Start A Career As A Flight Attendant

So, you have decided that you want to start a career as a Flight Attendant, but you just don’t know how to go about it.

First and foremost, you need a clear picture of what you are getting into.

Being a Flight Attendant goes way beyond wearing a beautiful uniform or looking pretty. Whilst that does come with the job, being a Flight Attendant means you are responsible for people’s lives. Not one person, not two, but up to hundreds depending on the airline. As a Flight Attendant, you are the face of the airline. It is YOU who determines the ease and comfort of passengers on every trip.

The role of a Flight Attendant is a challenging one as it requires spending long hours on your feet while delivering friendly, attentive and quality service as well as ensuring the safety of everyone on board.

Still Interested?

Read below and we’ll take you through each step to launching your Flight Attendant Career.

Right Attitude

Attitude will take you, where your C.V will not.

Airlines deal with people going through all sorts of drama, delays and chaos day in and day out. Resultantly airlines have a tendency to hire crew who portray positivity in their countenance and character. People with positive attitudes make great Flight Attendants because they are easier to work with, easier to correct, they handle passengers with the utmost care and they respond more efficiently to emergencies and incidents.

Educational Requirements

The basic educational requirement for most airlines is your High School certificate. However, many airlines require you to have completed at least two or three years of college or university prior to applying for the flight attendant position.

Work Experience

The airline industry is a customer service oriented one, and therefore, airlines are quite keen on your prior experience in customer service. It is advantageous if you have previously worked in a hotel, restaurant, cruise ship or as airport ground staff as this shows that you have hands-on experience in the customer service industry. Nonetheless, having a prior experience in any other field where you had to display teamwork, confidence and people management skills is equally beneficial.

Age Requirements

You must be over 18 for an airline to accept your application. Nevertheless, for many international airlines, their minimum age is 21.

Physical & Medical Requirements

Height requirements usually differ depending on the airline, but generally, you should be able to reach the top baggage compartments easily and fit easily in the cabin. Your weight should allow you to move comfortably within the aisle, and you should be able to fit into the jump seat with no problems.

You should have 50/50 vision (with or without glasses, depending) and pass a medical physical/dexterity test. There can be a background check and drug screening also depending on the airline’s criteria.

Curriculum Vitae

Your C.V plays a great part in getting you that Flight Attendant job or getting you an interview at least. How qualified you are for the Flight Attendant position, will need to be proven in writing and so, your CV should be drafted with as much care and attention to detail as possible. It should be clearly presented and highlight all of the pertinent information that the airline might want to see. Your C.V must be brief and yet attention-grabbing so as to stand out from the thousands of CVs the airline will receive.

Application

Most airlines’ Flight Attendant applications are done online. Visit www.yadley.com/jobs to see if there are airlines hiring at the moment or having open days, walk in interviews etc. Remember you should have a passport and if you don’t, work on getting one today. Also, you will need to have an email address that is in your name, open a free email account if you don’t already have one.

P.S When opening an email address, try to be formal. If your name is Betty Jones then use [email protected] or [email protected] and not [email protected] or [email protected]. The last two examples are a no, no. Your email address is your signature, make sure your signature is not stupid.

If you hear of an Open Day, Walk in Interview, or CV Drop, you can skip the online application and submit your CV personally.

Interview Process

In the event that you make it and are called for an interview, congratulations. You have one foot in the door, now the rest is up to you. Prepare yourself for the interview by familiarising yourself with every piece of information available about the airline.  Don’t leave it up to the last minute. Practice answering interview questions in the mirror, it helps you relax and improves your confidence.

On the day of the interview, be sure to arrive well before the interview is to start, be dressed formally in dark colours and minimal accessories. Have a copy of your C.V, full-length photo (in formal clothes), a passport sized photo and any other supporting documents that may help you in the interview.

Answer all the questions briefly and truthfully. Look the interviewer in the eyes and smile as much as you can.  And don’t forget to be yourself, interviewers can tell when you are being fake.

Happy Ever After…

After successfully going through the application and interview process you will be invited to attend an assessment day to evaluate your suitability for the role of Flight Attendant in areas of customer service, teamwork, adaptability and safety.

And finally, after days and days of evaluations and waiting for the final verdict, you’ll be booked in to go through the airline’s in-house training which you will need to pass.

The in-house training takes around 5 – 6 demanding weeks of study and drills! And all things being equal, all is well that ends well, you will at the end of the 6 weeks become a Flight Attendant…

And so, let’s have it. Do you think being a Flight Attendant is a worthwhile profession as compared to being a teacher or doctor? We would love to hear from you so don’t be shy to leave your comment below.

And of course, if you want to be a Flight Attendant we are here for you. Send us an email at [email protected] and we will point you in the right direction.

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