A United Airlines job usually takes five steps to land: an online application, an online assessment or questionnaire, a recorded video interview, a live interview, and a conditional offer with background checks. That is the order candidates and job postings commonly describe, but steps vary by role, location, country and team, and some roles combine or skip stages.
United is a Chicago-headquartered US carrier. The jobs people ask about most are flight attendant, airport customer service representative and ramp service roles, so this guide focuses on those three.
How United Airlines hires: the usual order
As candidates commonly describe it:
- Online application on the United careers site, with eligibility questions for the role.
- Assessment or questionnaire about how you would act in common work situations.
- Recorded video interview where you answer on-screen prompts on camera within a time limit.
- Live interview by video or in person; flight attendant candidates commonly describe an in-person interview day.
- Conditional offer followed by background checks and, for many roles, drug screening before training.
Which United job are you applying for?
Flight attendant. The interview leans on safety, composure and service in a small space. Expect questions about a difficult passenger, following procedures and working with a crew you just met.
Customer service representative. At airports this covers check-in, gates and baggage service. Questions focus on queues, delays, rebooking and staying polite under pressure.
Ramp service. Loading bags and cargo, guiding aircraft and working outdoors in all weather. Interviewers ask about safety habits, teamwork and physical work; lifting and schedule requirements are listed in each posting.
Compare United with eight other carriers in our guide to airline interview processes.
United Airlines interview questions candidates mention
No official list exists, but these themes come up again and again. Four sample answers:
"Why United?" "My family is spread across three countries, and flying is how we stay close, so I know how much a kind agent matters when a trip goes wrong. A large international network means I would help travelers like my own relatives every day. I speak Tagalog and English, which helps with many passengers."
"Describe working with a team you did not know." (flight attendant) "At a wedding catering job, I was placed with a crew I had never met, and the kitchen was running late. I introduced myself, asked the lead what mattered most and took the older guests' tables first. We served everyone close to schedule. I enjoyed learning to trust new teammates fast."
"What would you do if a coworker skipped a safety step?" (ramp) "I would speak up right away, politely, because a skipped step on the ramp can hurt someone. If it kept happening, I would tell the lead. At my lumber yard job I reminded a new hire about the forklift zone, and he thanked me later."
"How do you handle a long line of frustrated customers?" (customer service) "I acknowledge the line so people know they are seen, then work through each case without rushing into mistakes. When our pharmacy system went down, I updated the line every few minutes and asked a coworker to take simple pickups. Most people waited calmly because they felt informed."
Stages, checks and preparation
| Step | Format | What to practice |
|---|---|---|
| Application | Online form | Accurate dates and honest answers to eligibility questions |
| Assessment | Online questions | Read each scenario fully; choose what a careful, kind employee would do |
| Video interview | Recorded answers on camera | One-minute answers, steady eye contact, good light |
| Live interview | Video or in person | Service and safety stories with a clear result |
| Checks | Background and screening | Past employer details and ID documents ready |
A seven-day United prep routine
- Read the posting and the United careers site; list three things you can honestly link to your experience.
- Write and rehearse a one-minute introduction.
- Prepare stories about a difficult customer, a new team, a safety moment and a mistake.
- Record yourself answering four questions, then rewatch with the sound off to check body language.
- Repeat the hardest question three times, using prompts from our customer service interview questions.
- Confirm availability for nights, weekends and holidays, and decide how you feel about relocation.
- Light review, two questions for the interviewer, early night.
Using CoPilot Interview to rehearse
We built our AI interview assistant with practice first. Paste a United posting and your resume into an AI mock interview, and an AI interviewer asks questions out loud, then scores each spoken answer out of 10 with what worked, what to improve and a model answer. That is free, along with 15 minutes of live help every day, and it suits anyone who wants to hear their English improve over a week.
Where live help is allowed, follow your employer's rules; for in-person interview days, use it to prepare beforehand, not in the room. More ideas are in our flight attendant applicant guide.
Disclosure: CoPilot Interview is our product, so weigh what we say about it accordingly.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the United Airlines hiring process take?
It depends on the role, the location and how many people applied. Some airport roles move within a few weeks, while flight attendant hiring often takes longer because of the in-person stage, checks and training dates. Check your email and the United careers site for updates.
What is the United Airlines video interview like?
Candidates commonly describe a recorded video interview in which questions appear on screen and you answer on camera within a set time. Details can change, so read the instructions in your invitation. Practice short, structured answers and test your camera, light and sound first.
What questions does United ask flight attendant candidates?
Candidates commonly mention questions about difficult passengers, teamwork with new crews, following safety procedures and why they want the job. United does not publish an official list, so prepare real stories for each theme rather than memorizing answers to specific questions.
Do I need to live near a United hub to apply?
Not necessarily, but many flight attendant and some airport roles involve a base the airline assigns, and postings usually say whether relocation is needed. Answer relocation questions honestly, because your answer can affect which roles you are considered for.
Practice for United out loud
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