The assessment day for airline cabin crew is not
an easy one, and getting a job as cabin crew can seem like an almost
impossible task! You do have to run through a series of stages and tests
before you can proceed to the final interview stage, and for many it is
the hardest part.
By Patricia Green
These are important parts of the assessment day as the recruiters will be watching to see how you work within a team and as an individual, as well as assessing skills like leadership and listening. Some airlines have role play and group tasks and some just group tasks and discussions as part of the cabin crew selection process. Here we can look at them in a little more detail and find out what the recruiters are looking for.
These are important parts of the assessment day as the recruiters will be watching to see how you work within a team and as an individual, as well as assessing skills like leadership and listening. Some airlines have role play and group tasks and some just group tasks and discussions as part of the cabin crew selection process. Here we can look at them in a little more detail and find out what the recruiters are looking for.
TOP TIP: This is where the majority of applicants will make mistakes and have to leave the assessment day, so it is your chance to show you have the right skill set for being cabin crew.
Role play
This is where the recruiters will be watching to see how you deal with challenges and unusual situations and is very important to the role of cabin crew. They may use an incident you could have onboard or in another job. It is up to you, to deal with the matter efficiently with initiative and most importantly, with a successful conclusion…
Example 1: You are working in a restaurant and the angry customer says his meal is cold. What do you do?
Apologize and be polite. Take the meal away and say you will get a new one from the kitchen as quickly as you can. Maybe offer him a free drink whilst he is waiting…. Worst case scenario, call for the supervisor for assistance.
Example 2: A passenger complains that he doesn’t want to sit next to the family with children. What do you do?
Apologize and be polite. Explain maybe there was a mix up at check in but not to worry, you’ll check the passenger list and see where you can find him a more suitable seat. Even better offer a choice of seats. It is not a good idea to talk about this in front of the family, so keep things discreet, they will be stressed enough as it is!
Group task
The group task can vary widely at each assessment day, you may have to build a structure out of unusual items like straws and paperclips (!) or take part in an imagined scenario, like being stuck on a desert island. These show teamwork, initiative and communication – all vital skills of cabin crew.
Example: You are survivors of a ship wreck, on a desert island. You have limited resources and little chance of escape, what should you do? Each person will be given an identity (eg. Mary, age 65, a grandmother or Sam and 18 year old student) and you have to work out a scenario to stay or go as given by your recruiters – they will give you clues. So you may have enough resources to build a life raft? They will then ask you to discuss why people should stay or go and why and also you may have to argue for your identity to stay or go!
Do act fairly at all times and listen well to what everyone has to say… Work as a team and contribute to the scenario, bringing others in where you can. You may show a little leadership quality but not too much!
Tips:
• Never speak over anyone else
• Make sure you have equal time speaking to everyone else, don’t be too talkative but don’t remain silent
• Use your initiative in the tasks to show you are thinking creatively
• Try and bring in other members of the group to show teamwork – for example: ’ I agree with what John is saying but we could use your idea too.’
• Watch what you say!
• Do not use the word ‘no’ or say anything negative or put anyone down.
Hopefully this quick guide to acting your role play and group task will give you a little more focus and direction in your next assessment day. Remember every assessment day is a learning curve, use your experience each time and the process will get easier. Good Luck!