Being a flight attendant is a pretty awesome job, don’t believe me, read HERE. Tons of people want jobs as flight attendants, but there usually are only a few open slots. Literally, it’s been said that it is easier to get into Harvard than it is to land a job as a flight attendant (NY Post).
I got my airline job after applying a second time, but I just recently helped my brother get offers from two different airlines the first time he applied to each. Keep reading to find out the secrets of landing one of these coveted jobs..
- Apply often
- I didn’t get hired my first time, but I did my second. Keep applying over and over again. The commitment can help you out in the interview process.
- Lots of times applications are only open for a few hours, so keep checking back or set alerts so you automatically get emailed when a new airline is hiring.
- Apply to all airlines
- Even if the airline hiring isn’t your airline of choice, it is a million times easier to get a job with your dream airline if you are coming from another.
- Don’t forget about international airlines as well. Even if you aren’t willing to temporarily live in Dubai, know that a number of international airlines have US based crews. I use Indeed or Glassdoor to find job openings.
- I have a friend that even started as a flight attendant on a corporate jet before transferring to an airline. The experience made all the difference.
- Research the interview process
- By doing a thorough Google search you can literally find most airlines’ entire interview process. My brother found the entire interview process including the exact questions he would be asked before his interview. Evidently he looked like a total rock star with his answers. He knew when they would be in group interviews, and that he was doing well by making it to a one on one interview.
- Research the airline
- Each airline has a slightly different business model and slightly different culture. Figure out what the airline is looking for and adapt your answers to it. Hiring managers have tons of qualified applicants to choose from, so it often comes down to who they think is going to be a good fit.
- Call in any connections
- Have a friend who works for an airline? Have a friend who has an aunt that works for an airline? Call her and ask her to put in a good word. Though it could do nothing, any little thing to get you put to the top of the list help.
- Look the part
- Unfortunately airlines have a reputation for hiring the same cookie cutter skinny girls. It isn’t always like this (obviously with me being a dude), but know that that ideal image is still sought for. Dress well, but conservatively; hide tattoos and piercing, and know that the days of flight attendants wearing hot pants are over.
- Smiles and safety
- This may sound trite, but with customer service and passenger security being the top two priorities of a flight attendant, it is extremely important that you mention these in your interviews. Anything you can do to show you can help meet each of these goals will help you out a ton!
Good luck, and let me know how it goes!
