FREE CABIN CREW COURSE

Appreciate the wisdom of being clean, neat and tidy when you present yourself before the interview panel

Interview Board: See that you have good haircut and that your nails are clean. Comb your hair well. Remove sweat, oil, dirt, etc., from your face and forehead. Make sure that no bad odor or smell emanates from your face. But you can certainly do a lot to improve it. Your appearance should show that you are an orderly person. Therefore, do take care of your grooming.

Mind your clothes: You should dress well suited to the occasion. Your clothes should not be gaudy or showy. You must present yourself in a suit, preferably of dark or somber colors. Your collar must be clean, well pressed and starched. Similarly, your shirt handcuffs should also be clean. They should not be frayed in the ends. You must wear socks and shoes. See that the socks are pulled up. Shoes must be well polished. You make the first impression with your clothes and the way you dress yourself up. If your clothes create an initial unfavorable impression you will be hard put to neutralise it during the interview. Similarly, with some care for your clothes you can begin the interview with your right foot forward. It is therefore very essential that you turn up for the interview, smartly dressed.

Etiquette, manners and courtesy can help you a great deal in tilting the interview in your favor: Before entering the room, gently knock at the door and announce yourself. You can politely inquire whether. You could go in. You must enter only when you are bid to do so. Enter calmly with confidence. After entering, greet those present according to the time of the day, e.g. 'Good morning, Sir,' 'Good afternoon, Sir', and so on. It would be ideal if you could stand to attention while greeting them. While paying compliments and later while addressing the Chairmen, or the Members. Generally address yourself to the Chairmen as he represents the entire Board. Wait till you are offered a seat. Then thank the person who asks you to sit down before you are offered a seat. Then thank the person who asks you to sit down before you take your seat. If you are not offered a seat, continue to stand and answer the questions from that position.

Avoid mannerisms: Sit straight and look up. Do not keep shaking your knees, tapping on the floor and so on. Stop coughing or adjusting your throat every now and then. Atop playing with your tie, collars or coat buttons. Do not lean on the table and rest your elbows there. In fact, you should cur out all unnecessary movements. You can and must be relaxed.

Smile and be cheerful: While entering the room, while greeting the Chairman and Members, while thanking them and while listening to them keep your smile on. See that you do not start yawning during the interview. You should look keen, interested, pleasant and enthusiastic. A smile helps you in all these.

Speak distinctly and audibly: Do not either shout or mumble. Pronounce your words full and give emphasis to the syllable where required. Speak in such a way that all those present could hear you without straining themselves. Speak with interest and enthusiasm. Your voice must sparkle and vibrate with spirit. Do not drag or sound monotonous. Speak to the Chairman or to the Members and not to the floor, roof, table or wall. In other words, look into their eyes while you speak.

Be attentive and look attentive when the Chairman or the Members speaks to you: Listen carefully to what they say and do not ask them to repeat themselves often. Do not close your eyes while you want to concentrate. Also do not interrupt while they talk. Allow them to complete the question or remarks before you give your reply or comments.

You must avoid arguments: Do not challenge the opinion of the Board Members or the correctness of their statements. Express your views with tact and consideration. Avoid criticising others. Do not find fault with others. If you are in the wrong, admit it and apologise immediately. Never give excuses. While giving your conclusions, proceed in a logical manner and adduce valid reasons. Do not be self-opinionated.

Do not bluff, boast vainly and shoot lions: State the fact accurately and be modest while describing your achievements. When you do not know the answer, be frank and tell them so. Never generalise or make vague guesses. See that you do not waffle. While you speak, you must be able to hold the attention of your listeners with interest. You should never become a bore.

Act with confidence, hop and assurance: Be positive and optimistic in your outlook. Remember, it is not so much what you say, but how you say, that mostly determines your success in the interview.

In cabin crew recruiting process, most airlines now offer online application facilities and these demand you to complete a full resume/CV, uploading your photos, usually a passport size, sometimes full length photo- which will then be matched against the particular airline requirements process. Online application form may vary from airline to airline, but the basic requirements are the same. Some airlines offer you to send CV via email or post to their email address or mailing address. However, what are the forms may be, you should try to give the information in a proper manner.

CV and Cover Letters

If an airline demand CV in a paper form or an email basis, rather than use an online application process, you should prepare a CV to send to an airline, ensure that the CV meets the highest standards of professional presentation. The content of the CV must include all your personal details, including education and qualifications, weight, height, nationality, passport status, work history (if any), interests, and recent references. A cover letter along with your CV must be attached, which should include job purpose. CV should match the font, paper and style, and should be professionally laid out, grammatically correct and error free.

Photographs:

Most airlines now demand a full size photo, along with passport size; either at the initial application stage or prior to interview. It is recommended that you should invest in photos taken by professional photographers. You should dress yourself in your corporate suit, dressed exactly as you would attend an interview.

