Confessions of a Hostie 3 Read online

  Third time around, and after two further interviews, plus an additional medical, I was lucky. I was accepted.

  The day I was issued my uniform was the proudest of days. I partied long and hard.

  I couldn't wait to start my new career and lifestyle. I hadn't given the training side of things a great deal of consideration; all I could think about was flying around the world and staying in five-star hotels. It took several months to be give a start date, being the commencement of flight attendant training school. When that day came the euphoria of being accepted was quickly replaced with the realities of the training. It was to be a sobering experience.

  Mary Gomez was in my training class. I remember that first day we met. Mary was gorgeous; looking about 16 and acting even younger. Most of the guys in my class were gay, not all, but most. Even the gay guys were knocked over by Mary's beauty. The straight guys couldn't stop staring.

  Mary was there for one reason only: to party. I don't think she had given the whole I want to be an international flight attendant thing a great deal of thought.

  On our first day of training I could tell that Mary was hung-over. She didn't care. She wanted to have a good time. She had no plans, ambitions, or direction. She still doesn't.

  She dodged many bullets during our training. The biggest one was emergency training. I took her under my wing. I can honestly say that if it weren't for me Mary would have had to choose another career path.

  Mary, study, and exams don't go hand-in-hand. She's smart, but not focused. Most probably think flight attendant training would be easy. It's not. It's hard; not the service side of things as almost all of us had some hospitality skills and an idea of what the job might entail, it's the emergency training being the toughie. The safety procedures and terminologies were foreign - and it was all condensed and shoved down our throat at a million miles an hour.

  I had a university background, being accustomed to studying. I had structure; poor Mary had nothing. It was a struggle for her, but somehow she made it through. Not everyone did. Two people in our class who failed, being banished - never to return. I was never going to be one of them. I won't say that I breezed through, but I did put in the required hard work to get myself (and Mary) through the course. I had my eye on the bigger picture.

  Most in my initial training class were more like me than Mary. They were excited by the job, being privileged to have the opportunity to see the world and travel. Mary was the youngest and most carefree. The majority had life skills and some sort of profession prior to becoming a hostie. Some had long-term aspirations, yet some, like Mary, adopted a see how I like it and if I don't I can leave attitude.

  One guy in our class was incredibly smart, witty, and outgoing. From the first day of training he said he would be in the job for two years only. He wanted to be an investment banker, with some training already under his belt. He would travel the world, see as much as he could, and, in his own words: 'Two years down the track, I'm out of here!'

  True to his word, two years later he left.

  I haven't seen him in years, but the last I heard he was a multimillionaire.

  I knew he would be successful; well done.

  Almost half of those in my initial training class are still flying. That's a lot. How many jobs could say that nearly half of a training class would still be in the same job 20 years later?

  Two girls in my class were already married when they joined. One left after four or five years and the other divorced not long after graduating - and she still flies. One of the single girls married a pilot, a captain actually. She left the airline to have a family. The last I heard, the marriage didn't last and she is applying to all airlines in the hope of getting back into industry. I've talked with a number of people who left the job. Most are happy with their decision, yet they admit to missing certain aspects of the lifestyle. I have the distinct impression that several of those former-hosties regretted leaving.

  With such a unique job and lifestyle, leaving can take major adjustments. No one would miss the jetlag, extreme tiredness, and being away from home, however the travel, the hotels, the shopping, the independence, and the great people you work with and meet are key aspects which make being a flight attendant a difficult job to walk away from.

  I have no plans of leaving in the foreseeable future. I enjoy the job and lifestyle as much today as I did 20 years ago.

  I constantly state that being an international flight attendant is not for everybody. Even in my initial training group there were varying personality types. In my opinion some were perfect for the job and lifestyle, some were not.

  I remember unwinding after my first week of training and thinking to myself: It took me three attempts, and dealing with the associated rejection and pain, to be accepted - and I always thought I had the right personality, grooming, and attitude, yet there are several people in my training class who just don't appear to be right for the job - and they somehow made it through the exhaustive interviewing processes.

  I was a little miffed. It is human nature, to compare yourself with those others when you are rejected and others are not. If one thousand people apply for just the one position, there will be 999 unsuccessful applicants asking: What did the successful person have that I didn't?

  I am sure unsuccessful applicants with a host of airlines would see themselves as being so much better than the flight attendants they see on their flights. At times they might be right.

  I admit feeling guilty having those thoughts. I was grateful to become a flight attendant, no matter how much I went through to get it. Even so, I am still perplexed at how some get the job. There was a guy in my class who had so many personal issues. He was withdrawn and lacked warmth. Within moments of meeting him I knew he was wrong for the job. He did not make it through training school, not because of his personality, or lack of personality, it was because he failed emergency procedural training.

