Qantas Airways Aircraft Maintenance Technician Interview Questions & Answers
Below is a list of our Qantas Airways interview questions. Click on any interview question to view our answer advice and answer examples. You may view 5 answer examples before our paywall loads. Afterwards, you'll be asked to upgrade to view the rest of our answers.
1. If you fail to do your job correctly, what are the consequences? Would you be able to work under that kind of pressure at Qantas Airways?
How to Answer
With this question, your interviewer is looking to hear that you understand the consequences of shortcuts in the industry and if you can handle the pressure associated with this job at Qantas Airways, where zero room for error is the norm. Tell the hiring manager that you understand how imperative it is that you do not perform shortcuts as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer. Express to them that you are a very thorough and devout employee and would continue to be at Qantas Airways.
Answer Example
"I understand that as an aircraft maintenance technician, there is zero room for error. Every time I sign my name on any documentation, I am 110% sure that the job was completed fully and correctly. People's lives are in my hands, and I take that responsibility very seriously."
2. When would you be available to start if offered to join Qantas Airways?
How to Answer
Before your interview with Qantas Airways, make sure you have a start date in mind for the new employer. Whether you need to give a notice to your current position or are unemployed and can start right away, be prepared with a confident answer. Be sure to show professionalism and respect, if you are currently employed, by reiterating to your interviewer that you'd like to give your current employer sufficient notice. No hiring manager is impressed when they hear employed candidates say they can start immediately.
Answer Example
"As a professional courtesy, I would like to give my current employer at least two weeks' notice. I could start anytime after that."
3. What aircraft inspections do you dislike doing?
How to Answer
To get a feel for how you will work the Maintenance Engineer team at Qantas Airways, your interviewer would like to know what work you dislike the most as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer. Tell the hiring manager if there are any areas of aircraft maintenance that you do not enjoy doing. Talk about why you dislike it, as well, and what you are doing to improve/change.
Answer Example
"I dislike working with navigation systems the most. It isn't my strongest suit, and I much prefer working on the electrical components. I can still perform these tasks but would benefit from additional training in the future."
4. Tell me about your education and training and how they have prepared you for work at Qantas Airways.
How to Answer
Take time with this question to delve into your education history in detail with your interviewer. Your resume will outline your education so use that as a guide, but expand on it. Discuss any awards, scholarships, and recognition that you have achieved, as well, that may help you be successful with Qantas Airways.
Answer Example
"I love to learn, and I did well during my post-secondary education. My primary education in aircraft maintenance comes from my schooling, and I am now CASA certified. If there are any additional courses that you feel I should take, I would be happy to do so."
5. How active are you in your job search?
How to Answer
To help get a feel of your urgency in your job search and how Qantas Airways needs to approach a possible offer for you, your interviewer would like to know the specifics surrounding your job search. Help your interviewer understand the competitive landscape surrounding your candidacy by being open and honest about your job search and where things stand.
Answer Example
"I am actively seeking a new position; however, Qantas Airways is my top choice. I like that your company puts their employees and safety at the forefront of everything you do. If offered a position here, I would be thrilled."
6. Why did you choose a career as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer?
How to Answer
Your interviewer would like to know what drove you internally into a career path as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer. Talk to the hiring manager about what has influenced you to go into this line of work to prove your commitment to the role with Qantas Airways. You can make the answer a touch personal but be sure to keep it concise.
Answer Example
"From a young age, I have always had a strong interest in airplanes. My father was a mechanic and saw the aptitude in me at a young age. The moment I realized that I could mix my love of aircraft and maintenance into one career, that became my goal. I love what I do and have never looked back."
7. How well do you know your ATA codes?
How to Answer
ATA is a numbering system standard for aircraft documentation. It is in place to help maintenance technicians, engineers, and pilots to communicate through a standard code. Talk to your interviewer about your level of knowledge in ATA codes to show that you have sufficient knowledge to join the Maintenance Engineer team at Qantas Airways. You can display your understanding by comparing your experience against others in the same role.
Answer Example
"I have an above-average knowledge of ATA codes. In my most recent review, my supervisor commented on that strength of mine. I continue to study the ATA codes so that I am always up to date on them."
8. In what situation would you would work on an airplane without proper engineers authorization?
How to Answer
Your interviewer would like to know where you draw the line when it comes to working without proper engineers authorization. Talk to the hiring manager about your stipulations when it comes to appropriate approval in the workplace. Be sure to reinforce how you would prioritize both safety and respect if hired at Qantas Airways.
Answer Example
"There is no situation where I would conduct work on an airplane without proper engineers authorization. I take rules and safety very seriously and would never risk anyone's job or safety just to get a job done."
9. How would you prioritize safety in this role at Qantas Airways?
How to Answer
Your interviewer would like to know how seriously you take the subject of safety in the workplace to get a feel for how you will prioritize safety at Qantas Airways. Talk to the hiring manager about your interest in safety and what you do to ensure that you keep yourself, your colleagues, and the passengers of the airline safe in the work that you do.
Answer Example
"To me, safety is the most important factor in the workplace. I have all of my current safety certifications and will continue to keep them updated. My team currently holds the record for the least accidents on the job."
10. What is your aircraft maintenance specialty?
How to Answer
While considering you for their Aircraft Maintenance Engineer team, your interviewer would like to know what specialty you would bring to Qantas Airways. Be open and honest about your areas of expertise to hopefully prove that you can fill a niche on their team.
Answer Example
"My maintenance specialty is within rigging and turbines. I have spent the past three years focusing primarily on these areas. With that said, I am strong in many other areas, as well, including marking and preparation of equipment for shipping."
