How do you define success?

"I define success by my ability to reach the goals that are set out for me. In 2021, I made a goal to complete my B.S in Mechanical Engineering degree and graduate with honors. I ended up achieving that goal by studying 3 hours a night, 7 days a week, and graduated at the top of my class."

Think about Airbus and what their culture looks like. Airbus (and aerospace in general) is known for innovation and trying out new things to be the best in class. Think about how, when you look at success, you can be the best in class and innovative. Break down examples of the success you've had in other roles and how you measured that success.

"I define success as the ability to go above what is known and discover and learn the unknown. For example, I found that I was interested in learning more about zero-emission jet engines. For my graduate thesis, I wrote my entire thesis on zero-emission jet engines, ideas on how to mass produce them by 2050, and how it can impact the global climate over the next 50 years if every aerospace company mass produced them."

"I define success as the ability for one to identify a problem, work to formulate a solution, and complete the task at hand in the most efficient way. Some jobs are a lot more complicated than others, and some people may have many different responsibilities, but in the end, success is a result of hard work and struggle."

How would you become the Subject Matter Expert in your role?

"Looking at the job description, coupled with my knowledge and expertise, I would first sit down and identify top priorities that need to be done. If I need to learn who my customers are and start communicating with them on a particular aircraft or system, I would start there. If I am coming in and there is a pain point I would need to solve, I would utilize my skills and expertise to start tackling that challenge. It's important that I remain adaptable and flexible, as I know priorities will change quickly."

There will be roles at Airbus that require you to not only have many years of experience coming in, but also be able to hit the ground running right away. This question serves to identify how you would be able to step in and start taking charge in your role using the knowledge and experience you currently possess. The idea is to focus on the job description, what you know about the role, your experience, and explain (from your point of view) how you can hit the ground running on Day 1.

"I would first take the time to understand what my job duties are and where I would need to start addressing first. I would make a list of top priorities, key team members, and key customers/clients/vendors that I would need to develop relationships with and start there. I would also take the initiative to hop into any meetings or hop onto calls that I could to learn the business. From there I would start working on tasks and getting familiar with the way Airbus does their operations/business."

Your workload will be large at Airbus. How do you balance life and work?

"I find that with the right company, it's pretty simple to balance life and work. I know that Airbus has high-profile clients and customers and deadlines that need to be met. When I enjoy what I do, it doesn't feel like a chore, and will work the hours necessary to give them my all. I am always sure that when at home, my family gets my attention first. I take time on the weekends to do things for myself and ensure that I regenerate before the work week begins."

You might be required to work extended hours or even weekends depending on your role at Airbus. Assess how you would be able to balance those expectations with what you value in your home life. Make sure that you are able to meet the scheduling requirements of the position, and assure the interviewer that you are able to. Then, talk about how you are able to balance those expectations.

"Not every day will be balanced, and I understand that. I know that adapting to shifting schedules at Airbus may be a requirement for the role, so in my personal life, I find ways to do something for myself. That often looks like a quick workout, or cooking a delicious meal when I get home."

Would you say you focus more on reasons why change will not work rather than adapting to new changes?

"I understand that Airbus, along with other companies in the aerospace sector, are constantly changing. When a change occurs I initially try to balance the pros and the cons before reacting. Overall I would say that I prefer to focus on adapting to the change and implementing the changes successfully moving forward."

Inspect the way you view change. You can answer this question by first outlining how you view change, then how you adapt to change. This question asks more specifically which part of the change you tend to focus on. A great answer can consist of a positive, overall generic response. At Airbus, change should be expected and is often frequent. The interviewer would like to see how you would fit into the ever-changing culture.

"Some changes can be tougher to accept immediately than others. I know that at Airbus and in the aerospace industry, things change all the time. Knowing this is inevitable, I adapt very quickly as well as help champion change as needed."

"I believe, especially in the aerospace industry, that companies are always adapting to innovations and research. Although adjusting to some changes may be extremely tough, you, as a company, must understand and take risks to determine whether such a change will be detrimental or positive. Therefore I am not a pessimist and always look at the positive aspect of change."

How do you work under tight deadlines?

In my most recent role, I ran the CNC Machine. One day, I came into work and we were told we had to produce x number of airplane panels by 7:00 pm that evening to fulfill a large client order that was promised the next day. Normally, that amount of airplane panels in a day is exuberant, however, it was important these panels go out as this company was one of our largest clients. So, I got to work and enlisted the help of two other CNC Machinists that day by making a rotating schedule and making sure we each had a smaller deadline to help us meet our overall deadline for the day. I am happy to say this kept us motivated and we ended up getting the x number of panels out that night and we had one happy client.

The interviewer is asking this question to get a feel for how you respond to shifting priorities throughout a workday. At Airbus, priorities shift at any given moment, and being able to adapt and show by example how you have adapted to situations in the past is helpful to give them insight into your ability to prioritize. Using an approach similar to S.T.A.R when providing your answer (Situation, Task, Action, Result) often makes for a response that can be adapted to any situation you have encountered.

"I work under tight deadlines quite well. In my current role, I was the only Data Engineer on staff and was given a new, large project to complete within a one-week timeframe. Being the only Data Engineer with other responsibilities outside of this project, I knew this was going to be a way to project manage and time manage my work. I broke down the project into smaller pieces and blocked time out on my calendar so that I could have enough time to get the larger project done. The project was successfully completed and I was highly praised for my good work!"

Your resume is missing certain skills that are necessary for this position. How would you gain the needed missing skills?

"I know the basic elements of this role after reviewing the job description and feel confident I can perform at the level you require. In addition, I am notorious for going above and beyond learning anything and everything that I can. I know that there are opportunities at Airbus to go above and beyond and learn through self-directed learning. I am a life-long learner and will go outside the box to watch webinars, do online research, take certification courses, and do whatever is needed to gain the additional skills."

