Another experience from a recent successful cabin crew wannabe.....
Hey Readers,
Am a loyal fan of Fly Gosh and a flight attendant with a full service airline. I've been flying for less than a month. I'm delighted to share some of my experience from where I started off my career.
Not so long ago, I was similar to most readers of Fly Gosh, we're called cc wannabes or flight attendant hopefuls. The starting pace, scrolling through the net hunting for walk-in interviews open day. But have you ever wonder what are some of the difficulties phases during trainings and what will life be when you commence flying?
As for myself, I started off with a not so huge interest of being a flight attendant as many claims it is just a "high-class" waitress job. Somehow after couple of months working, I realised that I wanted a more adventurous job, rather than engaging in the usual 9-5 routine. So I decided to pursue to become a cabin crew, as the job itself sounds quite interesting. I stumbled upon Fly Gosh and opt to go for one of the walk-in interview.
Naively, I went for my first interview without any preparation, thinking that I can get through it easily. The first thing that intimidate me was the crowd at the interview itself, never thought that cabin crew job is so popular among this era. I would say that the whole atmosphere at the interview is so fiery, because everybody attempts to "kill" each other just for the sake of the job.
Interviews for cabin crew are not the same as always. The way they conduct every batch of interview may be similar, but the questions asked and the way the interviewer judge will be different from time to time. I would say, its all depends on your personality and a little bit of luck on your side. Of course, image is important for any company, so well-groomed is also one of the top criteria they're looking for.
No company would want to hire someone sloppy or unpleasant. First impression always last. Infact, you don't have to be good looking to be a cabin crew, but you MUST be humble enough to be one. On the other hand, homework preparation is very important. Do acknowledge the company that you intend to join and get ready to answer all the questions. Act and answer confidently, it'll definitely score you an extra point instead of apologizing and saying "errr.. I don't know, I'm not sure..".
As lucky as I want to be, I'm not those that got through the first time of interview. Frankly speaking, I even thought of giving up as I felt so lousy & embarrassed when I failed during the interview. However, the positive thinking keeps me going. By not giving up and improving the mistakes that I did on my last interview. Finally, I got chosen from the walk-in interview of the second airline I went. Fleetingly happy, I decided to sign on the dotted line of the contract and started off my days of training with the company. The company that I joined is not my country base, so I had to leave my loved ones to a further distance.
As a crew, you must be mentally and physically ready to be based overseas. Some crew experienced major miss home situation, and decided to give up half way by paying the bond. Nothing comes easy, the first few months are the toughest time of all, but once you get comfortable and used to the country that you're living in, then it ease.
Hey Readers,
Am a loyal fan of Fly Gosh and a flight attendant with a full service airline. I've been flying for less than a month. I'm delighted to share some of my experience from where I started off my career.
Not so long ago, I was similar to most readers of Fly Gosh, we're called cc wannabes or flight attendant hopefuls. The starting pace, scrolling through the net hunting for walk-in interviews open day. But have you ever wonder what are some of the difficulties phases during trainings and what will life be when you commence flying?
As for myself, I started off with a not so huge interest of being a flight attendant as many claims it is just a "high-class" waitress job. Somehow after couple of months working, I realised that I wanted a more adventurous job, rather than engaging in the usual 9-5 routine. So I decided to pursue to become a cabin crew, as the job itself sounds quite interesting. I stumbled upon Fly Gosh and opt to go for one of the walk-in interview.
Naively, I went for my first interview without any preparation, thinking that I can get through it easily. The first thing that intimidate me was the crowd at the interview itself, never thought that cabin crew job is so popular among this era. I would say that the whole atmosphere at the interview is so fiery, because everybody attempts to "kill" each other just for the sake of the job.
Interviews for cabin crew are not the same as always. The way they conduct every batch of interview may be similar, but the questions asked and the way the interviewer judge will be different from time to time. I would say, its all depends on your personality and a little bit of luck on your side. Of course, image is important for any company, so well-groomed is also one of the top criteria they're looking for.
