qualities you look for when hiring front desk staff?
4. Describe a time when you were understaffed and how you dealt with it.
5. How would you describe your management style?

Housekeeping Supervisor

Aspiring housekeeping managers should, of course, be able to demonstrate ample housekeeping experience in their job interview, as well as in-depth knowledge of the procedures and processes necessary to run a successful housekeeping department. As with most other management-level positions, a job interview for housekeeping managers in the hotel industry will also include several questions about your leadership style, how you motivate team members, and how you solve conflict among employees. Your interview questions will likely include:

1. Describe your background in housekeeping.
2. Describe a time when you experienced a difficult situation at work and how you handled it.
3. What would you do if several housekeepers did not show up for work one day?
4. What would you do if a member of your team refused to do an assigned task?
5. What do you think are the most important qualities any good manager should have?

Chef

Chefs, like any other position in hospitality, can expect a few fairly standard job interview questions, but most hiring managers will also ask questions about your experience leading a team in high-pressure situations, how well you work in a fast-paced environment, your culinary training and skills, and your long-term career plans. Be prepared to provide answers to questions like: 

1. Describe your culinary training and education.
2. What or who inspires you the most, and how do you keep up with rapidly changing trends?
3. Describe a time when you didn’t get along with someone in the kitchen and how you handled it. 
4. What are the most important qualities you look for in a coworker or employee?
5. Describe your long-term career goals

Restaurant Manager

Restaurant managers should of course be familiar with every aspect of running a successful restaurant and be experienced in managing both front- and back-of-house operations and vendors. In your job interview for a restaurant manager position, you’ll likely be questioned about your ability to hire quickly and often, lead different personality types, motivate a large staff, and manage lots of moving parts in a fast-paced environment. 

1. How would you describe your management style?
2. Describe a time when you resolved a problem between coworkers.
3. What do you do when an employee is not performing their job duties?
4. How do you handle a shift that is understaffed?
5. What do you do if there is a dispute between a server and a customer?

Food and Beverage Supervisor

A discussion around your industry knowledge and previous food and beverage or restaurant experience will certainly be a topic in your job interview for Food and Beverage Manager or Supervisor, but you should also expect multiple questions about your leadership style and how well you can meet the organization’s overall goals and business objectives. Be prepared to answer questions such as:

1. What do you think are the most important qualities an F&B Manager needs to succeed? 
2. What is the best way to motivate your team members?
3. What do you think is the best way to develop a good team?
4. What types of professional development activities have you done in the past 2 years?
5. Why do you think you’re the best fit for this F&B manager position?