Qatar Airways Operations Agent Interview Questions & Answers
Below is a list of our Qatar 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. To be successful as an Operations Agent at Qatar Airways, being diligent about attention to detail on the job is important. Why do you think being very detail-oriented is important for this role?
How to Answer
With this question, your interviewer is looking to hear two very distinct and different things out of your answer. First, they'll be looking to hear that you did your research on the role of an Operations Agent with Qatar Airways by having you talk about the duties that will require an attention to detail. Then, they'll be looking to hear that you understand why being detail-oriented is important for those duties as you explain the little nuances of the role. As you answer, don't hesitate to talk about any job duties you've had in the past that required a strict attention to detail.
Answer Example
"As you can see from my application materials, I spent a few years as a Records Examiner and this role really helped instill a need for paying attention to detail in the work that I do. Success as an Operations Agent requires a strong attention to detail in almost every aspect of the job. Whether planning out cargo storage for a long flight or mapping out a flight pattern based on the weather, the need to take in and consider every detail that is critical for a safe and timely flight. As well, the top notch customer service that Qatar Airways provides is also due to a strict attention to detail and if hired for this role, I'd look forward to carrying on that torch here with your team."
2. The Operations Agent that we hire for this role at Qatar Airways needs to have a strict focus on safety. What aspects of safety do you envision being responsible for in this job?
How to Answer
Operations Agents at Qatar Airways work closely with the passengers, cargo, fuel, and flight plans, and the person your interviewer hires for this role needs to at least come to the interview with a basic knowledge of the facets of safety that this job will entail. While you can speak broadly in your answer while covering as much of the job as possible, make sure your interviewer clearly understands your focus on safety by how you talk about the details of the role. As you answer, it is okay to talk about similar safety related measures you've had to take in prior jobs that you've held, and it is okay to ask follow up questions as well. As you likely know from your research of Qatar Airways, safety is a major focus of their mission.
Answer Example
"One thing that I really appreciate about Qatar Airways is the devotion you show to your passengers. If hired as your next Operations Agent, doing my part to ensure the safety of all would be at the front of my mind in every task that I perform. From the understanding I have from the job description and reading more about this role, safety would be a huge focus in managing the cargo area of each flight to ensure the stability of the plane in flight. Safety would also be a big factor when helping determine flight paths and making the decision to delay a flight due to weather."
3. Do you have any pet peeves in the workplace?
How to Answer
While asking this question to ultimately see how you will work with your potential colleagues at Qatar Airways, your interviewer also may get a good look into your personality, depending on how you answer this question. Be careful as you answer this question because discussing a very common workplace pet peeve that you would likely encounter on the job could make your interviewer think that you would struggle working as part of a larger team. In the end, try to talk about a pet peeve that either is harmless and highlights your calm demeanor or talk about a pet peeve that leads to poor performance or insubordination in the workplace.
Answer Example
"In all honesty, my only pet peeve in the workplace is having a teammate that isn't invested and dedicated in their work. I'm a firm believer that every person should be passionate about what they do on the job and not just be there to collect a paycheck. Having worked with colleagues like this in the past, I try my hardest to help motivate them and get them invested in their job and career. With Qatar Airways' awesome industry reputation and awards, I envision that the entire team here is dedicated to their work."
4. Let's say you had to let an overweight passenger at Qatar Airways know that they would have to purchase two seat tickets on a flight. How would you approach that passenger?
How to Answer
While your interviewer will likely look to hit at themes of having difficult conversations and providing excellent customer service during your interview at different times, this question poses a specific and real scenario that you may face as an Operations Agent that really combines your ability to provide great service while having a very difficult conversation. As you answer, try to focus on your ability to know and adhere to Qatar Airways policies and your ability to do this with a positive tone when explaining to the customer.
Answer Example
"I would approach this customer in a very professional manner while relying on my interpersonal skills to make sure they understood why this decision had to be made. I would let them know exactly what the policy of Qatar Airways is and would speak to the policy with confidence and empathy towards the passenger. I would make it a priority to ensure the customer knew why the policy was in place and understood the need to purchase an additional ticket. If I can ask, can you tell me what your policy is in regards to this?"
