Interview Questions Flashcards
(16 cards)
Tell me about yourself
Why do you want to be a pilot for easyJet
What do you understand about the easyJet business, Strategy and Values
What is one your strengths
Customer service + team work + calm and adaptable
What is an ( weakness) area of development for yourself and how are you working on that
Experience - still got a lot to learn, recognise that I have a licence but still have a lot to learn commercially for easyJet; working with cabin crew and part of a giant team and then on type rating - really understanding the A320 family
Tell me about a time you worked in an effective team
Situation – During my year between a-levels and starting flight training I had been volunteering as a tennis coach but then wanted to get my qualification so I could get a more formal role or job. I worked for Active Away a company whom provide luxury tennis holiday experiences.
Task – My role as part of the team of coaches was to provide coaching sessions but also work as a team to give a good experience e.g. eating, socialising
Action – Gain trust quickly and get to know different members of the team – learn the formal training routines so you could work with other coaches and on my own to deliver the quality of coaching expected. Working well as a team came from my good listening during the morning coaching briefings as training was different every day and then putting into action to gain the confidence of other team members. I also felt joining in the staff sessions and socials to bond and get to know the team.
Result – At the end of my time I received good feedback from the head coach and he said I had fitted in well and would be pleased to have me back as part of the team on future trips. Mrole along with the rest of the team as whole received positive feedback from online reviews and on the google forms survey at the end of clients holiday and have since recommended to friends.
Review – During this experience the coaches would be constantly changing so I then had to build new relationships with new team members on a weekly basis and with different people come different ways of working and different personalities so I had to find ways to communicate and work well together to get the right outcome.
Tell me about a time you went against a decision
S – During my time working at FSC owned by Capita… There was an event in August 2022 for BMW and the management from Capita insisted that all the sports centre facilities be available for use by guests over the bank holiday weekend. But with limited staff I thought it would compromise the safety of people in the pool.
T – My job was to find a solution so that we were able to not just say no
A – I organised a meeting with my boss the manager of the sports centre so I could raise my concern with the safety regarding the numbers of customers to staff over the weekend. I expressed my concern over the use of swimming pool and suggested we could go back to the senior management with a compromise, keeping the gym open but not opening the pool due to safety concerns.
R – The senior management then when presented with my concerns saw that there was potential for a health and safety issue and so agreed to our compromise.
R - gave me confidence that it can be right to check and challenge views or decisions by more senior or experienced staff when I think the decision is wrong, particularly when people’s safety could be affected. Also when doing so it is important to make a clear case and raise issues or concerns in a respectful way so there is a better chance of it being understood.
Tell me about a time you failed to achieve a goal
S – Getting back into studying after a year of working and experiences I found difficult. Especially approaching end of Mod 1 ground school internal mock exams. I did what I thought was right and then after finishing final exam M&B getting results that seeing I was close to passing, was not enough for me.
T – I needed to understand how to better prepare and learn exam technique.
A – I openly admitted that I needed help and spoke to other trainees in cohorts ahead of mine to see what they did and what best worked for them. Also I asked my TKIs for exam technique and I can still remember one of the answers they gave, “Don’t change your answer unless you are 100% certain as often the first instinct is correct.”
R – Carried new techniques into CAA exams for mod 1 and then into mod 2 +3 and didn’t fail an exam and evidence of success demonstrated through groundschool result of 95 average
R – the importance of learning from experience and talking to others who had been through it helped- not just trying to deal with it on your own and can take into type rating.
Tell me about a time you showed leadership even though it wasn’t your responsibility to do so
S – As part of my Gold DofE award we took part in a 4 day expedition. It was on the Isle of Skye a pretty barren location, out in the wilderness. It was third day… I was responsible for map reading that day and realised that I hadmade a mistake as one of the paths wasn’t marked on the map and I had turned off too early.
T – My task was admit that there had been an error and lead the team away from a route which could become dangerous.
A – It wasn’t as simple as just changing direction. One team member was feeling sick and another team member thought we could keep going. Mistake person, I had to negotiate with him who didn’t agree using logical explanation and persuading him of the dangers of continuing. Team member (stressing out), stop the other getting overly stressed by encouraging them to sit down, lower heart rate, deep breaths, drink water, provide reassurance. And motivate the whole team (looking them in the eyes) saying I knew how to sort it, more reassurance saying it would be easier – and reminding them of the cool camp spot I had planned on the route at the beach for the third night.
R – Everyone made it and we ended up having the favourite night safely down at Glen Brittle beach and then my suggestion of a campfire worked well to bring everyone together rather than disappearing into tents.
R – A learning point for me is the option of getting a second opinion at key points in decision making and that leadership is not just taking the decision but taking the right decision
Tell me about a time you showed good communication with different people in a stressful situation
S – I’ve just travelled abroad on my own for the first time and arriving in Dalaman a country never been to, its 11pm, I am greeted by 2 members of the AA team that I had never met before. Shown the detailed program for the week. Up the next morning for welcome briefing at 8.
T – Although having only just arrived I was asked to stay later at the airport, put on an AA t - shirt and Welcome clients off a delayed flight which was meant to come in before I arrived and travel and settle them into the resort that I had never been to. At the same time I had to get ready and be part of the 8am briefing the next morning – with the time difference was early.
