17 Head Housekeeper Interview Questions and Answers

Housekeepers play a critical role in the hospitality industry, ensuring that guests have a clean and comfortable place to stay. From making beds and cleaning bathrooms to vacuuming carpets and washing windows, housekeepers keep hotels, motels, and other hospitality businesses running smoothly.

If you’re looking for a job as a head housekeeper, you’ll likely need to go through a job interview. To help you prepare, we’ve gathered some common interview questions and answers for head housekeepers.

Are you familiar with the cleaning equipment and tools that are used in our industry?

The interviewer may ask this question to see if you have experience with the tools and equipment used in their industry. If you are interviewing for a position as head housekeeper, it’s likely that your employer uses similar cleaning products and tools. Use your answer to highlight your knowledge of these items and how they can help you perform your job duties.

Example: “I am familiar with many of the tools and equipment used in our industry. I’ve worked in several different hotels over my career, so I’ve seen some of the same brands and types of equipment. However, each hotel has its own unique tools and supplies, which is why I always make sure to learn about them when I start a new job.”

What are some of the most important qualities that a head housekeeper should have?

Employers ask this question to make sure you have the skills and abilities needed for the job. They want someone who is organized, detail-oriented, trustworthy and able to work well with others. When answering this question, think about what makes a good housekeeper in your opinion. Explain why these qualities are important and give an example of how you possess them yourself.

Example: “A head housekeeper should be highly organized and detail-oriented. These two traits help ensure that everything runs smoothly at the hotel. For instance, I once had a guest call down to the front desk because they couldn’t find their toothbrush. After looking through all the rooms on their floor, I realized it was actually in the bathroom of another room. By being detail-oriented, I noticed that there were only two occupied rooms on the floor instead of three.”

How would you go about training new cleaners on the proper procedures for completing their duties?

The interviewer may ask this question to gauge your leadership skills and how you would train new employees. Use examples from previous training experiences, if applicable, or describe the steps you would take to ensure that new hires learn their responsibilities quickly.

Example: “I have experience training new cleaners on proper procedures for completing their duties. I find it’s important to provide a detailed overview of all housekeeping tasks and expectations at the beginning of each shift so they can get started right away. I also like to give them time during their shifts to ask questions about any aspect of their job. This helps me assess whether they’re fully understanding the requirements of the position.”

What is your process for evaluating the cleaning needs of your organization?

The interviewer may ask you this question to understand how you approach your work and the steps you take to complete it. Your answer should include a step-by-step process for evaluating cleaning needs, including how you communicate with other housekeepers or supervisors about these needs.

Example: “I begin by assessing each room in my organization to determine its current cleanliness level. I then use this assessment to create a plan for which rooms need to be cleaned first. For example, if there is an event coming up that requires additional cleaning, I will move those rooms to the top of my list so they are ready before the event begins. I also regularly communicate with my supervisor to ensure we’re on the same page regarding our plans for cleaning.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to deal with a difficult customer or client.

As a housekeeper, you may encounter difficult guests or clients. Employers ask this question to make sure that you can handle challenging situations and remain calm. In your answer, try to show that you have the interpersonal skills needed to work with customers. Try to focus on an example where you were able to resolve the situation calmly.

Example: “I once had a guest who was upset because we didn’t have any more coffee pods for their room’s Keurig machine. I explained that we only provide one pod per night free of charge. The guest became angry and started yelling at me. I remained calm and told them that I would be happy to order more pods if they paid for them. They agreed, and I ordered more pods for all rooms.”

If hired, what strategies would you use to help our cleaning staff save time and be more efficient?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you plan to use your leadership skills to benefit the entire cleaning staff. Use examples from previous experience or discuss strategies that you would implement if hired.

Example: “I believe one of the best ways to save time and be more efficient is by implementing a cleaning schedule for each day, week and month. This allows everyone to know what areas they need to clean at specific times so we’re not wasting time moving around the hotel looking for rooms to clean. I also think it’s important to have a system in place where all housekeepers can communicate with each other about any issues they may encounter while on duty.”

What would you do if one of your cleaners was consistently late for work or didn’t complete their duties properly?

Employers ask this question to see how you handle conflict. They want to know that you can be firm with your team members without being disrespectful or unkind. In your answer, explain what steps you would take to address the issue and help the employee improve their performance.

Example: “I would first speak with them about the problem privately. I would try to understand why they were late or not performing well. If it was a recurring problem, I would give them a warning. If they continued to have issues after the warning, I would let them go from the position.”

How well do you communicate with other department heads to coordinate cleaning schedules and resources?

As a head housekeeper, you may need to coordinate with other department heads to ensure your cleaning staff has the resources they need to complete their work. Employers ask this question to make sure you have experience working with others and can communicate effectively. In your answer, explain how you plan meetings and organize schedules to help everyone get their job done.

