How to Apply to United Airlines Holdings

Key Takeaways

Build your Phenom candidate profile at careers.united.com immediately — set up job alerts for your target categories so you can apply within the first 48 hours of a posting going live, as United's operational roles often fill quickly
Rewrite your resume to lead with safety, regulatory compliance, and operational metrics relevant to aviation before each application — Phenom's AI and United's recruiters both prioritize these signals
Prepare at least five STAR-format stories covering safety decisions, irregular operations handling, cross-functional leadership, data-driven improvements, and conflict resolution with frontline teams
Research United's 'United Next' fleet and route strategy, sustainability commitments, and recent earnings calls — interviewers at United expect candidates to demonstrate genuine knowledge of where the airline is headed
Verify your parsed resume in Phenom after submitting by logging back into your profile — correct any errors in how your experience, dates, or certifications were extracted to ensure recruiter visibility
Be prepared for a thorough background check process that may take several weeks — have your 10-year employment history with accurate dates, addresses, and supervisor information ready in advance

About United Airlines Holdings

United Airlines Holdings, Inc. is one of the world's largest airline companies, operating a vast global network from its major hubs at Chicago O'Hare, Denver, Houston Intercontinental, Los Angeles, Newark Liberty, San Francisco, and Washington Dulles. As the parent company of United Airlines and United Express, the carrier serves hundreds of domestic and international destinations across six continents, placing it among the top three U.S. airlines by revenue and fleet size. United's culture is anchored by its core values of safety, caring, dependability, and efficiency — and safety is not just a talking point. It is treated as a non-negotiable foundation in every role, from the cockpit to the corporate office. Under CEO Scott Kirby's leadership, United has pursued an aggressive fleet modernization strategy, ordering hundreds of new narrowbody and widebody aircraft, while simultaneously investing in sustainability initiatives including sustainable aviation fuel and carbon capture technology. The company's "Good Leads The Way" ethos permeates its employer brand, signaling a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion that goes beyond rhetoric — United launched its own flight academy (United Aviate) partly to diversify the pilot pipeline. With approximately 109,700 employees, United offers career paths spanning airport operations, engineering and maintenance, inflight services, corporate strategy, IT, finance, legal, and more. Employees frequently cite flight benefits (including travel privileges for family members), competitive total compensation, and the scale of impact — moving millions of people around the world — as top reasons for choosing and staying at United. For professionals who thrive in fast-paced, operationally complex environments, United represents one of the most dynamic employers in the airline industry.

Application Process

1
Explore Openings on United's Phenom-Powered Careers Portal
Visit careers.united.com and use the search filters to narrow roles by category (e.g., Airport Operations, Engineering, Inflight, Corporate), location (hub city or remote/hybrid), and job type. United currently lists approximately 8+ open positions, and new openings can appear and close quickly — especially operational and seasonal roles. Create a candidate profile in their Phenom platform early so you can set up job alerts and apply quickly when a matching role posts.
2
Create Your Phenom Candidate Profile and Upload Your Resume
Phenom's intelligent talent experience platform will prompt you to build a candidate profile, upload your resume, and may offer AI-driven job recommendations based on your skills and experience. Take the time to complete every section of your profile thoroughly — Phenom uses this data to match candidates to roles and surface your application to recruiters. Ensure your contact information, work history, and education are accurate and consistent with your resume.
3
Tailor Your Application to the Specific Role
United's roles span an enormous range, from Senior Engineer–Shop Engineering positions requiring FAA regulatory knowledge to Manager–Station Operations Control roles demanding real-time decision-making under pressure. Customize your resume and any supplemental responses to mirror the exact language in the job posting — Phenom's matching algorithms and United's recruiting team both look for alignment between your stated experience and the role's requirements. If the posting mentions specific certifications (A&P license, PMP, Six Sigma), make sure those appear prominently.
4
Complete Any Screening Assessments or Questionnaires
Depending on the role, United may include knockout questions or skills assessments as part of the initial application. Operations and supervisory roles commonly include situational judgment questions related to safety protocols, irregular operations (IROPS) handling, or team leadership scenarios. Answer these carefully — they are often used as initial screening criteria before a human reviewer sees your application.
5
Phone or Video Screen with a United Recruiter
Candidates who pass initial screening typically receive a call or video interview with a United talent acquisition specialist. Expect questions about your motivation for joining United specifically, your understanding of the airline industry, and a high-level walk-through of your relevant experience. This is also where United assesses baseline culture fit — demonstrating awareness of their safety-first culture and operational complexity will set you apart from candidates giving generic answers.
6
Hiring Manager and Panel Interviews
Advancing candidates are typically invited to one or more interviews with the hiring manager and potentially a cross-functional panel. For corporate and engineering roles, these commonly include behavioral questions using the STAR format as well as technical deep-dives. Operations and inflight supervisory roles may include scenario-based exercises simulating irregular operations, crew scheduling conflicts, or safety incident responses. Many of these interviews now take place via video, though some senior or hub-based roles may require an in-person visit to United's Chicago headquarters or a hub location.
7
Background Check, Drug Screening, and Offer
As a federally regulated airline, United conducts thorough background checks that commonly include a 10-year employment history verification, criminal background check, credit check for certain roles, and FAA-mandated drug screening. This process can take several weeks, so be prepared with accurate records of your employment history, including exact dates and addresses. Once cleared, you'll receive a formal offer through United's HR system with details on compensation, benefits, and your start date.

