Prepare for the Marriott Hiring Process - Taleo Application, Assessment & Interview
Joining Marriott means becoming part of a global team dedicated to innovation, service, and excellence.The hiring process involves an application through Taleo, Marriott's Applicant Tracking System, and several pre-employment assessments designed to identify top talent.
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Marriott Voyage Program
The Marriott Voyage Program is a prestigious global leadership development program tailored for ambitious university graduates seeking to build a career in hospitality management. This 12-18 month program offers a unique combination of practical training, leadership development, and global exposure, making it one of the most sought-after opportunities in the hospitality industry.
What Does the Marriott Voyage Program Offer?
1. Comprehensive Hands-On Training
Participants, known as Voyagers, gain experience working across various hotel departments, such as:
- Operations: Learn the ins and outs of daily hotel management.
- Food & Beverage: Master the art of delivering exceptional dining experiences.
- Event Management: Develop skills to coordinate and execute high-profile events.
2. Mentorship and Networking Opportunities
Voyagers are paired with senior leaders and mentors who guide them through the program, offering invaluable insights into the industry. Additionally, participants have the chance to network with peers and professionals within Marriott’s extensive global network.
3. Global Exposure
With over 8,000 properties in more than 130 countries, the Voyage Program offers participants the opportunity to work in diverse environments, preparing them to manage multicultural teams and tackle challenges on a global scale.
4. Leadership Development
The program emphasizes leadership training, equipping participants with the skills needed to take on managerial roles within Marriott. Many program alumni go on to secure senior leadership positions within the company.
The Application Process
The selection process for the Marriott Voyage Program is rigorous and designed to identify the best talent. It includes the following stages:
- Online Application: Applicants submit their details and resume via Marriott’s career portal.
- Video Interview: Shortlisted candidates complete a pre-recorded video interview to showcase their communication skills and passion for hospitality.
- Assessment Tests: Candidates may be required to complete assessments like the Aon Hewitt G.A.T.E. Test, personality tests, or situational judgment tests to evaluate their leadership potential and problem-solving abilities.
- Final Interview: The final stage includes a behavioral interview, often conducted virtually, where candidates are evaluated for cultural fit and leadership readiness.
Getting a Job at Marriott
Marriot is the world's largest hotel chain, employing around 175,000 employees worldwide and offering numerous career paths. When applying for a job at Marriott or one of its franchises, you will go through a screening process through Taleo, Marriot’s ATS (Applicant Tracking System), including resume parsing, assessment tests, and an interview.
On this page you will find tips and explanations about:
Applying via Marriott's Website
The first stage when applying for a job at Marriott is applying via jobs.marriott.com. Once you apply, you will be requested to create an account. This account will hold all your job applications at Marriott.
You can create an account by providing your email address, Google+ or Yahoo! Account.
Once you've found a job that suits you using Marriott's search engine, you will be redirected to Marriott's ATS – Taleo.
What Is an ATS?
An ATS (Applicant Tracking System) is a software designed to take care of the recruiting and screening process for the employer. In addition to providing a user-friendly platform for the employer to arrange, display and sort candidates, it also uses automatic computerized processes to perform many actions that were previously done manually by HR recruiters.
The ATS is practically the first gatekeeper your employer puts in your path. It will grade your resume, keep track of your test scores, and will recommend you for an interview if your scores are high.
Marriot's ATS – Taleo
Similarly to many large companies, Marriott uses the world’s largest and most prominent ATS – Oracle’s Taleo. Serving over 5,000 clients (among which almost half of the business on Fortune’s 100 list), Taleo is the one ATS you are most likely to encounter on your career journey.
You can see you have been redirected to Taleo by looking at the URL:
Read more about Taleo, its screening mechanisms and the best practices to pass them in this article.
Note: Franchised positions at Marriott use different ATS:
- RHW Hotels use Jobvite
- AC / Colwen Hotels use SmartRecruiters
Marriott's Application Process via Taleo – Step-by-Step
After you apply for a position at Marriott, you will go through a 12-14-step application process.
The main ones to note are:
1 - Resume Upload
First, you will be requested to upload a resume (alternatively, you may use your Indeed or LinkedIn profile). Unlike other companies using Taleo, Marriott gives you the option not to upload a CV, but to fill the details in manually.
This is a good option if you have not yet prepared a resume, or if the resume you have is formatted in a non-standard form.
However, if you DO have a standard resume, even if it is not perfect, it’s recommended to upload it and edit the details in the software later, to save time.
The resume tool has 2 main functions:
- Extract your information from the document and fill it in Taleo’s interface (if your resume is impeccable, technically-speaking, you will have nothing to fill in at the Work Experience and Education, Certification and Language sections).
- Parse and analyze the text in your resume to determine your match score for the job. That is why you will be able to submit a new resume for each position you apply for. To make sure your resume is up to ATS-standard.
2 - General Questionnaire
These questions are preliminary, mostly technical questions you are required to answer before taking your application further. They include legal issues like work permit and consent for a drug test, or things that relate to the company policy like relatives working at Marriott, etc.
3 - Work Experience
If your resume was formatted in a way that Taleo can read, this part should be automatically extracted from it. In any case, it is recommended to go over the required fields again and see that the data is filled correctly.
Some tips to keep in mind when filling in your experience section:
- Use keywords as they appear in the original job posting. If the ad is looking for a “customer relations manager”, use that term at least once, in addition to close terms like “customer service manager” or “CRM”.
