How to breeze through your cabin crew video interview

I’ve got to appear on webcam ?

I’m afraid you do!

If your cabin crew online application has been successful more and more airlines will want to take a final look at you before they invite you for the Assessment Day and they often do this by using a video interview. (gulp!)

The cabin crew video interview is all done online using a webcam. Basically you’ll be asked a number of questions which you need to record yourself answering on the webcam and send to the airline.

The airline recruitment team will then review your performance and decide if they want top invite you to the Assessment Day. This blog will show you how to get that invite!

Ok, so how does it all work?

What normally happens is that you are sent an email invitation from the airline.

Within that email is a link and if you click on this link you are taken to the video interview introduction page:

The first thing you will need to do is log-in and create an account.

What if I forget my log-in details?

Please take a note of your log-in details because if you have to contact the airline for a reminder they’re NOT going to be impressed!

Before the video interview begins, your Internet browser will be checked.

If there are any problems with the browser, you will be told.

Oh, I’m sure it will be fine!

Please don’t ignore this! If there is a problem then the airline WON’T be able to receive your video interview so if they tell you there is an issue, make sure you get it sorted!

This screen normally includes a company video. It’s really important that you watch this as the airline can tell if you have or not!

When watching the video, take notes of the key points in the video and there is no harm in watching this video two or three times- it will make you look super keen!

Wait, what? There’s a closing date?

Yep, you will also find the closing date on this screen.

You WON’T be able to submit your video beyond this date, so don’t ignore it otherwise you’re waiting at least six months until you can apply again!

Also, there are a load of technical considerations to think about as well. So, if you log-in to do your video interview on the closing date and find out there is a problem with your webcam, then you’ve blown it!

Get started planning your video interview as soon as you recive the link to give yourself plenty of time to get it right!

This screen will tell you how many questions are in the interview and how long you have to complete it.

Oh, it’s like being back in school!

You’re right, it is!

And, just like in exams, plan your time wisely!

If you have 5 questions and 15 minutes, then you should spend NO MORE than 3 minutes on each question.

Don’t spend 10 minutes on the first question and then hardly any time on the others. Each question is EQUALLY important so give them all an equal amount of time.

Oh, not KEYWORDS again?

‘Fraid so!

There is usually a section called “About this interview”.

It’s really important that you read this section.

Why?

Because it tells you what the airline is looking for and it’s stuffed FULL of KEYWORDS!

You’ll see words such as customer experience, friendly, confident and team player.

If that’s what the airline are looking for, then make sure your answers include these words as well!

There is also a section on company information.

Again, they can tell if this section has been opened, so please read it and take notes.

Do I get a chance to see a demo.?

Yip, often you will be given a chance to view a Demo. interview.

ALWAYS view this, particularly if you have never done a video interview before as it will show you what’s involved and the more you know about the process, the more confident you will be.

Phew! Is that it?

Nope, now your webcam, microphone and speakers will be tested!

The key thing to remember is to make sure you run all the tests as instructed – the better your computer is working – the better you’ll look and sound.

Once all of the tests are run then you can begin the practice interview.

So, I can just wear my pj’s right?

I’m afraid not!

The clue is in the word “interview”! Remember, this is the first time the airline have seen and heard you and you want to make this first impression as good as it can possibly be!

You should dress smartly. Remember how important grooming is to an airline, so you want to make sure you look the part.

Don’t make the mistake of only dressing smartly on your top half thinking that’s all the recruiter will see because if you move around during the interview or stand up at the end of the interview you could blow your great first impression as you stand there in your old scruffy jeans (or even worse, your pyjama bottoms!)

Ok, so we’re nearly good to go!

Next thing you should consider is the lighting in the room. Make sure shadows are not being cast on your face.

Make sure you have a plain background behind you if at all possible as the cabin crew recruiters may be too busy checking out your family photos rather than listening to your well-thought out answers!

Anything else I need to think about?

Finally, and MOST importantly, make sure there are NO distractions!

If you interrup or stop the video interview YOU CANNOT RESTART IT!

So, once you begin, you only have ONE chance of completing it.

Therefore, make sure you will NOT be interrupted.

