Logistics, Travel, and Hospitality

How to Get a Job at IHG Hotels & Resorts

A practical hiring guide for IHG Hotels & Resorts: learn the main job families, how the application process works, what to put on your resume, and how to prepare for interviews.

Verified August 26, 20262,119 words12 public sources

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Editorial illustration for a guide on how to get a job at IHG Hotels & Resorts, showing a professional workspace, resume pages, interview notes, and hospitality symbols in a dark blue and violet theme.
Quick answer

To get a job at IHG Hotels & Resorts, apply through the official careers site, keep your CV/resume current, and tailor your answers to the role description. IHG says its process usually includes application review, an interview by phone or in person, and sometimes an assessment. Prepare STAR examples, show guest-service and teamwork strengths, and confirm details on the live posting because processes vary by role and location.

About IHG Hotels & Resorts

IHG Hotels & Resorts is a global hospitality employer with jobs across more than 100 countries. Its careers site highlights corporate roles, hotel jobs, reservation jobs, and internships or graduate opportunities. IHG emphasizes inclusive culture, learning and development, and its purpose of True Hospitality for Good.

Who may be a strong fit

IHG may be a strong fit if you want hospitality, customer experience, operations, or corporate roles in a global company. Candidates who can show service mindset, adaptability, teamwork, and clear examples of impact are likely to align well with the company’s public hiring signals.

Roles and departments

Corporate jobs

IHG publicly recruits for a wide range of corporate functions, including finance, marketing, reservations, IT, sales, communications, operations support, guest experience, engineering, revenue management, HR, legal, procurement, strategy, and project management.

Finance analystMarketing managerRevenue managerHR business partnerIT security specialist

Hotel jobs

Hotel roles support guest experience and hotel operations at property level. IHG’s hotel careers pages focus on front-of-house and hotel-based opportunities.

Front desk associateHousekeeping supervisorGuest service agentFood and beverage associateHotel operations manager

Reservation jobs

Reservations is listed as a separate career path on the careers homepage, making it a distinct entry point for candidates who want guest-facing or sales-adjacent work.

Reservations agentCentral reservations specialistBooking support associate

Internships & graduate jobs

IHG offers internships, apprenticeships, and graduate pathways in hotels and corporate offices. Public examples include US corporate internships and a Manager in Training program.

Corporate internHotel internGraduate traineeManager in TrainingApprentice

The hiring process

IHG publicly describes a five-step process for many roles: application, review, interview, offer, and starting the job. The exact loop varies by role, location, and whether the position is at an IHG-managed or independently owned franchise hotel.

Do not assume every job follows the same sequence. Some roles may include assessments, and some hotel positions may accept in-person applications. A franchised hotel may be the employer rather than IHG itself.

1) Application

What to expect

Apply through the official careers site. IHG says some hotels may also accept in-person applications. A current CV/resume is required, and candidates should read the posting carefully because some roles are with independently owned and operated franchise hotels.

How to prepare

Use a clean, current resume and answer every question directly. Match your experience to the job description and avoid copy-pasting generic answers.

2) Review

What to expect

IHG reviews the application and checks fit for the role. The public guidance does not specify a universal screening rubric.

How to prepare

Make sure your resume and application make the most relevant experience obvious in the first few lines. Align your examples with the role family you want.

3) Interview

What to expect

Interviews may be by phone or in person. Some roles may also include an assessment depending on the job.

How to prepare

Prepare concise stories using the STAR method, bring thoughtful questions, and practice explaining impact, service, teamwork, and problem-solving.

4) Offer

What to expect

If successful, IHG may make an offer verbally or in writing. The public sources do not give a standard timeline.

How to prepare

Be ready to confirm work authorization, notice period, and any location or scheduling details that matter for the role.

5) Starting the job

What to expect

Start date depends on the job and notice period. IHG says a full induction comes as standard, and preboarding information is available for some hires.

How to prepare

Keep documents ready, respond promptly to recruiter emails, and review any preboarding instructions as soon as they arrive.

Application and resume strategy

The strongest IHG applications are specific, accurate, and closely matched to the posting. Focus on the skills the job needs, use the official application channel, and show that you understand hospitality, service, or the relevant corporate function.

Application steps

  • Find a live posting on the official IHG careers site and confirm whether the role is corporate, hotel-based, reservations, or internship/graduate.
  • Rewrite your resume so the most relevant achievements appear near the top.
  • Use the job description to mirror the main responsibilities and required skills in your application materials.
  • Answer application questions with specific examples, not generic statements.
  • Prepare for a possible interview or assessment with STAR-based stories and questions of your own.
  • Track your application email and watch for recruiter updates through the contact method used in the application.

Resume tips

  • Keep your CV/resume current and error-free; IHG explicitly asks for an up-to-date resume.
  • Use simple headings and place the most relevant experience first.
  • Quantify results where possible, such as service volume, team size, revenue support, or process improvements.
  • Show hospitality or customer-service outcomes if you are applying to guest-facing roles.
  • If you are early-career, highlight internships, projects, campus leadership, or practical training that demonstrates readiness.

Useful resume keywords

Use only the terms that truthfully match your experience and the live job description.

guest servicecustomer experienceteamworkoperationshospitalitysales supportrevenue managementcommunicationsproject managementstakeholder managementproblem solvingprocess improvementIT supportquality assurancefront officereservations

Networking tips

  • Use LinkedIn or professional networks to learn about the function, team, and location before applying.
  • If you know current or former employees, ask about the pace of the work and what strong candidates tend to demonstrate.
  • For hotel roles, visit or research the property so you can speak knowledgeably about the brand, location, and guest experience.
  • When networking, ask about the team’s priorities rather than asking for a job outright.
  • Always verify opportunities and application instructions on the official careers site because openings change.

