General questions

These general housekeeper interview questions help an employer learn more about your
personality and interest in the position:
1. Tell me about yourself.
2. What are your interests outside of work?
3. How would you describe yourself in three words?
4. Why are you interested in housekeeping?
5. How did you get into this career?
6. What is your favorite housekeeping task?
7. What is your least favorite housekeeping task?
8. What is the most rewarding part of housekeeping?
9. What skills should a housekeeper have?
10. What skills help you be an effective housekeeper?
11. What are your strengths related to housekeeping?
12. What aspects of housekeeping could you improve on?
Questions about housekeeping experience and background
These questions help an employer determine if you have the right experience and
background to be a housekeeper:
1. Are you aware of how to ergonomically perform housekeeping duties?
2. What does a good work environment look like to you?
3. What challenges have you experienced as a housekeeper?
4. What is one of your greatest accomplishments as a housekeeper?
5. What responsibilities and tasks did you have in your previous job?
6. How familiar are you with OSHA regulations?
7. Explain how you maintain a safe work environment.
8. Have you ever been asked to do a task outside of your job description? How did you
handle this situation?
9. Explain your cleaning process.
10. Do you have experience cleaning after large events?
11. How do you delegate large tasks with colleagues?
In-depth questions
These in-depth questions help an employer gain specific insight into your organizational
strategies, work ethic and other skills related to housekeeping:
1. What would you do in a situation where a client is unsatisfied with your work?
2. Tell me what you would do if you saw a colleague acting inappropriately at work.
3. What strategies do you use to stay organized?
4. Why are you a qualified housekeeper?
5. What was the most challenging housekeeping task you have completed?
6. What experience do you have cleaning interiors?
7. What experience do you have with cleaning exteriors?
8. How do you stay positive and motivated during especially challenging tasks?
 9. What types of facilities have you cleaned?
10. What type of environment do you find the easiest to clean?
11. What type of environment do you find the most tedious to clean?
12. Have there been times you disagreed with a client or supervisor? How did you solve
this situation?

1. How and why did you start working as a housekeeper?

Tailor this answer according to your personal story. Include positive points about what
motivated you to join this profession, mention suitable skills you have and share stories
about your first housekeeping job. This lets the interviewer better understand your
background.
Example answer: "My aunt is a housekeeper at the Staycation Inn. She has taught me many
cleaning techniques from a young age. As I am a detail-oriented, organised and tidy person
like her, I started working part-time as a housekeeper at 18. My first job was cleaning an
office building after business hours. I cleaned the desks, chairs, floors, bathrooms and trash
cans every day. The company hired me as a full-time employee after two months because I
impressed them with my consistent work. That was a huge boost of confidence which
motivated me to keep working in this profession."

2. What types of facilities have you cleaned before?

Frame an answer that is relevant to the job. If you have applied for a housekeeping position
at a hotel, elaborate on your cleaning experience in hotels. Add any additional experience
later on.
Example answer: "I have experience cleaning all areas inside hotels and resorts. This includes
hotel rooms, bathrooms, public areas like lobbies and lifts, banquets, conference halls,
admin offices, parking area and garden. Prior to working in hotels, I used to work as a live-in
housekeeper for a family home. So I have experience cleaning private property as well."

3. Which attributes do you think are most important for a housekeeper?

The interviewer wants to know about your work ethic. Through this answer, you can convey
not only the qualities that you think are most important in a housekeeper but also the skills
that you personally have.
Example answer: "I think honesty and integrity are the two most essential attributes for a
housekeeper, as clients trust us with their homes and other personal or business facilities.
Also, it is necessary that a housekeeper has high standards for their work. Only
thoroughness and detail-oriented approach to work can ensure that I leave behind a
spotlessly clean space after I am done."
4. What are the main responsibilities of a housekeeper?
Housekeeping involves many cleaning tasks within a business facility or home. Interviewers
want to make sure that you are aware of your responsibilities and flexible about tasks given
to you. Emphasise that following your employer's instructions is important to you.
Example answer: "The key tasks I am going to be responsible for are cleaning designated
areas, removing trash, vacuuming carpets, changing lines and dusting surfaces. I may also
scour sinks, scrub bathrooms, wash windows and clean door frames occasionally. I am also
willing to perform any additional tasks as per the requirements."