Tell your friends, family, flatmates or your granny that you are taking part in a video interview and they CANNOT disturb you!

Turn OFF all phones, disconnect the doorbell and if your dog is likely to bark, move him to a different room!

Ok, so now we’re good to go!

Can I practice first of all?

You will be given the opportunity to try a couple of practice questions first of all, to give the chance to feel comfortable talking to your webcam, so make the most of this practice!

Then it’s time for the interview.

Oh, no!

You are normally given between 15 and 60 seconds to read the question before recording begins, so use it to read through the question a couple of times and then take a couple of deep breaths before you begin.

Treat this video interview EXACTLY the same as you would any other job interview.

Take your time answering questions, speak slowly and clearly and keep your body language postive at all times.

Questions in the video interview are very much “typcial” cabin crew interview questions such as “why do you want to work for our airline?” or “ why do you think you would make a good cabin crew member?”

So, make sure you have prepared REALLY detailed answers for these questions beforehand.

Make good eye contact with the webcam (imagine it is the recruiter) and keep smiling throughout!

I really hope this blog has helped you and yo have any questions please post them in the comments section below and I’ll get back to you!

Cheers

Pauline x

Pauline Park, Co- Founder & Director Mondrago My Travel TeacherCheers

Emirates Careers: How to wow at the Emirates Open Day

Want an Emirates Career?

UPDATE June 2018. Emirates have stopped using video interviews and are now back using open days.

READ ALL ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON AT EMIRATES AT MY LATEST BLOG POST HERE

Then read on and find out what you need to do on the Emirates cabin crew open day

Ok, so in my last post, we had a chat about how great it would be to work as Emirates cabin crew and all the many benefits there are on offer. In this post I want to give you more detail about the Emirates Open Day including;

Convincing Emirates Airlines you’re the person for them
The “Nitty-Gritty” of the Emirates Open Day
How Exactly Emirates Airlines Recruit
How the Emirates Airlines Screening Process Works
How To Find Out When Emirates Open Days Are Coming Up
How to Complete The Emirates Airlines Online Application
The Scary CV HandOver
What you MUST do at Every Stage of the Emirates Airline’s Recruitment Process

So, what is it- Emirates cabin crew or Emirates flight attendant?

Actually, before I go any further, someone reprimanded me recently me for using the term Emirates cabin crew and NOT Emirates flight attendant.Hands up! I’m guilty as I’m from the UK so we use the term Emirates cabin crew, but I’ll try my hardest to use the term Emirates flight attendant as well throughout this blog and a shout-out to all of you guys across the pond who would love to be an Emirates flight attendant!

How many people apply to Emirates Airlines each month??

We quickly realised that a LOT of people want to be Emirates cabin crew but it’s a really difficult job to secure. You only need to do a quick Google search of emirates group career or cabin crew interview questions to realise that they get over 15,000 applicants a month- gulp!
Say, what?!

Ok, I really need help so I can stand out at the Emirates Open Day

How on earth do you compete with that? Well, that’s where I come in! I’m going to give you lots of advice on how to turn this dream into reality. Now, you might be thinking- who on earth is she to be giving advice? Quite right! After all, why waste your precious time reading a blog written someone who has no idea of what they are talking about? So, why not check me out and decide for yourself and I’ll meet you back here soon?

Happy? Then let’s keep going…

But how do I convince Emirates Airlines that I’m the person for them?

So, in my last post we looked at what Emirates cabin crew do and we realised that there are a number of key skills you need to display at ALL times throughout the Emirates recruitment process in order to prove to the recruiters that YOU are the person for them.A lot of the information I gave you last time was pretty general and you could, in fact, use it for any cabin crew interview you have coming up.

Emirates Careers Cabin Crew Open Day — There are things you can do to stand out at the open day

I’ve looked all over the web and the information on the Emirates Open Day just isn’t specific enough

You’re right. There is a TON of stuff out there on the web, that whilst really good, simply isn’t specific enough to be of much help to you.So, you may find yourself going to cabin crew forums where you will encounter THOUSANDS of people looking for advice but not really that many people offering it. And the information they are offering is too general and not detailed enough to be of much use to you.

