Jordan
Toronto, ON
Female, 28
Space Waitress, Trolley Dolly, Stewardess...everyone has their own term for us. We are the baby-sitters, life-savers, servers, cleaners and all-around problem solvers for any and every in-flight issue. Sometimes we get a bad rep for being apathetic and miserable despite having what looks like a glamorous job, so here's a peek into the gritty details beneath the shiny surface to explain why the job - though incredible in lots of ways - is more than just snappy uniforms and matching luggage.
Hotel reservations for crew are under the airline's name, and organized by flight number. Once we check in, we can leave our name at the front desk, just in case someone needs to get a hold of us. Because there is no exchange of payment between the crew member and the hotel, you can't go charging things like extravagant meals and Dom Perignon to your room. Too bad!
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Well, if there was a rule that we all had to have a perfect track record before applying there would certainly be a shortage of flight attendants out there! You will need to submit to a medical before you can proceed to training, at which time you may need to disclose any medication you're taking. As long as you are diligent in taking that medication at the right times and in the right amounts, I don't see why that would prevent you from getting a job as a flight attendant, provided you have the skills they're looking for, like an empathetic demeanour, a flexible outlook, and a good work ethic to name a few.
I work with a number of people who have had to get help for various emotional or mental illnesses, so it's not unheard of. In fact, sometimes companies can be surprisingly accommodating and offer avenues for assistance, whether it means putting employees on modified duties until they feel recovered enough to return to their original work, providing insurance to cover prescriptions, or offering confidential counselling.
I can't give you any guarantees, but if you don't give it a shot you'll never know, right? There are claustrophobic FAs, bi-polar FAs, and those of us (like me) that are petrified of heights, but we find a way to work despite those things. So if it's something you really want to try you just have to go for it!
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After the plane lands and the guests have all gone home we usually clean the plane (but that's not typical for most international airlines), clear customs if we flew outside of Canada - even if we didn't step off the aircraft all day - and then pile into a shuttle waiting to drive us to our hotel for the night. At the airline I work for the layovers are between 10-48 hours in any one place.
It can feel like a mini vacation sometimes because we do have some pretty sweet destinations; Barbados, Hawaii, New York, Cancun... and you learn to cram a lot into just a few hours. If you get along with your crew it can be a blast to all grab dinner and drinks and explore the area. Other times you barely have time to shower and fall into bed before you're back on the plane, and you'll hardly notice which city you're in. For some FAs being on the road and holing up in a hotel with a king sized bed, a flat-screen tv and room service is the best way to take a break from being a mom or dad on their days off! It's one of the coolest things about our job if you ask me... and you did!
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Congratulations on finishing your course!
The airline industry can be highly competitive and hard to crack, so if you're determined to become a flight attendant just keep applying to any airline you can. If you are willing to relocate, it will give you far more opportunities. Don't let being a foreigner stop you from applying - as long as you have a valid passport and no criminal record you are off to a good start! Once you have secured a job you can begin the process of getting a work visa. Some countries may be stricter than others, but I have co-workers who don't have Canadian passports and they still got hired! Visit the websites of any airline that interests you and check out their careers page, or check out http://www.flightattendantcareer.com for worldwide selection.
In the meantime, keep your ears open for job opportunities at the nearest airport. Becoming a customer service agent for an airline will give you an inside scoop about which airlines are hiring for the inflight department, and you'll get some experience in the industry to add to your resume.
I hope you find something!
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Pharmacist
Why is an advanced degree required to dole out pills at a pharmacy?
Casting Director
What do you look for when auditioning candidates for reality TV?
Professor
How do you prevent cheating and plagiarism these days?
Let me tell you, I still get it wrong sometimes. Just last month I was with a crew on what was originally a 2-day pairing, but our crew scheduling department was in a bind and needed a crew to operate down to Barbados and spend 2 days there before working the flight home. Well twist my arm, I guess I'll get paid to go suntan on the beach! Anyway, all of us only had one outfit with us (thankfully I had my bikini, never leave home without it!) and by the end of the four days we were all so sick of looking at each other and our recycled outfits that I still haven't taken that dress out of the closet since I got home.
