Question:

When interviewing, what are the proper responses to these questions by an air hostess job aspirant?

Tell me why I should select you.

Why do you want to be a flight attendant?

Why do you want to work for this airline?

Answer:

When you are given a question such as "Tell me why I should select you", it is your job to persuade the recruiter to hire you based on your qualifications. Don’t be afraid to blow your own horn – this is a chance to market yourself to the company. Give them a reason to hire you - impress upon them how reliable, punctual, flexible you are, how you are able to anticipate the needs of others without having to be asked, etc. Communicate how your positive contributions and performance at your present job will relate to that of the flight attendant position.

When asked "Why do you want to be a flight attendant?", be creative. Do NOT say that you want to travel and you like to meet people – that’s the most common answer, and they hear that hundreds of times a day! Give an answer that implies that you enjoy giving good customer service, or that it’s like going to work every day and feeling like you’re on vacation; emphasize your passion for airplanes and flying, and be creative with your answer! Really ponder what it is that appeals to you about the job, and think about what it is that attracts you to the position.

For the question "Why do you want to work for this airline?" you first need to establish the fact that you already know something about the company. Go to their website and learn several facts about them, such as any new routes they may be acquiring, if they are buying any new airplanes, how many flight attendants they plan to hire this year, or changes in upper management such as the name of their new CEO. Then you want to convince them what you could bring to their company, giving specific examples of the ways the company already has impacted your life or how it will in the future. Keep in mind that this is your big chance to persuade them to hire you, so learn all you can about how your background will help you fit into their company’s culture, and don’t be afraid to brag on your accomplishments and assets!

Common Errors

During an interview, there are a number of factors that can potentially disqualify you from consideration. Here are some of the most common errors:

Poor personal appearance.

Overbearing, overaggressive, egotistical behavior.

Lack of goals, lack of purpose.

Inability to relate personal qualities to flight attendant duties.

Unable to relate real-world examples when asked behavioral-type questions.

Lack of enthusiasm - passive or indifferent.

Inability to listen to the interviewer; too focused on how you are going to respond.

Making derogatory remarks about a previous employer.

Overemphasis on compensation.

Bad body language.

Concerns over relocation.

Lack of tact, maturity, courtesy.

Evasive, making excuses for unfavorable factors in work history.

Inability to maintain a conversation, poor communication skills.

Lack of commitment.

Failure to ask questions about the flight attendant position.

Unable to make a commitment on a training start date.

Very little knowledge about the duties and responsibilities of an air hostess.

Persistent "What can you do for me?" attitude.

Lack of preparation - no knowledge of the airline, resulting in an inability to ask intelligent questions.