Resume Tips for United Airlines Holdings

critical

Lead with Safety, Compliance, and Regulatory Experience

United Airlines operates in one of the most heavily regulated industries in the world. If you have experience with FAA regulations, DOT compliance, TSA security protocols, OSHA standards, or any aviation-specific regulatory frameworks, place these prominently in your resume summary and relevant experience sections. Even for corporate roles, demonstrating an understanding of how regulatory requirements shape airline operations signals that you grasp the environment you'd be working in. Use specific examples: 'Ensured station compliance with 14 CFR Part 139 airport certification requirements' is far more powerful than 'managed regulatory compliance.'

critical

Mirror United's Job Posting Language for Phenom Keyword Matching

Phenom's ATS uses AI-powered matching to score candidate profiles against job descriptions. Study the exact terminology in United's postings — if they say 'irregular operations' rather than 'disruption management,' or 'station operations' rather than 'airport management,' use their terms. Pay special attention to required and preferred qualifications sections, and weave those specific phrases naturally into your experience bullets. This is not about keyword stuffing — it's about speaking United's operational language fluently.

critical

Quantify Operational Impact with Airline-Relevant Metrics

Airlines live and die by metrics: on-time performance (D:0, A:14), completion factor, customer satisfaction (NPS), baggage handling rates, maintenance turnaround times, and cost per available seat mile (CASM). Wherever possible, frame your achievements in terms of measurable operational impact. For example, 'Improved gate turnaround time by 12%, contributing to a 3-point increase in D:0 departure performance' immediately communicates value in language United's hiring managers understand. Even in non-operations roles, quantify your results — project delivery timelines, budget management, system uptime percentages.

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Highlight Cross-Functional Collaboration and Matrixed Environments

Running an airline requires extraordinary coordination across dozens of departments — flight operations, maintenance, ground operations, catering, crew scheduling, dispatch, and customer service must all work in concert. United values candidates who have demonstrated success in matrixed, cross-functional environments. Include examples showing how you've coordinated across departments, managed competing stakeholder priorities, or driven alignment in complex organizational structures. Titles like 'Manager - Station Operations Control' explicitly require this skill.

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Use a Clean, Single-Column Resume Format

Phenom's parsing engine handles standard resume formats well, but multi-column layouts, text boxes, headers/footers with critical information, and heavy graphics can cause parsing errors that strip out or misplace your content. Use a clean, single-column format with standard section headings (Professional Experience, Education, Certifications, Skills). Save as a .docx or .pdf — but test by previewing your parsed profile after submission to ensure nothing was lost. Your name and contact information should be in the main body of the document, not in a header.

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Showcase Certifications and Technical Credentials Prominently

Many United roles require or prefer specific certifications: A&P (Airframe and Powerplant) for maintenance and engineering, PMP for project management roles, Six Sigma or Lean for process improvement positions, ITIL for IT roles, and various FAA certificates for flight operations. Create a dedicated 'Certifications & Licenses' section near the top of your resume, listing the credential name, issuing body, and current status. For roles like 'Engineer – Component Reliability,' demonstrating technical certifications alongside hands-on experience with reliability-centered maintenance (RCM) methodologies is essential.

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Include Experience Managing Unionized Workforces (If Applicable)

A significant portion of United's workforce is represented by unions including ALPA, AFA, IAM, and IBT. If you're applying for any supervisory or management role in operations, maintenance, or inflight services, highlight experience working within collective bargaining agreements, managing union grievance processes, or collaborating with labor representatives. Even mentioning familiarity with labor relations in an airline or transportation context demonstrates readiness for the unique dynamics of managing at United.

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Demonstrate Your Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

United has made public, high-profile commitments to DEI — from the United Aviate Academy's diversity goals to the Senior Investigator role for Harassment and Discrimination listed among current openings. If you have experience leading or participating in DEI initiatives, employee resource groups, inclusive hiring programs, or bias training, include it. This is particularly relevant for HR, people leadership, and senior management roles, but United values this across the organization. Be specific: name programs, outcomes, and scope.

