Summary
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has a unique way of choosing new employees. He uses a "vibe test" to see if a candidate is a good fit for the company culture. Kirby asks current pilots to interview potential hires and decide if they would want to spend a long work trip with them. If the pilots say no, the candidate does not get the job, even if they have great skills. This method helps the airline find people who are kind, helpful, and easy to work with during stressful times.
Main Impact
This hiring strategy shows that personality is becoming just as important as technical skills in major companies. For a business like United Airlines, teamwork is essential. Pilots and flight crews spend many hours together in small spaces. By giving current workers the power to "veto" a hire, the company ensures that the workplace remains friendly and professional. This approach filters out people who might be smart or talented but are difficult to get along with in a team setting.
Key Details
What Happened
Scott Kirby explained his hiring process during a recent interview. He asked the head of flight operations to pick 12 pilots who are very well-liked by their coworkers. These pilots are given a special role in the interview process. Their main job is to judge the personality of the person applying for the job. They ask themselves one simple question: "Is this someone I would like to take a four-day trip with?" If the pilot feels the candidate would be unpleasant to travel with, that candidate is immediately removed from the list.
Important Numbers and Facts
Getting a job at United Airlines is very difficult because so many people apply. When the company looks for 3,000 new flight attendants, they often receive 75,000 applications in just a few hours. This means only about 4% of people who apply actually get hired. These jobs are highly valued because they pay well. Many roles at the airline, such as tech operations or ramp agents, can pay over $100,000 a year. Interestingly, many of these high-paying positions do not require a college degree, making them very popular for many workers.
Background and Context
In the airline industry, safety and service are the top priorities. While the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) sets strict rules for technical skills, the airline itself decides who fits their brand. Kirby believes that while you can train someone to do a job, you cannot easily change their personality. He wants to find people who naturally care about others and have a positive attitude toward customer service. This is why the "four-day trip" test is so useful. It mimics the real-life conditions of the job, where employees must rely on each other for days at a time.
Public or Industry Reaction
Other top leaders also use creative tests to find the best workers. For example, the CEO of Duolingo, Luis von Ahn, watches how candidates treat their taxi drivers. He believes that if someone is mean to a driver, they will likely be mean to their coworkers later. He has even turned down highly qualified candidates because they were rude during their ride to the office. Similarly, the CEO of Twilio, Khozema Shipchandler, looks for curiosity. He takes candidates to dinner and waits to see if they ask him any questions. If they have no questions, he sees it as a sign that they are not truly interested in the company.
Another example comes from the former CEO of Indeed, Chris Hyams. He asks every candidate if they use an iPhone or an Android phone. He does not care which one they pick, but he wants to hear the reason why. This helps him understand how the person makes decisions and what they value in a product. All of these leaders agree that a resume only tells part of the story. The way a person acts in small, everyday moments tells the rest.
What This Means Going Forward
For job seekers, these stories show that being "nice" is a professional skill. In the future, more companies may use these types of social tests to find the right people. It is no longer enough to just have the right degree or experience. Candidates need to show that they are good listeners, respectful to everyone, and curious about the world. For companies, these tests help build a stronger culture where employees enjoy working together. This can lead to less stress and better service for customers.
Final Take
The "four-day trip" test is a reminder that work is about more than just tasks; it is about people. If a person is someone others want to spend time with, they are more likely to succeed in a team. Technical skills are the starting point, but a good personality is what often wins the job. In a world where many people have the same qualifications, being a kind and helpful person can be a major advantage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the "four-day trip" test?
It is a hiring method used by United Airlines where current pilots decide if a candidate is someone they would enjoy working with for several days. If the pilot says no, the candidate is not hired.
Do you need a college degree to work at United Airlines?
Many high-paying roles at United, such as flight attendants and tech operations, do not require a college degree. These jobs can pay six-figure salaries based on experience and performance.
Why do CEOs use these unusual interview tests?
Leaders use these tests to see a candidate's true personality. They want to know how a person treats others and how they make decisions when they are not in a formal interview setting.
