Virgin Australia Interview Questions
& Process

As I was referred by an external recruiter and it was a contract position, there was only one interview needed with the Accounting Manager and a Senior Group Accountant. The interview was conducted remotely since I was located overseas. It had a good mix of casual and professional conversation. They started by introducing themselves and shared details about the finance department and the specifics of the role. Then, I walked them through my resume, and they asked follow-up questions about my previous work experiences. The overall atmosphere was positive, and they were very helpful throughout the process. After discussing with the external recruiter, I couldn't start on their preferred date because I needed more notice, so I didn't receive an offer. Still, it was an interview I don't regret attending.

The initial stages of the hiring process were promising, with the recruiter moving quickly from sourcing to scheduling an interview. I asked for the job description to help with my preparation, but it wasn't provided. The interview itself was where things took a turn. It was unusual for a first-round interview to be conducted by the recruitment leader and a stakeholder, rather than the hiring manager. I also perceived a significant amount of bias from the stakeholder towards me. I didn't feel the questions were designed to help me succeed. However, the interview did last for an hour, which I saw as a positive sign. I didn't hear back after that and eventually received a rejection email a few weeks later, which was quite disappointing from such a well-known brand and company.

I applied in February 2024 for a position in Melbourne. I didn't hear back until October 2024 when they sent me questions for a video interview. It wasn't a live video call, but rather I had to record myself answering three questions. I recall two questions were about customer service and one was about why I wanted to work for Virgin Australia. I submitted my video on a Sunday, and the very next day, Monday, I received an email inviting me to an Assessment Day in Tullamarine. Upon arrival and a short wait, I noticed other candidates were previous employees from different airlines, though I have no prior aviation industry experience. At the Assessment Day, we were assigned to tables with other candidates. A Virgin Australia representative discussed the role, covering both the positives and negatives, staff expectations, and some benefits that had been removed. Following this, we participated in two group activities, both scenario-based within the aviation context. The first involved dealing with an irate customer struggling with their carry-on baggage, and the second was about assigning passengers to seats based on their specific requirements. During these activities, our performance was evaluated based on our contributions, which was challenging with everyone talking at once. After the group tasks, we had individual interviews. I remember being asked about my motivation for choosing Virgin Australia and my strengths. I was surprised not to be asked about my weaknesses.

Applied online in October 2022 and received a video interview invitation within a couple of days. I was later notified via the VA portal that I had progressed to the assessment day stage, with an update on scheduling in my preferred city. Fast forward to December 2023, I received an email for an assessment day in early January 2024. The assessment day itself was surprisingly relaxed. We gathered in a foyer with other applicants before being moved to an auditorium and split into small groups of five per table. We kicked things off with an icebreaker, followed by a detailed presentation from the recruiter about the company, the cabin crew role, salary, rosters, career path, and employee perks. Next, we tackled a group activity at our tables, which seemed to be a team-work assessment – the advice was to be engaged but not dominant. After a break back in the foyer, the 1:1 interviews commenced. Once my interview was over, I was sent home. The day after, I got an email confirming I had advanced to the pre-employment screening and reference checks, requiring submission of certificates and passport details, alongside a medical exam and swimming test. About two and a half weeks later, I received a job offer and will begin ground school in three weeks.