What actually happens at this stage
An open day is your first in-person impression, and airlines start assessing you from the moment you walk through the door — not when the formal session begins. Registration, the briefing, and even how you sit while waiting are all part of the read, even though most of it isn't scored on a form.
Unlike the CV screen, this stage is decided by a human in the room, in real time, with 50–200 other candidates present. There's no second take. A shaky first impression here can quietly close doors before the reach test or group exercise even starts, because assessors form fast, hard-to-reverse judgements.
Real reasons people get rejected here
1. Grooming and dress code below the standard Not "smart casual" — the exact professional standard the airline expects on the job. Wrinkled clothing, visible piercings/jewellery beyond what's allowed, undone hair, or scuffed shoes all read as "not ready for the role," regardless of how the rest of the day goes.
2. Arriving late or visibly unprepared Open days routinely run over capacity. Arriving after the advertised start, without your documents in order, or without knowing basic facts about the airline sends an immediate signal of low seriousness — even before you're formally assessed.
3. Poor energy or flatness in the waiting room Assessors and other staff observe candidates informally while they wait. Looking bored, on your phone the entire time, or visibly nervous in a way that reads as disengaged rather than focused counts against you, even though it's never written down anywhere.
4. Failing the reach test through poor technique, not genuine ineligibility A borderline reach measured badly — slouching, not fully extending, testing in the wrong footwear — can end your day at a stage that's purely technical, not a real reflection of your eligibility.
5. A weak or generic answer in the brief screening chat Some open days include a short 1:1 or informal conversation before the group exercise. "I love to travel and meet people" as your only reason for wanting the job is the single most common answer recruiters hear, and it does you no favours.
How to fix it before your next open day
Treat the open day as if you're already on the job the moment you leave your house — grooming, posture, and energy all count from arrival, not just during the formal exercises. Arrive 30–45 minutes early, bring every document requested, and have one specific, genuine reason ready for why you want that airline rather than a generic love of travel.
If the reach test is what stopped you and your numbers are genuinely close to the minimum, practise the exact measured technique beforehand — standing fully tall, dominant arm extended, shoulder engaged — since positioning alone can shift the reading by a couple of centimetres. If you're consistently below the threshold, target airlines with a lower published reach standard instead of repeatedly retrying the same one.
Frequently asked questions
Is the open day itself the same as the interview? No. It's the first in-person filter — usually a reach test, group exercise, and a short screening conversation. Candidates who pass are invited to a formal assessment day or final interview separately.
Can grooming really cost me a place before I've even spoken? Yes, realistically. Assessors are trained to look for uniform-readiness from the first moment, and a scruffy or inconsistent appearance is one of the fastest, most subjective ways to be marked down before the exercises even start.
If I fail the reach test, is that the end of my application to that airline? For that open day, yes — you won't proceed further that day. You can typically reapply after the airline's standard waiting period, and it's worth practising the measurement technique if you believe your true reach is close to the line.
How soon can I attend another open day if I don't pass? Most airlines set a minimum gap before reapplying, commonly 3–6 months. Use that time to specifically address whichever part of the day felt weakest — grooming, energy, or the reach test.