5. Have you ever went above and beyond the expectations of a customer or colleague to provide excellent service?
How to Answer
Because excellent customer service is a huge part of this role at Qatar Airways, your interviewer is looking for insight on your personality and work ethic on the job by hearing you talk about a time you went above the call of duty to provide a great outcome in the workplace. Whether you have done it for a customer or a colleague, try to paint a clear picture that describes the situation, provides your thought process in the situation, and clearly explains how and why you went above and beyond for that person. In the end, your interviewer will be looking to connect the dots on your outcome and why you took the necessary actions to provide this outcome, in order to gauge your ability to do just that as the next Operations Agent at Qatar Airways.
Answer Example
"Throughout my career, I've never hesitated to go beyond the call of duty to provide excellent service to the customers that I've worked with. Exceeding the expectations of the customer is what most often brings them back time and time again, and I imagine this is especially true in the airline industry. Last year, the sales team that I supported was working on landing a huge client, and I was asked to help organize a meeting between the potential client's leadership and our sales managers. To do my part in impressing the clients, I decorated the conference room the group would be meeting in with the sports teams from their home state to make them feel more at home. I also printed out large poster sized positive feedback from customers around the room. When our sales director saw the room the evening before the meeting, he commended me for taking the initiative to do such a great job on the room. The next day, I heard the clients were thoroughly impressed with all of the work we had done."
6. Talk about a role you've held in the past where problem solving was an essential part of the job? What did you learn in that role that you can bring to Qatar Airways as an Operations Agent?
How to Answer
Whether you will be faced with ensuring all necessary baggage and cargo can safely make it on a flight or dealing with an overbooked flight at Qatar Airways, your interviewer needs to be assured that you have solid, quick problem solving skills to be hired for this job. To do this, they are posing this question to you to learn about a previous job that you've held where you had to be a problem solver on a daily basis. As you prepare for this question, be sure to talk about a job where you can clearly describe a multitude of issues you faced and handled with ease. Most importantly, finish your answer by talking about how this experience has you totally prepared to be a problem solver in this job.
Answer Example
"As you can see from my resume, the early part of my career was spent in retail as a manager, and this work provided challenges on a daily basis. In retail, I handled everything from wrong shipments, late shipments, upset customers, incorrect pricing, staffing issues, and many other issues on top of those. My success in that role was due to my resiliency, teamwork, flexibility, and analytical skills, and these are skills that I would look forward to bringing to Qatar Airways as the next Operations Agent."
7. Talk about a time you had to settle a conflict in the workplace. What were the important things you did to ensure that this happened in a safe way that ended well?
How to Answer
Because of the large number of staff that Qatar Airways employs and the sheer number of passengers that fly commercially with the airline, your interviewer needs to know that you have solid conflict resolution skills if hired for this role. They are posing a question like this directly to you during your interview to get to the root of your ability to resolve conflict on the job. As you reflect upon your career to this point to think of a good example to talk about, be sure that you talk about a time where you handled a conflict by addressing the situation directly, kept a positive attitude, and came through with a result where all parties involved were happy in the end. As you answer, highlight your interpersonal skills that you used to ensure that it was a true win-win situation. It's also important to be aware that you can answer this question by either talking about a conflict between colleagues or between yourself and a customer.
Answer Example
"A few years back, I took it upon myself to help resolve a serious conflict between two of my colleagues who just couldn't work effectively together. I knew that their issues stemmed from their personal lives overflowing into the workplace, and one day it came to a head over a loud shouting match that was about to get physical. I jumped in to separate them while another colleague helped me to distance them from one another. Knowing that emotions were running high, I took the time to talk to each individually and let them know that all three of us would meet together the next day. Going into a meeting with both of them, I knew it was important to be objective towards both parties and hear them out on their differences. I made it clear during the meeting that arguments over differences in their personal lives wouldn't be tolerated in the workplace, and it ended up being a very good situation for both of them to talk out their issues in a civil way. In the end, we decided that while both could still remain in the department in their jobs, we would switch around some duties on the team to keep their work separate for the most part. In the end, I used my interpersonal skills to create a positive atmosphere for them to talk out their differences, and I used problem solving skills to work out a resolution that all could agree with. It ended up being a win-win situation for all involved."
