Things you should know about Cabin Crew Job Interviews !!!

Most airlines organize their interviews into two rounds. the group interview and the personal interview

Before you can get to the personal interview, you must clear the group discussion rounds. So I am going to mention about how to clear this round and if you clear this round in this particular format then the personal interview could just be a mere formality.

Group discussion :

You would be put in a group of 10–15 people and will be given a random topic (relating to airline or non related) and will be given time frame with a center table which will have a pen and paper and asked to discuss the topic.

When you sit down, make sure you have correct body posture which is completely formal and open ended and never close ended or not something like defensive with folded hands etc.

After the interviewer has spoken about the topic, be the first one to pick up the pen and the paper. It doesn't matter if you write down any points on it or not but the initiative is extremely important and will straight get you 1 point.

Make a note of the time given to discuss the topic. If the interviewer says that there are 10 minutes to discuss the topic, then make sure you start the timer on your watch. Time management is what will get you another point, 9 out of the 10 people wouldn't bother about it but this is very important to make sure you do close the topic on the 10th minute. So at end of 9 min and 30 sec remind the group that we are at the end of time so let's please have a conclusion.

You be the first one to begin the topic. It wouldn't matter of what you are going to say but make sure to say the first words in that group. If nothing strikes you at the moment on the topic then simply start by paraphrasing the topic given. Whoever starts the topic gets another point.

Once the discussion has started, 8 out 10 people will be vocal on the subject however 2 may be shy and wouldn't say much or just wait for their chance to arrive so that they can talk. Be a leader of the group and encourage those 2 to talk and give some points. “So xyz, what do you think of this topic, would you like to share some points with us today?” After they have done so, do acknowledge those points by saying something like “thank you, that is really a valuable point”.

1 or 2 out of 10 will be really offensive and aggressive, do not at any point of time get carried away and get in an argument to prove your point. Those ones who are offensive are not going to get selected so don't focus on them. Instead always try to be a leader of the group and divert the attention to somewhere else probably to someone who was giving some good points.

It doesn't matter what kind of points or answers you give during this group discussion (as long as it is sensible) but what matters most is how you handle each other during such discussion. The interviewer would like to see your values and your behavior when you are put across in a situation along with a team, because in flight you will always be working with a team and most of the time they will be the ones who you don't know at all and you will come across situations on daily basis, so how you handle it is what they want to see.

You do give 2–3 good points during this discussion at any point. Just keep in mind don't be shy, don't be extra offensive, encourage others to talk, check your tone of voice and body language, keep a gentle smile and acknowledge everyone who is talking and make sure you have good time management skills like mentioned before. At all time, be confident and involve everyone around you.

Last thing is when you realize that the time is almost up then make sure to close the topic. The interviewer should never come across to say that time is up and the group didn't close the topic. So if you feel during the whole process, you spoke a lot then give that initiative to someone else “so we had a very good discussion about the topic and several important points were mentioned however, since we have almost come to end of time we must conclude this topic. Xyz would you like to say something to summarize this discussion?” and if you think you haven't spoken much then it can be the same line but instead of asking someone else to summarize you can do it yourself and this will get you another point.

Just make sure, these points are worked on during the group discussion in a very calm and composed way and then you will never have any problems instead you would have topped the group with a special eye on you during the one on one interview. All you need to do is be a leader and have good communication skills. If you still need some hindsight then please watch certain talk shows on BBC and how the host of the show behaves during the entire discussion, will give you a perfect understanding.

After you have cleared the group discussion(s) you will be called up on for personal interview which may happen the same day or any other day.

Personal interview :

When you get in the room, greet the interviewer with a good morning /afternoon and ask how are you today (do not shake hands unless you are approached to do so) if he/she replies good and how has your day been so far then reply positively and remember this is the time when you can get in to a casual conversation. So I would say “my day has been excellent so far, except that it's been a bit too hot today” or something like that and sit when asked to be seated.

You may be asked to introduce yourself in the beginning of the interview. I would usually start by saying my name, my educational qualifications and past experience if any. It can be very short and brief.

After this, round of questions will follow out of which some will be pre set to be asked and these are some of the questions you can go through on various websites of frequently asked questions and prepare the answers accordingly. All the questions asked will only have one motive and one focus, which is “You”. Remember, whatever you answer will follow with a question on what you answered. So if you are not confident and don't sound correct or honest then it will be followed by more questions, so make sure what you answer is something you are fully aware and confident about. Do not give any fake or dishonest answer because the interviewer has taken plenty of interviews than what you have given and can easily judge if you are honest or just bluffing.

Go through the airline history and basic facts and information before you go the interview. Be calm, composed and confident at all times. Keep a positive body language with a pleasant smile on your face through out the Q&A (don't over smile but appear pleasant) and be completely well dressed from top to bottom without a flaw. I gave a bunch of interviews with plenty of other companies before I could give airline interviews and that really helped me and got me confident and this is something I can tell you that if you are not confident then give interviews and loads and loads of interviews for any company that is recruiting. You don't have to take up the job but just have to go through that process, to make yourself confident in getting used to the questions asked and how you answer them and what are the questions that arise after you have made your answers.

Ladous Murekatete

Cabin Crew, Qatar Airways

Former Student, Kenya Aeronautical College

class of 2021

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