Most job descriptions will have a long list of requirements. Hiring managers at Airbus are aware that finding a candidate that checks ALL of the boxes, can sometimes be impossible, often called a "unicorn". If you are missing some of the "nice to have" or even the "must have" skills listed in the job description, most managers at Airbus know that these skills can be taught. Be open about your shortcomings and discuss with the interviewer how you plan to compensate for those with a plan. A great way to approach this question is to ask the interviewer which skills you are missing. Once the interviewer responds, you can overcome that objection by better highlighting that specific experience, or discussing a related skill that you DO have.

"I may not have the specific experience with this system, however, I have used another CAD system similar and am willing to put in additional time and study to understand the ins and outs of this one specifically. Having the experience with this CAD system should put me in a position for a quick learn and enable me to jump right in."

"I would be happy to clarify my experience in any skills. Please let me know which skills I am missing. I have experience working with something similar."

"What I believe makes me stand out is my initiative and drive. Whenever I face difficulty or lack skills in some areas, I devote much extra time outside of studies and work to develop these skills further and ensure I am the most capable candidate for this job. In this aspect, could you please point out which skills I am missing for this position?"

The aerospace and defense industry is ever-changing. At Airbus we seek to hire individuals with a keen interest in this industry. How do you stay up to date on aerospace related current events?

"I am always interested in learning more about this industry and the changes that are taking place. It's truly fascinating. Most frequently, I read the International Journal of Aerospace Engineering. There are also a couple of blogs that I follow including www.aviationweek.com and I have also subscribed to Airbus newsletters on the website to keep up-to-date with company-specific changes and innovations."

The interviewer would like to confirm that you have a genuine interest in the aerospace and defense industry. Perhaps you read aerospace-related books, follow particular engineering journals or subscribe to a blog related to this industry. Briefly share with the interviewer how you stay up to date on current events related to Airbus and the industry specifically.

"Staying up to date on aerospace-related events is quite easy with a couple of phone applications I have downloaded, and a few blogs to which I subscribe. I would love some new suggestions as well! Do you have any strong recommendations? I found that Airbus' website has a newsletter that I have signed up to follow for company-specific updates."

"I tend to keep up with trends in information transfer through social media. Thus, I follow several of Airbus' divisions, including commercial, helicopters, and space on platforms such as Instagram and Twitter. I also read Airbus' regular newsletter postings and listen to the "Make It Fly" podcast. Outside of Airbus, I tend to read online newsletters and magazines that keep up with today's aviation news such as AviationWeekly.com and the Aviation Herald."

How do you think your early career will help you succeed in this position?

"I have been working since I was just 14 years old. My first job was as a shop hand for my father who was a mechanic. I had to sweep, clean, greet customers and order parts. It was a great way for me to get my hands dirty and I was taught excellent customer service skills from an early age. Everything that I learned during that time has helped me to stay grounded and humble in my career."

Think about where you started in your career. Perhaps you have held some tough jobs earlier in your career that required long hours. Many hiring managers agree that the best employees are ones with 'grit' and who have held a 'dirty job' or two in their lives. Talk to the interviewer about your early work experience. Airbus likes to see that you have aspirations and how you have measured up to your own goals and aspirations as it may translate into who you are while you are working in one of their roles.

"I started my career working in an office, so I was able to quickly understand how important it is to stay organized and maintain clear communication with everyone on the team. I believe my early experience will help me succeed in this position because it caused me to form good habits from the beginning."

"My early career in both university and customer service has allowed me to develop my skills significantly. My ability to work in a team, my time management, organization and communication skills, or my practical knowledge gained while taking part in university projects have all developed me into a person that embodies the same six core values that represent Airbus."

Tell me about an achievement you are proud of. What did you find challenging about it?

"One achievement that I am proud of is graduating University as an honors student while still working full time. This accomplishment showed me that I could dedicate myself to my career, and reach the goals that I set for myself. It felt great to accomplish so much and earn recognition for my dedication."

Sometimes a great achievement is completing a difficult task and overcoming the obstacles that come up along the way. When faced with an impossible deadline and regular interruptions that cause you to have to switch gears every thirty minutes, completing a simple project can seem like climbing a mountain! Airbus really wants to see how you have grown and any challenges you overcame to get there. They look for self-starters. You have a couple of options for how to approach this: Discuss an example of when you overcame obstacles to achieve something great, or share a significant accomplishment or award you received and talk about what was challenging about it. Either way, you are showing your determination and focus on reaching your goal. Think of a situation that highlights your strengths and qualities that will be helpful for the job for which you are interviewing. Try to keep it as career-relevant as possible.

"I recently worked with a customer that was upset they did not get their part delivered on time. This was a challenging situation as it delayed further processes for the client on their airplane build. I worked diligently with them to find a solution, ensuring I was available at all hours of the day to make sure this did not happen again. We ended up making the client very happy and I ended up winning an award for going above and beyond!"

Who would you say inspires you?

"My manager in my last role was a huge inspiration. Not only did they explore my career aspirations with me, but they also took the time to include and educate me on ways I could improve and go above and beyond in my education to get a step up in my career. I admire the positive influence and dedication to my growth and hope to return the favor to a colleague or peer of mine one day."

Show your preparedness for the interview by thinking about this question ahead of time and writing down ideas. This is a very thought-provoking question, and you do not want to be caught off guard trying to think this through on the spot. You want to be able to articulate yourself well, and respond politely and even passionately when appropriate. An excellent way to respond to this question is by sharing a story about a person who has been a positive influence on you and your career. If your dad motivated you to push through to finish your education, talk about how that impacted you. Talk about who showed you that it was possible to overcome even the most significant obstacles. Or perhaps who taught you the skills that brought you where you are today. Motivation is key at Airbus, and the interviewer wants to see how you were able to seek intrinsic and extrinsic motivation to grow.

