How to Ace an Airline Interview by Telling a Good Story

A professional pilot offers tips for when you're given an opportunity to talk about your life and career.

Friday, May 03, 2024 at 12:41 PM ET

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Airlines are starting to be more choosy about who they hire, making job-hunting and interviewing skills important. [File photo/ Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

With the easing pilot shortage, aviation job seekers must enhance their interview skills, especially for panel interviews that often feature "Tell me about a time you..." questions.
Developing effective storytelling is a crucial skill, requiring deliberate practice and the creation of a diverse repertoire of concise (2-3 minute) anecdotes.
These stories, which should include non-aviation examples, must highlight personal growth and positive actions, avoid negativity towards past employers, and be delivered naturally despite prior rehearsal.

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With the easing of the pilot shortage, many employers are starting to be more choosy about who they hire, and job-hunting and interviewing skills are once again becoming more important. No longer can you expect to just show up and fog the proverbial mirror. You need to put time and effort into preparing yourself for the interview.

I’ve written about this process in broad terms before, but there is one aspect I would like to focus on: honing your ability to tell a good story and refining your repertoire of stories for interviews.