5. Tell me what you know about chemical safety.

Handling chemicals is an ineludible part of housekeeping. Laundry and other types of
cleaning services use chemical agents. If handled without caution, chemical substances can
be hazardous. While answering this question, mention which chemicals you have used
before, the precautions you take and the protective attire you use.
Example answer: "I have experience using detergents, bleaches, ice cleaners and ammonia
solutions for doing laundry and cleaning floors and bathrooms. I also use 9 types of
chemicals, from R1 to R9, for cleaning hotel rooms at my current job. To be safe, I read the
bottle instructions carefully before using any chemical substance and ensure the cleaning
solutions are kept separate so that they do not mix. I also wear protective gear such as
gloves, masks and eye guards. After I am done cleaning, I rinse thoroughly so that no
chemical residue remains."

6. What is your favourite housekeeping task and which task do you find most frustrating?
Why?
The interviewer may ask such a question to assess your attitude towards work. Provide an
enthusiastic answer that highlights your understanding of the challenges of a housekeeper
and your spirit of overcoming them. When talking about the task that frustrates you,
mention a positive aspect of that job as well.
Example answer: "My favourite task as a housekeeper is vacuuming surfaces. I like it because
it is a hassle-free task. Vacuuming removes all the dust and makes my job easier. The most
frustrating task for me is cleaning any kind of stain on bed linen or furniture. It often requires
chemicals and even if I try my best, an old stain may never leave. But it is an equally
rewarding experience when I can remove a stain successfully."

7. For how many hours can you be on duty?

Think carefully about the hours you can commit to while maintaining a healthy work-life
balance. It is necessary that you are able to stick to whatever working hours you promise
during your interview.
Example answer: "I can work for 9 hours per day, from 8 am to 5 pm."

8. How do you respond to a client who is not happy with your work?
Even the most careful and brilliant housekeeper can come across a disgruntled guest. The
interviewer wants to make sure that you handle such a situation with professionalism. In
your answer, include examples of how you reacted to dissatisfied customers in your previous
job. If you are a newcomer to the industry, explain what you are likely to do in such a
situation.
Example answer: "As a housekeeper, listening to the guests' grievances and resolving their
issues is part of my job. When I face such a situation, my first reaction is to apologise and
work on improving my services. I do not take such complaints personally. For example, once
a hotel guest complained that the curtains were dusty. The manager informed me and I
went to their room after my shift to dust the curtains as they asked. The guest was grateful
for my work and gave me a tip."

9. As a supervisor, how do you handle an altercation between two team members?

In a senior position, such as the supervisor of a housekeeping team, you may deal with such
tricky situations. Diplomacy and level-headedness are crucial here. Display your conflict-
resolution skills to the interviewer by describing your mindset and strategy for handling such
scenarios.
Example answer: "In cases of conflict, my duty as a supervisor is to stay neutral and try to
solve the issue without letting it affect the guests in any way. If two team members are
fighting over something, I listen to both parties and reach an acceptable decision. As my
prime motto is to not let the altercation affect their work, I can suggest ways to avoid any
conflicts in the future."

10. If you see a fellow team member behave inappropriately at work, what would you do?
Behaving politely and professionally is a core responsibility of someone working in the
hospitality industry. The interviewer wants to make sure that there are loyal employees who
discourage any unethical acts by another employee.
Example answer: "Although I have never faced such a situation before, in my opinion, it is
best to report such instances to the supervisor immediately. As a fellow employee, it is
undesirable for me to see my employer or the management team suffer because of an
employee's misconduct."
11. How do you stay motivated despite a tiring and challenging day at work?
A housekeeping job, especially in a busy place like a hotel or office, can be exceptionally
challenging. You may have a lot of work during travel seasons or on other occasions. The
interviewer wants to ensure that you maintain a positive attitude about work despite the
setbacks and continue to be productive. You can answer this question with a relevant
example.
Example answer: "My manager once assigned me to complete an overtime shift cleaning a
banquet hall following a wedding ceremony. The hall was so large and messy, it could easily
take three hours for me and my team members to finish the job. It was the end of the day
and we were all exhausted. Instead of being intimidated, I tried to motivate everyone and
came up with a strategy to divide specific tasks.
Ultimately, we finished the job in 1.5 hours and we all went home happy and proud of our
work. I think the reward that awaits me after finishing a difficult task is what motivates me.
In this case, it was the joy of going home to our families and the praise we received from our
manager the next day."