"I have always been inspired by my grandfather. He is the person who gave me an initial interest in the aerospace field. He is the hardest working person I know, and he taught me how important it is to read and continually grow. Because of him, I always seek to learn."

How would you measure your satisfaction with your career progression thus far?

"Overall, my career has progressed a touch slower than I would have liked. I have held a couple of positions that didn't offer the growth and learning opportunities that I was expecting. Fortunately, I have found ways to think outside the box and find opportunities to grow and develop on my own, and I feel that this particular position would take my career exactly where it should be and be a great next step."

Airbus is big on career progression and self-directed learning and education. Talk to the interviewer about your career progression and what you would like to see in the future. It is also a great idea to provide what steps you have taken to get to where you are. This shows that you plan ahead.

"Yes, I am happy with my career progression. I have always been the type to set out a detailed plan for myself and take the required action steps to get there. This position is most definitely in line with my expected career progression."

"Thankfully, in my time at the university, I developed practical and theoretical skills significantly. I initially participated as a structure member for one of the student projects. Due to my success in that field and the level of collaboration amongst other students, I achieved a structure lead position for another project. I hope to apply the skills gained throughout my experience to this job."

There are numerous career avenues you can take with Airbus. Which career path interests you the most?

"Upon researching Airbus, I saw that there is a Sales Manager that has been with the organization for 7 years and has been able to move into several different roles within that timeframe. I admire that the managers at Airbus are supportive of growth and development and I aspire to grow into a Sales Manager role also. I have been working for the past three years on growing my skills via self-directed study to get to that next level."

Make sure that you research Airbus before your interview. Examining the careers page, and doing research on the business and locations is a great way to start your research. If you start on their careers page, you can find current employee testimonials that showcase what each of them loves about the company and how their growth and development was assisted while working there. Using these testimonials, you can craft your response based on the opportunities they were exposed to. Airbus is also known for advocating for self-directed learning for its employees and utilizes an online learning platform to assist its employees in their learning and development goals.

"My primary goal is to become a Lead Software Engineer within the next five years. I am taking additional coursework to gain the required skills and pursuing a Master's degree in Software Engineering. If hired for this role, I would like to continue working towards this goal and hope to have self-directed learning opportunities at Airbus that I can use."

"I have a great desire and interest in the field of structures, specifically the 'Wing Structures Engineer' role you are currently advertising. My interest in Aero-structures stemmed overtime through the participation in university student-led aerospace projects as a structures member where the design, analysis, and testing of components was my role."

Many of our industry competitors have their employees under a non-compete contract. Are you bound by any non-compete contract with your current employer?

"I am under a non-compete contract with Company ABC; however, it specifically states that I cannot share any trade secrets or recruit any of their current employees. There is nothing in the contract hindering me from joining Airbus."

It is more than likely that Airbus will have you sign a non-compete form in your role at the organization, as they work with confidential and privileged information. The interviewer would like to avoid any hurdles during the offer and negotiations stage that would prevent you from being successfully onboarded. If Airbus is a direct competitor to your current or most recent employer, then you should carefully review your employment contract to ensure nothing is hindering you. Be prepared to present the agreement in your late-stage interview.

"If you are not under a non-compete contract: "I am free to sign any offer letter that comes my way as there is no such contract with my current employer."

"No, I am currently under no such contract with my employer."

Rate your communication skills from 1-10 with proper examples backing your given rating.

"I rate my communication skills as a 9/10 as I will, on occasion, have times when I am not as clear as I would like to be. My supervisor and co-workers will attest to my clear and concise communication skills. Because I am an open leader, my team will let me know if I need to clarify anything."

On a scale of 1-10, identify how skilled are you in communication, and where your communication level is. Be able to explain and provide examples of why you rated yourself as such. Ensure you are not simply listing the numerical value on your communication level, but do find a way to find examples to really hit home how well you communicate. You will be expected to frequently communicate with clients, customers, peers, and managers at Airbus, and they want to make sure you know this and if you can do it by the way you answer this question.

"I believe there is always room to improve communication skills so for that reason I will rate myself as an 8/10. I have not received any complaints related to my communication abilities and am quite proud of my oral and written communication skills."

"I rate my communication skills 8/10 as I believe there is always room for improving and nobody is perfect. During my years in customer service, I have been able to develop excellent relationships with customers and colleagues. I have also been able to use my skills to successfully defuse many tense situations with customers and find satisfying and quick solutions to their issues."

Confidentiality is of utmost importance to us at Airbus. Are you willing to sign a confidentiality agreement, if hired?

"I am a highly trustworthy person. My background includes many years of experience working on sensitive projects. I fully understand the desire that Airbus has to protect their data and am more than willing to sign a confidentiality agreement."

Airbus, as well as many companies involved in the Aerospace and Defense industry, have strict confidentiality agreements with their clients and work with sensitive information. Assure the interviewer that you are trustworthy and can adhere to a confidentiality agreement with Airbus if hired.

"Yes, I am willing to sign a confidentiality agreement with Airbus, anytime in this process."

"Yes, I intend to learn from my stay at Airbus and develop my skills to remain a crucial part of Airbus' team. I am willing to sign this confidentiality agreement as I respect Airbus' values and do not intend to harm the company."

Which do prefer working in, the private or public aerospace sector?

"I have experience working in both the public and private sector of aerospace. I find that I would work well in either sector, however, I prefer the public sector as I find that there is more growth opportunity and fewer clearances I will have to receive in order to start working right away."

Having done your research on Airbus, you will see they are a public aerospace company. This question is to assess where you might work best in the organization and if you are a good fit. This question also will test to see if you've done your homework on the organization.

