For most airlines, there are 5 core phases within the flight attendant interview process.
This includes your initial application, online assessment, video interview, one-on-one interview, and the “face-to-face” interview. If all of this seems like a lot– well, that’s because it is! Keep in mind, from the moment you apply to your dream airline, it could take north of 6 months to receive a conditional job offer. Because each step of the interview process is equal in importance, the experience can be overwhelming, requiring an immense amount of patience and dedication. You do not proceed to the “next stage” of candidacy without passing the previous stage, therefore it’s best not to attempt to prepare for everything all at once. Take it one step at a time!
Phase One: The Application
Start the process of becoming a flight attendant by filling out an application with your dream airline! I recommend going to the carrier’s website directly, rather than relying on employment websites for job listings. Airlines often only open the application window for just a few hours for candidates to upload their information, so if you hope to be considered- act quickly! Your fundamental goal at this phase is to make an exceptional first impression. Remember, by providing a flawless résumé that showcases your qualifications and professional achievements, you will then have the chance to be invited to participate in a video interview. In my opinion, the aesthetic of your résumé is equally as critical as the content within it. This means no typos, misspellings, illegible fonts, or irrelevant information. Overall, constructing a polished application is an essential element to landing an interview with your carrier of choice. Hundreds of thousands of individuals applied to my carrier during my hiring spree…and less than 1% received conditional job offers! If you are struggling at this stage in the flight attendant interview process, check out my post “10 Keywords to Include in Your Flight Attendant Résumé”.
Phase Two: The Assessment
Over the years, various companies within the aviation industry have implemented a pre-employment assessment to determine if a candidate is a good fit for the position. It may seem to be a relatively simple questionnaire, but I have witnessed countless (qualified) applicants fail this portion of the flight attendant interview process for a myriad of reasons. The assessment may differ depending on the airline with which you’ve applied, yet the general material and computerized scoring system will remain the same. In my experience, these tests have been multiple choice and divided into sections that analyze your situational judgment, personality, social comprehension skills, and behaviors. At times, you will be given a hypothetical scenario and asked to choose how you would react, as well as how you would feel if put in said scenario. For example, if you were to observe a fellow employee break company policy, what would you do? How would you approach the matter? Would you pretend to not witness your co-worker’s misconduct? This is the part where I am supposed to tell you to “BE YOURSELF” and that “HONESTY IS ALWAYS THE BEST POLICY”. Do as you wish, but please keep in mind that you are being evaluated by a machine that is tallying your answers and calculating them to see if you meet a certain benchmark. Be logical with your answers and you will wind up telling the computer what it wants to hear. Each question is explicitly included to test for specific knowledge and abilities that are applicable to the flight attendant position. My best advice? Do not underestimate the importance of the assessment, use common sense, read each question carefully, and never rush through choosing your answers. Imagine losing your dream job because you accidentally clicked option B instead of C… not worth it!
Phase Three: The Video Interview
Most legacy airlines and their subsidiaries request the submission of a video interview before you will be able to speak to an actual human being. You will be asked a series of approximately 5-7 questions and provide a timed response. The trickiest part of the video interview is that you usually receive only 30 seconds to read the question before your webcam immediately starts recording your verbal answer. Unfortunately, if you stumble on your words or wish to start over and re-record your submission… you can’t. Everything must be done in one take! Personally, I find this to be the most nerve-wracking phase of the flight attendant interview process because it’s awkward to talk directly to a camera, let alone do it without making any mistakes. I recorded myself countless times using example questions as “practice” to get used to the format and experience of the video interview. This automated evaluation will last 15-30 minutes, so ensure you are recording it when you have ample free time and in a quiet location where you will not be interrupted. Most importantly, avoid technical difficulties by verifying that your device’s camera and microphone are functioning properly ahead of time.
Phase Four: The One-On-One
If you are successful upon your completion of phase three, then you will finally be invited to participate in a one-on-one interview with a *real* person. The individual conducting the interview will generally be a member of the inflight talent acquisition team who has years of experience as a flight attendant. This is your chance to sell yourself, showcase your skills, and make a lasting impression. The questions asked of you will be remarkably similar to the ones you received during the video interview, but this time around you will have the chance to sprinkle a bit more personality into your responses! Your interviewer is meeting with dozens of other flight attendant hopefuls throughout their day, so it is imperative that you build a connection with them that they will remember. In other words, now is not the time to act like a robot! Additionally, allow recruiters to visualize you as their newest flight attendant by ensuring that you look the part! My standard airline interview uniform includes a white collared shirt, black blazer, a neat bun, and a bold red lip. I didn’t mention pants because this phase of the interview process is customarily done over applications such as Skype or Zoom, and truthfully, I wore black Lulu leggings as they could only see me from the waist up (rest assured, no one is going to ask you to give them a twirl). However, if an airline outlines a specific dress code within their invitation that they want you to adhere to, be sure to follow their guidelines. Overall, the one-on-one interview is your opportunity to shine, be authentic, and demonstrate that you are the perfect fit for the position.
Phase Five: The Face-To-Face
For your face-to-face interview, your airline will fly you out to their main headquarters where you will meet numerous recruiters, current flight attendants, and other applicants. Fair warning, the day will be long, so consume enough calories and caffeine to keep you energized for 4+ hours. Of course, each airline’s face-to-face will vary slightly, but the overall procedure of the interviews will consist of similar activities. Expect to participate in the standard icebreaker exercises, a Q & A, hands-on team activities, group interviews, and a one-on-one interview. As this is the first (and only) time recruiters will see you in a social setting, a key element you are going to be evaluated on is your ability to interact with others. Do not hesitate to introduce yourself to other flight attendant hopefuls and make an active effort to network with recruiters. While you don’t need to be an extrovert to become a flight attendant, the face-to-face interview is certainly not the time for you to hide in the corner and wait for someone to talk to you. Take the initiative to speak up and engage with as many people as possible! To put this into perspective, during my final interview for my dream airline there were a few 10-to-15-minute breaks sprinkled in throughout the day. A majority of candidates took this time to take a lengthy trip to the restroom, check their phones, or go sit around and eat a snack. I can practically guarantee that NONE of those applicants received a job offer. Me on the other hand? I mingled and made myself acquainted with nearly every single interviewer in that room. In the long run, you will earn a CJO with your dream airline by not being afraid to start conversations, thus forming genuine, memorable connections.
If you have further questions about any phases of the flight attendant interview process, feel free to drop a comment or contact me on my socials. I am rooting for you!