8. If hired as our next Operations Agent at Qatar Airways, what would providing excellent customer service look like to you?
How to Answer
At times on the job as an Operations Agent, you will be face to face with customers and your interviewer wants to know that you will be an excellent representative of Qatar Airways when in contact with customers. To make a lasting impression on your interviewer, it is important to understand which aspects of the job will have you working closely with passengers. As you answer, show a solid understanding of these aspects and try to display a passion for providing awesome service to customers with an infectious personality and a smile on your face at all times.
Answer Example
"If I were fortunate enough to join the Qatar Airways team, I understand that I will be working with passengers while they board and while they are waiting to board. I also understand that I will work with passengers during difficult situations when a flight may be delayed or when a flight may be overbooked. At any time on the job in this role, I would be a smiling and understanding representative of the company and work with passengers in a personable way. I don't shy away from difficult conversations and I would come to your airline with a lot of experience having difficult customer conversations in a very professional tone. In the airline industry, you never know if a passenger is traveling for a vacation or because of the death of a loved one, so being that friendly and approachable face of the airline is important at all times."
9. How would you keep yourself motivated and upbeat on a day where customers of Qatar Airways are being very difficult to work with?
How to Answer
In the commercial airline industry, some days can involve some pretty rough times for customers and the staff at Qatar Airways often take the brunt of the feelings from the customers. By asking this question, your interviewer is looking to gauge your understanding of the potential downsides to a role in customer service with their airline, and that you've put thought into how you would handle these days if hired at Qatar Airways. As you answer this question, be sure to highlight the importance of always maintaining a positive attitude no matter what is happening during your day. Also be sure that you don't sound like you are complaining about any days that you've had like this in the past, as that will reflect poorly on your ability to handle this aspect of the job. In the end, keep your response customer focused by highlighting your ability to work with customers in this mindset in a positive way to prove that you can help facilitate a positive experience for all that you work with in this role.
Answer Example
"On days when customers are upset and taking it out on staff, I take an understanding and caring approach with them because I am representing the face of the company in that moment. If hired at Qatar Airways, I would bring this same attitude to the job each and every day. I take it upon myself to try and take a bad situation and make it right for them. More times than not, simply listening to them and taking action is enough to totally change their attitude and make them a happy customer once again. During my career, I've had very tough days like this where I've felt physically and mentally drained at the end of the day. On those days, I felt it was very important to unwind and relax in the evening to be refreshed the next day."
10. If hired as our next Operations Agent, would you bring any bilingual skills to our team?
How to Answer
Qatar Airways serves customers from all over the world traveling from location to location and being well-versed in another language is always a plus for your interviewer to be aware of about you. While certainly not a make or break question for you as the candidate, your interviewer is simply looking to know if you do speak any other languages, as that would be a major asset to their team. Be honest as you answer this question and don't hesitate to say that you are open to learning any new languages that may help you be a step ahead in this role down the road.
Answer Example
"While Arabic is my native language, I am also very fluent in English and Urdu. I also have good comfortability in understanding and speaking some French as well."
11. Which part of this position as an Operations Agent do you feel you would excel at?
How to Answer
With this question, your interviewer will be looking to hear about the aspects of the job that you would both feel the most comfortable in and be successful in, if hired as the next Operations Agent at Qatar Airways. Prior to your interview, it will be important for you to research the duties of the job so you can highlight the pieces that you feel you would do best in. As you saw when you applied, the Qatar Airways website has great information on the role and selecting a unique piece of the job that you will excel at compared to other candidates is important for your candidacy for the job. This question also allows you the opportunity to showcase some knowledge or skills you have that your interviewer can't see on your application materials.
Answer Example
"After learning about this role with Qatar Airways, I was compelled to apply because I knew that being an Operations Agent really matched all of my skills that I would bring here. But probably the most important skill I would bring that sets me apart from others applying for the job is my ability to provide outstanding customer service. Throughout my career, I've been in customer facing roles. Both on the sales and service sides of the aisle, I am a firm believer in treating customers the way I would want to be treated if I were in their shoes, and I am ready to bring that mindset to this job."
