United Airlines Business Analyst interviews typically run 2 to 5 rounds over roughly 2 to 4 weeks, mixing behavioral questions about teamwork and conflict with SQL exercises like finding the Nth-highest value in a group, plus casual discussion of aviation industry fit.
$99K
Avg. Base Comp
$135K
Avg. Total Comp
2-5 rounds
Typical Rounds
2-4 weeks
Process Length
United Airlines' Business Analyst process leans heavily on conversational behavioral rounds, but a SQL check shows up often enough to prepare for it. One candidate described three behavioral rounds that reused the same second interviewer in the final meeting alongside a senior analyst, with questions as simple as naming a strength and tying it to the role. Another went through a more technical second round where an analytics team member asked for the second-highest salary in each department using SQL, a classic ranking-style problem. A separate report described 4 to 5 rounds spanning an early screening, an in-person round in Texas, and basic SQL and Python checks (list versus tuple) layered on top of scenario questions about handling a difficult coworker and juggling competing priorities.
Tone varies by interviewer. One candidate found the conversation genuinely casual, with the hiring manager and a director spending real time discussing the airline industry and travel in a Chicago office. Another said communication broke down after the technical round, and the role was eventually put on hold mid-process. Several candidates describe questions about prior project experience and how their strengths or background fit analyst work, and conflict or disagreement stories came up more than once. A few concrete stories from real projects will serve you better than a polished pitch. Brushing up on basic SQL, including ranking-style queries, is worthwhile since SQL came up in more than one report, even though the overall bar still reads as more conversational than code-heavy. These specifics come from a handful of candidates, so treat details like the Texas trip as one possible path rather than the only one.
Synthesized from 9 candidate reports by our editorial team.
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Featured question at United Airlines
Describing a data project and its challenges
| Question | |
|---|---|
| Boarding Times Bias | |
| Top 3 Users | |
| Employee Salaries | |
| Third Purchase | |
| Button AB Test | |
| User Experience Percentage | |
| Distance Traveled | |
| Size of Joins | |
| Manager Team Sizes | |
| WAU vs Open Rates | |
| Download Facts | |
| Experiment Validity | |
| Assumptions of Linear Regression | |
| Revenue Retention | |
| Google Maps Improvement | |
| Demand Metrics | |
| P-value to a Layman | |
| Merchant Acquisition | |
| Pre-Launching Shows | |
| Groups of Anagrams | |
| Uber Eats Success | |
| Sort Strings | |
| Dasher Payment Structure | |
| Network Experiment Design | |
| Incentive Scheme | |
| Type I and II Errors | |
| Christmas Dinner Ingredient Optimization | |
| Multicollinearity in Regression | |
| Testing Price Increase |
Synthesized from candidate reports. Individual experiences may vary.
Most candidates report starting with a phone or HR screening that covers background, prior work experience, and basic fit for the analyst role. Candidates describe this stage as conversational and low-pressure, touching on typical situational questions rather than technical depth. It typically serves to confirm interest and qualifications before scheduling further rounds.
Behavioral questions are the most consistent fixture across reports. They cover your greatest strengths, how your experience applies to analyst deliverables, and stories about handling a difficult coworker or a disagreement. One candidate went through three distinct behavioral rounds, including a repeat interviewer paired with a senior analyst in the final session. Concrete examples from real projects tend to land better than generic answers.
A SQL exercise shows up in more than one report, ranging from basic foundational questions to a live question asking for the second-highest salary in each department. One candidate also faced basic Python questions, such as the difference between a list and a tuple. The bar reads as foundational rather than advanced, so reviewing core SQL and ranking-style queries is a sensible baseline.
Candidates who advance furthest may face an in-person or multi-interviewer final round. One candidate traveled to Texas for this stage. Another met the hiring manager and a director together in a Chicago office for a casual, fit-focused conversation that included discussion of the airline industry and travel. This round often blends remaining behavioral questions with genuine interest in your background.
Reported timelines vary. One candidate heard back within a couple of weeks, while another described a process of about a month, with HR actively managing scheduling and feedback. Another candidate reported communication stopping after the later round, with the role eventually put on hold. Following up proactively after each stage may help you get a clearer status update.
