American Airlines Careers – Everything You Need to Know

Overview and History of American Airlines

American Airlines Careers – Since the manufacture of the first airplane by the Wright brothers on December 17, 1903, humankind has been spurred by the zeal to shape the future of life with the constant innovations of the aviation industry. And it wasn’t until 1909 that this zeal led to the successful establishment of the first airline in human history, known as DELAG. The mass production of airplanes quickly accompanied this groundbreaking feat during the first and second world wars.

During this golden period of growth and immense development, the two pioneer organizations, Robertson Aircraft Corporation and Colonial Air Transport, were founded in 1921 and 1927. These two organizations were later merged in 1929 to form a holding company, The Aviation Corporation. This newly merged company was further rebranded into an operating company in 1930 and went by American Airways. In 1934, in compliance with newly enacted laws, American Airways was reorganized and renamed American Airlines. 

American Airlines is the world’s largest airline American company in terms of fleet size, number of passengers, and generated revenue, with over 6,800 flights every day with a carrying capacity of about 500,000 people daily. With her headquarters in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, American Airlines enjoys the reputation of being the only airline in the world with an estimated number of over 200 million passengers annually. Not only does this elite organization transport thousands of people, but she transports these people to almost 365 destinations in more than 61 countries of the world every single day. American Airlines is a pioneer organization of the Oneworld alliance, the world’s third-largest airline alliance, to always be the first choice in the minds of international travelers all over the world. With hubs located in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Washington DC, American Airlines runs and operates the largest maintenance and repair operations based in Tulsa, Oklahoma over 130,000 employees on her payroll.

Requirements for Working at American Airlines

1. Be a legal citizen of the United States or possess a valid work visa as a non-immigrant.
2. Possess the legal right to fly to and from the countries, American Airlines carries out operations.
3. Possess a High School Certificate or a General Education Development certificate.
4.  Possess at least two years of tertiary education in an accredited higher institution of learning.
5. Possession of public contact work experience is preferred.
6. Possession of customer service work experience is also preferred.
7. You must be at least 20 years of age currently while applying.
8. You must be willing to relocate to a vicinity where activities of the company take place. These vicinities include Boston, Massachusetts; Chicago, Illinois; Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas; Los Angeles, California; Miami, Florida; New York City, New York; San Francisco, California; and Washington, DC.
9. You must be able to lift, push and pull heavy equipment over a short distance.
10. Ability to get to emergency equipment on all kinds of aircraft as and when needed.
11. You are not to exceed a maximum of 6 feet and 3 inches.
12. You must be able to secure appropriate airport authority and/or Customs security badges.
13. You must complete and pass the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) criminal background check.
14. Your distance vision must be corrected to 20/20 and the near vision corrected to 20/40 or more in each eye.
15. You must possess a valid Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Restricted Radio Telephone Operator Permit.
16. You must possess a valid First Class medical certificate.
17. You must be able to fly in adherence to all FAA requirements.
18. You must possess a valid passport and all documents needed to enter the United States after an international flight.

Skills Needed to Work at American Airlines

1. Ability to fluently read, write, speak and understand the English language.
2. Ability to treat every customer with dignity and respect.
3. Ability to speak multiple foreign languages fluently like Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, French.
4. Excellent communication skills. This includes the ability to make effective eye contact, body language, sign language, and speech.
5.  Adept decision-making and critical thinking skills.
6. Ability to pay close attention to details.
7. Ability to work during various hours of the day or night, on weekends or holidays.
8. Ability to learn and work under the influence of Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs).
9. Ability to dress smartly and neatly.