12. Do you have any direct experience in shipping and receiving duties throughout your career?
How to Answer
Airline Operations Agents with Qatar Airways have to perform many different duties in their work. One important aspect of the job can be seen as very advanced shipping and receiving duties, where you will be accepting shipments, overseeing the loading and unloading of freight, and the tracking of luggage that is loaded and unloaded from the airplanes. If you have direct experience in any shipping/receiving settings, that is great, and be sure to talk about that experience. If you don't have direct experience, there is no need to worry as long as you can talk about your ability to learn on the job. Just be open and honest with your interviewer and let them know that you possess the organizational and technical skills to be trained and learn this aspect of the job quickly if you join the team at Qatar Airways.
Answer Example
"While I haven't held any formal titles in shipping and receiving during my career, I am very familiar with this aspect of the job and know that I would be very successful at it. In my current position, I coordinate with many different trucking carriers to ensure large orders are handled in a timely manner. With this duty, communication between vendors and knowledge of the trucking industry is very important for me to have to ensure that things happen in a timely and cost-efficient manner. If hired for this role, I want you to know that I am very trainable on any of the freight aspects of the job and would make that a priority from the day I start."
13. If Qatar Airways hires you as our next Operations Agent, where would you see yourself five years down the road with our company?
How to Answer
At some point during your interview, your interviewer will be looking to gauge what your career goals are, and this question allows them the opportunity to do so. Prior to your interview, it will be essential for you to do some research on Qatar Airways to learn more about their career progression ladder and where Operations Agents typically can be promoted to within the organization. Operations Agents are often groomed and promoted into more senior levels of management and having the drive for this is a good thing. But, you also need to walk a very fine line of showing motivation to grow while also being committed to the role you are interviewing for.
Answer Example
"My ultimate career goal is to be in upper level operations management and I think this opportunity with Qatar Airways will be my foot in the door to prove the kind of employee that I can be. If hired for this role, I will put my best foot forward to learn every aspect of the operations of the company for as many years as needed. I would work hard to build solid relationships with my colleagues and managers throughout the organization and use those relationships to help me become a better Operations Agent on a daily basis."
14. What is the highest level of mathematics that you completed during your education?
How to Answer
There are many aspects of the job as an Operations Agent at Qatar Airways where basic math concepts are beneficial to success in the role. Mostly in regard to the loading and packing of freight on an aircraft, your interviewer is really trying to gather that you have the ability to make basic math calculations on your feet. Keep in mind that Operations Agents can have varying levels of educational background, from a high school degree to a Bachelor's degree, so be sure to read up on the requirement for this position when you do apply. On top of talking about the highest level of math that you completed, be sure to talk about any jobs you've held where quick math skills were essential.
Answer Example
"While earning my Bachelor's degree, I did pass a 4 credit Calculus I class as a requirement for my degree. I have always been very comfortable with my math skills on the job. In my current role, I often have to calculate profit margins and markups in quick order when working with retailers. If hired for this role, I would be very proficient in the math side of the job and I understand that these skills are essential when it comes to planning the loading of freight and baggage on the aircraft."
15. How skilled are you in learning new computer software programs?
How to Answer
As is the case in most industries now, Qatar Airways relies on intuitive software programs to help run their business efficiently. These advanced systems can house information on passenger booking, flight schedules, airplane maintenance records, employee scheduling and many other items. As an Operations Agent at Qatar Airways, you will be required to operate within many parts of this system. While you likely won't have direct experience working on a system tailored to the airline industry, your interviewer knows that today's systems are very user friendly and they're simply looking to hear that you have the skills needed to learn the system you will be working with. For your answer, talk about other systems that you have had to learn and thrive in and make sure your interviewer walks away comfortable with your ability to learn their system.
Answer Example
"I am very comfortable in my ability to learn any software program and do so in a short period of time. Throughout my career, I've worked in point of sale software programs, inventory programs, and various office email and communications systems. With each new program that I've worked with, I've taken the time to walk through any classroom type training for the system and then put that to use through hands-on training. If hired to join the team here at Qatar Airways, one of my first goals on the job would be to master all systems I would be working on."
16. Operations Agents at Qatar Airways are relied upon to make sound decisions on a turnaround almost every day. Have you ever had a time where you had to be quick in coming to an important decision on the job?
