Airlines Recruit Different Ways

• Airlines use different methods to recruit potential flight attendants, and the methods range from the modern to the relatively arcane. Because most airlines have a presence on the World Wide Web, flight attendant applicants can usually review requirements and submit a personal resume on the airline's website; depending on the airline's technical abilities, a short online questionnaire may be required before the application will be accepted. Some airlines choose to perform a telephone interview before proceeding, and this interview may be conducted either with a live screener or an automated, interactive attendant. According to industry specialist CabinCrewJobs.com, though, the most popular recruiting venue for flight attendant positions is through airline job fairs, usually held at a hotel or convention center close to an airport that the company serves.
  
  

Initial Interview Questions

• If the applicant is selected for an interview, the initial interview may be conducted over the phone, at the job fair or at the offices of the airline. The initial interview usually centers on behavioral questions, and the applicant is asked what he or she would do in specific customer service-type scenarios. In some instances, especially at job fairs, the interview questions may be delivered as a group interview; in these cases, applicants listen to the question and respond either by filling out a form or answering on a computer-based application.
  
  

Personal Profile Presentation

• In a job fair setting, some airlines have applicants appear in front of a panel or group of other applicants and describe themselves in a short presentation. The presentation is usually kept to 2 minutes or less and involves information about the applicant's personal background and work history (especially with regards to customer service positions). Depending on the airline, a brief verbal quiz---to be answered in front of the panel or group---sometimes accompanies the presentation.
  
  

The Second Interview

• During the first personal or group interview, the airline will ask some applicants to return for a second round of questions. Depending on the airline, this second interview may be delivered in front of a panel, as part of a group, or---as is common with regional and other small companies---individually.
  
  

Airlines Are Picky

• Because airlines almost always fight budget woes, they try to keep their staffing to absolute minimum levels. For this reason, and because flight attendant positions are highly desirable, airlines are generally highly selective when choosing successful flight attendants. Applicants who are selected to begin flight attendant training are notified individually and may be flown to the company's home offices for a training program. Unsuccessful applicants may be discreetly notified or may simply not receive any further communication from the airline to which they applied. In the event that an application is not successful, flight attendant hopefuls may generally reapply after a "quiet period" of about 6 to 12 months.