Interview preparation

IHG does not publish one universal interview script, so the best approach is to prepare for role-specific questions and a conversational interview style. Expect a phone or in-person discussion, and for some roles, an assessment.

Themes to prepare

  • Guest service and customer care
  • Teamwork and communication
  • Problem solving under pressure
  • Adaptability and learning mindset
  • Operational accuracy and attention to detail
  • Stakeholder management and professionalism
  • For corporate roles: functional expertise and measurable impact
  • For entry-level roles: motivation, coachability, and examples of initiative

Preparation tips

  • Use STAR to keep answers structured and concrete.
  • Prepare one or two examples for each major theme so you can adapt to different questions.
  • Bring questions about training, team expectations, success measures, and day-to-day responsibilities.
  • For hotel roles, be ready to discuss service recovery, shift work, and guest interaction.
  • For corporate roles, be ready to explain the tools, systems, and metrics you have used.
  • Treat the interview as a two-way conversation, as IHG encourages candidates to ask questions.

Practice questions

  1. 1Tell me about a time you solved a difficult customer or guest issue.
  2. 2Describe a situation where you worked with a team to meet a deadline.
  3. 3Give an example of when you had to adapt quickly to change.
  4. 4How do you stay organized when handling multiple priorities?
  5. 5Why does this role interest you, and what strengths would you bring?
  6. 6Describe a time you improved a process or handled a problem with limited direction.

Your 30-day application plan

Days 1-7

Identify the right IHG roles and build a targeted application package.

  • Review the official careers site and choose 3-5 roles that fit your background.
  • Separate your target roles into corporate, hotel, reservations, or internship/graduate categories.
  • Rewrite your resume for one priority role and create a second version if needed.
  • Collect examples using STAR for service, teamwork, problem solving, and results.

Days 8-15

Submit strong applications and prepare for recruiter contact.

  • Apply through the official IHG careers site.
  • Answer every application question directly and tailor responses to the posting.
  • Check the recruiter email you used on the application.
  • Prepare a short introduction about your background and what role you want.

Days 16-23

Practice interview delivery and close skill gaps.

  • Review role-specific responsibilities and match them with your own examples.
  • Practice phone and in-person interview answers out loud.
  • Prepare thoughtful questions about the team, schedule, training, and success metrics.
  • If the role may include an assessment, practice relevant tests or work samples in advance.

Days 24-30

Follow up professionally and stay ready for offers or next steps.

  • Monitor messages from IHG or the recruiter supporting the role.
  • Be ready to discuss start date, notice period, and location details.
  • If you receive an interview request, confirm availability quickly.
  • If you do not hear back, continue applying to other live roles on the official site.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I apply for jobs at IHG Hotels & Resorts?+

Apply through the official IHG careers site. IHG also notes that some hotels may accept in-person applications, but the careers site is the safest starting point.

What is the hiring process at IHG?+

IHG publicly describes a process that often includes application, review, interview, offer, and starting the job. The exact path can vary by role, location, and whether the hotel is franchised.

Does IHG always require an assessment?+

No. IHG says some roles may include an assessment, but it depends on the job.

What should I put on my resume for IHG?+

Use an accurate, up-to-date resume and emphasize the experience that best matches the job. For hospitality roles, highlight guest service, teamwork, and problem solving; for corporate roles, highlight the relevant function and measurable results.

How should I answer IHG application questions?+

Answer directly and use specific examples. IHG advises candidates not to copy-paste generic responses and recommends the STAR technique.

What kinds of jobs does IHG hire for?+

IHG publicly recruits for corporate jobs, hotel jobs, reservations, and internships or graduate roles.

How can I prepare for an IHG interview?+

Prepare STAR stories, review the role description, and be ready for a phone or in-person interview. Some roles may include an assessment, so practice the work style most relevant to the position.

How will I know if my application is moving forward?+

IHG says status updates are sent to the email address used in the application or through the recruiter supporting the role.

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Sources and methodology

This guide is based only on publicly available information from IHG’s careers and support pages. Openings, application steps, and role requirements can change, so confirm details on the official careers site before applying. This page is informational and is not affiliated with or endorsed by IHG Hotels & Resorts.

  1. source-1: IHG Careers | Hotel Jobs & Hospitality Careerscareers.ihg.com
  2. source-2: Search and Apply | Hotel Jobs & Hospitality Careers - IHGcareers.ihg.com
  3. source-3: Application Process | Hotel Jobs & Hospitality Careers - IHGcareers.ihg.com
  4. source-4: FAQ | Hotel Jobs & Hospitality Careers - IHGcareers.ihg.com
  5. source-5: Corporate Jobs | Hotel Jobs & Hospitality Careers - IHGcareers.ihg.com
  6. source-6: Hotel Jobs | Hotel Jobs & Hospitality Careers - IHGcareers.ihg.com
  7. source-7: Internships & Graduate Jobs | Hotel Jobs & Hospitality Careers - IHGcareers.ihg.com
  8. source-8: Preboarding | Hotel Jobs & Hospitality Careers - IHGcareers.ihg.com
  9. source-9: Corporate | Hotel Jobs & Hospitality Careers - IHGcareers.ihg.com
  10. source-10: IHG® Hotel Colleague Job Center | United Stateswww.ihg.com
  11. source-11: About Us | Hotel Jobs & Hospitality Careers - IHGcareers.ihg.com
  12. source-12: US Corporate Internships | Hotel Jobs & Hospitality Careers - IHGcareers.ihg.com

If you want to get hired at IHG Hotels & Resorts, focus on fit, accuracy, and relevance. Apply through the official careers site, tailor your materials to the live role, use STAR examples, and prepare for a process that may include review, interview, and sometimes an assessment. Because openings and steps vary by role and location, always confirm details on the official careers pages before you apply.

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