How to Answer
Airline Operations Agents at Qatar Airways often need to be the person to make difficult decisions in a short amount of time and to do this, they need to be masters of the entire operation of a commercial flight. One example would be how to handle a flight that is overbooked without impacting the overall flight schedule. As you prepare for the interview, try to think of a work situation where you had to use your expertise and other resources to come to a quick resolution. As you describe the situation to your interviewer, be sure to focus your answer on the methodology used to come to your decision and what the successful outcome was for the situation. As with any answer you give during your interview, focus on providing excellent service for all that you are working with.
Answer Example
"Last year, while working in a retail setting, I came across a customer that was acting very peculiar in the back of the store. As I was trained to, I approached them to ask if they needed any help. The customer was wearing a large jacket that seemed rather bulky. When the customer avoided me and walked away, I called for security over the radio right away. As the customer was approached by both security and me as he tried exiting the store, he threw several items that he was trying to steal under a rack at the front of the store. In that situation, my instincts told me that something wasn't right and rather than letting it go, I made the decision to confront the customer and call security. Retail theft is a big deal with my current employer, and I'm glad I did my part to help prevent it."
17. Have you ever had a time where your workload became too unbearable? How did you handle this situation?
How to Answer
While certainly not asking this question to scare you away from this role at Qatar Airways, your interviewer ideally wants you to understand that some days on the job as an Operations Agent can be very overwhelming. By asking this question, they are looking to hear that you are able to handle these types of situations by prioritizing and being resourceful in your handling of the situation. In the past situation that you describe, talk about it in a positive light and explain what resources you used to be successful. If you used the help of others, discuss what led you to come to that decision and how you went about soliciting the help of others. To conclude your answer, talk about what you learned in the situation that you bring with you to this day on the job.
Answer Example
"Early in my career, I was a part of a company merger where my employer merged with another large moving company. Not wanting to stall anything for current customers, my team had to transition many upcoming customers to a new platform and we just didn't have the overall manpower to do this in a timely manner that was appeasing to the customers. At that time, I was mandated to work four hours of overtime each evening to work on moving customer information to the new platform. This work, coupled with our busiest time of the year, made life at work very stressful for a month. While I knew I could press my nose to the grindstone and get through it with success, maintaining a focus on my own personal health and well-being was very crucial to my work life as well. In the evenings, I recuperated my thoughts by spending quality time with my family and on my bike. I used the weekends to recharge and get ready for upcoming weeks that would find me working 60+ hours as well."
18. If hired at Qatar Airways as our next Operations Agent, I will expect you to build a solid rapport with all of the people you will be working closely with. How would you go about doing this?
How to Answer
Successful Operations Agents are most often the ones that are able to build strong relationship with their colleagues and for this question, your interviewer will be looking that you have a plan to do this if hired at Qatar Airways. As you walk through how you would go about building rapport with your colleagues, try to focus on how you connect on a personal level with your colleagues and how you let your work do the talking by doing what you say and saying what you do. By proving this to your interviewer, you will show that you can be an outstanding member of the Qatar Airways team.
Answer Example
"If hired at Qatar Airways, one of my first goals upon starting would be to personally connect with all of the colleagues I would be working with. I would take the time to get to know them on a personal and professional level and would be very open about myself in return. I have found that once I build these connections on the job with a colleague, communication and production together become so much better. Over time, I am a firm believer that rapport is nurtured and grown by my own actions. I will always follow through with my commitments to my colleagues in a timely manner and expect they do the same for me."
19. Tell me about a time you had to have a difficult conversation with a colleague. How did you handle that situation to ensure it was successful?
How to Answer
Working as an Operations Agent with Qatar Airways, the time will come where you will have to have an uncomfortable conversation with a colleague. Your interviewer is asking this question to hear that you have the ability to do this when called upon to do so. As you prepare for this question prior to your interview, try to think of a situation where you can explain the measures you took to prepare for the conversation and the conversation style you used to have the conversation in a positive manner. As you wrap up your answer, explain the positive outcome and any follow up you were required to do to prove your ability to do this if hired at Qatar Airways.
