The first steps
Writing an outstanding application is your first step to getting called for an assessment day, so you need to get it right. Most people make similar mistakes and fail to pass this first stage. Thousands of applications are made to airlines every year but very few are invited to the next stage. Here we have some great tips to make sure your application lands in the ‘yes’ pile!
An application form is a document which the airlines will send you (or ask you to download) which will ask you for some personal details and then have a number of questions for you to fill in. Some will be short questions, some will require longer answers. Some boxes will be easier to fill in than others. For instance, the question asking for details of your education and qualifications should be quite easy. A question on why you want to work for their airline may be more difficult!
A CV is a document which allows you to present details about yourself in whatever format you choose. However, they are some generally accepted details you should cover, such as personal details, qualifications, work experience, interests. The quality of what people write on a CV can vary.
Both documents are your opportunity to present your skills, experience and qualities to a potential employer so they will want to meet you in person. Most people fail to ‘sell’ themselves properly.
Most of the advice in this section on Application Forms and CVs applies to both types of application. It varies between airlines as to which they will ask you to send in.
So what’s on an Application Form?
- Personal details: name, address, driving license
- Eligibility: questions about visas, residency, criminal convictions
- Education: where you went to school/ college/ high education and what qualifications you earned
- Work experience: where you worked, when and what your duties involved
- Role related questions (not always included): these will vary from questions about why you want the role, what your strengths are, what you could bring to the airline etc.
- Evidence based questions (not always included): these will ask you to describe examples of past occasions when you have demonstrated specific skills or attitudes.
- Personal statement (not always included): this will allow you space to write why you want the job, what you can bring to the role and a bit more about yourself.
- References (not always included): the names and contact details of one or two people. Preferably professionals such as teachers, tutors, employers who can vouch for you if the airlines ask for their opinion on you.
These types of questions ask you to describe a time you have personally done something. The answer isn’t based on your opinion or even how you might handle things in the future, it is about what you have actually done in the past. Here are some example questions.
Please describe a time when:
- you have worked hard to achieve a difficult goal
worked with others to solve a problem - you have overcome a challenge
- you have demonstrated a conscientious approach
- you have shown a strong ability to plan ahead
- you demonstrated outstanding customer service
- you helped someone who needed your support at work
- you have been praised for your performance
- you achieved outstanding results
- you were proud of an achievement
- you were recognised for your contribution