  Another in my class, a girl, also appeared to choose the wrong profession. She did not come from a hospitality background, was also introverted, and lacked tact. How she was selected in front of hundreds of other applicants was a mystery to me - and the rest of my class. She was not liked.

  The training was a struggle for her. She somehow made it through, upsetting most of us along the way. She flew for about five years before leaving. Every day on the aircraft must have been difficult for her. She was just not the right type of person for the job or lifestyle.

  From time to time I fly with other flight attendants who don't really fit the personality profile of what I think makes a good hostie. Some of those have been flying for many years more than me. Being a square peg in a round hole world must be frustrating. I am surprised these people remain in the job as long as they do. As perplexed as I sometimes am, I must say that the persons I feel unsuited for the job are very much the minority. The vast majority of crew are outgoing, caring people, and exceptional workers onboard.

  Most of the time recruiters do get it right.

  knowledge may be having the right answers; but intelligence is asking the right questions

  Knowing I am meeting Helen's niece, who wants to become a hostie, stimulates thoughts of my younger years. I remember boasting about how I wanted to be an international jet-setting air hostess and how deflated I was with the initial rejections. Crew rarely discuss amongst each other how many times they applied and with what airlines. Like most, we talk more about our successes than our failures. I'm no different. If friends or family ask about a trip or destination, I will tell of the exciting things which happened or I saw, not mentioning waking up at 2.15 in the morning to spend hours bored in a dark and dinghy hotel room. We tend to talk about the things we think others wish to hear.

  A friend of mine is a professional golfer, having played hundreds of tournaments around the world. He is one of the humblest people I know, yet rarely does he talk of the tournaments where he didn't make the cut, instead he talks about the successes. That is what people want to hear.
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br />   When talking about becoming a flight attendant, I am conscious of conveying a balanced appraisal of the job and lifestyle. I keep saying 'job AND lifestyle' because it is such a unique profession; working on the aircraft is only a part of the overall package. I am sure Helen has told her niece some of the aspects of my job. Being my best friend, she knows the effects of the lifestyle on my body. Helen told me Holly is 21; wanting to be a flight attendant since she was a little girl.

  I love meeting passionate people, so it is with excitement that I walk into Helen's and my' usual coffee shop.

  Helen and Holly are already there. Helen is bubbly; Holly also exuberant - maybe a little too much so. Holly is pretty, outgoing, and chatty - very chatty. I almost forget what it is like to be fresh and high-spirited, although Holly seems very young. She fires-off a trillion statements before Helen and I have the chance to order a coffee. Each declaration has the word 'I' firmly entrenched five times in every sentence.

  Holly is trying so hard to sell herself to me. I'm not interviewing her, I'm not on any recruitment panels. I'm here to help her; to share some of my 20 years' experience, to maybe pass on any advice to assist her with her application and subsequent interviews - should she be lucky enough to be 'at the right place at the right time' to get an interview.

  It was a while ago when I did my multitudes of applications and I admit I'm a bit rusty, however I have a hostie-friend involved in our company's recruitment and training. He has shared many tips and stories with me. I am probably better placed than most to offer advice. Even so, Holly is more intent on telling me how good she is and how much experience she has, than taking advantage of my expertise.

  She already knows the job inside out, I think to myself - being tongue-in-cheek. She's 21, been on three flights in her life, and she has heard a couple of stories about life as an international hostie through the eyes of her aunt.

  Of course she knows it all, I sarcastically think to myself.

  Out of respect for my friend, I sit and listen to the world according to Holly. I think Helen is a tad embarrassed by Holly's self-centered approach. Before Holly can add another 'I am...' to the list, Helen steps in. She tries to get Holly back on track:

  Maybe Danielle can give you some tips on what the airlines expect?

  Maybe you should ask Danielle about what questions they might ask in an interview?

  Maybe Danielle can help you with some grooming advice and what to wear to an interview?

  Helen really wants me to help Holly. She is not a bad kid, she's just a bit caught up in her own importance. The first thing to remember when applying for a job with an airline is to be aware that they don't need you. Hundreds, if not thousands, will apply for the handful of positions. Everyone is a Holly. Whether she gets the job or not, the airline will go on.

  I don't tell Holly this. I am not there to annihilate her ego.

  The great thing about listening to somebody intent on telling their life story at break-neck speed is: eventually they will run out of self-indulgent things to talk about - or slow down to a more acceptable pace. In due course Holly heeds her auntie's advice to ask questions about the interview processes. I've talked before to aspiring hosties, so I know how to respond.

  I'll share my tips as I did with Holly:

  The first thing about wanting to be a flight attendant is simple: you really WANT to be a flight attendant. It is that easy, but you need to know what the job is really about; know it and then really want it. That means knowing the negatives as well as the positives. What someone may think the job is (like Holly) and the reality may be worlds apart.

