Lots of interest in the Cabin Crew Interview topic ! 👌 And so many aviation lovers out there! I hope that my personal interview experience will help more people to join the aviation community soon... I can assure you will not regret it!😁
As it is the beginning of 2024, the perfect timing for new resolutions, let's not waste time and jump straight into the subject!
As you might already know, the first stepping stone towards my commercial pilot career was passing the Cabin Crew interview back in 2015. Although it sounds cliché, I could not be more grateful I dared to apply!🤩 However, looking back on my experience, I wish I had done some things better.😅😉
You might remember my previous post: ''My top tips and tricks to prepare for the Cabin Crew interview (Part 1)'', where I talk about the first stage of my interview preparation process. If not - let's recap! 📝
In the first part of the series, I divided my interview preparation process into 3 different stages:
Before the interview stage |
The D-Day |
Post-interview stage |
Let's discuss now about the second part: D-Day! 😎😉
Before the interview preparation
Cabin Crew interviews take place in fancy 4/5* hotels. But no reason to get too impressed (yet!)😅😅.To minimize the stress on the D-Day, check multiple times the interview location and time. (please avoid checking the price of a one-night stay in there...🤑😏)
Very important: make sure you bring to the interview more copies of the required documents (i.e.: CV, passport, full-body picture, reference letters, diplomas etc.)
There is no room for errors during the D-Day - so make sure the grooming is up to the standards. If, like me, grooming regulations makes you fall asleep, you can check ''How to nail your Cabin Crew interview by wearing the perfect outfit''. One thing I completely skipped during my interview was bringing spare items such as tights, lipstick, or hairspray. Surprises happen when we least expect so better be prepared! 😂
I remember the interview day lasted more than 10 hours (😐🙄) so these are must-haves in case you are the last candidate to be interviewed but still want to look refreshed.
Once I checked I had everything, I headed towards the hotel. There were lots of candidates during that day (at least 70-80). After meeting the recruitment team, we were all invited to the main hotel lobby.
Airline Presentation
The interview day started with a PowerPoint presentation of 30-45 minutes. Details such as schedule, bases, routes, compensation package, annual leave, training, uniform etc. were mentioned. However, I found it a bit vague. The presentation was followed by a Q&A section, where candidates could ask questions. If something is unclear, this is a good moment to clarify it! It doesn't matter if this is your first aviation experience - the recruiters are there to help. Receiving an interview invitation proves how valuable your application is so no reason to be shy! 😉
Some questions such as salary or the number of OFF days cannot be answered precisely as they depend on multiple factors (season, seniority, operational base etc.).
The English Exam
This was the first eliminatory exam. I remember having to write a 20-line letter to one of my friends about one recent holiday, followed by a multiple-choice questionnaire (20-30 grammar and Use of English exercises). At that time, I had a C1 level in English, but I realized later on that it would have been useful to practice some mock exams beforehand. A personal recommendation would be to practice some English tests beforehand. There are many online resources available, such as Practice Aptitude Tests or Aptitude Test Prep. The questions will always be a bit different but these are valuable resources to brush up on some English before the real exam.
After the test, we were allowed to take a 45-minute break, to allow recruiters to grade our exams. When we returned from the break, we found out our results. Yay! 😍 I passed... but unfortunately around a third of the candidates didn't so the exam was harder than expected. Let's discover together the next test.
The Group Exercise
Who doesn't enjoy working in a team? Well... let's be honest! Not everyone 😁, especially at 8 a.m., during a stressful interview. The goal of the group exercise is to evaluate the candidate's communication, leadership and teamwork. These are known as ''soft skills''.
What does the test looks like? A team made up of X candidates should solve a problem in X minutes.
First practical example: after performing an emergency landing on a desert island/in the jungle - you are presented with a list of 20 items that you can pick from the aircraft's wreckage, but you can choose only 10. Together with your team, decide which ones would you choose and why. Second example: together with your team, build a 2-meter-long bridge that can withstand the weight of a mobile phone (using only sheets of paper, paperclips and glue). Again, the goal is not to solve the problem (as there are no right or wrong answers), but to evaluate how candidates interact and collaborate in a time-limited situation to reach a certain goal.
A common quote widely used in aviation is: ''It is not who is right, but what is right'' (T. Huxley). The group exercise tests our personal strengths and weaknesses: an innate leader is expected to always listen to the team and an innate follower should never feel afraid to question the leader, if in doubt.
The exercise, together with each group presentation, lasted around 2 hours. At the end of it, recruiters evaluated us and unfortunately almost one-quarter of the remaining candidates were eliminated. For the rest, here comes the final stage: the face-to-face interview...
The Face-to-Face Interview
If you made it so far - congratulations!✨🎇 You should expect a nice chat with your recruiter. Expect also some personal questions and some related to your professional experience or education. If you just finished high school and like me, this is your first job - don't worry about it! You are being evaluated based only on your competencies and your soft skills. Don't be afraid to show your recruiter your true personality and why you feel you are the perfect match for the job. If you are just starting your aviation career and you feel a bit stressed - do not hide it! 😁We all started somewhere and most probably the recruiter still remembers when he/she was in your shoes.
Expect also some questions regarding your will to relocate and your favorite operational base, so have some answers already prepared to show you have a good action plan.
What to expect next
If successful, you will receive the golden call soon. In case of a massive recruitment campaign, it might take up to 1 month...I remember how stressful this waiting period can be. Always remember that you aced the interview and take a well-deserved break before starting your training course as that one will certainly be challenging! 🤗
Although this was my personal interview experience back in 2015, Cabin Crew Interviews still follow the same structure so you might expect similar tests even in 2024. Let me know if you are preparing to become a Cabin Crew or a pilot and what would you like to know more about! 😉
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