Your CV

Your CV is our first point of introduction. It should reflect you as a person and provide us with a good insight into who you are and what your strengths are.

How to write the perfect CV

  • Tailor your CV to the specific role or business you’re applying for – think about the responsibilities and duties in the job description and highlight your relevant skills and experiences.
  • Ensure all your personal details (name, telephone number, and professional sounding email address) are clear and correct.
  • Always be honest and truthful.
  • Choose a format and font that are easy to read and be consistent.
  • Ask a friend or family member to check your spelling and grammar 
  • Include the month and year for dates of employment (e.g. January 2012 – October 2014).
  • Ensure key responsibilities and achievements are listed for all roles (current and previous).
  • Explain the reason for any gaps in employment.
  • Provide details of qualifications gained during both compulsory and higher education.

Interviews

Interviewing for a job can be daunting, but if you’re well prepared, you’ve got nothing to worry about. Here are some tips to get you started.

What to do before your interview

The interview itself

  1. Dome research. Learn about us and our history. The internet is a good place to start but, with over 580 Hotels around the UK, you could also pay us a visit.
  2. Understand exactly what you’re applying for. Read through the Job Description. Consider what the main responsibilities might be and what key skills will be required. Find out what you can about the people/stakeholders you’ll be interacting with.
  3. We love questions! Be prepared to answer some (or all) of the below questions. We’re not trying to catch you out, but we do want to know if you have the skills, personality and passion we’re looking for. Try to think of specific examples of how you’ve demonstrated the key skills for the job you’re applying for. It can be helpful to use the STAR method for this:

Situation

Describe the specific situation/challenge for your example

Task

Explain what you needed to achieve

Action

Explain what you did to achieve it

Result

Tell us what the results were – and what you learned from the experience

Consider your answers to some of the following examples:

Why do you want to work here? (Think about any relevant interests you have and what you like about our business.)

What did you do in your last job? (Talk about your relevant skills and responsibilities, tell us about your achievements.)

Why should we hire you? (Tell us about your strengths and your skills that are relevant to the role.)

4. Plan some questions! We want to see that you’re really interested in us, so ask us relevant questions.

5. Plan your journey. Aim to arrive at least 10 minutes early. Double check the postcode and address, and ask your recruiter for more directions if you need them. Work out travel times and make sure there are no road or engineering works planned.

The interview itself

We want everyone to feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible when attending an interview, but it’s natural to feel some nerves so why not try some of these breathing techniques to help control them and stay calm. And there’s nothing wrong with asking for a glass of water when you arrive to keep that nervous dry-mouth at bay.

Remember, you are there to talk about yourself, a subject you know well, and what you’ve done in your previous jobs. Being invited to an interview means your application has already made a good impression, which is a great place to start. 

At Travelodge we want everyone to be their true self and belong, so it’s important we get to know the authentic you when we meet for an interview. There’s no need to worry about fitting in, everyone fits in here, but if you’re worried about first impressions, why not practise how you’re going to say hello beforehand, maybe in the mirror or with friends and family. 

Be confident and use positive language, don’t be too humble and don’t feel the need to fill every pause. Short direct sentences will help you keep to the point – and allow the interviewer to take on board what you’re saying. Make sure you answer the question that’s been asked – and if you do find yourself going ‘off message’, don’t panic! Just get back on point.

Go out on a high. Ask about the next steps if they haven’t already been detailed and always thank the interviewer for their time.

Interview Hints & Tips

  • Be prepared
  • Avoid yes and no answers and provide good examples
  • Stick to the facts and don’t embellish them
  • Ask for clarification if you don’t understand a question
  • Use positive language

Good luck!

Want to know more about us?

Find out all about us from these frequently asked questions.

Q. What benefits does Travelodge offer?

A. You’ll find all the information you need on our benefits section on this website.

Q. Does Travelodge offer a graduate scheme?

A. Unfortunately, we don’t offer a graduate scheme at the moment, but we do offer a Management Development Programme called ASPIRE.

Q. Do Travelodge offer work experience?

A. Travelodge do not employ individuals under the age of 16 as there are restrictions to the type of roles young workers can do.

Q. How old do you have to be to work at Travelodge?

A. Unfortunately, Travelodge cannot employ individuals under the age of 16 as there are restrictions to the type of roles young workers (16-18) can do, so it’s best to check directly with the Recruitment Team if you have any questions, on 03300 412 277. Alternatively, find your local hotel on our website and contact them directly.

Q. How will my pronouns be known if I work at Travelodge?

A. Travelodge offers pronoun name badges that can be ordered upon request.

Q. Where are you located?

A. We have over 580 hotels across the UK (plus some hotels in Spain and franchises in Ireland) so you’d be hard pressed not to find a hotel near you. Our Support Office is based in Thame, Oxfordshire, OX9 3AT.

Q. What's the dress code?

A. If you’re working in our Hotels, we provide a uniform, helping us to be professional and consistent for our customers. Uniform and name badges for both hotel management and team members should be worn at all times and should be clean.

In the Support Office, we always say “dress for your day”. You can choose what you prefer to wear providing it's appropriate, comfortable and safe for work. Colleagues and their line managers judge times where a more formal dress code is needed (for leading an interview, visiting our hotels or meeting with a supplier, for example).

Q. I’m not a resident of the UK – will you sponsor me?

A. There are criteria that we have to meet before we’re able to provide sponsorship so, unfortunately, we can only consider this for roles that meet the government’s set criteria.

Q. What do I do if I need adjustments to be made to attend the interview?

A. If you think you may require any assistance during the course of the day, because of a disability or learning difficulty, please contact the Hotel Manager or Recruitment team so that we can make suitable adjustments or arrangements.

Q. How soon after I have applied will I find out if I have been successful?

A. We aim to get back to everyone that has applied. If, however, you have not had feedback after four weeks, then your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Q. Can I apply for more than one job?

A. Yes, you can apply for more than one role. If you are unsure which role is most suitable to you, please ask the Hotel Manager directly or contact the Recruitment Team, for advice. Deciding what role is most suitable for you is a big decision so make sure you understand the position clearly. We advise that you don’t apply for a number of different roles as this doesn’t always create a positive message. You want the hiring manager to think you’re committed and this is a job you're really passionate about.

Q. If I am applying for more than one job, can I tailor my CV for each?

A. We can only accept one CV and application from each applicant. So, you should make sure that your CV is appropriate for all the roles you are applying for.

Q. What does the selection process involve?

A. The type of selection process depends on the role complexity, level, challenges and geographical location. Assessments for roles at Travelodge are likely to be a combination of the following:

  • Telephone interview
  • Competency based interview
  • Work-based assessments/in-tray exercises/role plays
  • Psychometric testing
  • Case studies and presentations

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected] or the Hotel directly.