11 Interview Questions For Housekeeping Staff (With Answers)

Updated 5 December 2022

The Indeed Editorial Team comprises a diverse and talented team of writers, researchers and subject matter experts equipped with Indeed's data and insights to deliver useful tips to help guide your career journey.

A housekeeping position requires a good work ethic, the ability to follow instructions and sufficient cleaning knowledge and skills. In a housekeeping interview, the interviewer might check whether you meet these criteria by asking relevant interview questions. Preparing answers for some common interview questions can help you feel confident and increase your chances of success. In this article, we discuss 11 interview questions for housekeeping and provide sample answers to each of them to help you prepare for your next housekeeping interview.

Popular Interview Questions For Housekeeping

Find out how to answer 11 of the most commonly asked interview questions for housekeeping staff in any facility or position:

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."