Tips for the job interview

A job interview makes many people nervous. Especially when it comes to the job of your dreams. A shaky voice, sweaty palms or a sinking feeling in your stomach? You're not alone. The good news: with the right preparation, you can go into the interview much more relaxed and appear confident.

Find out in this guide:

• How to best prepare for a job interview.  
• Which questions are frequently asked.  
• How to be convincing in the interview.

Did you already know? In part 1 of the application guide, you will find helpful tips on finding a job. Part 2 is all about professional application documents.

Good preparation is half the battle. Every job interview is different. That's why it's worth adapting to each company individually.

Before the interview, you should definitely take a look at the company's online presence.

Pay particular attention to:

• Company values and vision  
• services and benefits offered
• Corporate culture  
• current projects or news  
• Benefits for employees  

This will show that you are genuinely interested and will enable you to respond more specifically during the interview.

The better prepared you are, the more confident you will feel.

This helps:

• Prepare answers to common questions  
• Mentally play through interview situations  
• Practice job interviews with friends or family  
• speak out loud instead of just thinking in your head  

Tip: If you already know who you are talking to, look for a photo or LinkedIn profile in advance. A familiar face often takes away some of the nervousness.

Many applicants are nervous about possible questions. But you can prepare well for most topics.

• "Tell us something about yourself!" - Talk about your professional background, experience, qualifications and personal interests.  
• "What do you know about our company?" - Points with content about the company, the industry, values and goals.
• "What experience do you have?" - Describe your areas of responsibility and successes as specifically as possible.  
• "Why would you like to work for us?" - Emphasize the positive corporate culture, exciting areas of responsibility and development opportunities.  
• "Why was your last employment contract terminated?" - Prepare an honest but professional answer. Important: Never speak badly about previous employers.
• "How would you describe your working style?" - Examples include: organized, reliable, independent, solution-oriented, team player, ..
• "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" - Be honest and realistic, because everyone has weaknesses. Try to relate to the job and show how you are working on yourself.  
• "How would friends describe you?" - Think about which qualities could be relevant for the job in question.  
• "What do you expect in terms of salary?" - Find out about standard salaries in advance, while remaining objective, realistic and self-confident.  
• "Why exactly should we hire you?" - In addition to education and experience, motivation and personal strengths are the most important factors in this question.  
• "Do you have any questions?" - Yes, absolutely! Ask the questions that you have prepared or that arose during the interview.  

The right clothes should look professional and suit you at the same time.

The basic rule is

• well-groomed instead of overdressed  
• comfortable, but professional
• simple rather than flashy  

Restraint is also required when it comes to jewelry and perfume. Less is usually more.

Allow enough time for the journey. Stress just before the interview will only make you anxious. 

The ideal is

• arrive 5 to 10 minutes early  
• allow sufficient time buffer  
• arrive calmly and take a deep breath  

With the right measures, you will appear more confident, reduce nervousness and be able to present your strengths in a targeted manner.

A friendly demeanor makes a big difference.

Pay attention to:

• Eye contact  
• a friendly smile  
• upright posture  
• a calm voice  
• firm, but not too strong handshake  

HR managers quickly notice whether someone is really motivated.

So score points with:

• Attentiveness  
• honest interest  
• Enthusiasm for the job  
• concrete knowledge about the company

Whether kitchen, reception, service or housekeeping: a good job interview depends on:

• Authenticity  
• Attentiveness  
• Open-mindedness  

Don't try to look perfect. Instead, show honestly who you are and what makes you special.

Are you still looking for a suitable job in the catering and hotel industry? On HOGAST Job you will find numerous vacancies in the hospitality and tourism industry. You can apply quickly and easily with your own profile. The job alert also informs you automatically about new suitable vacancies.

Good luck with your next job interview!