14 Popular Flight Attendant Interview Mistakes You Should Avoid
You’ve been to so many interviews with different airlines in your chase for the flight attendant dream. You might have even reached the final stage of the interview. But after going through the whole process, your application was unsuccessful. 😥
I know how you feel. I had my share of unsuccessful applications too. Rejection sucks! (Here are some Reasons You Got Rejected At The Final Interview )
You keep thinking what went wrong. You replay the whole interview conversation in your head trying to remember every word you said or every action you did.
Don’t be too hard on yourself. Perhaps it just wasn’t the right time for you yet. Sooner or later, with a little more preparation, you will get in!
In this post, we will look at some of the most popular mistakes that cost candidates the job.
Just maybe, you also made a few of them.
Top Flight Attendant Interview Mistakes You Can Avoid
1 Arriving Late
Punctuality is of top priority in the airline industry.
Google Map the exact address of the place and arrive at least 15 minutes before the interview starts.
2 Not Knowing Your Interviewer’s Name
Listen carefully and note down the name of the interviewer and always address by name. Don’t overuse the name though.
Please avoid saying Ma’am or Sir.
Show them that you’re so comfortable using names in your conversations and you’re keen on building proper rapport with total strangers.
3 Weak Handshake
Shaking hands is probably the first close encounter between you and the interviewer so make it a great first impression.
Show enthusiasm and confidence by giving a firm handshake.
4 Negative Body Language
Be aware of your posture at all time. Don’t slouch. Don’t cross your legs. Don’t fold your arms.
Display confident and positive body language. Use minimal hand gestures while talking.
Maintain comfortable eye contact. Nod your head to show that you’re a good listener.
Show that you’re happy to be there. Relax and keep smiling. (For more on confidence and eye contact, read 3 Easy Steps To Be More Confident For Your Cabin Crew Interview.)
5 Sitting Before Being Asked
I personally committed this grave sin.
The interviewer opened the door to let me in the room. Once inside, I immediately sat on the first chair I saw.
It was the wrong chair!
The interviewer asked me to stand up and sit on another chair. Embarrassing!
Obviously, I didn’t get the job that time. 😥
Sit only where and when you’re asked. It shows courtesy and respect.
6 Chewing Gum or Smoking
Big NO NO!
It shows lack of respect for authority. Don’t ever chew gum or smoke even while waiting for the interview. Remember that you’re being watched the whole time.
7 Closed-Ended or One-Word Responses
Don’t respond to the interviewer’s questions with just a “yes” or “no”. Build lively chats by telling a short positive story.
Also, describe your answer using words the bring out emotions.
Example:
“You mentioned here that you speak French, is that right?”
“Yes, I do. My parents worked for the UN and as a teenage I spent 7 years in Senegal. All the kids at school spoke French. So, I couldn’t help but learn their language. I was so lucky!”
8 Making Derogatory Comments
Don’t say anything negative about your previous company or colleagues no matter how tempting it gets or how bad your previous employer truly is.
Sometimes, the interviewer may even prompt you. Still, never do it.
In fact, speak highly of your previous employer mentioning only the positives.
Yes, you’re here to build rapport. You should try to make the conversation seem comfortable for you but don’t get too familiar or too casual right from the start.
The interviewer is not your best friend in the making. So maintain your boundaries.
10 Dishonest With Your Answers
The interviewers have interviewed hundreds of candidates before you. They know what a scripted answer sounds like.
So, don’t memorize answers and simply recite them out loud. Prepare your answers of course. However, add some spontaneity and speak out from your own life experiences.
11 Not Asking Intelligent Questions
There will come a stage when the interviewer will ask if you have any questions.
You must ask at this point.
However, ask smart questions.
Do your research beforehand to find out what’s new about the company such as their latest awards and accolades, the delivery of new planes or starting flights to new destinations. Ask about those updates.
It shows that you know what kind of company you’re getting into.
12 Discussing Salary
Never discuss benefits and salary unless asked to do so by the interviewer. You don’t want to come across as a person who only cares about the money.
Besides, you already said that you wanted to be a flight attendant to “meet new people” or“explore the world”, right?
So, money should only be the added bonus to a job you already love. 
13 Discussing Politics
Never discuss politics or other heated topics even if you think the interviewer shares your views and opinions. It could be a trap to see if you’re easy to crack.
The reason is that these topics are never to be discussed on board since you’ll have colleagues as well as passengers from different backgrounds with contrasting political or religious views.
14 Letting Frustration Show
It’s painful to watch candidates trying to salvage an interview that isn’t going well. They will start to fumble a lot. They will smile less. Signs of distress will begin to show in their facial expressions.
Just let it be. It’s not you who judges whether the interview is going well.
Enjoy just being there with the interviewer and let the interviewer enjoy being with you.
Now it’s your turn. What other mistakes would you want to warn candidates about?
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