First, they’ll usually check your physical abilities, such as height, visible tattoos (airline-dependent), and accessibility skills. On my airline, you must be able to reach 6.5 feet (tippy-toes allowed), which is the standard height for reaching emergency equipment. However, some regional airlines have less strict altitude limits.
A successful pass at this stage brings you to the group exercise round – a challenging stage where recruiters look for your teamwork skills. When I participated, the practice group scenario involved a plane that had landed Abu Dhabi on the way mascot But due to sand storms there was a lot of delay. With a very limited supply of food on board, the challenge was to determine how to distribute the remaining food so that everyone, including the crew, would have something to eat. At this point, you are not expected to know the airline’s specific policy. Your role is to find an amicable solution – don’t try to be the shining star or be too reserved – the most important thing is to demonstrate that you are a team player.
Interview
If you made it to the interview, congratulations. Regardless of the outcome, you did incredibly well. During the interview, you will be questioned about relevant experience and most importantly, real-life scenarios. My top tip is to write down examples of times when you were presented with a problem and found a solution, as many questions revolve around this formula. You may also encounter a difficult question: “Can you tell me about a time you broke the rules?” This is not the moment to reveal your deepest secrets. Instead, think of an instance where you bent policy in a way that resulted in a positive outcome for both the company and the customer.
Training
Welcome to boot camp. To officially become a flight attendant you must complete and pass a training course overseen by the aviation regulatory body of your country of residence. It can last from three to eight weeks; Most major airlines will pay you a basic stipend during training (with the exception of American Airlines), but be sure to save some in the bank to cover incidentals.
The format and length of flight attendant training varies by airline, but you can expect to learn and be thoroughly tested on safety, medical, survival, and customer service skills. The first section is generally devoted to Safety and medical training. Depending on the airline, this is called SEP week (Safety and Emergency Procedures). During this phase of training, you will learn how to evacuate an aircraft in less than 90 seconds and fight fires at 35,000 feet. Many aspiring flight attendants don’t make it past the first week.
Next, you’ll learn where the aircraft-specific manuals and safety equipment are located. Medical training soon follows, where you will be taught how to deliver a baby and cut the umbilical cord. Once you’ve successfully passed the security and medical exams, it’s pretty easy from there. In the industry, we call the service portion of training a “charm farm,” where you are taught to walk and talk. This means learning how to serve and handle different customer service scenarios with elegance and grace. When all is said and done, you’ll graduate training and finally get your wings—after which the sky, truly, is the limit.