Flight Attendant Job Interviews

16 March 2012 Avjobs-Crew Flight Attendant

Flight Attendant Job Interviews

In addition to performing flight duties, flight attendants sometimes attend or even conduct open house and interview sessions. You just might be interviewed by a flight attendant you will be working with in the future.

Language
Excellent language and communication skills are essential. Applicants must use good grammar and speak clearly with a pleasant voice. Often during the interview process, applicants are asked to demonstrate basic abilities. Languages spoken will vary depending on the company. US airlines require that you speak English fluently. Languages include but are not limited to: English, French, German, Spanish, Cantonese, Hindi, Chinese, and Japanese. Applicants who desire to fly internationally generally must be fluent in a foreign language such as French, Spanish, German or Japanese. Bilingual applicants are desired and, may help increase chances of initial employment with domestic carriers, and may be required by some airlines.

Possible Interview Questions
Some of the questions you may be asked in a flight interview include but are not limited to:

  • When were you last through emergency and first aid/defibrillator training? (bring copies of all training certificates.)
  • Are you experienced on our type aircraft?
  • Do you have culinary skills and are you good with food presentation?
  • Do you know how much this job pays? What are your salary requirements?
  • How do you feel about being away from home for extended periods of time?
  • Do you have a current passport?
  • Are your immunizations current for specific travel?
  • Do you carry a paging device/cellular telephone?
  • Do you have a current aviation ID card, such as Universal, Air Routing, or IBAC?
  • Do you have reliable transportation to and from the airport or our facility?
  • Have you ever worked as a Flight Attendant before?
  • Do you speak a foreign language (if applicable to the company's operation)?
  • Do you have a credit card for travel expenses until reimbursement?

Other requests or discussion topics during an interview include:

  • What do you think the flight attendants primary responsibility is as a crewmember?
  • You may be asked to perform a mock emergency briefing, pointing out the operation and usage of all emergency equipment, doors, window exits, etc. (this is normally to gauge the quality of your voice and self confidence)
  • Do you have three to four references from past employers.
  • How do you feel about a dress code and professional standards?

The Avjobs Applicant Portal has an "Online Practice Interview"
Spending 30 minutes a week practicing your interview skills is critical. The staff at Avjobs along with other industry wide personnel offices agree, the interview can make or break an applicant regardless of experience or training. It has been the experience of Avjobs and its employees that there is a "best" preparatory procedure for interviews.

The Avjobs "Online Practice Interview" section describes this preparatory process and provides tools and tips for you to be at your best. The "Online Practice Interview" includes audio, video and hundreds of sample questions. So turn up your sound and practice those interview skills.

Three Traits for Success in Employment and Life

25 January 2012 Avjobs-Crew General

Career Counselors have identified three traits that successful people possess. These three traits influence not only our potential for success and happiness in our work, but also our general attitude toward life.

Positive Thoughts
What we think determines what we do. Many thoughts go through our minds as we attempt to meet our employment goals or to overcome life's problems. People who are successful in meeting their goals or overcoming problems tend to think differently than do people who are not satisfied.

  • Successful people think they can
    Most successful people expect to succeed when they set a goal or face a problem
  • Unsuccessful people think they cant
    Most unsuccessful people expect to fail when they set a goal or face a problem
  • If you think you can, you can
    Think about the simple statement above. Successful people believe in themselves they think they can, therefore they can. Successful people make a whole-hearted commitment of effort necessary to overcome obstacles, thereby allowing them to succeed
  • If you think you cant, you cant
    Unsuccessful people often lack confidence in their ability to achieve goals or to face life's many challenges. Since they expect to fail, they don't make the commitment of effort necessary to tackle the barriers that block their paths to success. They either try half-heartedly or simply give up
The following statements compare the differences between successful and unsuccessful people:

Successful people:
  • Expect success
  • Think they can
  • Try whole heartedly
  • Make a commitment of effort
  • Keep trying
Unsuccessful people:
  • Expect failure
  • Think they cant
  • Try half heartedly
  • Do not make a commitment of effort
  • Give up
Henry Ford was the founder of the Ford Motor Company and the originator of the assembly line. He dropped out of school at 15. He failed in business five times before succeeding. He said: If you think you can, you can; if you think you cant, you cant; either way, your right!

Negative Thoughts
We all develop negative thoughts, untrue beliefs, about ourselves, our ability to overcome problems and our ability to attain goals such as employment. We must learn to challenge these untrue beliefs. If we mistakenly believe that a problem is permanent, we are unlikely to do anything to overcome it. If we mistakenly believe that we are powerless to face our problems, we are not motivated to act.

  • Our self-thoughts, beliefs, are the way we view ourselves and help us to determine our place in the world
  • We often use our beliefs to predict whether we will succeed or fail when faced with problems
  • Most of us develop beliefs about ourselves that aren't true.
Successful People:
  • Believe that their problems are temporary challenges
  • Believe tat they have control of their lives.
Unsuccessful People:
  • Believe that their problems are permanent
  • Believe that they are powerless in the face of their problems

Three Traits for Success

#1 Successful people take credit for their successes even small ones.

Successful people know that big successes often result from achieving many small successes. Successful people understand that all small successes or completed actions are important take credit from them. A big success is when we attain a goal or overcome a problem.

Taking credit for our actions or small successes helps us to understand that often the difference between success and failure is one small action. In approaching a problem or challenge, we don't always do everything right. By paying attention to the importance of each of our positive actions, we increase the likelihood of success.

Check Box- Review daily your big and small successes.
Check Box- Write them down each day.
Check Box- Save them so that you can go back later to see the various problems you've overcome and goals you've met.
Check Box- Help family and friends daily to take credit for their successes as well! By helping them, you'll help yourself to become even more successful.

#2 Successful people try harder if they fail the first time.

