So you are looking for your first cabin crew job,
applied for a few airlines and waiting to hear about your next or last
assessment day. Or you may already have received the call and are
waiting to start your training course.
Do you know what to expect? Probably not! There are so many
misconceptions about the job itself and the process leading up to it, I
thought we’d explore those a little here!But it’s just like applying for a normal job right?
So, that’s it right – you got the job? Now it is time for background/reference checks and police checks as well as the extensive medical. If all this goes well, the next thing to pass is your training course. I wish it was so simple! Firstly, you have to apply online and see if you meet the requirements. Sometimes you will be asked to attend an open day or for a video interview (depending on the airline). Then, you will be invited to an assessment day, where you will do a series of tests and tasks to see if you show the right kind of skills and qualities the airline is looking for (not all airlines are the same!) If this part of the day goes well for you, you will have a final interview with the recruiters. Then, you start the waiting game…which seems to last a lifetime before you receive the call (success!) or email (try again later..)
Training will be just learning to serve passengers…
If you believe this, you have not done your research! Cabin Crew are responsible for the safety and welfare of the passengers and safety, above everything is paramount. During the average 5-7 week training course, 4 weeks of that will be studying safety and emergency procedures and practicing drills so that you know what to do in event of fire on board, decompression, landing on water or land, or dealing with any emergency situation. You will also spend a week learning about aviation medicine, CPR and advanced first aid. Only 1 or 2 weeks are dedicated to service training, where you will learn the basics of working in the galley and cabin, teamwork onboard and improving communication skills. You will be regularly tested and have to make the grade (85% to 98% depending on the airline). Do not risk being late or not conforming to uniform standards either as this could also cost you your job – airlines are very strict!
Anything else?
After training, you will usually perform 2 ‘supernumerary’ flights before going ‘online’ as cabin crew – these are flights where you are monitored by senior crew. After this you are on probation for 6 months and if you do not meet the standards required by the airline, or are late for work, off sick too much or do not comply with uniform standards – again you risk losing your job. To most airlines these are all unacceptable and good reasons to ask you to leave.
Being Cabin Crew is a very glamorous job…
The uniform may look the part but it is not reality. Be prepared for long hours and working at all times of day or night and you always have to look immaculate. You are on your feet for sometimes up to 13 or 14 hours and the job does affect your sleep and eating habits – you do have to be physically fit and healthy to keep up. When you are trying to clean up left over curry from your shoes at 4am, after a tray fell out of the meal cart, you will remember this!
But you get paid well!
Wages vary each month depending on how many flights we do, how much commission we make, where/if we night stop. Certainly in the USA, Europe and the Middle East it is a very average wage and often seen as quite low in comparison and not much different to working in retail or catering for example. You certainly don’t become Cabin Crew for money – it’s for the experience and the love of the job!
I want to see the world!
If you get to work for a large scheduled airline this may be the case – although mostly you only get 12-20 hours down route and you have to sleep during that too. You may get to see some of the world, but don’t expect it to be one long holiday, it isn’t! If you work for a low cost airline or charter, you may not get to night stop at all – so not all cabin crew get to see the world, just the airport.
I only want to work for Emirates!
Apply for Emirates, but understand that you may not get in first time and it may take months or years to get your dream job. Most candidates give up after that first try. You may not meet the airlines particular requirements even if you are perfect for the job, so you have to keep applying to find the right airline for you – if you limit yourself to just one airline, you are limiting your chances of finding your dream job as Cabin Crew!
Although you have to jump through many hoops to become Cabin Crew and it can be a long journey – the rewards and experience are well worth it. Some crew leave after 6 months as they find it is not the job they thought it was, or not right for them. Many crew work for a year or so and leave for more job security or for personal reasons. Once the jet fuel gets into your blood and flying becomes an addiction (usually after a year!), it is hard to leave or even imagine doing anything else! I hope from reading this, you understand more about what it takes to become cabin crew and if you meet the challenges, you can have a wonderful flying career ahead of you.