11. When have you shown great integrity at work?
How to Answer
As an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer with Qantas airways, displaying integrity in all that you do will be vital to your success on the job. As you answer this question, it is important to know that integrity is displayed through honesty and consistent moral values. Talk to your interviewer about the ways that you have shown your integrity in the workplace during your career.
Answer Example
"Honesty and integrity are two values at the center of my being. I like to think I practice this in the workplace by always doing the right thing by the company, its customers, and its people. If hired at Qantas Airways, integrity would mean doing a thorough job with each and every aircraft that I work on."
12. Would you rather work for a commercial or private airline? Explain your answer.
How to Answer
Seeing that you are interviewing with Qantas Airways, the largest commercial airline in Australia, you should definitely gear your answer towards working for a commercial employer. You can answer this in a way that does not pigeon-hole you into a particular type of work, but try to highlight what interests you about working in the commercial field with your training and experience.
Answer Example
"I have worked in both commercial and private airline environments and really enjoy each one, for a variety of reasons. I applied to Qantas Airways, a commercial airline, because I would like to gain the experience that only comes from working with a large and recognized company/brand."
13. Safety is of the utmost importance for our Aircraft Maintenance team at Qantas Airways. What protective gear are you accustomed to wearing on the job?
How to Answer
To get a feel for how you would prioritize safety if you were to join the Qantas Airways team, your interviewer would like to know the type of protective gear you are familiar with wearing on the job. This question can be answered briefly and to the point. You can complete the answer by asking the hiring manager what type of PPE they ask their employees to wear.
Answer Example
"I am accustomed to wearing full safety gear on the job including steel-toed work-boots, safety glasses, helmet, and fireproof gear. Is there any other type of protective gear that you ask your employees to wear? I am willing to comply with any required safety equipment for this job."
14. Are you able to work outside in extreme weather conditions, if required?
How to Answer
As an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer with Qantas Airways, it is an expectation that you will be working outside in varying weather conditions. Tell the hiring manager that you are able and willing to work in these circumstances. Now is the time to mention any restrictions you may have.
Answer Example
"Yes, I can work in extreme weather conditions. I understand that this is a regular part of the job and I am happy to accommodate whenever necessary."
15. Are you comfortable with heights?
How to Answer
As a Maintenance Engineer with Qantas Airways, you will be required to work in tight and high spaces quite frequently, and your interviewer needs to know that you are comfortable working with heights. Assure the hiring manager that you have no problem managing heights in this line of work.
Answer Example
"I am very accustomed to heights and have no problem working in high spaces. In my current position, I am working in very high spaces at least 50% of the time."
16. How would you like to be recognized for your accomplishments if you joined the Qantas Airways team?
How to Answer
We all like recognition in some way for our accomplishments in the workplace. Share with your interviewer how you want appreciation for your hard work if you were to be hired as part of the Aircraft Maintenance team at Qantas Airways. While there is no right or wrong answer for this question, be sure to be open and honest as to how you look to be recognized for a job well done.
Answer Example
"I am very much an over-achiever and find that the best way for me to be recognized for a job well done is words of kindness and recognition. I am easily encouraged, and the best reward for me is to know that my hard work is seen."
17. When have you had to adapt your workload due to increasing demand from your supervisors?
How to Answer
At Qantas Airways, the workload of the Aircraft Maintenance team will increase and decrease as the travel demands fluctuate throughout the year. Your interviewer will likely be looking to hear how you adapt to workload changes at some point during your interview. As you answer this question, talk about your ability to thrive in your work no matter what the workload dictates.
Answer Example
"I fully understand that my workload will increase from time to time, and I easily accept that. Personally, I prefer it when times are busy, so I do not mind an increase in workload."
18. What type of work ethic would you bring to the Qantas Airways team?
How to Answer
When your interviewer asks about your work ethic, they are looking for specific examples or keywords they can relate to that prove how hard of a worker you will be at Qantas Airways. When you read the company job posting or job description, try to find some key words that highlight your work ethic and speak to them to your interview. Talk about the Qantas Airways values and how those align well with your work values.
Answer Example
"I am a very dedicated and loyal employee. I saw on the Qantas Airways website that you are committed to safety in all that you do, you are compliant with all regulation, and that you treat all people with respect. My work ethic is the same. I am honest, flexible, and come ready to work hard for my employer every day."
19. Qantas Airways is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. When have you worked with a diverse group of people?
How to Answer
Qantas Airways strives for an inclusive people experience with a workforce that is as diverse as possible. If hired as part of their Aircraft Maintenance team, you will be expected to foster that diversity and inclusion initiative that the airline has in place. Assure the interviewer that you are able to handle an environment that offers diversity by talking about your positive experiences in an environment that is diverse.
Answer Example
"I have worked with diverse groups of people throughout most of my career. I am most comfortable, and happy, in this type of environment because it offers a great learning opportunity for me to learn and grow from others' life experiences."
20. How many days were you absent from work last year?
How to Answer
Because the Aircraft Maintenance team at Qantas Airways will rely on you to show up for work each and every day willing and ready to go, your interviewer will be looking to know that you are always on time and present when expected. It's great to even be 10 minutes early rather than just showing up right on the dot. Talk to the interviewer about your attendance record on the job and speak to how dedicated you would be, if hired for this role at Qantas Airways.
Answer Example
"I had zero unexcused absences last year. In total, I took 12 vacation days out of my 15 allotted days. I was sick just 2, and those were accompanied by a note from my Doctor. Once I was late due to a terrible snow storm, and I always try to be 10 minutes early for my shift."