"I would love to work in either sector. I am highly adaptable and prefer to focus on a company that has an amazing culture and team."

In your opinion, what is the biggest breakthrough in the aerospace and defense industry in the past decade?

"There have been endless breakthroughs in our industry; however, I would say the one that has excited me the most and keeps me on the edge of my seat is the goal of being carbon-neutral by 2020 at Airbus. I would love to know how the organization is doing on that goal!"

The interviewer wants to see if you are keeping up to date with not only industry trends, but also with Airbus and how they fit into the current industry trends that are taking place. A great place to find out this information is looking for recent news articles on what is going on in current news. As of 2020, a great industry trend for aerospace (and where Airbus fits in) is replacing combustion jet engines with a zero-emission alternative. It is worth noting that Airbus has an Innovation page on their website.

"The biggest recent breakthrough in our industry, in my opinion, is the Airbus zero-emission fleet including ZEROe, Zephr, and City Airbus. Each of these aircraft plays a vital role in Airbus's mission to be carbon-neutral and zero-emission. I'd love to know more about how the company is trending on the goal of being carbon-neutral by 2020 and where development is at with those aircraft."

"I think the biggest breakthrough would have to be the introduction of complex manufacturing methods that have allowed the implementation of carbon composites in aircraft to improve significantly. The A350, for example, possesses a structure with over 50% carbon composites. It has allowed for the increase of fuel efficiency and performance, meeting today's strict carbon emissions regulations and, thus, extending the life of aircraft."

If hired, how would you learn your new role at Airbus?

"In my first 30 days, if hired for this role, I will focus on learning about the organization, its values, and how they apply to my new role. I will focus on how I can contribute as a team member, and how I can bring new and creative ideas to the table. I will also focus on being reliable when tasks and projects are presented to me. I am also an excellent communicator and always put on my customer service hat when working with clients, vendors, customers, and fellow employees and always act with integrity. Focusing on Airbus's values from the beginning will help me to be successful in my role overall."

There are two things that the interviewer will be looking for in this question. The first item will be the core values and if you know them (Respect, Teamwork, Customer Focus, Reliability, Creativity, and Integrity). The second item they will be curious about is how you would apply those values (if hired) to your new role. Thirdly, they will be looking at how proactive you are at learning your new role overall.

"I would create a 30,60,90 day plan that outlines what my manager would like me to get done within those timeframes as well as what I would like to learn during that time. This would also include pain points or areas that I identify where I can use my creative thinking to implement updates. I would also focus on meeting all of the people on my team, and other teams that I would be working closely with."

How do you ensure accuracy of a product or project you're working on?

"I make sure that I am on top of whatever project or task I am working on. I ask questions when there is a gap in a process or when something isn't delivered to me on time. I am a problem solver and I always ensure I am kept up to date on what is going on."

Staying organized is important. At Airbus, this skill is critical no matter the job title or role. There will be opportunities where you will be called on to ask about project status, parts status, staff updates, etc, and you will need to have that information ready to go at a moment's notice. Knowing your recent job duties and being able to relate how you kept track of them/provided status updates will be crucial on this question.

"I keep a log of everything I am working on and provide weekly status updates to the Shop Manager so that they know what has been done, what is in progress, and what is coming down the pipeline. I am ready to answer any questions and often formulate solutions prior to my meetings with my manager if I know there will be questions asksed. I am always ready with a solution or workaround."

At Airbus we have some strong competitors. In your opinion, what makes us stand out from the others?

"I know that Airbus has many competitors in the industry. One thing that I think is interesting and stands out from the rest is that the Airbus A320 was the first airliner to introduce the fly-by-wire flight control system. Since Airbus developed this system, I know others have followed, but being the first aerospace company to roll that out is quite impressive!"

Understanding and researching Airbus's competition is a great start to answering this question. Some competitors you can research are Gulfstream Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, Boeing, and Bombardier. Understand what sets Airbus apart from these companies. Some of Airbus's accomplishments that you can research compared to competitors include: where they rank in Diversity and Inclusion, customer service ratings, crash test ratings, and accomplishments (the Airbus A320 was the first airliner to introduce the fly-by-wire flight control system).

"Your organization stands out in many ways and one of those ways is its' ability to innovate. Upon doing research, I found that Airbus is looking into creating liquid hydrogen airplanes. I know that most airplanes run combustion jet engines and kick out emissions. I admire that Airbus has a commitment to improving their aircraft and producing zero-emission planes."

How do you manage your time?

"I will determine which project requires my attention by the number of hours we are behind and then the project size. I am comfortable delegating tasks when needed, but I am also aware that these times will require an additional commitment of hours from me. Never have I under delivered on a deadline."

Think about the tools you use to stay on task and meet deadlines. This should include how you prioritize your tasks, projects, and demands when multiple items need your attention. Think about the ways you manage your projects and tasks on a daily basis. Focus on providing examples of how you do so: calendars, reminders, and a to-do list are a few examples. Paying attention to how you allocate time to each and explaining how you set priority levels on tasks is helpful. With rigorous client and customer schedules, Airbus will challenge the way you manage your time and you will be expected to know how to do it.

"Time management has been something that I have worked on improving since my time in University. I set goals for myself and attached a time deadline for those goals. Also, I am diligent with the use of my calendar and have a great scheduling app on my phone that I refer to as well."

How do you like to communicate?

"I like to communicate by keeping a list of tasks. I am proactive with whomever I am communicating to and strive to have weekly, bi-weekly or monthly updates with my manager and/or manager peers on the status of projects and tasks. I like to be one step ahead and always make sure everyone I work with has first-hand knowledge of what they need to know before they ask."

Communication is important in any role. Make sure you know what your communication style is before answering this question. The best way to answer this question would be to identify what your communication style is and provide examples of how you communicate. An add-on to this question could also be ways you have communicated on various tasks or projects in the past. Airbus employees are expected to be able to communicate and communicate effectively.