  Before applying read carefully the guidelines and stipulations for the application processes. Airlines usually have a website outlining the qualifications required and the format of the résumés and submission forms they prefer. Don't deviate from their suggestions. Be regimented, be professional.

  If you are fortunate to get an interview, these are my suggestions:

  1) Dress as closely as you can to the uniform of the airline interviewing you. Make sure your grooming is immaculate and conservative. If you want to be a flight attendant, you need to look (and act) like you belong.

  2) Be early - and be 'switched on' from the time you arrive until you leave. I've heard of instances where a 'dummy applicant' will be amongst the many other applicants. This 'dummy' is a company employee monitoring and reporting back on the group of hopefuls. Rarely will you have a one-on-one interview at the initial interview stages. Often it is a group session. Remember there are many aspiring flight attendants with only a few positions. Most won't make the cut.

  3) Be polite and sociable with everyone, not loud and gregarious, but pleasant and interested. By the end of the interview you should have sore cheeks from smiling.

  4) Your résumé should tell the interviewers how perfect your qualifications are for the job. Don't say how good you are. Be humble, be sincere.

  5) If you are involved in a group session, often interacting with other candidates, then don't be the most vocal - and don't be the quietest. If it is your turn to talk or comment on something; take your time, answer each question confidently and concisely, make eye contact with the question-asker as well as the group, and never stop smiling. The airlines don't want boisterous know-it-alls. They want crew to follow instructions, work as a team, and problem-solve with a minimum of fuss. Communication is one of the key aspects of the job; you need to communicate confidently and effectively.

  6) Know the job intrinsically. There may be questions about onboard incidences or passenger requests. There could be any number of questions asked, however I know of scenarios specifically designed to pit procedural or safety issues against service matters. As a rule-of-thumb, you will employed for your people skills and then trained in emergency and safety procedures. Every airline has a policy of: safety over service. Never forget that.

  During the interviews the questions will never be black and white; e.g. a blatant service versus safety issue. You'll most likely get cleverly disguised 'grey area' questions. I'll repeat: safety always comes before service. Also remember an aircraft has a chain of command - from the captain down. If you get the job you will be at the bottom - and you can always ask questions, often requiring to talk to someone higher up the chain of command. Should you be given a scenario or question which visits one of these 'grey areas', a great response might be: 'I understand the chain of command on the aircraft, so I would consult my onboard manager (Purser, Cabin Manager, Service Supervisor, etc. - make sure you know the terminology for your airline as they vary between companies) and then I would follow instructions/recommendations, etc....'

  Other questions you may be asked include: How do you handle stress? How would you conduct yourself when faced with a difficult passenger situation? How well do you work as a team player? How do you take directions? Why do you want to be a flight attendant?

  Don't answer the latter: 'Because I like to travel and meet people'.

  A good answer might be: 'I have been on five flights now with (airline name) and saw how well the cabin crew work together. It is that team work and bonding which impressed me most. After talking with some of those crew, I understand the job can be demanding, yet very fulfilling. I know this is what I want to do'.

  Also have some (good) questions to ask the interviewers should the opportunity arise, something like: 'What is the company's approach to training and development?' or ask questions about the direction of the airline; but be specific and current, e.g. 'I understand you are looking to buy more Boeing 787's; does that mean opening more routes?'

  A little tip when asking these types of questions: Always know the answer before asking the question.

  7) Airlines are procedurally driven. There are rules and regulations, procedures, and guidelines. You are to follow those rules, not question them.

  8) If you are fortunate enough to have a face-to-face interview with one or more people, then you a have a huge opportunity to be personal.

/>   Henry Ford once said: If there is any one secret of success, it lies in the ability to get the other person's point of view and see things from that person's angle as well as from your own.

  The interviewers are more-than-likely current or former flight attendants. They spend hour after hour listening to hostie-wannabees telling them how good they are, hearing the same things over and over. Be different - see things from their prospective. When I had a one-on-one interview all those years ago, it was with the most beautiful woman. I asked if she was a flight attendant. She was. We talked about her flying career, her love of the job. She could see I was passionate and interested - and she was involved. I'm sure the success of that interview was the major reason why I got the job.

  9) Charles Schwab once said: I consider my ability to arouse enthusiasm among the people around me to be the greatest asset I possess, and the best way to develop that in a person is by appreciation and encouragement.

  Be enthusiastic, be positive.

  10) Have fun. Given the pressure of the occasion, it is easier said than done, but it is important to be relaxed and happy. You are there because you want to be there. Enjoy the opportunity.

  One of my favorite sayings is: Don't seek a profession; seek a passion.

  Being a flight attendant is more than just a job, it is a lifestyle. If it a lifestyle you will love and a job you can tolerate, then go for it, I say.

  knowledge is knowing tomatoes are a fruit, but wisdom is not putting them in a fruit salad