1. Why did you join the hotel industry?

Hospitality offers a job that changes all the time. It is a fast-paced environment
where you are doing varied tasks each day.
You are on your feet and moving around a lot which helps you think, feel, and react
better.

2. Why did you choose House Keeping?

I have attended to all detail and have exceptional cleaning skills which make me
comfortable while performing different kinds of cleaning and sanitization and also I
do have the ability to perform minor repair and maintenance tasks.
I believe this is the right place where I fit in and have a great scope for my career.

3. Why are you interested in this opportunity?

Mention that you have heard about the company through my –
Friends/Colleagues/media.
You know about the company’s goodwill (eg. If there were any incidents or known
incidents of the past about the company) and you wish to be a part of their
esteemed organization.
It’s a different exposure and you want to take up the new challenge.

4. What are your hobbies and Interest?

Traveling, Gym, music, painting, games, sports, cooking, gardening, social service,
volunteering, etc.
5. What are your strengths?
Analytical thinking, Problem-solving, Task prioritization, Creative thinking, Dedication
and enthusiasm, Ability to learn from mistakes, quick learner.

6. What is your weakness?

I have trouble saying “no.”, I sometimes lack confidence, I have a hard time letting
goes of a task, I focus too much on the details.

7. Why do you want to leave your current job?

I love my current workplace, but I feel that my work is not as challenging as I want it
to be.

8. Do you like working in a team?

I love teamwork. I believe that it is very important to work with other people, as you
can get the job done quickly, and you learn from your teammates too.

9. Do you think communication is important for a housekeeper? Why?

Communication is extremely important when working as a housekeeper. This is
because one needs to be able to take and follow instructions effectively.
Proper and effective communication is very essential in order to understand and
deliver information quickly and accurately.

10. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I am working hard to polish my leadership skills, within the next 5 years, I hope to
lead a great team.
Every day is a new learning experience & learning is a never-ending process.
In the near future, I hope to climb up the ladder to the position of a housekeeping
Supervisor / In-charge / Manager

11. How do you handle a client who is angry or upset and dissatisfied with your work?
If a guest is not happy with my work, I apologize and then work on improving my
services.
I always try my best to understand the client’s housekeeping requirements fully and
to deliver a high standard of housekeeping, and clients are generally happy with my
work.

12. How would you calm down a demanding customer?

I do not believe in arguing – so I will listen to what he or she has to say first without
interrupting.
When I know for sure what is bothering him or her, I will try to look for a solution
that satisfies the customer and is also within the policies and procedures of the
company.

13. How would you react if you see misconduct or inappropriate behaviour in a fellow
worker? Will you hide it from the management?
 I will report it immediately to the supervisor since I would not want the facility or the
management to suffer due to an employee’s indiscretion.

14. Tell me about a time you went beyond the regular limits to serve a guest?
Once a guest who stayed with us enquired about the availability of a product and
where to buy.
The guest tried to purchase and failed to get. Unfortunately, that was a regional
product and was not available in the local market.
Since the guest was staying with us for 5 days, I made an arrangement to get the
product from a particular region.
With the permission of my management I handed over this to guests which was a
great surprise and the guest was so happy about the service.

15. How many rooms should a housekeeper clean per day?

On average, housekeepers clean 13 to 15 rooms a day.