"I take a proactive approach to communication and like to set scheduled cadences to touch base with necessary individuals. I am excellent at communication through email, and I love to either chat via MS Teams, Slack or hop on a Zoom call or simply pick up the phone. There are many ways to communicate with everyone and I like to keep that in mind depending on who I am working with to make sure we communicate at our best."

Because of the nature of business at Airbus we conduct background checks on employees. This includes criminal background, credit, and education verification checks. Are you willing to comply?

"I am happy to undergo a background check."

Most companies in the aerospace and defense industry need to be very cautious about who they hire, and this will include Airbus. In addition to non-competes and a confidentiality agreement, a background check will be run as well. There is a chance that much of the information you are going to access could be confidential and dangerous if put into the wrong hands. Assure the interviewer that you are most willing to comply with any form of background check they require.

"Yes, I am willing to comply with any background checks that you require. I completely understand the importance of background checks, please let me know if you need anything from me on this."

"Yes, absolutely, I am more than happy to comply with these checks. I am fortunate to have a clean record and will most definitely maintain this record while working with Airbus."

If you were given a choice, which work related task do you dislike doing the most?

"If given a choice, I would leave my documentation tasks for last. I say this because I like to spend my time with my customers so anything to do with documentation during business hours - I feel takes away from my client-facing tasks. I do understand the importance of it and often set daily deadlines for myself to encourage this task to get done."

There will always be tasks in any role you undertake where you will not like doing them. At Airbus, there will be small tasks that are required to be done but may not be the most exciting. This question aims to identify if you are a team player and willing to get things done, or if you are not. Responding to this question positively is key. Outline a task that you have done in the past that you didn't particularly like, but did it anyway and how you put a positive spin on it.

"I would leave my email to last! I find that once I am in my email, it's a never-ending whirlwind of small replies and to-dos. For this reason, and to remain focused and productive, I will schedule my email time periodically throughout the day."

Looking at your resume, I see multiple gaps in employment. Can you shed some light on those gaps?

"I had a gap from 2009-2010 while I was on maternity leave and then another for six months in 2015 while I cared for an ailing parent. During that time I was vigilant in keeping up to date on the market so that my knowledge did not become redundant."

In today's day and age, it is common to have gaps in employment. There are often various reasons why someone may have a gap including becoming a stay-at-home parent, job loss, redundancy, and many other reasons. The honest approach is the best approach. Airbus interviewers will more than likely ask a question similar to this if they identify any gaps in employment. You can simply let the interviewer know the reason (if you feel comfortable) and why depending on what the situation was.

" I took a medical hiatus between 2020 and 2021 under doctor's orders. I am fully recovered and have had zero health concerns since."

How do you identify with Airbus' Core Values?

"I know that Airbus' core values are Customer focus, integrity, respect, creativity, reliability, and teamwork. I showcase each of these core values in my interactions with my peers and manager as well as my customers and clients. (Go on to explain how with specific examples)."

This is a fantastic question that is meant to figure out if you've done your homework on researching Airbus and what its core values are. Extra point to the interviewer as they are also trying to see if you are a good fit for the organization. They would like you to explain in your own words how you fit in with their values. Make sure to research their core values. Provide examples of how you fit with each one.

"I would showcase Airbus' core values daily if hired in this role by... (insert examples of how you would do so)."

How do you like to encourage ideas in others?

"I communicate that I have an open door policy to my peers and team members. I want to hear ideas, no matter how arbitrary they seem at the time. Oftentimes, my team member is onto something and they need help fully baking the idea. I like to encourage new ideas and unique perspectives to different situations and projects."

It's all about teamwork at Airbus. If you haven't researched Airbus's core values at this point - you should. Their core values are Customer focus, integrity, respect, creativity, reliability, and teamwork and they are asking this question to essentially see if you are compatible with their core values. Answer this question by giving the interviewer examples of how you have encouraged ideas in others using the Airbus core values as a framework for your answer.

"When someone presents an idea to me, I like to sit down and have a conversation about it. I like to show that I am interested in the contributions they are bringing to the table. One of my values is teamwork, and I believe that we can accomplish more as a team through innovation and ideas."

"I always seek to encourage someone that has a desire to learn to share their ideas on specific problems and what can be done in their opinion to fix them. Many people are often too shy or not confident and thus refuse to share their ideas. I was once facing the same problem due to shyness. However, we must input confidence into every one to make them understand that their input is valuable."

How do you stay up-to-date on legal and airworthiness regulatory requirements?

"I make sure to follow airworthiness regulatory bodies and keep up to date on standards such as FAR145, EASA145, CCAR145, and SAR145. Since Airbus works with the US Federal Aviation Administration, the European Aviation Safety Agency, and other regulatory bodies, I make sure to subscribe to newsletters, Google research, and find educational classes and courses to stay up-to-date."

This question is similar to another question listed about industry knowledge but geared toward Airbus. This one is more specifically geared toward quality and inspection. Engineers, mechanics, and quality associates alike should have a good understanding of what is going to pass through quality inspections and what requirements are needed. Focus on answering this question with what you know about quality standards and how you stay up to date on the changing requirements.

"I make sure to absorb as much information as possible within many different capacities. Those include taking courses and certification classes, signing up for webinars on changing regulations, attending any organization-led trainings and retaining notes and guides as well as joining aviation organizations that can keep me updated."

What ways do you stay updated on aerospace industry knowledge?

"The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) guidelines are ones that I follow closely as it relates to my role. I also make sure to research and keep up to date with safety and reliability standards such as AS9100, AS9110, AS9120, and AS6081. In my last role, I was part of audits that made sure the organization was compliant with any regulatory standards."