I really need to know the nitty-gritty of what happens at the Emirates Open Day

I’m with you there! I bet you already know that you should wear “smart, business attire” (what is that by the way?) to the Emirates Open Day and you should match your CV to the job specification blah blah blah but you need the nitty-gritty right? You need to know exactly what happens at the Emirate open days and what’s involved in the WHOLE process of becoming Emirates cabin crew (and, of course, an Emirates flight attendant- see I haven’t forgotten!)

So, how exactly do Emirates Airlines Recruit?

I am asked all the time about how the Emirates interview process works, so I am going to tell you in great detail EXACTLY what’s involved, why Emirates Airlines include it in the process and what they are looking for at each stage. So, let’s look at how the specific process for Emirates Airlines works.
Before I begin though, I should just point out that the order of events may change slightly depending on where your Open Day is, the number of attendees at the Open Day and it may take place over one day or several days.

A screening process? Sounds quite scary, tell me more…

The screening process, regardless of length, consists of the following elements:

Online application. I think that even if you are attending an Emirates Open Day that’s available to anyone walking in off the street, it’s best to fill in the online application before the event.
Attend an Emirates Open Day event. This event varies depending on the country you are in. Sometimes it’s open to people walking in off the street, other times you may have to register in advance to attend.

Emirates Airlines Screening Process — The screening process doesn’t need to be scary!

How can I find out when Emirates Airlines Open Days are coming up?

Keep up-to-date with Emirates Open Days by using this page here

You can also follow Emirates Airlines on LinkedIn where you will be able to see all their vacancies as well

When you have a look at their Open Day page you can see you can that they offer either Open Days (where anyone can turn up) or Invitation Only days.

How can I get myself invited to one of these Emirates Open Days?

Only those who have been invited can attend one of these days. So, how can you be invited? You can be invited along by completing their online application. Those successfully completing their online application will be sent an appointment to attend one of these days. Those who have not been successful in their application will NOT be given an invitation.

And how do I complete their online application?

How do you apply to become Emirates cabin crew (and ahem, Emirates flight attendants)? This is where it all begins! Go to the link below..

http://www.emiratesgroupcareers.com/english/careers_overview/cabin_crew/cabincrewassessmentdays

..and click on APPLY NOW

Oh no, I’m rubbish at online application forms. I have no idea what Emirates Airlines are looking for!

Don’t fall at the first hurdle. You can join my free private Facebook group called Project- Get Hired where we have current Emirates Airlines cabin crew who are happy to answer questions and give you advice. I’m also in the group daily helping people and would be more than happy to answer any questions about your online application,

Wait, what? A punctuality test?!

So, let’s get back to the Open Day event. A wee word of warning- these Emirates Open Days are also set-up as punctuality tests, so if you’re not in the room you should be by the published start time, you’re out for good! Give yourself TONS of time to get there and be friendly to EVERYONE you meet.

Emirates Flight Attendant — Be friendly to **EVERYONE** you meet

Why do I need to demonstrate great listening skills?

When you check-in for the Emirates Open Day you will be give a sticker which you will be expected to wear for the ENTIRE event, so please don’t take it off as it doesn’t match your lipstick as this will simply show you up as someone who can’t take instruction well (which is SO important when working as cabin crew!). The number on this sticker is how you will be identified throughout the process, so make sure you listen out for it. Don’t let the Emirates recruiters shout out “No.24” repeatedly, to then look down and realise you are number 24- you won’t look good! So make sure you know your number and you listen out for it.

Again, remember, to be Emirates cabin crew (or an Emirates flight attendant!) you will need to be good at listening to your passenger’s requests, so you need to show the recruiters that you are a great listener by listening intently to everything being said during the day.

What does the Emirates Airline representative talk about?

Once everyone has arrived and been given a sticker, you will watch a promotional video about Emirates Airlines and life as a member of Emirates cabin crew.
A representative from the airline will then give you a talk about what it’s like to be cabin crew with Emirates Airlines and life in Dubai. The representative will talk about things such as the Emirates flight attendant salary and what life is like when you fly emirates.You will then be asked if anyone has any questions

Oh no, I’ve heard the CV handover is really scary and it’s like walking a catwalk?