Courses to Study to Work at American Airlines

• Finance
• Human Resources Management
• International Business
• Business Analytics
• Airline and Airport Management
• Aviation Management
• Real Estate and Urban Infrastructure
• E-Commerce
• Travel & Tourism Management
• Sports Management
• Accounting
• Hotel Management
• Marketing
• Digital Marketing
• Hospital Management
• Banking And Insurance
• Information System Management
• Foreign Trade
• Event Management
• Business Economics
• Retail Management
• Logistics & Supply Chain Management
• Computer Application
• Information Technology
• Media Management
• Healthcare & Hospital Management
• Materials Management

The Hiring Process at American Airlines – American Airlines Careers

 The hiring process at American Airlines lasts for several weeks due to the different stages involved. Sometimes, the hiring manager might not reach out to you immediately after the interview but do not panic because he is still assessing your credibility for the job and how best you performed at the interview. This is why you need to be acquainted with the hiring process at this company. The processes include:

1. The Job Application Stage: In order to get a job at American Airlines, the first thing you have to do is apply for the job. After you’ve successfully applied for the job, upload your curriculum vitae together with your filled application and apply successfully. After the company receives your application, it might take a few weeks to reach out to you, so be patient. To apply for the job, follow these steps:
   • Log into American Airline’s official website at www.jobs.aa.com
   • On the top right-hand corner of the page, you’ll find a menu button. But do not click on this option yet. Instead, click on ‘View Profile’ below the menu button. 
   • On the next page, click on ‘Create an account at the bottom of the page. Fill in the appropriate details to create your account and read and accept the data privacy statement before clicking ‘Create your account.’
   • On the next page, the Candidates Profile, complete the profile by providing all the necessary details and uploading all documents requested: your resume, cover letter, and other supporting documents. 
   • After providing all details, click on ‘Save.’ If you have provided all details, the system saves your profile. If not, review.
   • After completing your Candidates Profile, go ahead and click on the menu button at the top right-hand corner of the page, select ‘Careers.’ If you have a specific job in mind, select from the list of options. If not, click on ‘View all jobs.’
   • After you’ve found your desired job and read the job description, duties and requirements, click on ‘Apply.’ There’s an option to apply via your LinkedIn account if you want to.
   • You’ll be redirected to your Candidates Profile page, which you had earlier successfully created. If there are other details you need to provide to shore up your competence for the job, do so and then click on ‘Apply.’
   • Congratulations, you have successfully applied for a job at American Airlines.

2. The Assessment Test Stage: The second stage in the hiring process at American Airlines is the assessment test. This test is compulsory for all applicants to pass if they are to work at this organization. These tests include a cognitive test, testing your cognitive skills of reasoning and intelligence, and a personality test that assesses your human personality construct and behavior about the job position you’re applying for. This test is also used by the recruiters or hiring manager to determine if you will perform the duties that are expected of you at American Airlines. This test could be carried out via questionnaires or deductions from your life records.  

The American Airlines assessment test asks questions relating to your leadership skills, problem-solving skills, ability to handle pressure and stress, and making logical and deductive decisions during emergencies. Please note that you would also be required to take the Pilots’ Test if you applied for a pilot position. If you need more information on how and where you can take these tests, please click here, even taking the assessment practice tests.

3. The Interview Stage: The interview process is the last stage of the hiring process at American Airlines, and this process is exclusively different from other interview processes you know. The interview process at this organization is unique because about six applicants are all being interviewed simultaneously, and these applicants are each given a task to perform. During this process, the recruiters evaluate how best you can work efficiently in a team or team. And to make it to the next interview stage, the face-to-face interview, you must successfully pass this group interview. During the face-to-face interview, you will ask a wide variety of tactical and difficult questions.

 Here are the interview questions normally asked at the face-to-face interviews:

• Tell me about yourself.
• Why do you want to work for American Airlines?
• How many years of customer service experience have you had?
• Why did you leave your last job?
• How much do you want to be paid while working at our organization?
• What kind of an employee are you?
• Have you ever confronted a difficult situation before? How did you overcome it?
• Suppose you and several customers were faced with great danger. How would you handle the situation to ensure everyone’s safety?

Apart from correctly and smartly answering these interview questions, there are certain tips you need to know to successfully pass this interview: 

• Arrive about 10-15 minutes earlier than the scheduled time.
• Ensure to maintain eye contact throughout the duration of the interview.
• Switch off your mobile phone and keep it out of sight.
• Dress formally, wear a nice perfume, and put on a genial look.
• Don’t speak too fast as you will be inaudible and sound nervous.
• Don’t speak too slow as you will sound humdrum. 
• Be calm and do not panic.
• Try as much as you can to be specific, concise, and precise while answering the questions.
• Prove to the interviewer that you are the best match for this job by showcasing your skills and experience related to your job position.
• Demonstrate your customer service skills and remember that American Airlines has a big heart for great customer service and experiences.