As common in the aerospace industry, it is important that you are staying up-to-date on standards in your industry. Many times at Airbus, you will be given opportunities for training and education, however, you will also be responsible for self-development and education on your own. This question seeks to assess your proactiveness with learning new industry standards and staying up to date on ones that change frequently.

"I like to seek out new licenses and certifications that I can use to uplevel myself in my position. A certification that I am working towards right now is the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam. In addition to passing that exam, I am also a member of the Aerospace Industries Association and subscribe to newsletters, articles, and other associations to boost my exposure to different information."

We are looking for specific post-secondary education for this role. Tell me about your post-secondary education and how it will help you in this position with Airbus.

"I saw on your job posting that you are looking for candidates with a degree in Software Engineering. I have my degree in Computer Science from an accredited University which exposed me to a broader range of engineering practices, that includes many facets of software engineering. This enabled me to pursue self-taught projects and create a portfolio of work."

Airbus is huge on education, whether that is self-directed or formal education. The organization is also big on intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and being motivated to go above and beyond. While you may not have the "nice to have" educational background, you can gauge where education is required and "nice to have" by glancing at the job description. Oftentimes on their job descriptions, you will see "Required Qualifications" clearly identified and "other" qualifications listed, but not required. Pay close attention to which is which. If you're missing any education for the role, that does not automatically disqualify you, especially if you landed an interview. Let the Airbus interviewer know of any self-directed or continuing education you are currently pursuing including a degree being in progress and certifications that relate to the role.

"I have a Graduate Degree in Mechanical Engineering. Although my degree does not boast a primary focus on Aerospace, I do have significant industry training outlined on my resume including my internship while I was in college and the learning and development courses I have taken on Coursera."

"I am a 4th-year, aerospace engineering student at a renowned university. During my time here, through undertaking aeronautical and structures based subjects, my theoretical understanding of aircraft structures has increased significantly. This was solidified with hands-on experience as structures lead for one of the student-led projects, which served as a great experience and seemed to be what Airbus desires for this specific job posting."

Do you believe it is possible to be a good team member yet disagree with the leader?

"I believe that we can disagree with each other and still remain respectful, regardless of the situation. At the end of the day, we are all here to do a job, and I want to ensure that we minimize interruption to our work and move forward amicably."

Being diplomatic in the workplace is an impressive skill to have. With the clients, customers, and employees that Airbus has - this is a crucial skill. There will be times that a decision is made by a leader that you do not agree with. Those times could include adjusting operational schedules, delivery times to customers and so much more. The key to this question is explaining how well you handle this situation and if you go with the flow or not. Articulate that there WILL be disagreements in the workplace, however, you handle them well and respect others' opinions and keep your work moving. The important thing to showcase is that disagreements will not interrupt your work/work schedules and others' work schedules.

"Teamwork is a huge strength of mine, along with communication. I believe it is important to showcase those skills whenever possible and especially in a scenario such as this. It is inevitable that disagreements will happen. I do not let them affect my work and I like to find a resolution that typically works for the majority of people to minimize downtime, and disruption and increase cohesion in the team."

"Absolutely. When you are working for a company alongside a team, you must only focus on the task at hand. Even though you may disagree with someone, you must show them respect and professionally communicate your thoughts."

At Airbus we seek to hire only those with aerospace experience. Are you more experienced in the private or public aerospace industry?

"I know that Airbus is in the public sector, and I do happen to have experience from my most recent role in this sector. I worked for this organization for 3 years."

Knowing what you know about Airbus, you know that they are a public aerospace entity. If you have experience in the private sector and public sector, make sure to call that out during the interview. If you have experience in private over public, explain how that experience can translate over into the public sector and vice versa. The two industries are not 100% the same, but there are transferrable skills and knowledge that you can outline from either that will show you can fit into the public sector.

"I have experience both in the public and private sector space. I have many federal clearances from my time working in the private space which require me to be an expert in QA revision processes. I spent 5 years obtaining security clearances that hold each employee to a rigorous standard. I think the skills that I gained in the private sector and being thorough and making sure things are up to quality standards is an excellent transferrable skill. With my background and knowledge, you know that I will pay even more attention to detail, specifications, and standards in each project I work on."

"I did not notice your job posting request a specific form of experience. I possess roughly two years of experience within University-based projects, which is in the private sector."

How do you like to be recognized for your accomplishments?

"I like to be recognized by being given a shoutout during team meetings. I find that public recognition spurs me to do better."

Managers are very supportive at Airbus, especially with their overall cultural mindset of growth and development (they showcase this on their careers page). The interviewer is trying to get a feel for how you like to be recognized for your accomplishments. It is helpful here to state how you want credit for your work and how you want to be recognized. Some options can be through bonuses or financial perks, public recognition, kind words, or promotion opportunities.

"I like to be pulled aside by my manager and told how great of a job I am doing. I do not enjoy public recognition, however, knowing that my manager appreciates is enough to motivate me to keep doing well and excelling."

"I do put in a lot of effort into my work. However, although we may achieve individual accomplishments, no job is complete without the input of the entire team. Thus, simple words of kindness and further encouragement for my team, and I would motivate us all to continue excelling in our work."

How have you demonstrated leadership ability when you were not in a leadership role?

"I worked on a project for a client a couple of years ago that no one wanted to take the lead on. It was a complicated project with a tight deadline and my team and I were expected to work on it together. When no one else stood up to lead the project, I did. I assigned tasks out to each member of the team based on their strengths and interests and was able to get the project done in time."

One of Airbus's core values is creativity and when thinking about this question, the interviewer wants to see how you have been able to be creative even if you haven't held a leadership or management role. If you think through all of the positions you've held, ask yourself how you have gone above and beyond and taken the lead on something. This could be: stepping up as a lead on a project when no one else would, helping to resolve scheduling or customer issues, or just plain taking charge of something. Be prepared to provide a scenario or two on where you've done this.

