Most people in the hospitality industry share a passion for customer service, great interpersonal skills, and the ability to respond quickly and efficiently to unexpected situations. And for good reason: If you want to thrive in this field, you need all three of those things. However, during the job search, you don’t want to sound exactly like everyone else who’s applying for the role. To stand out, try using one of these three techniques.
1. Send a handwritten thank-you note.
To demonstrate you truly understand the concept of “going above and beyond” (which is definitely a buzzword in the hospitality business), send the hiring manager a handwritten note saying thank you for his or her time. You should drop this letter in the mail as soon as possible—ideally, right after the interview. But you should also send the now-traditional email thank you letter, so the employer doesn’t spend a day or two thinking you’ve neglected a critical part of the post-interview process.
2. Tell a story.
According to anthropologists, stories are central to human existence. We’re much likelier to remember information when it’s presented as a narrative. Use this to your advantage, and during the interview, tell lots of stories. For example, if your interviewer asks you why you’re interested in this specific job, explain how you stayed at one of the hotels once and had an amazing experience—so now you want to recreate that experience for other people. Or if you’re asked about your greatest strengths, tell an anecdote about the time you saved the day during an emergency. Your answers will stick in the hiring manager’s mind, and he or she won’t even be aware of why.
3. Think of the interviewer as your friend.
Because you work in hospitality, it’s crucial that your interviewer walks away thinking of you as a warm, friendly, outgoing person. And honestly? It’s hard to communicate that about yourself when you’re nervous about saying the right thing and avoiding “ums” and “likes.”
To make it a little easier, right before the interview, tell yourself, “I’m about to meet up with my friend.” Pretend the interviewer already loves you. He or she is just interviewing you as a formality.
You’ll still be nervous, but this will help you treat the hiring manager as an actual person. Your awesome personality will have a much better chance of shining through.
Standing out during the interview process—especially when everyone you’re competing with is trying to highlight similar aspects about themselves—is definitely a challenge. But with these three techniques, you’ll distinguish yourself. And hopefully, standing out will score you the position.