No company would want to hire someone sloppy or unpleasant. First impression always last. Infact, you don't have to be good looking to be a cabin crew, but you MUST be humble enough to be one. On the other hand, homework preparation is very important. Do acknowledge the company that you intend to join and get ready to answer all the questions. Act and answer confidently, it'll definitely score you an extra point instead of apologizing and saying "errr.. I don't know, I'm not sure..".
As lucky as I want to be, I'm not those that got through the first time of interview. Frankly speaking, I even thought of giving up as I felt so lousy & embarrassed when I failed during the interview. However, the positive thinking keeps me going. By not giving up and improving the mistakes that I did on my last interview. Finally, I got chosen from the walk-in interview of the second airline I went. Fleetingly happy, I decided to sign on the dotted line of the contract and started off my days of training with the company. The company that I joined is not my country base, so I had to leave my loved ones to a further distance.
As a crew, you must be mentally and physically ready to be based overseas. Some crew experienced major miss home situation, and decided to give up half way by paying the bond. Nothing comes easy, the first few months are the toughest time of all, but once you get comfortable and used to the country that you're living in, then it ease.
During training, we need to fulfill all the standard of the test for practical and theory, including grooming, safety, first aid, service and also etiquette. Failing of which, the company will take termination action. Training schedules are very packed thus there is no time to fool around. Punctuation and attendance are very important and plays an important role.
Life when you start flying isn't that "GLAMOUROUS". Yes, you get to travel around, meeting different people, and the money's pretty good. As crew, you'll faced alot of fussy passengers that demands hell out of you, unruly (touchy/ violent) passengers and even passengers that just want to let it all out, hence they scream and shout at us eventhough its not our fault.
As a crew, you got to be prepared to be patient and smile throughout the flight, comply with passenger's needs because they are the ones that pays our salary, not the company.
What motivates me to work everyday is.. "if there is no passenger, then the company has no business, so I'll get no salary??" This way, I don't drag myself to work and look forward for the next upcoming flight.
Nevertheless, working with other crew is another issue that we must deal with. Not everyone work the same way, thus sometime personality clashes. Some crew can be really bitchy, nasty and difficult to work with, yet so long you're a junior crew you got to eat alot of humble pie and learn to apologize and say please and thank you, ALWAYS.
On contrary, when you're a senior crew do walk down the memory lane and think about it, because everyone starts the same, no one is born to be a cabin crew. Nonetheless, most of the company had implement rules against zapping so I guess zapping don't really exist in the crew industry unless you make room for that to happen. To play on the safe side, always be well-prepared for a flight, know your duties and always be humble, consequently no one can pick on you anymore.
I don't agree on people accusing of crew sleeping around with pilots, passengers for the sake of $$, promotion etc. Certainly there will be alot of "offers", but the choice is yours. If you're strong on your stand by declining, no one would force you to do it! Many mentioned that cabin crew is a "high-class waitress" job, but many doesn't know what is our capability in our job scoop. We're trained not to only serve food, but to know how to man our doors in the event of emergency, how to evacuate passengers to a safe place and how to operates all kinds of emergency situation needs. Likewise, as a cabin crew, you've got to adapt with impromptu sleeping hours and waking up time.
Situation like working through the night for long hours and enduring with no resting inbetween on occasion. Additionally, there is no "public holiday" for a cabin crew. Even so, during public holiday we got to work more as it is the peak session. The schedule life of a flight attendant is not so fancy as we wish. At normal basis, our schedule coresponding to 2 working days, then 1 day off, follow by 1 day of standby.
Well so much said, make your decision of pursuing your dream to become a cabin crew if you're really keen for it. There is also alot of useful elements and experience when you're a cabin crew, you learnt good etiquettes, juggle time management properly, be independent and mature, as well as understand different cultures better. Sooner, all the good elements will be inculcate in your life.
No matter how bad a flight can be, let it passed and moved on from it. I hope my experience sharing will be useful and all the best to those opting for the approaching interviews. Be yourself and remember to speak confidently yet down to earth.
Click here to go to Cabin Crew experience Part 1
As you may already be aware that I have max out my facebook 5000 friends limit therefore to continue to get updates on latest news and jobs opportunity for both pilots and cabin crew, you can LIKE the Fly Gosh Fan Page by clicking HERE