"I naturally took on a leader and mentor-ship type of role with my co-workers in my last two jobs. I have over 10 years of experience in Aerospace engineering, and when one of my managers wasn't available, my peers saw me as a sounding board and resource. If they didn't know how to do something in their role, I often times would be able to provide guidance and support based on my experience and what I knew our manager was looking for."

How often do you think of innovations that will improve your work performance?

"I think about new innovations in my work performance all the time. A key area where I focus in addition to everyday innovations is when I get stuck on something. If a process or project is not progressing, I often think of how I can fix what is going on and how can I improve the process. I also like to work with other peers to identify issues and find solutions to solve these problems."

Airbus is a key innovator in the public aerospace sector. Their innovations section on their website is worth a read to understand just how they lead the pack in innovation and what they strive to do over the next several years. After reviewing the innovations page, try to think about ways you innovate in your everyday work. Try to align those innovations with the company and what they are trying to do. Ask yourself what they are trying to find by innovation and align your answer.

"I like to think outside the box often. Going through a normal work day, I often focus my mind on how I can improve something. An example could be if a task is taking me 10 hours to do in Excel. I ask myself if can I cut down the time by using formulas, shortcuts, or conditional formatting to cut this process or task down to 8 hours."

What is your current salary? What are you looking for salary wise?

"What is the budget that Airbus has allocated towards the role? I want to ensure my expected salary aligns with what the organization has budgeted for the role." If the interviewer mentions that the budget has not been decided, you can respond with, "I understand. I am looking for X amount along with X% bonus based on what I have researched about industry standards. Is this something that you think you would be able to meet?"

The interviewers at Airbus will ask you this to get a feel for what you are looking for in your salary. There are a couple of ways you could approach this question. One way to approach this would be to list out exactly what you are making as a base salary plus any bonus and stock options you receive as part of your overall benefits package. Another way to approach this would be to ask the interviewer what their budget is for the role. It is ideal to let the interviewer give you a number first or put them on the spot with an answer.

"My most recent position paid me a base salary of $45,000 plus overtime and health benefits. I am looking x salary amount in my next role."

Tell me about a time you were in charge of driving performance for a team or project?

"I was in charge of ensuring we had all the appropriate tools on the shop floor. We needed to make sure we have Jigs, Tools, Machines, and other machinery. First, I made a list of everything required, and deadlines to have it in the shop, the cost, and who would help to set them up on the shop floor. Throughout the day, I would check off which tool was ordered, when it would arrive and when I had someone on staff that could set it up. I made sure this was done within 3 months."

Regardless of your job title at Airbus, there will be times that you will be asked to lead a project, team, or initiative. Breaking down a team task or project that you have done in the past helps the interviewer understand how your thought process works when you tackle a task given to you. Use specific examples of how you broke the tasks down into manageable pieces and outline how that brought you to the end result.

"I was a Construction Manager in my last role with the responsibility of making sure construction projects were completed on time. With this specific project, we were required to have this facility built by x date. I broke down the labor tasks for my staff and made sure to schedule the appropriate number of staff to get these done. The timeline was 1 year to complete this facility, and we were able to get it completed with minimal QA issues."

Tell me about a time you had to communicate bad news?

"Our client's seat panels were returned as there was a fault in a few of the bolts that were not welded correctly. This should have been caught during the QA review but unfortunately was not. I initiated the proper corrective action procedures and communicated to the client our timeframe of getting them new seats. I asked them for their timeline/deadline and was able to accommodate this for them."

Juggling many projects, tasks, customers, and expectations, there will be a time at Airbus that bad news will have to be communicated. This bad news, even though you may not be in a leadership or management role, may have to come from you. Make sure to stick to a work-related scenario. In every role, there will be a time when bad news on project status, work status, or assignments has to be communicated. This question looks for one, are you a communicator, and two, how you handle these situations.

"I was tasked with implementing a new ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system in the Finance department. The project was supposed to last 3 months and at the end of 2 months, we were behind due to third-party consultants not getting back to us in a timely manner. I noticed that it was taking longer than it should have, and had to communicate this to our senior leadership. However, to be proactive, I started to reach out to the consultants and scheduled weekly check-in meetings with them so that we could ultimately choose which system we needed. This was successful and we were able to complete the project on time and present to senior leadership."

What aerospace applications and software are you familiar with or have used before?

"I have experience with CATIA and Solidworks. I have also done extensive research on Unigraphics NX and am familiar enough with it to hit the ground running."

Whether you are an entry-level applicant or an experienced applicant, this would be a good question to be prepared for. This question seeks to evaluate what experience and exposure you have to different applications and systems commonly used in the Aerospace industry and which ones relate to Airbus. The answers should be kept straightforward, answering with systems you have used or done research on and are familiar with.

"I have x number of years of experience using CATIA. I am extremely proficient in those systems, and also have a thorough understanding of Solidworks. I am also interested in learning more about Unigraphics NX and have been taking courses/watching webinars/doing online training to become familiar enough to dive in head first with this system."

Our goal is to be the top rated company in our industry. After researching Airbus, what do you think we could improve on?

"I have conducted a great deal of research on Airbus before meeting you today. I like your branding, and your online presence is strong. If I could make a suggestion, it would be to have a confirmation email sent to all online job applicants. I found the site a bit difficult to navigate and was not sure that my initial application went through successfully. Luckily, your HR department was amazing, and they called me just a few days later for a pre-screen interview."

If Airbus asks for your feedback on what they could improve on it is best to keep your answer positive and light. Be sure to start, and finish, your suggestion with a compliment on what they are doing right.