- Try avoiding gaps in your work experience. This often raises ATS suspicion. If you’ve been on a long maternity leave, for instance, include this as a section in your work experience, to prevent Taleo from interpreting this as a gap.
- Mention tangible accomplishments, preferably with numbers and figures (no images though – ATS will scramble them).
4 - Education, Certifications and Language
This section can be broken down to its 3 components:
1. Education
- The education section is usually second in importance to your actual experience (unless you are a student/graduate).
2. Certifications
- This section is often overlooked by job seekers. Remember that one of the main key points of a good resume is that it sets you apart from the crowd. In that sense, one or two certifications may be all it takes to give you this extra mile.
- Note that even if you don’t have the certifications required for the job, similar certifications containing the same keywords can still be beneficial for your ATS score. That holds for any other qualification.
3. Language
- Being a multinational company serving customers from all over the world, knowing an additional language is a major advantage of working at Marriott. Even if you are not proficient at a particular language, mention it as a skill, especially if the job posting mentions it as an advantage.
5 - Job-Specific Questions
These questions vary depending on the actual job. They are usually set by Marriott’s HR department and can be either raters (determine your ATS score) or eliminators (provide a necessary condition for application).
Such questions will normally deal with relevant years of experience, certifications, level of expertise at specific skills, etc.
WOTC
The WOTC (Work Opportunity Tax Credit) is a tax credit offered to employers who hire from groups such as ex-felons, long-term unemployment recipients, etc. If you are a member of an eligible group, Marriott has an incentive to hire you. This option will not appear for all positions, but if it does, be sure to complete it.
Marriott Assessment Tests
Which Marriott Assessment Test Can I Expect?
Marriot’s assessments depend on your position and can consist of several components. The most popular tests used throughout Marriott’s assessment process are:
Marriott’s AON Hewitt G.A.T.E Tests
AON Hewitt is one of the largest assessment companies in the US and provides a selection of aptitude tests – verbal, numerical, logical and more. The company’s product mainly functions as a technological testing platform (also known as G.A.T.E - Global Assessment and Talent Engine).
In 2017, AON has purchased the assessment company cut-e and incorporates cut-e’s tests in its assessments since.
Preparing for AON’s assessments will include a complete set of cut-e-style aptitude tests, personality tests, and SJT.
Marriott’s Situational Judgement Tests (SJT)
Situational Judgement Tests (SJT) are psychological tests that assess your work-related behavior and actions. You are given hypothetical scenarios and you must indicate how you would behave. SJTs have become a popular tool used by assessment companies, employers, and organizations to evaluate the behavioral and cognitive abilities of candidates when introduced with daily work-related situations.
Personality Tests
Personality tests assess your personal traits and evaluate whether they are a good match for the position you apply for.
Since the required traits in each position are different, scoring high on a personality test depends on your understanding of the underlying principles and required skills for the position.
Leadership Assessment
This assessment uses a combination of personality tests and SJT to assess your fit for supervisory and management positions. They are specifically geared to measure traits like decision-making, motivation, and assertiveness.
Since management positions also require high problem-solving skills and quick thinking, they are often combined with aptitude tests like those provided by AON.
Accounting Tests
If you apply for a position that deals with finance, you are likely to go through an accounting test. The test may contain the following sections - Accounting Terms, Accounting Problems, Comparing & Checking, Alphabetizing/Filing, Working with Letters and Numbers, Memorization, Coding, Inductive Reasoning, and Deductive Reasoning.
Marriott Interview
The Marriott hiring process includes two types of interviews: the HireVue Video Interview and the In-Person or Virtual Interview. Here's what you need to know about each stage and how to prepare:
HireVue Video Interview
After passing the initial application review, you may be invited to complete a HireVue Video Interview. This stage helps Marriott assess your communication skills and alignment with their values. You’ll respond to pre-set questions in a pre-recorded format, allowing you to highlight your qualifications and enthusiasm for the role.
Preparation Tips:
- Practice answering questions on camera to build confidence.
- Dress professionally and ensure your background is neat and free of distractions.
- Be concise and engaging in your responses, maintaining eye contact with the camera.
Use our Video Interview PrepPack to prepare and boost your chances of success.
In-Person or Virtual Interview
If you excel in the HireVue Video Interview, you’ll be invited to an In-Person or Virtual Interview. During this stage, Marriott interviewers will focus on your past experiences, assessing how your skills align with the competencies required for the role.
Preparation Tips:
- Review your resume and prepare specific examples that demonstrate your skills and accomplishments.
- Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses to behavioral and situational questions.
- Be ready to discuss teamwork, leadership, and customer service scenarios in detail.
For comprehensive preparation, visit our Interview Questions Prep Page.
FAQs
Marriott commonly uses pre-employment assessments like the AON Hewitt G.A.T.E. test, Situational Judgement Tests (SJT), personality tests, and leadership assessments. These tests evaluate cognitive skills, decision-making, and behavioral traits to determine your fit for the role.
To prepare for the HireVue Video Interview:
- Practice common interview questions on camera to improve your confidence.
- Ensure a quiet, professional background and dress appropriately.
- Structure your responses using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for clarity.
Use our Video Interview Prep Product to ace this stage.
To succeed in Marriott's Taleo ATS, ensure your resume includes keywords from the job description. Format your resume clearly so Taleo can parse it correctly. Tailor your answers in the general questionnaire to highlight your experience, certifications, and relevant skills.
A common question in Marriott interviews is: "Can you give an example of a time when you went above and beyond for a customer?" Prepare answers using the STAR method, and practice with questions specific to the role you're applying for.