Answer Example
"A couple of years ago, I had to talk to a colleague about some major issues in his work processes that were increasing the work load for the rest of the team. What made this a difficult conversation for me personally was the fact that the colleague was a senior in our department and I was relatively new. Ahead of the conversation, I got my ducks in a row by documenting the processes that were impacted by his actions. I decided that my conversation would be in a more informal setting at his work station and I approached him in a very friendly manner, as we had a very good working relationship. At first, he was very taken aback by me approaching him and I continued to reiterate that the issue at hand was impacting many more team members. At the end of the conversation, he thanked me for bringing the issue to his attention. Although it took some time for the issue to be completely remedied due to forces of habit, in the end, it did get remedied."
20. Tell me about a time you had difficulty working with a colleague. What did you do to try and help that situation?
How to Answer
Because of the many different roles and subsequent personalities that you will work with at Qatar Airways as an Operations Agent, there will likely be some uncomfortable interpersonal conflict between you and a colleague at some point in time. Your interviewer will be looking to hear that you can healthily remedy these situations. As you answer this question, think of a situation where you used your great interpersonal skills to take a potentially bad working situation and change it into a positive result. Keep in mind that your interviewer will be looking to hear that you keep your answer upbeat and positive, so try to avoid complaining about the situation.
Answer Example
"A couple of years ago, a new member of our team was very defiant towards another team lead and me when given direction on the job. This all started after his initial training on the job. For the first week or two, I remained diligent in my attempts to give directions in a forthright and personable manner. After seeing a few times where my direction was ignored, I decided to talk to the employee in a one-on-one environment away from other coworkers. I focused on communicating in a very personable manner and tried to get to the root of what could've been causing the defiance of direction. In this approach, the employee opened up about what he felt were significant inefficiencies in our training and onboarding process and let me know that he would be putting his best foot forward from there. Indeed he did from there and remains a great employee. I consider myself excellent at conflict resolution and would love to bring these skills to the Qatar Airways family."
21. Our Operations Agents need to be very highly organized on the job. How do you ensure that your workload stays organized and on track?
How to Answer
As an Operations Agent with Qatar Airways, your workday will be filled with many varying duties. One minute, you can be arranging the fueling and loading of an aircraft, and the next you can be handling an issue with a passenger preparing to board a different airplane. Because of the mass chaos that airport operations often see, your interviewer will be looking to hear that you have the skills to stay organized and on task throughout your workday by posing this question to you. As you answer this question, talk about different tools and technologies that you have used throughout your career to help you maintain organization. Also, be sure to talk about any examples you have where being highly organized was beneficial in a role you've had in the past.
Answer Example
"In my current job as a store manager, I have many duties that can require my attention at once. Being organized and having a plan of attack is of critical importance to my success each day. To stay organized, I have my company email and calendar that I use for daily or weekly task tracking. I also always have a small notepad and paper on me to write down specific tasks each day. While these help me stay very organized each day, being able to prioritize my tasks and reprioritize them throughout the day is probably more important. If hired as the next Operations Agent at Qatar Airways, you can feel comfortable knowing that you would be hiring a highly organized manager."
22. Our Operations Agents need to be the ultimate team players among our entire staff. What makes you a great team player?
How to Answer
Being hired as an Airline Operations Agent at Qatar Airways will have you working closely with ramp staff, ticket agents, and flight crews on a regular basis and you need to have the ability to work and communicate with all staff in a very effective manner. For this question, your interviewer will be looking to determine whether or not you have the ability to do this. As you prepare for this question, think back over your career about feedback that you've received from your colleagues and/or supervisors regarding your ability to work as part of a team and relay that feedback to your interviewer. In the end, your interviewer wants to walk away from the interview knowing that you get along easily with all people and that you can collaborate with anyone necessary on the job. This will ensure your success with the greater team at Qatar Airways.
Answer Example
"I am a person that really thrives in a team-based environment and I really believe the main thing that makes me a great team player is my ability to act as both a leader and a contributor, in any given situation. I have great interpersonal skills and don't hesitate to give direction when needed. I also can very easily take direction from others and run in any situation. A big contributing factor to me being able to do this is getting to know my colleagues on a personal and professional level, something that I've always prioritized in any job that I've held. If given the opportunity to join the Qatar Airways team, I would look forward to being the ultimate team player."