"If you could improve on anything, I would recommend updating the website a bit more frequently and adding a blog for aerospace enthusiasts. Aerospace and defense is a popular topic for research, and you could gain many website visitors by putting a greater emphasis on your online content."

Airbus Interview Questions

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1. How do you define success?
2. How would you become the Subject Matter Expert in your role?
3. Your workload will be large at Airbus. How do you balance life and work?
4. Would you say you focus more on reasons why change will not work rather than adapting to new changes?
5. How do you work under tight deadlines?
6. Your resume is missing certain skills that are necessary for this position. How would you gain the needed missing skills?
7. The aerospace and defense industry is ever-changing. At Airbus we seek to hire individuals with a keen interest in this industry. How do you stay up to date on aerospace related current events?
8. How do you think your early career will help you succeed in this position?
9. Tell me about an achievement you are proud of. What did you find challenging about it?
10. Who would you say inspires you?
11. How would you measure your satisfaction with your career progression thus far?
12. There are numerous career avenues you can take with Airbus. Which career path interests you the most?
13. Many of our industry competitors have their employees under a non-compete contract. Are you bound by any non-compete contract with your current employer?
14. Rate your communication skills from 1-10 with proper examples backing your given rating.
15. Confidentiality is of utmost importance to us at Airbus. Are you willing to sign a confidentiality agreement, if hired?
16. Which do prefer working in, the private or public aerospace sector?
17. In your opinion, what is the biggest breakthrough in the aerospace and defense industry in the past decade?
18. If hired, how would you learn your new role at Airbus?
19. How do you ensure accuracy of a product or project you're working on?
20. At Airbus we have some strong competitors. In your opinion, what makes us stand out from the others?
21. How do you manage your time?
22. How do you like to communicate?
23. Because of the nature of business at Airbus we conduct background checks on employees. This includes criminal background, credit, and education verification checks. Are you willing to comply?
24. If you were given a choice, which work related task do you dislike doing the most?
25. Looking at your resume, I see multiple gaps in employment. Can you shed some light on those gaps?
26. How do you identify with Airbus' Core Values?
27. How do you like to encourage ideas in others?
28. How do you stay up-to-date on legal and airworthiness regulatory requirements?
29. What ways do you stay updated on aerospace industry knowledge?
30. We are looking for specific post-secondary education for this role. Tell me about your post-secondary education and how it will help you in this position with Airbus.
31. Do you believe it is possible to be a good team member yet disagree with the leader?
32. At Airbus we seek to hire only those with aerospace experience. Are you more experienced in the private or public aerospace industry?
33. How do you like to be recognized for your accomplishments?
34. How have you demonstrated leadership ability when you were not in a leadership role?
35. How often do you think of innovations that will improve your work performance?
36. What is your current salary? What are you looking for salary wise?
37. Tell me about a time you were in charge of driving performance for a team or project?
38. Tell me about a time you had to communicate bad news?
39. What aerospace applications and software are you familiar with or have used before?
40. Our goal is to be the top rated company in our industry. After researching Airbus, what do you think we could improve on?

Airbus Interview Questions

1. How do you define success?

2. How would you become the Subject Matter Expert in your role?

3. Your workload will be large at Airbus. How do you balance life and work?

4. Would you say you focus more on reasons why change will not work rather than adapting to new changes?

5. How do you work under tight deadlines?

6. Your resume is missing certain skills that are necessary for this position. How would you gain the needed missing skills?

7. The aerospace and defense industry is ever-changing. At Airbus we seek to hire individuals with a keen interest in this industry. How do you stay up to date on aerospace related current events?

8. How do you think your early career will help you succeed in this position?

9. Tell me about an achievement you are proud of. What did you find challenging about it?

10. Who would you say inspires you?

11. How would you measure your satisfaction with your career progression thus far?

12. There are numerous career avenues you can take with Airbus. Which career path interests you the most?

13. Many of our industry competitors have their employees under a non-compete contract. Are you bound by any non-compete contract with your current employer?

14. Rate your communication skills from 1-10 with proper examples backing your given rating.

15. Confidentiality is of utmost importance to us at Airbus. Are you willing to sign a confidentiality agreement, if hired?

16. Which do prefer working in, the private or public aerospace sector?

17. In your opinion, what is the biggest breakthrough in the aerospace and defense industry in the past decade?

18. If hired, how would you learn your new role at Airbus?

19. How do you ensure accuracy of a product or project you're working on?

20. At Airbus we have some strong competitors. In your opinion, what makes us stand out from the others?

21. How do you manage your time?

22. How do you like to communicate?

23. Because of the nature of business at Airbus we conduct background checks on employees. This includes criminal background, credit, and education verification checks. Are you willing to comply?

24. If you were given a choice, which work related task do you dislike doing the most?

25. Looking at your resume, I see multiple gaps in employment. Can you shed some light on those gaps?

26. How do you identify with Airbus' Core Values?

27. How do you like to encourage ideas in others?

28. How do you stay up-to-date on legal and airworthiness regulatory requirements?

29. What ways do you stay updated on aerospace industry knowledge?

30. We are looking for specific post-secondary education for this role. Tell me about your post-secondary education and how it will help you in this position with Airbus.

31. Do you believe it is possible to be a good team member yet disagree with the leader?

32. At Airbus we seek to hire only those with aerospace experience. Are you more experienced in the private or public aerospace industry?

33. How do you like to be recognized for your accomplishments?

34. How have you demonstrated leadership ability when you were not in a leadership role?

35. How often do you think of innovations that will improve your work performance?

36. What is your current salary? What are you looking for salary wise?

37. Tell me about a time you were in charge of driving performance for a team or project?

38. Tell me about a time you had to communicate bad news?

39. What aerospace applications and software are you familiar with or have used before?

40. Our goal is to be the top rated company in our industry. After researching Airbus, what do you think we could improve on?