16. How much time is required to clean a standard room?

25 to 35 mins

17. What is the standard bed-making time?

18. Name 4 types of bed used in hotels?

Standard double, Queen, King, Twin

19. What Are Key Tasks For Housekeeping?

Cleaning as designated, changing linens, damp dusting horizontal surfaces, vents,
trash removal, cleaning/scouring sinks, mopping, vacuuming carpets, and washing
windows, door frames and other vertical surfaces

20. Whats Your Biggest Achievement in your career So Far?

I was once asked to clean and prepare 15 bedrooms for a delegation of foreign guests
within a short time period of 5 hours!
Without enlisting help from anyone, I managed to do the needful within the timeline
provided, without any complaint from any guest who checked into those rooms!

21. Tell Us Something About Your Housekeeping Duties In Your Previous Role?
Apart from regular dusting and mopping, I was required to make beds, change linen,
deliver and retrieve items to patients, replenish supplies, and prepare rooms.
Additionally, I was responsible for handling some minor repair and maintenance
tasks such as changing bulbs and replacing curtain rods.

22. What Is Your Prime Chemical Safety Concern In Your Job?

It is important to understand the portions in which chemicals need to be mixed and
their safe use. This is for both our safety and that of the guests.
 My prime concern is that housekeeping personnel should be trained in mixing and
using hazardous materials properly.

23. How Would You Handle An Altercation Between Two Team Members?
I always make it a point to listen to both sides of the story before making a decision
of what is right and what isn’t.
I try not to let an altercation affect their work or have a negative effect on guests to
whom we have to show a united front.

24. What are the standard hotel toiletries ?

One small shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, bath/shower gel, facial soap, and body
soap.

25. What does a dental kit have?

Tooth brush and toothpaste.

26. What do mean by guest loan item? Give an example.

The equipment which a guest needs commonly and given to the guest on request.
Housekeeping is responsible for making an inventory for this.
They need to track the items to make sure that they are returned back to them. Eg.
Iron board.

27. What do u mean by public area in a hotel? Name a few public areas.
The public area in the hotel comprises the ‘front of the house’ such as entrance,
lobbies, lounges, the front desk, guest corridors, banquet halls, bars, elevators,
leisure area like swimming pools, spa, health club.

28. Can you explain the basic responsibilities of a desk control supervisor?
Good knowledge of Housekeeping operations.
Responsible for Departmental keys and guest room master cards.
Responsible for all calls coming to the Desk and to convey the right message to the
right person.
Maintaining records related to day to day operations of Housekeeping.
Follow up with concerned departments in case of guest requests/ complaints.

29. What is the 7 step cleaning process?

Emptying the trash; high area dusting; sanitizing and spot cleaning; restocking
supplies; cleaning the bathrooms; mopping the floors; and hand hygiene and
inspection.

30. What’s the difference between hygiene and sanitation?

Hygiene is how well you take care of yourself. If you have good hygiene, you take
regular showers, brush your teeth a lot, wash your hair, etc.
Sanitation is to keep something clean and germ-free. Hand sanitizer, for example, kills
the germs on your hands
31. Whats is the size of the king bed?
78 x 80 Inches , 198.12 X 203.2 cms.

32. What is TASKI R3 / Diversey R3 used for?

Glass & mirror cleaning.

33. What is TASKI R6 / Diversey R6 used for?

Heavy-duty toilet bowl/urinal cleaner for the removal of limescale & stains.

34. What is meant by “buffing”?

Polishing

35. What is the difference between briefing & debriefing?

Briefing is the prior information/direction given about the day’s duty before the
mission.
Debriefing means, a meeting to brief/question about a completed mission

36. Name 4 types of pillow used in hotels?

Down, Latex, Feather, Memory foam, Synthetic polyester pillow.

37. If a guest is allergic to dust, which pillow is ideal to provide?

Synthetic polyester pillows.

38. Which chemical is used to descale an electric kettle?

TASKI R8 / Diversey R8.

39. What is the difference between the master key & grand master key?
Master key opens all room on one floor where as grandmaster key opens all rooms of
the hotel.

