It's a people person kind of job. Flight attendants must interact with strangers and remain calm at all times under duress. Anybody who is thinking about applying for a flight attendant position will have to have a high school diploma in addition to two or more years of college with some related work experience.
Disciplines such as psychology or nursing would be especially helpful, since these are always involved when working with the general public. The airlines will look at candidates with higher educations more favourably.
Competition is stiff because there are more applicants than available positions. This is because flight attendants can travel for less money and will pay nothing for accommodation or meals when spending time in foreign countries. Here is more information about how to get a job in this industry.
Entrance Requirements and Experience/Training
Candidates must be between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one. Height and weight requirements will vary, but most airlines will prefer applicants to be somewhere between five and six feet tall. The overall physical condition of somebody who is applying for a flight attendant position must be excellent. Airlines will ask new employees to undergo physical exams to make sure the requirements are met.
Airlines often judge the employability of candidates on their speech and whether or not they are bilingual. A clear voice and good vocabulary are essential, since talking to people is an important part of the job.
Applicants who want to fly internationally must demonstrate the ability to speak a foreign language fluently. Sometimes the candidate would have to speak more than one. These include but are not limited to Chinese, (Cantonese or Mandarin) German, French, Spanish, Arabic and Japanese.
A thorough background check, which can go back for ten years, will be conducted. Everything is investigated including the date and place of birth, past employment and criminal convictions. If any red flags show up, even so much as significant gaps in employment, the airline will find out and an applicant will be dismissed.
Attendants must complete a mandatory training program lasting from three to eight weeks. Emergency procedures are taught as well as what to do when there's a hijacking or other terrorist situation.
What are the Working Conditions of Flight Attendants?
For those who don't work as flight attendants the demands of this job can be hard to imagine. Onboard service means the attendant will have to stand, walk, kneel, stoop, bend, reach, lift heavy objects from the floor to above shoulder levels, and push/pull equipment.
They must deal pleasantly with everyone on the plane, even the rude and disruptive passengers. Flight attendants will have to learn to be assertive or else be subject to all kinds of intimidation.
Airlines operate twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week all year round. Newly hired attendants will be put on reserve status for up to a year, but it could be longer. They will be called to replace other attendants who are sick, on vacation, or the ones who have been rerouted. Assignments are based on seniority and only the most experienced attendants can choose where they want to fly.
What are Flight Attendants Paid?
New flight attendants working in the United States will receive between $12,000 and $18,000 per year. Some of the fringe benefits of this job can include medical and life insurance, paid vacations, sick leave, 401k or other retirement benefits and free or deeply discounted fares on flights. The most senior attendants can earn up to $40,000 per year or more.
Older and more experienced attendants can move on to other positions, such as flight attendant supervisor or in-flight services manager. Most flight attendants are part of a union – the Association of Flight Attendants. Another organization that represents flight attendants is the Transport Workers Union of America.
This can be a difficult job to get. A good education is more important than ever and competition will likely increase in the future. It's a demanding career but there are many rewards that go along with it. Attractive benefits, meeting lots of people, travelling to many places and having a wide choice of related jobs after an attendant stops flying are the biggest advantages this type of position offers.
Sources:
The U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics
The California Employment Development Department