Example: “I’ve worked in several different environments where I had to coordinate with other departments. For example, when I was working at a hotel, I would meet with all of the department heads once a week to discuss any issues we were having. Then, I would create weekly cleaning schedules that coordinated our tasks so no one was overlapping or missing anything. This helped us all stay on track and ensured we could provide excellent service to guests.”

Do you have any experience managing a budget for cleaning supplies and equipment?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your organizational skills and how you handle financial responsibilities. Your answer should include a brief description of the budgeting process, including how you determined costs for supplies and equipment.

Example: “I have experience managing budgets for cleaning supplies and equipment at my current job. I use an online inventory management system that allows me to track all expenses related to housekeeping. Each month, I review the previous month’s spending and compare it to the budget I set for each department. If there are any discrepancies between actual spending and the budget, I contact the manager to discuss what happened and find ways to reduce expenses in the future.”

When is the best time to do deep cleaning in your facility?

This question can help the interviewer determine your knowledge of housekeeping and how you prioritize tasks. Your answer should show that you understand when to do deep cleaning in a facility and why it’s important to do so at those times.

Example: “I think the best time to do deep cleaning is during slow periods, such as over the weekend or on holidays. This allows me to focus on my work without having to rush through it. It also helps ensure I don’t disrupt guests who are staying in the facility during these times. In my last role, I would start deep cleaning two days before the facility closed for the week. Then, I would return to finish up any remaining tasks after the final day.”

We want to encourage a culture of feedback and improvement among our cleaners. How would you encourage them to share their ideas with you?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you would encourage your team to share their feedback and ideas with you. This can be an important part of improving processes, increasing efficiency and ensuring that employees feel valued.

Example: “I believe it’s very important for housekeepers to have a voice in the workplace. I would make sure my team knows they can always come to me if they have any questions or concerns about our cleaning procedures. If they ever want to suggest improvements or changes to our process, I would welcome those suggestions and implement them as soon as possible.”

Describe your experience with inventory management and logistics.

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your organizational skills and how you manage large projects. Use examples from previous experience to highlight your ability to plan, schedule and organize tasks.

Example: “In my last role as head housekeeper at a five-star hotel, I was responsible for managing the inventory of cleaning supplies and equipment. This included ordering new supplies when we were running low on certain items and ensuring that all staff members had access to the tools they needed to complete their work. I also used logistics software to track our supply levels and ensure we always had enough materials to meet demand.”

What makes you stand out from other head housekeepers?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you compare to other candidates. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a skill or quality that makes you unique from the rest of the housekeeping staff. You can also use this opportunity to explain why you are qualified for the position.

Example: “I am passionate about my work and always strive to do my best. I have been working as a head housekeeper for five years now, so I have plenty of experience managing a team and overseeing all aspects of cleaning. I am committed to providing excellent customer service and making sure our guests’ stay is comfortable.”

Which cleaning methods do you prefer to use, and why?

This question can help the interviewer learn more about your cleaning preferences and how you might approach housekeeping duties at their hotel. Your answer should include a list of methods you enjoy using, along with an explanation for why you prefer them.

Example: “I really like to use natural cleaning products when I’m working as a head housekeeper because they’re safer for my team members and guests. For example, I once worked in a hotel where we used harsh chemicals to clean floors. One day, one of our housekeepers spilled some of this cleaner on her arm while she was mopping a guest’s floor. She ended up needing medical attention after coming into contact with that chemical. Since then, I’ve always preferred to use safer cleaning methods.”

What do you think is the most important thing to remember when cleaning up after an event or meeting?

This question can help the interviewer understand your cleaning priorities and how you prioritize tasks. Your answer should show that you know what’s important to clean first, when it’s appropriate to delegate certain tasks and how you ensure a space is ready for its next use.

Example: “I think it’s most important to make sure all trash is collected and disposed of properly. I also like to make sure any spills are cleaned up right away so they don’t stain or damage furniture or carpets. Finally, I always make sure the bathrooms are spotless before leaving an event.”

How often should cleaning supplies be replaced?

This question can help the interviewer determine your level of attention to detail. It’s important to be honest about how often you replace cleaning supplies, but it’s also important to explain why you do so.

Example: “I recommend replacing all cleaning supplies every six months or when they become ineffective. For example, if a mop is frayed and no longer effectively removes dirt from floors, then I would replace it. If a bottle of floor cleaner has lost its scent or doesn’t clean as well as it used to, then I would replace it. When I first started working in this industry, I was surprised by how often housekeepers replaced their cleaning supplies. However, after learning more about the importance of maintaining a sanitary environment, I understand that it’s necessary.”

There is a new cleaning method that is supposed to be more efficient than our current process. How would you implement it?

This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of the industry and how you can improve processes. When answering this question, it’s important to be honest about your experience with the new method and explain why you would or wouldn’t implement it.

Example: “I’ve heard a lot about green cleaning methods that use natural products instead of chemicals. I haven’t had much experience with these methods, but I think they could be beneficial for our hotel because we are always looking for ways to reduce waste. However, I would want to do some research on the best practices before implementing them so I can make sure we’re using them safely.”