4. The Training and Orientation Stage: After you must have successfully passed the interview and are now an employee at American Airlines, first of all, a hearty congratulations to you for making it this far, you must participate in the intensive training where you’ll learn about your roles and the principles and values of this organization. Depending on your newly employed position, your training might last for a few weeks or, in some cases, several weeks, but you will be adequately trained.

Salaries Earned by Employees at American Airlines

Employees at American Airlines earn an average salary of about $72,599 annually. On an average level, the salary ranges from $45,907 to $126,769 every year, with employees with the job title Airline Captain earning a whopping sum of $224,878 and employees with the job title Cashier earning the least with about $19,000. Salaries at American Airlines are so attractive, so you’ll want to click here to find out all information regarding salaries and the salary you’ll earn based on your job position while working here at American Airlines.

Job Descriptions and Duties of Employees at American Airlines

Since I’ll love to tell you all your job descriptions, duties and the requirements you must fulfill, I’m afraid that’s not going to possible so we’ll discuss the most important personnel and everything about their jobs.

• Aerospace Engineer: The aerospace engineer manufactures and designs aircraft and aeronautical products, documents and tests the competence of these manufactured products, assesses the financial costs of these products, and ensures that they meet all safety rules and regulations. As an aerospace engineer, you must have studied and graduated with a degree in aeronautical engineering. 
  
  
• Pilot: The pilot operates and flys an aircraft, conducts pre-flight checks, informs passengers of their destinations, transports passengers and cargo from place to place, communicates effectively with air traffic control, assesses and updates flight routes, and ensures the safety of everyone, including all crew members on board and passengers in the aircraft.
  
  
• Flight Attendant: The flight attendant is primarily responsible for the safety of all passengers. As a flight attendant, you should conduct all pre-flight checks of the food supply, emergency, and medical equipment, instruct passengers on safety procedures, ensure that all baggage is adequately stocked in the overhead cabins, greet and show passengers to their seats, serve food onboard the aircraft and during emergencies, you are to serve as ‘manager’ of the aircraft by providing emergency safety instructions to passengers and reassuring them that everything’s going to be okay.
  
  
• Airframe and Power Plant Mechanic: The airframe and powerplant mechanic conducts routine and emergency maintenance on the body of the aircraft, troubleshoots the aircraft’s engines and systems, repairs and replaces damaged parts of the aircraft, services and carries out inspections from time to time to ensure the smooth and full functioning of the aircraft.
  
  
• Air Traffic Control Specialists: The air traffic control specialist gives instructions and directs the smooth flow of air traffic, instructs the pilot when to taxi and take off, provides separation between arriving and departing aircraft, monitors the location of aircraft, and frequently communicates with the pilot during the flight, guides the pilot to the nearest airport or airfield in the event of an emergency and ensures that all flights depart and arrive safely at their designated destinations.
  
  
• Ground Service Equipment Mechanic: The ground service equipment mechanic ensures that ground service equipment like the portable staircase, food trucks, fuel trucks, water trucks, towing tractors, man lifts, buses, and other automobiles are properly functioning and, where needed, repaired.
  
  
• Cabin Service Person: The cabin service employee is responsible for interior cabin cleaning, cabin supply set-up, and effective functioning of the lavatory. The employee collects trash from passengers and crew members, empties the trash, and maintains the serenity of the aircraft’s interior. At the airline offices, the cabin service employee ensures that the environment is properly sanitized and free from dirt, trash, or garbage.
  
  
• Sales Representative: The sales representative is primarily responsible for the selling of flight tickets. A sales representative must answer customers’ questions, provide outstanding customer service, maintain contact with travel agencies, and explain to customers the benefits of traveling with American Airlines.
  
