How to Answer: What are Your Strengths?

When you go for a job interview as a flight attendant, one of the questions you are likely to be asked is what your strengths are. It is important to answer this question well, as it can help you make a good impression on the interviewer.

Also Read: How to Answer: Tell Me About Yourself

Having this question up is a great opportunity for you to sell yourself and highlight the characterisitsics that make you a good flight attendant based on your qualifications.

You should NOT be conscious of highlighting what you are good at. It’s not about bragging but being honest about your capabilities. This is one of the questions that will help the interviewer know if you are a good fit for the job.

What Makes a Good Flight Attendant? Use the Qualities that You Possess

Think about what makes a good flight attendant. Some of the key qualities that flight attendants need to have include being able to work well under pressure, being organized, being able to deal with difficult passengers, and being able to stay calm in an emergency. If you have these qualities, then highlight them in your answer.

Another thing to keep in mind is that flight attendants need to be able to work as part of a team. This means that you should also mention any teamwork skills that you have in your answer.

Samples of Brief Answers

Here are some brief examples of how to answer the question “what are your strengths?” in a cabin crew interview. Some examples of strengths that flight attendants include the following:

• Being able to handle difficult customers/passengers
• Being calm in emergency situations
• Having a good memory (for faces, names, details)
• Being able to think on your feet
• Good people skills
• Being physically fit
• Bilingualism – able to speak another (or more) languages

Note: While the above bullet points are good examples to share your strengths, it is important that you provide clear examples of how your strengths have impacted your current/previous job and inform the interviewer how your qualities have made a great contribution.

10 Samples of Longer and Specific Answers

Below are some examples of good strengths you can highlight with specific experiences:

• “I am able to handle difficult customers/passengers well because I stay calm and try to understand their needs. I have had situations where passengers were angry or upset, but I was able to diffuse the situation by remaining calm and professional. I think this is a strength because it shows that I can handle difficult situations well and that I am not easily frazzled.”
• “I am good at thinking on my feet because I have experience in customer service. In my previous job, we often had last-minute changes or requests, and I was always able to adapt and come up with solutions quickly. This is a strength because it shows that I can handle change well and that I am resourceful.”
• “I have good people skills because I am a people person. I love talking to people and getting to know them. I think this is a strength because it shows that I can build rapport easily and that I am easy to talk to.”
• “I am physically fit because I make it a point to exercise regularly. I think this is a strength because it shows that I am capable of handling the physical demands of the job.”
• “I am bilingual, so I can speak both English and Spanish fluently. I think this is a strength because it shows that I can communicate with a wider range of people, especially on international flights that require flight attendants that can speak multiple languages.”
• “I work well under pressure and I am able to stay calm in emergency situations. For example, when there was a medical emergency on a flight I was working on, I was able to keep the passengers calm and helped the flight crew with first aid.” – this is applicable if you already have existing flight attendant experience.
• “I have a great memory, which comes in handy when dealing with customers. I remember faces and names easily, so I am able to build rapport with passengers quickly.”
• “Another strength of mine is that I have good people skills. I love talking to people and getting to know them. I think this helps me build rapport easily with passengers, which makes them more comfortable during the flight.”
• “I’m also physically fit and I have a lot of energy. I think this is important for flight attendants because we are on our feet for long periods of time and sometimes have to deal with disruptive passengers. Being physically fit helps me to be able to handle these situations better.”
• “I have been working as a hotel receptionist and I handle guest experiences when checking in. The hotel management has expressed their gratitude because of the experience I was able to provide to the customers which helped create repeat businesses.”

Why Should you Cite Concrete Examples?

Do not just provide a generic quality or skill that you have, but rather back it up with an actual example of a time when you displayed this strength.

The examples above are specific experiences and concrete details that flight attendant candidates can use to answer the question “what are your strengths?”

Give your interviewer a better overview of your strength by citing actual experiences in the past because it paints a clearer picture in their head of how you would handle situations as a flight attendant.

If you can find examples that match the qualities that the airline is looking for, then this will help you answer the question well.

Also Read: How to Answer: Why Do You Want to Work for our Airline?

Why do airline companies ask this question?

Some reasons why companies ask this question are to:

• Get to know you better.
• See if you have the qualities that they are looking for in a candidate.
• See if you would be a good fit for the job.

By understanding why the company asks this question, you can tailor your answer to match what they are looking for.

Also Read: How to Answer: What Kind of Person Do You Refuse to Work With?

5 Tips to Respond to the Question: What are Your Strengths?

Here are some tips to help you get ready to answer this particular question:

1. Think of qualities that are important for flight attendants.

Some examples of good qualities for flight attendants are: being able to handle difficult customers/passengers, being able to think on your feet, being resourceful, having good people skills, being physically fit, being bilingual, and having a great memory.

2. Cite specific examples of times when you have displayed these strengths.

Do not just provide a generic quality or skill that you have, but rather back it up with an actual example of a time when you displayed this strength.

3. Tailor your answer to match what the airline is looking for.

If you can find examples that match the qualities that the airline is looking for, then this will help you answer the question well.

4. Practice your answer out loud before your interview.

This will help you sound confident and polished when you are interviewed by the airline.

5. Don’t cite too many strengths.

Pick 1-2 strengths to focus on and cite examples for each one. Any more than that and your answer will start to sound like a list of qualities instead of a well-thought-out response.

Also Read: How to Answer: Tell me About a Time You Took a Leadership Role

Questions to Ask Yourself to Come up with a Good Answer

Some questions to ask yourself to know how to answer this question are:

• What qualities does the job require?
• What qualities would make you successful in this role?
• What are some examples of times when you have used your strengths to benefit your team or company?
• How have your strengths helped you in your current/previous job?

By asking yourself these questions, you will be able to think of specific examples to share with the interviewer that will show them why you are a good fit for the job.

If you can find examples that match the qualities that the airline is looking for, then this will help you answer the question well.

Video: What is Your Strength?

Check out this video clip below of two flight attendants from Qatar Airways where they share tips on how to answer the question: What is your strength:

Video: Flight Attendant Blogger Shares Tips about Your Unique Strengths

On another note, here is another video that features a flight attendant vlogger from Dubai about unique strengths such as sharing one or two qualities. Take pride in them and make them work for you.

Summary

The question of “what are your strengths” can be difficult to answer, but flight attendants and cabin crew should take the opportunity to showcase the qualities that make them a good fit for the job.

It is also important to use positive words when describing your strengths. Use examples from previous jobs or experiences to illustrate how you have used these strengths in the past.

We hope you find this article helpful. If you want to learn more about flight attendant interviews, please check out our other articles.