Hostelling International Interview Questions
& Process

The interview process was pretty chill and straightforward. I had two interviews. The first one focused on basic front desk and guest services topics. The second interview was related to engagement and covered everything about Houston and Montrose. I was interviewed by the GM and the engagement manager, and they were both pretty laid back. I also talked to the front desk person beforehand, and it sounds like the whole vibe there is really calm.

Weird, crazy process. The general manager does a drawn out series of scenarios and random questions to try to catch you off guard and see how you react under pressure. Nothing too difficult to get through, but quite the production for a job that mainly involves working the register and giving directions to tourists.

I saw the job ad on craigslist and sent in my resume and a cover letter. Got a call the next week asking about my work personality and we set up an interview for the very next day. I met with 3 people, 2 managers and one 'manager in training.' The interview was mostly about the neighborhood since it's next to a rough area that guests have to walk through from the train. They asked me how I'd protect the area and reassure guests about their safety and enjoyment, which I could totally do since I lived nearby. They also asked about good and bad traits I might bring to the job. Plus, they wanted to know about my favorite and least favorite past work experiences and why. Lastly, they asked how my previous work could help them out. Then I had to email my references, they called them the next day, and about an hour later I got the job offer. :)

I met with the supervisor for an interview that happened in a cafe. It was a really casual chat. They had a list of typical interview questions and also asked some questions about how I would handle different situations, specifically asking about my ability to prioritize tasks.