Southwest Airlines Assessment Tests, Hiring Process & Interviews Online Preparation – 2024

What Is Southwest Airlines?

This Dallas-based airline is known for its budget flights. It has flights to 111 destinations in the US and 10 other countries.  Even though it got its start in the southwest, that is not its only destination. It has operations in Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago-Midway, Dallas-Love, Denver, Houston-Hobby, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Oakland, and Orlando. Southwest has over 60,000 employees helping to keep its 4,000 flights a day running smoothly.

Southwest Airlines’ careers fall into the categories of operations, corporate, technology, and flight operations (pilots, and flight attendants.) New graduates can apply for internship opportunities. Southwest interns are eligible for free domestic travel, and internships with Southwestern are paid. Their employees are eligible for a number of competitive benefits. These include:

• Health, dental, and vision coverage
• Profit-sharing
• Retirement savings
• Stock options
• Employee assistance
• Travel privileges

What Is Southwest Airlines’ Recruitment Process?

Start the hiring journey with Southwest using their online job portal. Search for a job that suits your qualifications and either save it for later or submit your application. Cover letters are not required, and it is only necessary to submit your resume. If there are no jobs in your field, or you are waiting for a particular position, sign up to receive alerts so you do not miss out on an opportunity.

If your application seems promising you will be called for a phone screening. The phone screening will cover basic information about the position, and you will be able to ask any questions you have about the job as well.

If your phone screening seems promising you will be called for an in-person interview. The face-to-face interview will focus on your work style and personality. You may be asked to attend an assessment center with other job-seekers. This will be an all-day event with interviews, group exercises, and possibly some physical assessment tests.

At some point in the hiring process, you may be asked to take assessment tests. This may be after you submit your application, after the phone screening, or even during an assessment center. If you are sent a link to the tests after sending in your application, you will have to have them completed within a certain span of time. Make sure you are aware of due dates and time limits. The tests you are given will vary by position, but the majority of applicants can expect to take a personality test.

Southwest Airlines’ Psychometric Tests

Personality Assessment

Personality is an important part of the Southwest Airlines hiring process. This is why they use personality tests like the Meyers Briggs assessment. Personality is a major predictor of success in your career.  This test helps determine how you make decisions, your personality type, how you use information if you make decisions based on logic or feelings. It helps determine if you will fit in well with your potential team. This test is multiple choice, and you will need to pick the answer that most closely describes you.

Situational Judgment Test (SJT)

SJT help show employers how well you problem solve and make decisions. The test is made up of various scenarios that typically occur on the job. You will have several actions to choose from and you will need to pick the one that is closest to how you feel you would act.

Cognitive Ability Tests

Your cognitive abilities will be tested possibly by one test or divided into several. This may depend on the position you applied for. Cognitive abilities fall into the categories of

• Verbal Reasoning – The ability to communicate well and interpret written information. Test questions in this can include reading short passages and answering questions that require logic, comparing metaphors, and knowing word meanings.
• Numerical Reasoning – This is a skill with numbers. Test questions can include word problems, basic math problems, or using information from charts and graphs.
• Logical Reasoning – This is an ability to problem-solve without words or numbers and work with patterns. Test questions in this category all focus on identifying a pattern in shapes to find the missing piece.

Whether these tests are given individually, or all in one like the Wonderlic or CCAT, the cognitive abilities tests will be timed. You will have about a minute to answer each question, and the test will automatically stop when you have run out of time.

• Mechanical Aptitude Test – This assessment is reserved for those who are in engineering, aircraft repair, or an adjacent field. You will be questioned on simple machinery, mechanical principles, and some physics. There are several versions of this test, and the difficulty will depend on the level of the job you are testing for. All versions are multiple-choice, and this test may be timed.

How to Prepare for Southwest Airlines’ Assessments?

If you want to successfully navigate the hiring process, do not be dismissive of the online assessments. These tests are as important to getting the job as the interview. Practice your cognitive skills using flashcards, practice problems, or even apps designed to help train your brain. As you practice, time yourself so you are used to working under a time constraint. When you sit for the actual test, remember that you will not be penalized for wrong answers, so if you are stuck on a question, guess, and move on.

Since the Southwest Airlines assessments focus strongly on personality, to prepare for the personality and SJT tests you should learn about Southwest Airlines, their values, and their expectations of their employees. This will help you understand the way things operate and the way the company likes to see issues resolved. Let your real personality stand out when taking the tests. Be sure to consider your responses from a professional standpoint. Most people have a work personality that differs from how they would behave in their off time.  You want the team you are working with to know that you really will be a good fit, and you do not want to be picked for a team that is not really a good fit for you.