ATS System: Phenom

Phenom is an AI-powered Talent Experience Management platform that United Airlines uses to manage its entire candidate journey — from initial job discovery through application, screening, and hiring. Unlike older ATS platforms, Phenom actively uses machine learning to match candidate profiles against open requisitions, recommend jobs to candidates, and surface top-matched applicants to recruiters. This means your profile completeness and keyword alignment directly influence how visible your application is to United's recruiting team.

Complete 100% of your Phenom candidate profile — the AI matching engine weighs profile completeness when recommending candidates to recruiters
Use a .docx or standard .pdf format; avoid graphics-heavy resumes, tables, or multi-column layouts that can confuse Phenom's parser
Mirror exact phrases from United's job descriptions in your resume — Phenom's matching algorithm scores keyword and skill alignment between your profile and the requisition
Keep critical information (name, email, phone) in the main document body, not in headers or footers, which Phenom may not parse correctly
Set up job alerts through your Phenom profile — United's operational roles can open and close within days, and early applicants are often reviewed first
After submitting, log back into your profile to verify that your resume was parsed correctly — fix any fields where experience, dates, or skills were misread
List technical skills and certifications as discrete, clearly labeled items rather than burying them in paragraph-form descriptions, so Phenom can extract and index them

Complete Phenom Resume Guide →

Interview Culture

United Airlines' interview process reflects the operational rigor and safety-conscious culture of a major global airline.

For most professional and managerial roles, expect a multi-round process that typically spans two to four weeks, though timelines can extend for senior positions or roles requiring security clearances. The process commonly begins with a recruiter phone screen lasting 20-30 minutes, focused on your background, interest in United specifically, and salary expectations. Recruiters are often evaluating whether you understand the pace and complexity of airline operations — even for corporate roles, demonstrating awareness that the business runs 24/7/365 and that decisions have real-time safety implications will distinguish you. Subsequent rounds typically involve the hiring manager and often a panel of two to four interviewers from adjacent teams. United heavily favors behavioral interviewing, frequently using STAR-format questions to probe how you've handled past situations involving safety decisions, operational pressure, team conflict, and customer impact. For operations roles like Supervisor - Airport Operations or Manager - Station Operations Control, expect scenario-based questions: 'A severe weather event has caused 40 cancellations at your hub. Walk us through your first 60 minutes.' Technical roles in engineering and maintenance will include deep-dives into your hands-on experience with specific aircraft systems, reliability methodologies, or tooling processes. Culture fit is assessed throughout, but not in a superficial way. Interviewers are looking for genuine alignment with United's core four values: safety, caring, dependability, and efficiency — in that order. Candidates who demonstrate they would never compromise safety for on-time performance, who show empathy for both customers and frontline employees, and who bring a bias toward action in ambiguous situations tend to resonate strongly. For senior and hybrid roles, you may also meet with a director or VP in a final conversation that is as much about your strategic vision and leadership philosophy as your technical qualifications. Come prepared with thoughtful questions about United's fleet strategy, route network evolution, or technology investments — interviewers notice when candidates have done their homework on the 'United Next' growth plan and broader competitive landscape.

What United Airlines Holdings Looks For

Safety-first mindset — candidates who instinctively prioritize safety over schedule, cost, or convenience in every decision they describe
Operational resilience — proven ability to perform under pressure, make sound decisions during disruptions, and maintain composure in high-stakes, time-critical environments
Cross-functional collaboration skills — experience working across departments in complex, matrixed organizations where no single team controls the outcome
Aviation industry knowledge — familiarity with FAA regulations, airline operations terminology (IROPS, MEL, D:0), and the competitive dynamics of the U.S. airline industry
Data-driven decision making — comfort with operational metrics and the ability to translate performance data into actionable improvement plans
Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion — genuine engagement with DEI principles, not just awareness, consistent with United's public commitments and programs like Aviate Academy
Leadership of frontline and union-represented workforces — for supervisory and management roles, demonstrated skill in motivating, coaching, and managing performance within structured labor agreements
Customer-centric problem solving — ability to balance operational efficiency with empathy for the passenger experience, especially during irregular operations

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the United Airlines hiring process typically take from application to offer?

Based on widely reported candidate experiences, the United Airlines hiring process typically takes three to six weeks from initial application to offer, though this varies significantly by role type and level. Operational and frontline supervisory roles may move faster (two to four weeks), while senior corporate positions, engineering roles, or positions requiring security clearances can take six to ten weeks. The background check and drug screening phase alone commonly takes one to three weeks for airline positions due to the FAA's stringent requirements. Stay responsive to recruiter outreach — delays are often caused by candidate availability for interviews rather than United's process.

Do I need airline industry experience to get hired at United?

