In Part One of this guide, we covered exactly how on-demand video interviews (ODVI) work and what is actually being assessed. If you haven’t read it yet, start there, as understanding the mechanics of how your interview is scored will give you genuine insight into how you should prepare.
This article is about execution. How do you walk into an ODVI prepared, composed, and ready to perform at your best?
The strategy comes down to three things: plan, prepare, and rehearse. None of this is complicated, but it does require some effort.
1. Plan — Know What You Are Going to Say
The biggest mistake candidates make in video interviews is treating them like a live interview where you can think on your feet. You cannot. You have approximately 30 seconds to prepare an answer after the question appears on screen. For most people, that is not enough time to construct a strong response from scratch.
The solution is to have your material ready before you open the link.
Prepare for the competencies, not the questions
You cannot know the exact questions in advance, but you can predict the territory. Airlines use video interviews to assess a consistent set of competencies — the same qualities that make a great cabin crew member at any carrier. Prepare strong, specific examples for each of the following:
- Customer service: a time you delivered excellent service or went above and beyond
- Teamwork: a time you worked effectively as part of a team under pressure
- Communication: a time your communication skills made a genuine difference
- Problem-solving: a time you identified a solution in a difficult or unexpected situation
- Resilience: a time you stayed composed when things went wrong
Worth knowing: It’s crucial that you structure your answers using either the SOAR or STAR interview answer framework. These are the frameworks that recruiters want you to use to answer competency-based questions and allow you to structure a concise answer that hits all the metrics that the AI in an ODVI is looking for.
Check out our extensive guide on the SOAR and STAR frameworks.
In addition to these very common competency-based questions, prepare clear, honest answers to the most common opening questions:
- Tell me about yourself
- Why do you want to become cabin crew?
- What do you think the role of cabin crew involves?
Because the AI is analysing the content of your responses using natural language processing, a structured answer that clearly maps to the competency being assessed will perform far stronger than an unstructured answer.
For competency-based questions, the SOAR framework — Situation, Objective, Actions, Result — gives your answer a clear shape that both the AI and the human reviewer can follow. Every sentence should be earning its place, just like bullet points on a page.
Make rough notes, not a script
Write down the key points for each example — the situation, what you did, what the outcome was. Do not write a full script. You do not know exactly how a question will be phrased, and reading from notes sounds exactly like reading from notes. Know your examples well enough that the notes are a prompt, not a crutch.
2. Prepare — Set Yourself Up Properly
One of the genuine advantages of an ODVI is that you control the environment. Use that advantage.
Do not rush
When the invitation email arrives, the temptation is to get it done immediately. Resist this. Some airlines create urgency by noting that the window may close, and although that pressure is real, completing the interview before you are ready is worse than taking a few hours to prepare properly.
Before you start, honestly ask yourself:
- Am I well rested?
- Am I looking and feeling my best?
- Do I have uninterrupted time and space?
- Have I mentally prepared?
- Do I know my examples inside out?
If the answer to any of these is no, give yourself the time you need.
Your location matters more than you think
A recruiter is going to watch your recording. That means they will see your background, your lighting, and hear everything in your environment. This is not a technical formality — it is part of the assessment.
- Choose a plain, neutral background — white or light grey walls work best. Avoid busy backgrounds, visible clutter, or anything distracting behind you
- Lighting should be even and in front of you, not behind — a window behind you will put your face in shadow
- Eliminate background noise completely. Close windows, turn off notifications, make sure no one is going to walk in or knock
- If you are using a laptop, raise it so the camera is at eye level — looking down into a camera placed on a desk is unflattering and unprofessional
Your device
A laptop or desktop with a webcam gives you the most stable, controllable setup. A smartphone or tablet is acceptable but must be propped securely — do not hold it in your hands. Whatever device you use, test the camera and microphone beforehand using the practice question every platform provides.
Your appearance
Dress exactly as you would for a face-to-face interview. The human reviewer who watches your recording will notice if you have not made an effort. The absolute bare minimum should include:
- Business attire,
- Hair worn neatly,
- Makeup applied to interview standard if applicable.
The same grooming and presentation standards that apply at an Open Day apply here.
Worth knowing: Recruiters reviewing your recording will see everything — your clothing, your grooming, your background, and any noise in your environment. While the AI scores the content of what you say, the human reviewer sees the full picture. Prepare for both audiences.
💡 Top Tip: Many airlines require cabin crew to wear a wristwatch at all times. Make sure you are wearing a watch in your interview.
3. Rehearse — Get Comfortable Talking to a Screen
Most people are not natural on camera. Feeling uncomfortable and nervous is absolutely normal, but you have to get over this if you are going to perform your best and stand out from the crowd. The best way to overcome this fear is with practice… Lots of it.
Try it now
Open the video recorder on your phone or laptop and give yourself two minutes to explain to the camera why you want to be cabin crew. Watch it back. How many times did you say “um” or “er”? Were you looking at the camera or at yourself on screen? Were there long pauses? Were you fidgeting? What did your expression say — confident and engaged, or tense and uncertain?
This is not about vanity. It is about knowing what you look like before the real thing, not during it.
Practice questions to use
Give yourself two minutes per question:
- Tell me about yourself and your work experience
- What do you think the role of cabin crew involves?
- Describe a time you delivered excellent customer service
- What does good teamwork look like to you?
- How would your friends and colleagues describe you?
- What do you expect from living and working abroad?
Watch each recording back critically. The things that are hardest to see in yourself — filler words, wandering eye contact, trailing sentences — are exactly what both the AI and the recruiter will notice.
Look at the camera, not at yourself
This is the single most common technical mistake candidates make. Looking at your own image on screen means you are not making eye contact with the viewer. Find where the camera is on your device and look directly into it when you are speaking.
Pace yourself
Two minutes feels long when you are nervous and short when you are unprepared. Practise answering questions within the allotted time so you know what two minutes actually feels like. Aim to finish slightly before the limit rather than being cut off mid-sentence.
Own the spotlight
This is your moment to show who you are. Confidence in a video interview does not mean bravado. It means being comfortable enough with your material that your personality comes through naturally. You do not need to be self-deprecating, and you should not be embarrassed about speaking well of yourself. Know what you bring to the role and say it clearly.
A Note on Re-Recording
Some platforms now allow a limited number of re-takes. If yours does, use them sparingly. A re-take is worth using if something genuinely went wrong, not because you felt slightly nervous. Over-polished re-take answers can read as less authentic than a slightly imperfect first take that felt genuine.
Ready for the Next Stage?
Once you have passed the ODVI, the next step is typically an in-person Assessment Day or a face-to-face interview. The following CCF guides will help you prepare:
