American Airlines Interview Questions

You probably know that American Airlines is one of the biggest airlines in the world. What you might not know is that American Airlines hires many new graduates into their internal consulting programs! Analysts at American Airlines work on a wide variety of business problems, from maximizing revenue to optimizing routes and planning new flight paths. Interested in working at one of the biggest players in the travel industry – and getting all the travel perks that come with that gig? Read on to find out more about the American Airlines interview process and how you can recruit successfully.

American Airlines Interview Prep

How do you prepare for an American Airlines interview? The interview process is standardized (more on that to come), so most of your prep should be geared toward fit interview questions.

American Airlines Interview Process

The American Airlines interview process is straightforward as far as interview processes go. Depending on the position to which you apply, you can expect between two and four interviews, if selected. Applicants for technical positions (programming analysts, etc.) should expect a technical evaluation; for everybody else, the interview process is mostly behavioral. One wrinkle in the American Airlines interview process is that the company uses virtual group interviews to sift through multiple candidates at one time. More on that below!

American Airlines Virtual Group Interview

What is the American Airlines Virtual Group Interview? We’re glad you asked! American Airlines uses a virtual group format to sift through large numbers of candidates quickly. The format looks something like this. Thirty to forty candidates participate in an online virtual meeting – think Zoom. Recruiters ask each candidate an “icebreaker” question followed by a situational or behavioral question. And that’s it! A few keys to success – dress the part, stay positive, and be cognizant of your image. Recruiters are watching candidates the whole time, whether they are speaking or not, so make sure to keep a smile on your face and stay engaged.

American Airlines Behavioral Interview

Analyst candidates who successfully pass the virtual group interview stage can expect one or more behavioral interviews. These are standard – expect normal background questions and a discussion of your interest in American Airlines and fit for the role.

American Airlines Case Interview

Does the American Airlines interview process include a case interview? Yes and no. American Airlines interviews do not include the traditional, sophisticated cases you might see in an interview at McKinsey or Deloitte. Brain Teasers and basic market sizing questions, however, are common and often aviation themed. One interviewee reported being asked how many planes landed in Chicago each day.

American Airlines Interview Tips

Now that you understand the basics of the American Airlines interview process, let’s explore some tips and best practices for interview success.

1. Communicate a passion for travel

American Airlines is one of the biggest airlines in the world – and the entire company and company culture is based around travel. Communicating that you possess a passion for travel and its components is a key ingredient for success.

2. Prepare, prepare, prepare

Candidates tend to underestimate the need to prepare for behavioral or fit-heavy interview processes. But this is exactly the opposite of what you should do. With fewer opportunities to set yourself apart, the quality of your answers is even more important. Research American Airlines – how it differentiates itself from other carriers, cultural specifics, and history – as well as preparing your background and fit questions.

3. Be professional and dress the part

Appearance matters, especially in behavioral interviews. Dress in business formal attire and maintain interview etiquette.

American Airlines Interview Questions

Specific questions vary by position, but here are some of the most common:

Tell me about yourself

You should expect questions about your background to pop up in American Airlines interviews. Your answer to this question (and its sister question, “Walk me through your resume”) is your elevator pitch – a two-minute pitch that introduces yourself as a compelling candidate with an interesting background. Your elevator pitch is arguably the most important piece of an interview, so spend time rehearsing and preparing it.

Why do you want to work at American Airlines?

Every firm wants to know that you have a specific reason to want to be there – but this is especially true for companies in fields like aviation, which can involve extensive travel and unusual hours. To be successful on the job, American reasons, you must really want to be there! Succeed here by researching American Airlines and identifying three specific reasons that attracted you to the company. The more specific, the better.

What partnerships does American Airlines have?

Which airline alliance does American work with? Like the above questions, the company wants to see that you have done your research and are invested in working at the firm.

Conclusion

Interested in working at American Airlines? The company – a leader in global aviation – offers a huge variety of roles, including internal consulting and analyst positions, to young professionals. While some of these positions may not be as lucrative as their consulting counterparts, they offer interesting work and a variety of travel perks.

 

Additional Resources:

• Case Interview: Complete Prep Guide
• Consulting Resume: Complete Guide
• What are Behavioral Interviews?