Imagine travelling to your favourite places and even getting paid for it. Cabin crew is one of the jobs that can make that dream true. Cabin crew are not only responsible to make the travel experience for passengers more pleasant but also ensure safety while promoting the airline brand. Well, out of interest, you gained relevant skills, polished your CV and applied for a cabin crew job. Also, you have got the invitation to the Cabin Crew Assessment Day. However, do you know what happens at Cabin Crew Assessment Day? Well, fret no more, I have got it covered.
First and foremost, it is essential to note that the assessment days vary from airline to airline. Also, the assessment days can be changed by the airline at any time without any prior notice.
What to Expect on the Assessment Day?
An assessment day consists of a complex process in order to assess skills and choose the right candidate. It consists of various levels leading to the final interview. It lasts for a whole day keeping the prospect candidates till the end and weeding out the rest.
Although the structure of the assessment day is variable, some steps are constant no matter what airline you are applying for. For instance, expect to have the following format on the assessment day of almost all airlines.
- Registration and Document Checks
- Introduction
- The Reach/Height Test
- Tattoo Checks
- Group Test/Exercise
- Mathematics Test
- Language Test
- Interviews
Registration and Document Checks:
First and foremost, your identity will be verified. Make sure you bring all the required documents including the invitation mail. After registering yourself and have all your documents checked for the assessment day, you will proceed with the next step.
Introduction:
The next step is the introduction. The company informs the candidates about how the airline company came into existence, the airline’s promise, work environment, benefits, the airline’s fleet size, the type of aircraft the airline has, the number of destinations the airline flies to. They may also show a video presentation about the job.
Pay attention, be curious and raise your hands if you have questions. At the end of the presentation, there will usually be an interactive session where the recruiter will expect questions from the candidates. Sometimes, even recruiters might ask questions to the candidates. Being interactive in this phase would help you stand out to the recruiters. Looking bored or being inattentive at this stage is not a good sign when it comes to getting the job.
The Reach/Height Test:
The next step is the reach test. This test is quite black and white. In other words, either you pass or fail the test. There is no in-between. You pass the test only when you are able to reach the minimum height set by the airline. You are asked to remove your shoes, raise your arms to reach the maximum on tiptoes. In case of emergencies, cabin crew are expected to reach the overhead bin to access the safety equipment. Therefore, airlines conduct this test.
It is important to note that some Asian and regional airlines have lower reach tests. So, if you think your height is a hindrance to achieving your dream, then it is worth considering those airlines.
Tattoo Checks:
Most airlines have the policy of no visible tattoo. That means if your uniform can cover your tattoos, then there is no problem. However, some airlines like Qatar Airways have banned tattoos for cabin crews regardless of the areas they are located in.
Overall, most airline companies never hire a cabin crew with visible tattoos. Whereas, there are some companies that completely prohibit the presence of tattoos.
Mathematics Test:
Some airlines might also conduct a Mathematics test in order to assess your skills. However, do not fret! It is not as difficult as it sounds. It involves basic math. For instance, “A meal cart fits 5 trays vertically and 9 trays horizontally, how many trays are there in the cart?” or questions like “A passenger buys 2 coffees at 2.5 USD and gives you 10.00 USD, what change do you give?”
Language Test:
Language test
Almost all airlines expect cabin crew to be fluent in English. Airline companies have their own set of standards and assessments when it comes to English. For instance, Middle Eastern airlines like Qatar Airways take about an hour for the English assessment. Nevertheless, the structure of all airlines remains the same with a few differences here and there.
First, you will require to read a story of a cabin crew. Then, you must answer 5 multiple choice questions pertaining to the story. This will assess your understanding.
- Match the task to text: Understand the meaning of words or phrase.
- Read a cover letter: Answer 5 multiple choice questions pertaining to the cover letter
Essay: Write about a specific topic. For instance, “What traits do you like or not like about yourself? How and why would you change them?”
Don’t worry if you think your English is not good. There are many books and courses online to enhance your English skills specially designed for Cabin Crew.
Group Tests:
The group tests will help the recruiter to assess your communication skills, teamwork, creativity, and decision-making skills. The cabin crew role will require you to work under tremendous stress, communicate effectively with people having different backgrounds, being able to solve problems quickly and listening to instructions or complaints. Therefore, this test is essential to select the prospective candidates and weed out the rest.
The group test usually involves a complex task involving 10-12 candidates. Candidates may be judged on the basis of their communication skills, logic and the way they handle things.
Make sure you speak only when asked to, do not talk over others, do not argue and do not stay idle while having a group discussion or a similar group activity.
Interviews:
Make sure to practice common questions asked in the cabin crew interview before attending the assessment day. Furthermore, do not forget to learn about the airline company.
During the interview, remember to smile, sit up straight, avoid crossing your legs and arms, and speak calmly and eloquently. It is normal for candidates to speak fast when nervous. However, speaking at a fast pace can lead to cluttering and can make the speech unclear. Therefore, try speaking at a normal or slow pace.
Here are some of the common cabin crew questions:
- Tell me about yourself
- How long were you employed with your last employer?
- Do you enjoy flying and why?
- How do you handle stress well on the job?
- Describe your customer service skills
- How long are you willing to work with us?
- What skills according to you are important for flight attendants?
- Why do you want to work for our airline?
- What are your strongest skills?
- Describe a time when you had a conflict with a coworker and how did you handle it?
- Why do you enjoy serving people?
Cabin Crew Assessment Day Video
Bottom Line
Well, the Cabin Crew Assessment Day is indeed nerve-wracking. However, if you are aware and prepare for it accordingly well and advanced, then it would definitely alleviate your nervousness and boost your confidence. This is the purpose of writing this article. Hope this might help you to achieve your dream!