40. What is a Murphy bed?

Rollaway bed.

41. What’s the size of a twin bed?

39 x 76 inches / 99.06 X 193.04 cms.

42. Suppose DND is – do not disturb, what does DNCO stand for? For what situation is
this used – explain?
“Did not check out”. The guest made arrangements to settle his or her account (and
thus is not a skipper), but has left without informing the front office.
Due out: The room is expected to become vacant after the following day’s checkout
time.

43. How do u prepare to clean an occupied guestroom, when a guest is not there?
 Open the door wide and position your cart/trolley in front of the door with shelves
facing the door.
Ventilate the room by opening windows, drawn curtains.
Remove any soil room service trays.
Switched on the electric appliance to make sure it is working.

44. Whats a turndown service?

Turndown service refers to the practice of staff entering a guest’s room and “turning
down” the bed linen of the bed in the room, preparing the bed for use. > Some
hotels have more elaborate turndown services, such as bed-time stories for children
and cocktails served to couples.

45. What should be the ideal temperature of mini bar fridge?

4.5 to 5 degree Celsius / 40 Fahrenheit.

46. A sellable guest room should be set at what temperature?

21-degree Celsius

47. How long should a hotel keep “ lost & found” items??
One year.

48. What is the full form of DND?

Do not disturb.

49. What is OOO??

Out of order.

50. How many sets of uniforms should be provided to hotel staff?

Double: 3 sets.

51. What is the size of a queen bed?

Quad: 60 X 80 inch / 152.4 X 203.2 cms.

52. What is the size of face towel?

Queen: 30×30 cm / 12″x12″.

53. What is the size of a hand towel?

King: 50×70 cm / 20″x28″.

54. What is a linen chute?

A passage in the form of a tunnel for sending soiled linen from the floor pantries of
all floors to a central place near the laundry, from where it can be collected by the
laundry staff.
55. Whats a Dutch wife?
Double-double: Another term used for sewing kit provided as guest amenity.

56. What Points Are Considered In Hotel Industry When Selecting A Candidate?
Hospitality knowledge, Personal Hygiene and Grooming, Physical attributes, Work-
related attributes, Social skills.

57. What Are The Different Kinds Of Linens Used In Hotel Industry?
Moulton, Table cloth, slip cloth.

58. What do mean by Moulton?

it is a thick fabric with lint laid on the surface of the table with a pin underneath.
It is absorbent, has a smooth surface, and is sound resistant. It is used to hold
tablecloths.

59. What is a slip cloth?

Slip clothes are laid over the table on top of tablecloths. Its protects tablecloth from
spillage.

60. Do u mean by the term “horticulture” in a hotel?

The section of housekeeping takes care of landscaping, indoor plants, and flower
arrangements are referred to as horticulture in a hotel.

61. What are adjoining rooms?

Rooms which are side by side are called adjoining rooms.

62. What are interconnecting rooms?

Rooms which are next to each other and have a door inside which connects both the
room from inside are called interconnecting rooms.

63. What do you mean by room status? Name the common room status code?
The most commonly used room status codes are occupied, vacant, dirty, clean, ready,
and out of order.

64. What are two words that you would use to describe yourself?
Sincere & Punctual.

65. Do you enjoy working as part of a team?

Yes, I do enjoy working as a team. I believe working as a team helps to complete the
job in lesser time.

66. If you have a problem at work, how do you handle it?

I will address it to the concerned supervisor about the particular problem so as to
find a solution and solve the problem.
67. Have you ever disagreed with your supervisor about a policy or situation? What did
you do?
I have never disagreed with my supervisor so far.
However, if such a situation arises, I will address it to him and will find a suitable way
to resolve the situation.
I will face the situation within the policy of the hotel.

68. What is the chemical used to wash in dry cleaning?

Tetrachloroethylene, also known as perchloroethylene, or perc is the predominant
solvent used for dry cleaning.

69. What is an employee handbook?

An employee handbook is a book given to employees by an employer.
The employee handbook can be used to bring together employment and job-related
information which employees need to know.