The point is, you never know where you might end up during a last minute schedule change. In the summer it's not too problematic, a pair of flip flops, some shorts and a T and sunglasses will pretty much be appropriate no matter where you end up. In the winter though, you just learn to pack more or suffer the consequences. I bought a pair of ankle boots that can easily transition from city streets to snowy sidewalks, and I have been known to bring a larger suitcase just so I could have my long, down winter coat with me in New Brunswick (and was the envy of all my shivering crewmates in their work coat)!
Thankfully crew are, for the most part, exempt from the liquids and gels ban that so many governments have adopted so we can freely transport our makeup, and lotions and potions (and booze!) wherever we please. We don't have to check our luggage either, although I have seen crews from other airlines with longer pairings check additional suitcases. FAs at my airline typically bring three bags - a lunch kit (like a mini cooler bag), a suitcase, and a "flight bag", which can carry laptops and our manual.
Here are my neccessities:
swimsuit (such a pain to buy if you forget it and then end up spending the night in Cancun unexpectedly!)
pyjamas (I used to sleep in the buff but how am I gonna feel if the hotel fire alarm goes off in the middle of the night? Huddling in the nude with my co-workers and a hundred other strangers? No thanks.)
make-up (I'm not high-maintenance but c'mon)
phone + charger
at least one comfy change of clothes, ie: yoga pants and a long-sleeved T or jeans and a sweater so that at the very least I can join the crew for dinner in the hotel restaurant
flip flops and, in the summer, a sundress
If you forget some of the essentials you can usually ask the front desk for things like a charger or toothpaste. I've even borrowed clothes from another FA who I had met about 2 hours earlier. It's trial and error, but usually I get it right!
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Congratulations on getting hired!
So many people have jobs on the side in this business it's hard to remember them all. I considered keeping my waitressing job from before I became an FA, but the lure of having extra days off won me over in the end. The key is finding a job that has flexible hours, since you'll be flying during business hours and some weekends.
A lot of cabin crew bartend or wait tables, and catering companies are also handy places to look for serving gigs since they usually don't require a long-term commitment.
I've noticed that many FAs have obtained their real estate licence in their down time, another job that lets you build your own hours.
There are also a lot of small business owners among my co-workers, who are their own boss: wedding planners, personal trainers, actors, musicians, photographers, landlords, dance teachers, people who sell stuff on etsy... there are no boundaries really. That's not to mention all the FAs who are going to school on the side, in case you want to switch careers later in life.
I just would advise against committing to any kind of set-in-stone schedule since it's not always easy to get the days off you need in the airline business, or to trade shifts. Try to find something with variable hours and that you really enjoy!
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Well I was a little late in getting back to you so it could be that you've already had the interview (sorry!) but if not, I can pass along what I was asked during my interview. Apart from the general job-interview questions (Why do you want to work here? What would make you an asset to the company? What are your strengths, and areas that need improvement?), the focus was primarily on my customer service skills. I remember being asked to describe a situation where a customer was unhappy and how I redeemed their experience, and what I like about being in customer service.
My interview stages were a bit different from yours, since I had a group interview with about 30 other hopefuls, and then a one-on-one interview. The only phone interview I had was a language test (which I bombed). During the group interview they observed how we interacted with one another while working together on a simple assignment, (tip: always follow the rules they give you even if they seem pointless!) and then took turns speaking in front of each other (I had 60 seconds to talk about my favourite food. Piece of cake. Or should I say, piece of chocolate! mmm), to see how comfortable we were being in the spotlight.
I think as long as you have some good customer service stories in your back pocket, and showcase how welcoming and confident you are (good attributes for an FA!) you'll knock their socks off. Good luck!
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