Successful people know the simple truth of Ben Franklins famous saying: If at first you don't succeed, try, try, again. By giving up, unsuccessful people guarantee that they wont change their lives; by doing nothing, they actually make their false beliefs that they are powerless to change their lives come true!

No no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no YES. Which no is going to stop you before you get to your yes? The 10th? The 24th? The 38th? There's a yes at the end of every job hunt. The key is to hang on long enough to find the right job for you. Don't quit before your yes.

#3 When successful people fail again, they re-evaluate their goal, examine all the reasons for failure and try again.

  • Sometimes we set the right goals, use the right plan/actions but don't try hard enough.
    Remember successful people try harder if they fail the first time
  • Sometimes we set the right goals, use the right plan/actions but are stopped by the unexpected.
    Even successful people have a bad day. Successful people understand that anyone can fail because of unexpected circumstances or bad luck. When successful people fail because of bad luck or the unexpected, they try again
  • Sometimes we set the right goals but we use the wrong plan/actions to achieve them.
    Trying harder wont help us if were doing the wrong things to try to solve our problems or to achieve our goals
  • Sometimes we set goals which are not realistic.
    Trying harder wont help us if we set goals which are unrealistic or impossible. A goal is a commitment of effort that you make to yourself. Successful people plan to succeed by setting realistic goals for themselves.

Check Box- Writing down your goal helps you to understand what it is you want to accomplish.
Check Box- Write the specific steps to be completed to attain your goal.
Check Box- Use I will statements when you write your goal and the steps toward achieving it.
Check Box- Always use dates to give yourself a deadline for reaching each step toward your goal.
Check Box- Discuss your goals and statements with a trusted friend and ask for feedback.
Check Box- Re-examine your goals daily and change then as you further clarify your objectives.

Prep for the 10 Most Common Interview Questions

18 November 2011 Avjobs-Crew Aviation Job Interviews

Be prepared for your next interview.  More than likely, you will be asked at least one of the following Most Common Interview Questions.

What Are Your Weaknesses?
Keep it business related.  This question can easily being answered by actually emphasizing your strengths.  Stating that you are constantly working to improve all of your abilities can show that you are open to change, ambitious and a hard worker.

Why Should We Hire You?
Summarize your positive attributes and experience.

Why Do You Want to Work Here?
Do your homework.  This is a good opportunity to impress the interviewer by letting them know you have researched the company and find what and how they do things is similar to your way thinking.  Stating actual facts and figures about the company is a definite bonus.

What Are Your Goals?
Easy.  This is a great chance to state your serious interest in this company.  State that you looking to obtain a position with a strong company with the potential for you to grow.

Why Did You Leave (Are You Leaving) Your Job?
Never badmouth your previous employer.  If you have been with your previous company for a long number of years, a good comment might be.  After 5 years of hard work and promotions, I found it was time to apply my experience on a new level.    If you're unemployed, you can state your reason for leaving in a positive manner: "I managed to survive two rounds of corporate downsizing, but the third round was a 20 percent reduction in the workforce, which included me."

If you are employed, focus on what you want in your next job: "After two years, I made the decision to look for a company that is team-focused, where I can add my experience."

When Were You Most Satisfied in Your Job?
The interviewer wants to know what motivates you. If you can relate an example of a job or project when you were excited, the interviewer will get an idea of your preferences. "I was very satisfied in my last job, because I worked directly with the customers and their problems; that is an important part of the job for me."

What Can You Do for Us That Other Candidates Can't?
What makes you unique? This will take an assessment of your experiences, skills and traits. Summarize concisely: "I have a unique combination of strong technical skills, and the ability to build strong customer relationships. This allows me to use my knowledge and break down information to be more user-friendly."

What Are Three Positive Things Your Last Boss Would Say About You?
It's time to pull out your old performance appraisals and boss's quotes. This is a great way to brag about yourself through someone else's words: "My boss has told me that I am the best designer he has ever had. He knows he can rely on me, and he likes my sense of humor."

What Salary Are You Seeking?
Doing your homework here can really help.  Knowing what the going rate in that area might be, or what someone with your experience is.  It is to your advantage if the employer tells you the range first. Prepare by knowing the going rate in your area, and your bottom line or walk-away point. One possible answer would be: "I am sure when the time comes, we can agree on a reasonable amount. In what range do you typically pay someone with my background?"

If You Were an Animal, Which One Would You Want to Be?
Interviewers use this type of psychological question to see if you can think quickly. If you answer "a bunny," you will make a soft, passive impression. If you answer "a lion," you will be seen as aggressive. What type of personality would it take to get the job done? What impression do you want to make?

Aviation Job Interviews

18 November 2011 Avjobs-Crew Aviation Job Interviews

The purpose of the job interview is to persuade the employer that you have the skills, background, and ability to do the job and that you can comfortably fit into their organization. Everyone must understand that you are not just being evaluated on your experience and education alone, but also by your looks, personality, confidence, enthusiasm, and any other attribute that can help them decide whether or not you are right for the job. You may find out that some people get hired just because the interviewer "liked"  them. Of course this is not always the case, but developing effective interviewing skills can help!

Take Charge of Your Career

07 November 2011 Avjobs-Crew Career Overviews, Aviation Job Interviews, Job Search

Take Charge of Your Career with the Avjobs Career Guide

Never go to an interview unprepared again!
This Comprehensive (8.5 x 11, - 167 pg.) Guide Includes: Career Type, Education Requirements, Who Employs, Complete Job Descriptions, Job Outlook, Salary and Benefit Information, Tips on writing Dynamic Resumes and Cover Letters, and Interview Techniques that get you hired. With the Avjobs Career Guide you will know: what to expect, where to find the jobs, know the application process, what airlines really look for, and a lot more... more >>