10 Interview Tips from Hilton Recruitment

From preparation to follow-up, these members of Hilton’s recruitment team have you covered with their best tips for acing your interview!

Tip 1: Practice!

“We ask behavioral interview questions at Hilton. While there is no way to know what you will be asked, but practice does help, there are so many resources online with sample behavioral questions. Talk to yourself in front of a mirror, talk to your friends, talk to anyone you can. Get comfortable talking about your experience, so it feels natural when it’s time to interview. Time yourself, too. Are your answers too long? Are you getting lost in details? Time to pare it down –you want to be efficient and effective with the time you have. Practicing will get you in the right frame of mind.” – Hunter Klump, Senior Manager, Corporate Recruitment

Tip 2: Research the Team

“Do a bit of research on your interview team before you meet with them. As you get to know your interview team and who you will be meeting with, spend some time researching who you will be interviewing with – what their job entails, what corporations or positions they have been in previously, and come ready to ask thoughtful questions about how their position relates to what you are interviewing for, along with how you will work with them. Showing a genuine interest in your interviewer makes the interview a bit more personal and shows you have prepared and done a bit of research on the company and interviewer – it also is a nice way to connect.” -Dawn Stitzer, Senior Manager, Executive Recruitment

Tip 3: Put Your Best Foot Forward

“Prepare ahead of time to put your best and most authentic foot forward. Rehearse your elevator pitch to help us better understand who you are. Think about your achievements and how you can weave those into the interview, offering supportive metrics when possible.” – Mandi Bindra, Senior Manager, Recruitment, EMEA

Tip 4: Battle Your Nerves

“If you have nerves before your interview (which I think most people do), then I have two recommendations. The Superman pose (check out Amy Cuddy’s TED talk body language – fascinating!) and jamming out to a favorite song. I did both of these things before my interviews with Hilton, and truly, I think it helped.” -Hunter

Tip 5: Prepare your environment

“Virtual interviews are all the rage now, especially coming out of a pandemic If your next step is a virtual interview, being fully prepared also means preparing your surroundings. Choose a quiet place with zero distractions. Turn off your cell phone. Put a do not disturb sign on your door if you need to. Think about your background, making sure it is free of clutter and if possible, invest in a good camera and a light ring so that your interviewer can see your smiling face.” - Krista Pope, Senior Manager, Recruitment, North America

Tip 6: Be honest. Be genuine. Be you.

“Building rapport with the interviewer is very important! You are given a set amount of time with an interviewer so be sure to capitalize on that time to show them who you are personally and professionally. It’s easy to get sidetracked in an interview especially when you connect on a commonality. Try weaving bits of your personality or details about your yourself in your answers versus a tangent conversation. For example, “I can tell you about a time I led a project. I remember it vividly because it came right after a Cowboys loss and my co-lead was an Eagles fan.” – Aleshia Smith, Manager, Diversity Recruitment & Engagement

Tip 7: Gain clarity.

“Take time to verify or gain clarification on the question with the interviewer. This allows you to share relevant and pointed examples. Towards the end of the interview, or after answering a question that you don’t feel confident about, you may ask the interviewer whether there are any areas that he/she would like to know more about.” - Ai Li Ng, Senior Manager, Recruitment Asia Pacific

Tip 8: Ask Questions

“At the end of each interview, be ready and prepared with questions about the position to ask whoever is interviewing you. Presenting thoughtful questions shows the team you’re interested, gives you a better understanding of the position, and may answer some specific questions you have that are not in the job description. I personally love when candidates ask me what is great about working for Hilton! I get to share with them the award-winning culture, the fabulous Team Members I work with each day, and the job I love so much. I smile from ear to ear when candidates ask me that question because I get to tell them all the things that make Hilton A Great Place To Work!” – Dawn

Tip 9: Lean on your recruiter!

"If you have been screened for a role by a recruiter and have been scheduled for an onsite or virtual interview, lean on their expertise for guidance. Don’t be timid. Send a follow-up thank you email and use this opportunity to ask any questions that you may not have gotten the chance to ask during the prescreen. It shows you are super interested in the role and can be the start of a great candidate/recruiter professional relationship. Believe me when I say: recruiters are in your corner and want you to succeed at the next round of the interview process!" – Krista

Tip 10: Ask for Feedback

“For my candidates, I am always happy to provide feedback. We value your interest in Hilton and would like to make sure that you will have the best candidate experience possible, even if the outcome of the interview process is not leading to an offer. If you have any additional questions following your interview, reach out to the recruiter so you are fully informed. This will enhance your candidate experience as well.” -Bjorn Olthof, Senior Manager, Recruitment EMEA

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