Not for every role, but airline-specific experience is a significant advantage for operations, maintenance, and engineering positions. Corporate roles in IT, finance, HR, legal, and marketing are often filled by professionals from other industries who bring transferable skills. However, even for these roles, demonstrating an understanding of the airline industry's unique characteristics — 24/7 operations, regulatory complexity, thin margins, weather dependency, and labor dynamics — will differentiate your candidacy. If you lack direct airline experience, draw parallels from similarly complex industries like logistics, healthcare, military, or hospitality, and show you've researched United's specific operational model.

Should I submit a cover letter when applying to United Airlines?

United's Phenom application portal doesn't always require a cover letter, but uploading one when the option is available can strengthen your candidacy — particularly for senior, hybrid, or specialized roles like Senior Investigator or Senior Manager positions. Use the cover letter to explain your specific interest in United (not just 'I love to travel'), connect your experience to their stated values and strategic priorities, and address any potential concerns like industry transitions or employment gaps. Keep it to one page, and reference specific elements of the job posting to show genuine engagement with the role.

What benefits do United Airlines employees receive?

United Airlines offers a comprehensive benefits package that is frequently cited by employees as one of the top reasons to join and stay. The most celebrated benefit is flight privileges — eligible employees and their enrolled family members and friends can fly standby on United and Star Alliance partner airlines, often at significantly reduced cost or free. Beyond travel perks, United provides competitive health insurance (medical, dental, vision), 401(k) with company match, profit-sharing programs, tuition assistance, employee assistance programs, and various wellness initiatives. Specific benefits vary by employee group, location, and whether the role is union-represented or management.

How does United Airlines' Phenom ATS handle my resume, and how can I optimize for it?

Phenom uses AI to parse your uploaded resume, extracting your skills, experience, job titles, education, and certifications into a structured candidate profile. This parsed data is then matched against open requisitions using algorithms that score keyword alignment, skill relevance, and experience level. To optimize, use a clean single-column format without tables or graphics, include keywords from the job description naturally in your experience bullets, and list certifications as clearly labeled individual items. After submitting, log back into your Phenom profile to verify everything was parsed correctly — you can manually edit fields where the AI misread your information, which directly improves your match score.

Does United Airlines offer remote or hybrid work arrangements?

Yes, United Airlines offers hybrid work arrangements for many corporate and professional roles, as indicated by the '(Hybrid)' designation on several current job postings. Hybrid roles at United typically involve a combination of in-office days at their Chicago Willis Tower headquarters or other hub locations and remote work days. However, the nature of airline operations means that many roles — particularly in airport operations, maintenance, engineering, and inflight services — require on-site presence. Each job posting specifies the work arrangement, so review this carefully before applying. Fully remote roles exist but are less common and tend to be in technology, data, or specialized corporate functions.

What should I expect in a United Airlines behavioral interview?

United's behavioral interviews are rigorous and structured, commonly using the STAR format (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to evaluate how you've handled real-world challenges. Expect questions probing five key areas: safety-critical decision making ('Tell me about a time you identified and escalated a safety concern'), operational problem solving under pressure, cross-functional leadership, conflict resolution with team members or stakeholders, and customer impact decisions. For operations and supervisory roles, you'll likely face scenario-based questions simulating irregular operations like weather disruptions or mechanical delays. Prepare concrete examples with quantifiable results, and always tie your answers back to outcomes — especially outcomes that prioritized safety and team welfare.

Can I apply to multiple positions at United Airlines at the same time?

Yes, you can apply to multiple open positions at United Airlines through your Phenom candidate profile. However, a more strategic approach is recommended over blanket applications. Focus on roles where your experience genuinely aligns with the requirements, and tailor your resume for each submission. United's recruiters can see all the positions you've applied to, and applying to a large number of unrelated roles (e.g., both a Senior Engineer and a Supervisor of Inflight Services) can signal a lack of focus rather than enthusiasm. Applying to two or three closely related roles within the same functional area is generally well-received.

How important is it to research United Airlines' strategy before interviewing?

Extremely important. United's interviewers consistently expect candidates to demonstrate knowledge of the company beyond surface-level familiarity. Research the 'United Next' growth plan, which includes the largest aircraft order in the airline's history, significant investment in premium seating and customer experience, and aggressive sustainability targets. Review recent earnings calls or investor presentations available on ir.united.com for insight into current priorities. Understand United's hub-and-spoke network strategy and how it competes with Delta, American, and low-cost carriers. Candidates who can ask informed questions about fleet strategy, route expansion, or technology investments — and connect their own experience to these initiatives — make a significantly stronger impression than those who simply express a desire to work for an airline.

Sample Open Positions

Check Your Resume Before Applying → View 8 open positions at United Airlines Holdings

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Sources

United Airlines Careers Portal — United Airlines Holdings, Inc.
United Airlines Holdings Company Profile and Reviews — Glassdoor
United Airlines Holdings Investor Relations — United Airlines Holdings, Inc.
United Airlines - About United — United Airlines Holdings, Inc.
Phenom Intelligent Talent Experience Platform — Phenom People