70. What is the size of a standard pillow?

20” x 26” – 51 x 66 cms.

71. What is the size of a King size pillow?

20” x 36” – 51 x 92 cms.

72. What do u mean by par stock in housekeeping? give example?

A par is a minimum stock of linen or uniform required to meet the daily demands of
a hotel so as to ensure a smooth circulation

73. Expand OPEX and CAPEX?

Opex – Operational expense, Capex – Capital expense.

74. Name 4 sub-departments of housekeeping?

Laundry, Linen room, Tailoring, Flower shop

75. What is the ideal time to clean the guest corridor?

It should be carried out when the guest’s movement is minimum.
Night and early morning are usually the best convenient time.

76. What’s the ideal time to clean the public area floor?
Night shift cleans all public areas floors and also when it’s necessary during the day.

77. How do you answer a call in the housekeeping desk?

Answer within 3 rings, greet by the time of the day, department, this is …name… how
may I assist you …Mr./Ms.(guest name if known)

78. How many times do you service a guest room in a day on a routine basis?
2 times on a routine basis and additionally on guest request.
79. What is the size of a twin mattress?
39 x 75 inch.

80. Mention the mattress size of king & California king?

King – 76 x 80 inch , California king – 72 x 84 inch.

81. Name the types of towels used in the guest room?

Hand towel, Bath towel, Face towel.

82. What is the purpose of a bath mat?

A mat for a person to stand on after getting out of a bath is called a bathmat.

83. What is WC in the toilet?

Water closet / Western commode.

84. What should be used to knock on the door of an occupied guest room, if there is no
calling bell?
Use knuckles to knock on the door

85. How many times should be knocked with knuckles, on the guest door, before
calling out “housekeeping?
3 times should be knocked

86. What is the turndown service time in a hotel?

6 pm to 9 pm.

87. How many types of chemicals are used for cleaning the guest room – TASKI /
Diversey?
R1 to R9 – 9 types of chemicals.

88. How to dilute TASKI R1 for cleaning. How many ml to use in 1 ltr of water?
20 ml in 1 ltr for cleaning.

89. How many ml of TASKI R1 should be used for sanitizing?

50 ml. for sanitizing.

90. Where are you supposed to keep the folded bedcover on turndown service?
In the luggage rack drawer.

91. Where are you suppose to keep the valuable items received as lost and found?
Valuable items should be kept in a safe deposit locker.

92. Will you accept a gift offered by your guest? Explain?

 No. Gifts are not accepted by any hotel staff over the world, because the hotel
considers if staffs started accepting the gift, then the service offered to guest may not
be equal/ guests won’t be treated equally.

93. Can a hotel employee date a guest? Explain?

No. hotel employees are not allowed to keep intimate relations with guests.

94. Do you know what is the most stolen item in a hotel?

Towels are the most common item stolen from hotel rooms.

95. Do hotels charge if they come to know the guest have taken the bible while
vacating?
No. Bible is not charged to guests.

96. In Your Opinion, What Is The Most Important Quality Of A room attendant?
A room attendant needs to be able to work in a thorough and detail-oriented
manner.
A speck of dust here or there, or a spot on the floor can leave a very bad impression
on guests, Thoroughness is important in all cleaning and maintenance work.

97. Do you think it’s necessary to be Organized yourself in your position?

Extremely. If one is not organized, there is no way one can coordinate even the
simplest of housekeeping tasks.

98. What is a cabana room?

A cabana is a small, sometimes portable changing room near a swimming pool or
beach.

99. Explain the front of the house and back of the house?
Front of the house – staff who are directly in contact with the guest for providing
service.
Back of the house- staff who are not directly involved in providing service. Guests
rarely interact with them.

100. What is the Moment of Truth?

It is the actual time when guest interacts with service staff.
It is the moment of contact when no management has control.

101.What’s your salary expectation?

Say – you are flexible, you can elaborate by saying – My salary expectations are in
line with my experience and qualifications.
Or
If this is the right job for me, I’m sure we can come to an agreement on salary.