How to discuss effective strengths and weaknesses at the Emirates, Etihad & Qatar cabin crew final interview

One of the most commonly asked questions at the cabin crew final interview that most recruits will experience is “Tell me about your strengths and weaknesses?”

Many candidates applying for the cabin crew positions are never prepared to answer this question and many even hope it will not be asked. Sadly, hope is not an effective recruitment strategy and neither is luck.

Prepare well and rehearse your response for such interview questions.

Why do recruiters ask what are your strengths and weaknesses? Well, let me answer you here. It is the best way for recruiters to assess a candidate’s ability to communicate, differentiate, and able to discuss openly their strengths and drawbacks to the recruiter. The recruiter will also be able to evaluate and understand your potential, your team and culture fit - they need to assess that your strengths and weaknesses align with the airline’s ethics and principles.

So what do you say are your your key one word strengths:
Best examples are:

Accuracy
Clarity
Creative
Determined
Disciplined
Enthusiastic
Flexible
Honest
Negotiating skills
Organisational skills
Patient
Trustworthy
Time management
Team player
Respectful
innovative
Optimistic
Empathetic
Quick learner

These are the strengths that support the job description and if you are able to give a few of these in your responses backed with some extremely good examples in your present role, then you have scored well in your answer.

Now, let’s discuss the one word weaknesses.

Here are the best answers to discussing weaknesses at final interviews, and also helps you to be smart how you can balance these off with your strengths.

Too critical of yourself
Perfectionist
Procrastinator
Introverted
In a rush to complete tasks and you stress yourself in the process
It takes time for you to develop trust with your co-workers.
Shy person - difficult for me to enforce new rules and procedures and communicate to others.
Being an open communicator - my style may be blunt for others.

An example of your greatest strength:

I’m an empathetic person skilled at relating to people and understanding their needs. In my current customer services role, a disgruntled customer approached me. While the team couldn’t find a solution for her, I walked her through various options she might have so she walked away with a positive interaction with the company. I know the importance of a happy customer, and I’m willing to remain upbeat and solutions-oriented.

An example of your greatest weakness:

I found that my greatest weakness was that I am a procrastinator and only pick up a task once the deadline is looming in my head. I tried to battle this bad habit when I would try my best to finish up assignments a day before the deadline and somehow mastered this habit to combat my procrastination. I am still working on this weakness and would like to say that I have learned to prioritize tasks and make a proper plan so that I don’t wait until the final day.

Recruiters also look at body language to determine your strengths and weaknesses, and sometimes ask you questions on your personality. It is important to include personality strengths and weaknesses on your CV and at final interviews as it is one of the aspects that show how you handle things and different situations:

Personality strengths that you should show the recruiter at the final interview

Confident
Determined
Humble

Personality weaknesses you should be aware of and be able to look at the recruiter in the eyes and discuss it confidently:

Being too honest
Being too critical of yourself
Introverted

When you write the intro for your cabin crew personal resume / CV , always mention both strengths and weaknesses - it shows your balance in terms of your personality and able to discuss both your strengths and weaknesses.

Strengths will be
Patience, determination and dedication

Weaknesses are
Trying to finish tasks before the deadline and not allowing enough time.
Want pure perfection
Being anxious on new things
Indecisive
Slow worker with new tasks.

We go through all of this in our one to one Zoom session. We believe that if you invest in time on understanding your own Strengths and weaknesses, you will be more confident and project the right personality at your final interview.

You can come along to our one to one consultation / final interview zoom video session where we will teach you the techniques of winning the heart of your recruiter.