Following any questions from applicants, the first major screening event occurs- the CV handover. Several tables will be set-up at the head of the room and you will need to submit your CV to the appropriate location you have been issued. Again, this is where listening is important!
I’m going to be posting a blog soon that covers this CV handover in a lot more detail, so you should sign-up below so we can tell you when it’s out! (and I will reveal whether it is like a catwalk or not!)

What, that’s it? The Emirates Open day is over?

There will usually then be a break for lunch and only those applicants that have passed the CV handover will return for the rest of the day. It’s really worth noting that you will have very limited to NO interaction with your Emirates recruiters before this stage, so the entire screening event is based on your CV and your personal presentation so remember- FIRST IMPRESSIONS COUNT!

And then they make even more people leave the Emirates Open Day? Seriously?!

The first group exercise takes place. Applicants are split into groups of approximately 20-25. Following this event,you will be informed whether you will continue with the process.
You will then participate in another group activity, this time in groups of around 8-10. This time, you will be given a more complex scenario and after this group activity you will be informed who will be continuing.You will then be given an English comprehension test followed by an Aptitude test. Only those who have passed these two tests will be invited to continue.You will then be given a one-to-one or two-to-one interview with a member of the recruiting team

How long will it be before I hear I have been successful?

There will then be a tense time whilst you wait to hear if you have been successful! The minimum waiting time seems to be 14 days and from my experience, it’s not unheard of to wait up to 6 weeks!But I’m sure the wait will be worth it when you get that “Golden Call”!

Emirates Flight Attendant Uniform — It could take up to 6 weeks to receive your golden call

A gate? What’s that got to do with Emirates?

Remember, this is a general summary of the whole process. You should try and look at each stage in the process as a gate you have to pass through. So, in order to get your dream job as Emirates cabin crew (or as an Emirates flight attendant) you have to pass through all the gates along the way! Unfortunately, if you don’t do too well in any one stage, you will not be allowed to pass through the gate, even though you had been doing really well up until that point. You have to be outstanding at EVERY stage in the Emirates Open day process and that’s why it’s so important to be prepared.

What do you mean- Emirates Airlines has nothing invested in me?

This may sound a bit mean, but Emirates Airlines has absolutely NOTHING invested in you. There will be literally HUNDREDS of people standing in line behind you trying to get this job, and if you fail to impress then they may well do, so you’re going to have to put the work in.

So, what’s really important at EVERY stage of the process?

Attention to detail is REALLY important at EVERY stage of this process.If your Emirates Airlines recruiter sees ONE thing, yep, just ONE thing, about you that they don’t like, then they will just move on to the next applicant.Now this may sound discouraging, but please remember that the VAST MAJORITY of people will turn up completely unprepared. They don’t understand how competitive the process is.

Is the Emirates Open Day really as competitive as you’re making out?

It absolutely is. But here’s the thing…
…others don’t understand why it is SO important to have completed the online application correctly and indeed, loads of them won’t even have completed it!
They will show up thinking they can improvise, planning just to wing it and the job with Emirates Airlines will be theirs. However, they won’t be dressed right, won’t behave right and they won’t present themselves well at the Emirates Open Day and that is why the majority of applicants FAIL. But, here’s where you have an advantage…You, however, understand the importance of EVERY SMALL DETAIL of the process and you will stand out for all the RIGHT reasons.

Phew, aren’t you glad you’re reading this blog?

Yeah, but I could be doing with a bit more detail about the different stages of the Emirates Open Day

You’ve got it! My next few blogs are going to go into a LOT more depth about the Emirates Open Day So, sign-up below to make sure you don’t miss out on them!

Let’s fly Emirates!

Please don’t be disheartened though! The process is diffcult, I’m not going to lie, but if you’re prepared to put in the work and effort, then before you know it, you’ll be pinning on your wings and taking to the skies as Emirates cabin crew (or, yep, you’ve guessed it!), an Emirates flight attendant! Let’s fly Emirates!

What frightens you most about the Emirates Open Day process?

Before you go, please tell me below what most frightens you most about the Emirates open day process and I’ll do my very best to cover these fears in my subsequent blogs!
See you soon and remember,

#believeinyourself

Take care