  
• Reservation Sales Representative: This is similar to the sales representative only that the reservation sales representative makes reservations for air travel tours, car rentals, hotel bookings, theatre tickets, and other related reservations. The reservation sales representative also assists passengers with flight information, materials needed for traveling and answers queries relating to fares, schedules, and special needs.

Working as a Flight Attendant at American Airlines

I’m devoting this special section to those who love working as flight attendants at American Airlines. Working as a flight attendant at American Airlines is much more than a job. As a flight attendant at American Airlines, you are presented with the unique opportunity to fly to various countries of the world free of charge, you stand the chance of working with a diverse group of people from all walks of life learning their cultures, language, religion, and so much more. Working as a flight attendant at American Airlines is a job you cannot afford to miss. Let’s find out more.

Requirements to Work as a Flight Attendant at American Airlines

1. You must be a legal citizen of the U.S or possess a valid U.S visa.
2. You must have the right to work in the United States.
3. You must possess a High School Certificate or GED equivalent.
4. You must have the right to travel unrestricted to and from countries where American Airlines operates.
5. You must possess a college degree plus at least two years of customer service experience.
6. You must be at least 5 feet 2 inches to 6 feet 0 inches tall.
7. You must be healthy, well-trimmed and physically fit.
8. Your vision should be correctable to 20/30 with the use of contact lenses or prescribed glasses.
9. Male attendants must always be clean-shaven and have their hair cut above the collar.
10. Female attendants must always have their hair pulled off their faces.
11. You must not possess any visible tattoos or strange piercings.
12. You must pass the background check and drug screening.
13. You must possess excellent communication skills, with preference given to fluency in foreign languages.
14. You must possess valid licensing documents all through your time as a flight attendant.
15. You must be mature, confident, and emotionally stable with abilities to withstand a nervous breakdown.

The Hiring Process as a Flight Attendant at American Airlines

1. Apply for the job position and complete the online behavioral assessment. 
2. After successfully passing the online behavioral assessment, you will be sent a link for an interview. This interview, though a video interview, is regarded as a formal interview. You are to dress formally and tell the interviewer your customer service experience.
3. After your success at the video interview, you are to appear for an in-person interview. Once again, dress well and prepare to answer very tactical questions. Here, your charisma, ability to solve problems, and your personality will also be evaluated. Remember to be specific, concise, and precise.
4. If you succeed at the in-person interview, you’ll be offered conditional employment to work as a flight attendant at the company.
5. After your conditional employment, you must proceed with six weeks of unpaid training. You’ll learn how best to take care of customers, keep everyone, including fellow crew members and passengers, safe, and learn how to work as an effective team member. 
6. During your training, you’ll be required to relocate to the airline’s facility at Dallas-Fort Worth. You’ll be provided accommodation, three square meals a day, and the organization will cover your transportation.
7. After completing your training, you are now an official employee of American Airlines. Congratulations

Benefits of Working as an Employee at American Airlines

1. Insurance
   • Dental Insurance
   • Health Insurance
   • Vision Insurance
   • Life Insurance
2. Leave
   • Paid time off
3. Flexibility at Work
   • Work remotely from home
   • Flexible working schedule
4. Financial Perks
   1. Bonus pay up to $8000 annually
   2. Flexible spending account
   3. Health savings account
   4. Employee discounts
   5. Stock options
5. Reimbursements
6. 401k Retirement plan
7. Legal aid
8. Discounted flight fees for friends and family.

Flight Attendant Benefits at American Airlines

1. Since you have been listed to serve as an attendant on that flight, free flight to various destinations.
2. Discounted flight fees on a non-official flight.
3. Access to credit unions
4. Profit-sharing plans
5. Performance incentives

Conclusion

Working at American Airlines is definitely a life-changing opportunity one cannot miss. Working here exposes you to amazing opportunities to get promoted, meet new people every day from various parts of the world, not to mention the salaries, bonuses, and ability to trade hours. But bear in mind that it could also be stressful, keep your head straight, and you are sure to enjoy your stay and lastly for my flight attendants.

Also read Alaska Airlines Careers: Guide to Join Alaska Airline Workforce