An operations agent is a management professional who oversees processes and daily activities at an airport. Employers might ask questions about your work history, job skills or ability to handle certain situations when you interview for an operations agent position. Preparing for the interview in advance by anticipating what questions the interviewer might ask you and developing strong answers is an excellent way to impress them. In this article, we list several possible airline operations agent interview questions you might encounter and provide some sample answers.
Tell me how you organize, plan, and prioritize your work. Tell me about the last time you monitored or reviewed information and detected a problem. How did you respond? Share an example of a time you had to gather information from multiple sources.
Airline Operations Agent Interview Questions and Answers
Interviews for Top Jobs at Southwest Airlines
Operations Agent Interview
I applied online. The process took 2 months. I interviewed at Southwest Airlines (Hartford, CT) in Jul 2018
Interview
It’s a pretty long process. Overall took about 2 months from when I application online, then had the phone interview and after the phone interview was when they scheduled the face to face. After 5 days of the interview was when I got the call with a job offer.
- Why do you want to work for southwest?
Airline operations agent interview questions with sample answers
When youre looking over possible questions that an interviewer might ask you, its helpful to have some guidance on what sorts of answers might impress the interviewer. This can help you feel more prepared and confident to succeed when you interview. Here are three potential airline operations agent interview questions with sample answers for your reference:
Name one or two qualities that you possess that make you a good airline operations agent
Interviewers might ask you this question to gauge how well you understand whats required to do the job. They also want to know what makes you a good candidate. With your response, show them you have the knowledge and expertise to be familiar with the requirements of the position and also to excel at them.
Example: “I think that Im a good communicator and multitasker. Im regularly able to both give and receive information from ground crew, flight attendants and pilots, baggage handlers and airport management. I keep updated on the latest news and activities of the airline so that I can report back to passengers and answer their questions. I also keep up with the many tasks involved with the job, such as ticketing, boarding aircraft and flight scheduling.”
Can you describe a time when you had to tell a group of people that their flight was running late or had a cancellation? How did you deal with the situation and their reactions?
When youre working with the airlines as an operations agent, you regularly deal with many situations. The travel industry can be very unpredictable, and issues beyond your control can occur. But as a representative of the airline, you might have to deal directly with upset passengers when challenges such as delayed flights and missed connections arise.
The interviewer may ask this question to see how you handle adversity and react proactively to implement solutions that lead to positive outcomes. They also want to know how you, as a customer service employee and a representative of the airline, can react with compassion and empathy to help passengers during a difficult time. Try to remain as positive as possible and show them how you can be a good problem-solver, patient and considerate.
Example: “There was a time when I had to announce to the crowd at the gate that their flight was delayed due to a bad snowstorm at their destination airport. At the time, we didnt know how long it would be delayed or if it would go at all that day, and with it being the last flight of the night, we werent sure if the passengers would be able to get on other flights. I remained calm, upbeat and positive, and I dealt with the situation quickly.
With the help of my teammates, I got everybody rebooked as soon as possible on alternative flights, listened to any complaints while expressing my sympathy and understanding and offered restaurant vouchers to help them pass the time. For those who were going to be stuck in the airport overnight, I got special permission to give them hotel vouchers to keep them more comfortable, although I know every airlines policy is different on that. All the passengers seemed satisfied in the end. Many just wanted someone to listen and try to help, and I wanted to be that person for them.”
General interview questions
General interview questions are the questions that most interviewers often ask, regardless of the position or industry. This is an opportunity for the interviewer to get to know you better. Theyre interested in seeing what sort of person and employee you are, what you know about the job and your experience level and interests. They want to know how you fit into their company and what you can offer them. Some interviewers also ask you general questions to help you become more comfortable and talk more freely so that theyre able to answer questions comfortably.
Some of the general questions that an interviewer might ask you are:
Example: “I am highly organized and detail-oriented, which makes me a great fit for this role. I have experience working in a fast-paced environment where I had to prioritize tasks and manage my time well. In addition, I am familiar with many different software programs that help me complete my work efficiently. These skills make me the perfect candidate for this position because I can get the job done quickly while maintaining high quality.”
Example: “I find that I can handle stress quite well as long as I am prepared for it. When I first started my operations agent job, I was stressed out because I didn’t know what to expect. However, after training, I learned how to manage stress by knowing exactly what to do in every situation. Now, I feel confident handling any type of stress that comes my way.”
Operations agents often work with other employees, such as customer service representatives and salespeople. Employers ask this question to make sure you can communicate clearly and effectively with others. In your answer, explain how you use different methods of communication to share information with coworkers. Show the interviewer that you are a strong communicator who is willing to learn new ways to improve your skills.
Example: “I believe the most important skill for an operations agent to have is attention to detail. Operations agents are responsible for processing transactions accurately, which means we need to make sure all of our work is done correctly. I am very good at paying close attention to my work and making sure I don’t miss any details.”
Example: “The most challenging aspect of my previous role as an operations agent was having to work with so many different clients at once. I found it hard to keep track of all their needs and preferences while still meeting company deadlines. However, I learned that using project management software helped me stay organized and meet client expectations. This strategy has helped me succeed in similar roles since then.”
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Why are you interested in working for our airline?
As you get to the interview process for this role as an Operations Agent, your interviewer knows that you are dedicated to a career in the airline industry. Now, they are looking to hear that you are dedicated and have a personal investment into their organization. They are asking this question to have you sell them on your own personal investment into their organization and really to ensure that your own personal convictions and beliefs match the airlines. As you answer this question, try to tie your own beliefs and views to that of the airline to prove your investment in the mission and values of the organization.
“While I wasnt actively seeking a new position when I applied for this job, I had just heard so many great things about working here, and I knew this role was the right fit for my skills. From others that Ive talked with, I love the passion that the staff here show towards providing the most friendly and reliable air travel in the industry. I also am very invested in the potential for growth and learning that you provide your employees, as I want to continue to grow within my own career path until I one day retire.”
FAQ
What questions are asked in operations interview?
- How do you delegate work to employees?
- What is your project management style?
- What is one example of a project you oversaw that involved multiple teams? …
- What do you do when facing a small budget or lack of resources?
What do operations agent do?
Why should we hire you for the role of operations?
How do I prepare for an interview with the operations manager?
- How have your ideas improved operations at other companies? …
- How do you handle employees who resist change? …
- As you analyze current processes, what information do you look at? …
- As for efficiency and productivity increase, how do you ensure quality is maintained?