A – Needed to review the program and understand the detail so that you could answer questions from tired guests arriving late at night. A lot of new information to get on top of so you - Prioritised the information - looked for key points that would be of most interest to guests arriving - timing of morning meals, when briefing was, when first training was and what they needed etc. used the time to get to know other team members and by asking them questions to understand how things would work. Also needed to come across as a team so asked questions
R – the clients were grateful that I had energy and was positive despite the circumstances and welcome my knowledge of the upcoming days
R - lessons learnt - important to think clearly and act in the right way - in a situation with a lot of new circumstances and new information - it was important to communicate well with new team members to learn from them what was important and to prioritise important information to avoid becoming overwhelmed
Tell me about a time you’ve made a quick/ important decision in a challenging situation
S – Throughout final school years and before flight training began I worked for FSC owned by Capita… I was a leisure centre attendant which involved reception duties such as selling memberships, providing tours to potential new members and dealing with complaints and lifeguarding. This particular day was a normal Friday set up with 20 children in swimming lessons at a time with parents up on the pool balcony looking down and I was on the lifeguard on duty
T - as lifeguard constantly assessing risk, carrying out standard procedures in regards to scanning the pool and surrounding environment. There was nothing ususual but then I became aware that one of the children appeared to be in trouble and the teacher in the pool was working with others.
A – Go through mental checklist, do I just need to shout, or do I need to blow whistle, or do I need to sound alarm and perform rescue, can I do it from the side of pool, am I going to get in and perform rescue – in head waying up the information and resources available. Decide that on this occasion I needed to intervene and dived in.
R – I brought the child back to the side safely and felt it important to provide reassurance to parents and child. Individual came back to lessons the next week and doesn’t seem to have affected him significantly, thanked by parents and pat on back from boss
R – Feedback from manager, well executed rescue and suitable reaction to scenario just remember to take shoes off next time before getting in.
Tell me about a time you lost situational awareness
S – So I was on my first big solo flight as part of my training and was a cross-country out in Florida from the east coast in Vero to the west coast at Marco Island and then up to Venice and back across to Vero. Shortly after departure from Vero I was busy trying to switch over to a Miami radio frequency, update my eta becsuse we were slightly delayed at the holding point of the runway while checking my progress on the physical chart I had.
T – I noticed that after a few minutes went by the visual features and landmarks e.g. a prison were not where I was expecting and then that also my heading was not what I expected.
A – I immediately stopped what other stuff I was doing and focused on flying the aircraft, I confirmed my position visually ground-to-map, and made a correction to re intercept my planned track and from then prioritised my tasks correctly ANC, and built my SA back up.
R – Successfully completed to flights and made it back to Vero safely
R – lesson to always prioritise tasks correctly and fly the aircraft first, Aviate Navigate Communicate (ANC), and to not let secondary tasks to take my full attention away from the primary job of flying the aircraft and to not attempt to to something else other than fly the a/c during busy phases.
Tell me about a time you dealt with a difficult person
S - role at FC and more than just lifeguard. Often the main customer facing staff representative. Dealing with members of public, military personnel, college trainees from many different countries. The situation is a member of the public turning up to use the pool when it was closed due to me turning up and realising the chlorine levels in the pool are way to high, and for the safety had to close the pool for the morning.
T - as lead you had deal with them and try and calm them down and explain things
A - what do you do - stayed calm and professional and tried to avoid the complaint escalating; used your communication skills to explain clearly why pool was closed - eg safety reasons - tried to find a positive resolution by explaining when the pool would be available and that they could come back; offered to raise complaint/feedback with senior management about opening hours or staff numbers
R - customer satisfied once they understood why
R - learning would be around the importance of good communication and finding ways of avoiding the confrontation getting worse
Tell me about a time you made a safety related decision
S – During my time working at FSC owned by Capita… There was an event in August 2022 for BMW and the management from Capita insisted that all the sports centre facilities be available for use by guests over the bank holiday weekend. But with limited staff I thought it would compromise the safety of people in the pool.
T – My job was to find a solution so that we were able to not just say no
A – I organised a meeting with my boss the manager of the sports centre so I could raise my concern with the safety regarding the numbers of customers to staff over the weekend. I expressed my concern over the use of swimming pool and suggested we could go back to the senior management with a compromise, keeping the gym open but not opening the pool due to safety concerns.
R – The senior management then when presented with my concerns saw that there was potential for a health and safety issue and so agreed to our compromise.
R - gave me confidence that it can be right to check and challenge views or decisions by more senior or experienced staff when I think the decision is wrong, particularly when people’s safety could be affected. Also when doing so it is important to make a clear case and raise issues or concerns in a respectful way so there is a better chance of it being understood.
What do you think makes a good pilot and what is involved in the role
Many things you need to do the job well
For me, there are three things that are particularly important
1 - communication….
2 - adaptability, dealing with lots of new information and adapting to change whilst maintains safety at all times
3 - customer service - important to give a comfortable flight and being welcome and business model is all about returning customers and strengthening revenue
What might you like but then also find challenging about the role of a pilot
1 - love flying, can’t wait to do it every day - know still a lot to learn and just starting out
2- enjoying working as a team - lots of different people involved in making a flight work - that brings its challenges but looking forward to that
3 - variety of destinations and adaptability - different locations, flight paths - no day the same but recognise that doesn’t make things easy
