About Republic Airways's Hiring Philosophy

Republic Airways is a large regional carrier operating flights on behalf of American, Delta, and United under their Eagle, Connection, and Express brands out of hubs and crew bases in cities like Indianapolis, Newark, Philadelphia, and Columbus. Because Republic feeds three major airlines, its Flight Attendants are the front-line brand ambassadors for whichever partner is on the tail that day, so the hiring team screens heavily for warmth, composure, and dependable customer service over aviation experience. Most candidates apply online (93% of reported interviews), and the process is known for being fast and friendly, with many people receiving a conditional job offer within days to a few weeks.

The interview flow is intentionally lightweight: a short online assessment, a one-way recorded video interview, and a live phone conversation with a recruiter or talent acquisition team member. Candidates repeatedly describe it as "simple, quick, and to the point" and "conversational," but the reports also show where people fall short, namely failing to connect answers directly back to Republic and its values. The average difficulty is a modest 2.36 out of 5, and 82% of candidates report a positive experience.

Quick Stats

* Typical process: 3 to 4 stages (online assessment, one-way video, phone interview, sometimes a face-to-face or open-house event), often wrapped up in a few days to about 3 weeks

* Format: Online assessment, recorded one-way video interview, live phone screen, occasional in-person or small-group round

* Core focus: Customer service, teamwork, handling change and on-call lifestyle, in-flight scenarios, why Republic, relocation and tattoo policy

* Difficulty: Easy to moderate, mostly because the questions are standard, but candidates get tripped up talking to a camera with no retakes and by not tying answers to Republic

What Republic Airways Looks For

* Genuine, calm customer service instincts and a service-first attitude

* Teamwork and the ability to handle disagreement with coworkers professionally

* Flexibility for an on-call schedule, relocation to a crew base, and the demanding lifestyle

* Clear motivation for choosing Republic specifically, not just any airline

"The whole interview was very conversational and there weren't really any trick questions. Most questions were 'tell me about yourself' or 'tell me about your work history'." (Flight Attendant candidate, accepted offer)

Round 1: Online Application and Assessment (~20 to 40 min)

What to Expect

Nearly everyone starts by applying online and completing a short aptitude or online task. Several candidates describe submitting the application "the day applications opened" and then completing an assessment before being invited to the video stage. This step is largely a filter, so treat it as a chance to confirm your availability, willingness to relocate, and basic eligibility. Move quickly once applications open, since Republic hires in cohorts tied to specific training class dates.

Example or Reported Questions

* "Are you willing to relocate?"

* "Do you have any visible tattoos?"

* "Do you have customer service experience?"

* "How would you prepare to work an on-call schedule?"

Tips

* Apply as soon as postings open and respond to any assessment invite before the deadline, since the process moves fast

* Be honest and clear about relocation and tattoo policy up front; one candidate was hired then let go once a coverable arm tattoo was seen, so clarify anything visible early

* Have your work history and customer service examples organized before you start, so the later rounds feel effortless

Round 2: One-Way Video Interview (~20 to 30 min)

What to Expect

This is the recorded HireVue-style screen and the round candidates talk about most. You watch an intro video (around 11 minutes) covering Republic's background, mission, culture, scheduling, and pay, then a short tutorial and a practice recording. After that you answer roughly 6 to 10 questions: each question appears on screen with a countdown, you get about 1 to 2 minutes to prep, and then you record your answer in 1 to 2 minutes. Most questions allow only one take, though some candidates reported getting two takes per video. Expect a mix of "tell me about yourself," values questions, and in-flight service scenarios.

Example or Reported Questions

* "Tell us about yourself and why you want to be a flight attendant with Republic Airways."

* "A passenger tells you mid-flight that they are anxious. How would you handle this situation?"

* "Two passengers are arguing and being disruptive to other passengers. How would you handle this situation?"

* "Name a time you were let down by a coworker."

Tips

* Look directly into the camera lens, not at your own image on screen, and remember it is normal to feel awkward talking to no one

* Use your prep time to sketch a quick STAR outline, then keep answers tight since you usually get only one take

* Practice recording yourself on camera beforehand; Nora's HireVue Interview mode simulates the timed, no-follow-up, record-to-camera format so the real thing feels familiar

Round 3: Phone Interview with Recruiter or Talent Acquisition (~15 min)

What to Expect

If your video passes, a recruiter (candidates named Kimberly Barras as being especially warm and informative) calls you for a live conversation. Reports describe it as conversational and about 15 minutes, covering customer service skills, your intent to relocate, and how you would manage the flight attendant lifestyle. This is often where the conditional job offer (CJO) is made right on the call, followed by choosing a training date. The most common reason people stall here is not being able to connect their answers back to Republic specifically.

Example or Reported Questions

* "Why do you want to work for Republic?"

* "What three personal strengths will make you the best flight attendant at Republic?"

* "How are you going to handle the difficult lifestyle of a flight attendant?"

* "How do you adjust to changes you have no control over?"

Tips

* Research Republic's partners (American, Delta, United), crew bases, and recent company news so you can tie answers directly to the airline; this is exactly where one candidate said they lost their chance

* Prepare 2 to 3 crisp customer service STAR stories and a clear, sincere "why Republic" that goes beyond "I want to fly"

* Rehearse this as a live back-and-forth using Nora's Live Virtual Interview mode to practice values-fit and service scenarios out loud before the call

Round 4: Optional Face-to-Face or Open-House Round (~1 to 2 hrs)

What to Expect

Not everyone gets this stage, since many candidates receive a CJO right after the phone screen. When it happens, it can be an in-person interview or an open-house event with a presentation about the role followed by small-group interviews. In the group format, candidates are given in-flight scenarios and asked how they would handle them, along with a practical exercise like delivering an announcement. Treat this as a chance to show your presence, poise, and teamwork in a room with other people.

Example or Reported Questions

* "What would you do if a co-worker was violating policy?"

* "What is the primary role of the flight attendant?"

* "What do you think is the most important thing a Flight Attendant needs to know?"

* "Pretending to do a landing announcement."

Tips

* Speak clearly and project warmth; practice a short cabin announcement out loud so a mock landing announcement does not catch you off guard

* In group scenarios, prioritize passenger safety first, then service and de-escalation, and show you can work with a crew

* Use Nora's Standard Interview mode to drill the mix of behavioral and role-knowledge questions so you can switch between STAR stories and "what is the FA's job" answers smoothly

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1) How many rounds are there?

Most candidates go through 3 to 4 stages: an online application and assessment, a one-way recorded video interview, and a live phone interview, with a smaller number invited to a face-to-face or open-house round. Many people report receiving a conditional job offer right after the phone screen, so the fourth round is not guaranteed.

2) What topics are most common?

* Customer service experience and what excellent service looks like

* Why Republic specifically, teamwork, handling coworker conflict, adapting to change, and the on-call lifestyle plus relocation

3) How long does the process take?

It is fast for the aviation industry. Some candidates finished in a matter of days, while others took around 3 weeks from application to training date. The one-way video stage sometimes has the longest wait before you hear back.

4) How should I prepare?

* Watch the intro video carefully and take note of Republic's mission, values, partners, and scheduling so you can reference them

* Prepare STAR stories for customer service, teamwork, coworker conflict, and adapting to change, plus a sincere "why Republic"

* Get comfortable on camera and practice a short cabin or landing announcement out loud

* Rehearse with Nora: use HireVue Interview mode for the timed recorded round, Live Virtual Interview mode for the recruiter phone conversation and service scenarios, and Standard Interview mode for the mixed behavioral and role-knowledge questions in any face-to-face round