Flight attendants can get a job flying on commercial or business flights. The profession presented involves a range of responsibilities, from taking off the plane to the moment the last passenger steps off the ramp. If you dream of becoming a flight attendant, you should first understand the features of this profession, how to get it and what skills you need to become the best in the field.
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A flight attendant is a person who is responsible for the high safety and maximum comfort of passengers in the cabin. You can get a job on commercial or private planes. Before takeoff, these specialists receive information and weather conditions, how long the flight will take and what passengers need. The flight attendant is the main person on the crew with whom the airline customers are in contact.
This person talks to passengers, serves them and answers questions. The primary duties of the flight attendant include assisting passengers during:
Flight attendants also watch passengers during the flight for suspicious behavior, explain safety rules, help with seat belts, serve drinks and snacks, and calm passengers in turbulence and other emergencies.
You should have the appropriate training to become a professional and in-demand flight attendant. In general, the career path consists of several steps:
A flight attendant is bound to have a high school diploma or GED. It will double the chances of getting a job if a professional has a bachelor’s degree, though it’s not obligatory. Most often, future flight attendants graduate with a bachelor’s degree in tourism, marketing, or other fields.
Flight attendant jobs close quickly, and only the best applicants go to interviews. It’s imperative to have relevant experience to improve your chances. More often than not, airlines require two years of experience in customer service, sales, or hospitality. Specialist experience should indicate that he can spend long hours on his feet, is willing to work irregularly, quickly solves problems, and guarantees a top-notch service.
Your CV should showcase you as a true professional. You should include your professional experience, proving that you can provide quality customer service. Separately, include situations where you have worked overtime and long hours to show your physical resilience. Gigantic airlines review CVs within hours of receiving them. Compose your resume in advance so you can send it out promptly.
A future flight attendant must have an interview with a certain airline before beginning his profile training. In addition, it is mandatory to pass a drug test and pass a physical fitness test. The flight attendant must be tall to put things on the luggage rack. He should also have a well-proportioned folding figure. His eyesight must be sharp, and his health must be excellent.
Most airlines require a video interview to approve a potential employee. Live conferences are not necessary. In any case, assess the background and make sure everything is perfect. There should be no scattered things, extraneous objects, distracting loud noises, or anything else. The camera should be at eye level and stable for the recording to be precise. As for attire, you should wear conservative clothes, as airlines impose a business dress code.
Many companies specify requirements for the appearance of flight attendants: no facial piercings, no brightly colored hair, and no visible tattoos.
Employers provide a training program for employees that lasts three to six weeks. It often involves training for 8 hours daily. The program presented prepares flight attendants to perform professional duties while flying. The course implies 4 test flights under the supervision of a supervisor. To become a flight attendant, you must complete the course. Many airlines require a final grade above 90%.
Upon completion of the training, the employer applies to be certified and to have their level confirmed by the FAA. The flight attendant must have a certificate for each type of aircraft he plans to work on. Also, annual training is required to maintain qualifications.
On average, flight attendants in the United States earn $29,586 per year. Many factors influence the salary: work experience, education, and more.
If you want to become a flight attendant, you need to work on developing skills:
A flight attendant communicates essential information to airline passengers, such as how to act in case of turbulence and how to use life-saving equipment. The flight attendant must use verbal and non-verbal skills.
A flight attendant’s main priority is passenger safety. They must respond effectively and on time to any emergency. Many airlines train employees on how to administer first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. These professionals must know safety rules, check the aircraft, and respond promptly to any problems.
Some passengers may experience quite a bit of anxiety or stress during a flight, so a flight attendant should know how to calm people on the plane. With well-developed interpersonal skills, it will be possible to resolve conflicts in the cabin between passengers, create a comfortable atmosphere, and provide quality service.
In the cabin, the flight attendant has great authority among the passengers. He should be listened to and respected. The employee should make quick decisions and act, even in stressful and tense situations.
Flight attendants have to cope with various situations: uncivilized passengers, a threat of violence, and the need for emergency medical assistance to someone in the cabin. The flight attendant has to make a quick decision alone or with other flight attendants to solve the problem most effectively.
It will take three to six weeks to learn the profession as presented. But for a student to be accepted into an educational program, you should spend several months or even years in preparation. There is quite a lot of competition in this field, so vacancies close quickly.
It is enough to have only a high school diploma to get a job as a flight attendant. Personal qualities are more critical in this profession: politeness, stress resistance, attentiveness, etc.
A flight attendant often has an irregular schedule. In particular, it applies to newbies. A flight attendant’s schedule is called lines. They agree on a new timetable each month. Flights and hours depend on the professionalism of the employee. Newbies often form a reserve, so they are often sent on different flights that require crewing. More often than not, new workers have only a few hours to arrive at the airport and depart for the flight.
As for days off, reserve flight attendants often have ten days off a month. However, if a flight attendant is employed by an airline, he may have 20 days off or more. The length of each flight depends on the distance. Sometimes a flight attendant returns from a flight in 2-3-4 days, but sometimes it can take much longer. Between flights, the wait time is up to 12 hours. The airline provides a crew with a place in a hotel for the waiting time.
Flight attendants are entitled to separate privileges while traveling by airplane. Certain companies offer their personnel free backup flights. It applies not only to the employees themselves but also to their family members. If free tickets are not eligible, employees may have good discounts. Also, the discount system may apply to hotels, car rentals, and more.
