How This Marriott Assistant General Manager Got Her Start

Name: Sheridan M.
Position: Assistant General Manager
Hotel: Courtyard Rockville in Maryland
Dream destination: I can’t pick just one, but right now I really want to plan a trip to Iceland to shoot photos of the Northern Lights!
Drink or treat of choice: Caramel Macchiato with an extra shot of espresso

Marriott is one of those places you can end up without ever planning to join hospitality, like a Veteran pivoting to a civilian career or a single mom working her way through culinary school, because of all the different job functions, specialties and global reach. But for some, joining Marriott is the plan — the dream — in and of itself.

“One of the main reasons I wanted to work for Marriott when I graduated from college was the opportunity for growth within the company,” says Sheridan, who joined the company as a part of Marriott’s global leadership development program and is now working as an Assistant General Manager at the Courtyard Rockville in Maryland. “I love working for a company that has so many different opportunities to explore different departments and different brands.”

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Sheridan started the Marriott Voyage Program in January 2020 as a Rooms Operations Voyager at the Westin Copley Place in Boston. Unfortunately due to Covid, that hotel was temporarily closed and Sheridan’s program ended. However, in May 2021, Sheridan restarted the Voyage program at a different hotel, the Residence Inn Washington, DC Downtown.

“When beginning my Voyage program, we were still in the middle of COVID, so I had to learn my role quickly and then implement what I’ve learned while running shifts by myself,” says Sheridan. “I thrive in that type of environment, so I really enjoyed the fast pace.”

And thrive she did — after her program ended, Sheridan was asked to stay on at the White House-adjacent hotel as the Operations Manager, which also includes serving as the department manager for both the Front Desk and Loss Prevention teams. In July 2023, she was promoted to Assistant General Manager at the Courtyard Rockville in Maryland.

Learn more about Sheridan’s journey from Voyager to Assistant General Manager at Marriott below, in her own words.

What made you want to apply for the Assistant General Manager position?

My path to becoming an Assistant General Manager began during my Voyage program while at the Residence Inn. My AGM at the time became my mentor and spent as much time as she could helping me to develop my leadership skills as I was also learning everything I needed to become an Operations Manager. Fast forward to July of 2023, she reached out and let me know that the Assistant General Manager role was opening at her current property and invited me to apply. I felt confident in my skills as an Operations Manager and decided to embrace the opportunity to expand my horizons and challenge myself in both a new role and new brand.

What’s your favorite part of your new job?

The highlight of my new role is working in the Bistro! I’ve always thought about venturing into restaurant operations, and as Assistant General Manager I’ve embraced the challenge of mastering both the daily and financial operations. What I enjoy most about the Bistro is having more opportunities to genuinely connect with guests, without the time constraints of a check in.

What was your Marriott interview process like?

My Marriott interview process started while I was finishing my final semester of college. I was living in Wyoming at the time and was able to complete the entire Voyage interview process virtually. I had an initial phone screening, a video interview with STAR questions, and then a final interview over Teams also with STAR questions.

marriott voyage program career story sheridan — Courtesy of Sheridan M.

Any interview tips for candidates who might want a role like yours?

My best advice would be to make sure to prepare for STAR questions using an example you’re passionate about, as it makes answering the question much easier.