Interviews

Interview is a forum to judge the capabilities of an individual to adapt and work in a particular situation with given resources and infrastructure. In an Interview, first impression is the best impression. You will be judged by the way you dress, your educational qualification, work experience, body language, manners, and ability to absorb the information and interpret it intelligently and clearly. So take care to be at your best. The more prepared you are the better your chances.

The need & purpose of a cv

Getting an interview can depend on how good your CV is. It's your chance to show an employer you've got the skills and experience needed, and that you're the right person for the job. A job CV/resume is a personal marketing document that communicates your career objective and value to a hiring company. A strong resume is carefully planned and developed in an appropriate format (style) designed to showcase your experience and accomplishments in direct relation to a specific position.

Your winning CV should be:

Easy to read with space between each section

No more than two pages long - only senior executives with a lot of experience should have longer CVs.

What should I definitely include?

Start with your ‘personal details’; your name, address and contact details. It's up to you whether you include your age, marital status and nationality - it's not essential.

Customize your CV to the job

Your CV shouldn't be your life story but should be tailored for the job you're applying for, focusing on the parts that are important. Look at the job advert or the person specification and think about what the job involves, and what the employer is asking for. Take some time to find out about the main activities of the employer.

Your personal profile

Just under your personal details, outline your 'Personal Profile'; your

Skills and qualities, work background and achievements.

It should only be a few lines but must spark the reader's interest. For example, if the job involves working with people, you could say you're a good team-worker and an effective communicator. Be brief - you can highlight examples of your skills in later sections.

Education and work experience

This part of your CV depends on your background and the type of job you're applying for. Some jobs require experience, while for others your qualifications are more important. If you've been working for a while, put your employment history first; if you're younger and don't have much work experience, focus on your education and training.

Employment history

Start with your present or most recent job and work backwards, using bullet points. Include:

Each employer

The dates you worked for them

The job title

Your main duties

Employers want to see how your experience will be useful to them, so be brief about jobs that are totally different from the one you're applying for. Relevant jobs should be listed in more detail, showing not only your main duties and responsibilities but giving examples of the skills you used and what you achieved. This is the information the employer uses when deciding whether to interview you or not. Your employment history shows your experience and suitability for the job. Include useful information but leave out anything that's not relevant.

Relate your skills and experience to the job description and what the employer is looking for. Also include any relevant temporary or unpaid work. Avoid unexplained gaps in your employment history, as employers may think you have something to hide! You can provide reasons for them further on where necessary.

Education and training

Start with your most recent study and go back to the qualifications you got at school. Using bullet points or a table include:

the university, college or school you went to

the dates the qualifications were awarded and any grades

any other courses, if they're relevant.

Hobbies and interests

Some employers like to read about your interests, as it can give them an idea of your strengths and what you'd be like to work alongside. As with your employment history, it should be relevant in some way to the job. For example, if you're involved in any clubs or societies this can show that you enjoy meeting new people. People often put on their CV that they enjoy cooking or reading, but these activities are too general and widespread to be of interest to an employer.

Additional information

If you need to add anything else that's relevant, such as a gap in your employment history for travel or family reasons, you could include a further section titled 'Additional Information' after your interests to explain this.

References

Finally, you should state that references are available if required, although you don't need to include referees' contact details on the CV. At least one referee should be work-related; or if you haven't worked for a while, some other responsible person who has known you for quite a while.

How should it be presented?

Print your CV on white A4 paper, using just one style and font. It should be concise and easy to read. Check it for spelling and grammar mistakes. You can use a computer spelling and grammar check but it's also good idea to get it checked by somebody else.

A common mistake is to use bold type everywhere. It's good for section headings such as 'Employment History' or 'Education' but many people use it to highlight dates and previous employers' names - this draws the reader's eye away from what's important.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT STYLES OF CV?

There are four main styles:

Chronological CV - the most widely used, listing work history then education in reverse order

Functional CV - has a section near the beginning that describes skills and abilities acquired through many jobs, often used by those who've had a very varied career.

Targeted CV - similar to the functional CV and useful for those with varied or patchy employment histories.

Alternative CV - for jobs requiring creative flair.

MORE TIPS ON WRITING A GOOD CV

Do

Use positive language - when describing your work achievements use power "doing" words like "launched", "managed" and "improved". Quote figures if possible to back up your claims.

Use good quality paper - first impressions count!

Use a word processor on a computer - typed or written CVs won't impress

Include other skills that might be useful to an employer - driving, languages, IT skills etc

Don't

Lie - employers have ways of checking what you put is true, and may sack you if they take you on and find out you've lied to them

Include a photo unless requested

Need some help?

Examples of different CV styles

If you are an employer what things you would like to find out about the individual whom you wish to employ. What personally and character traits of the individual you would be interested to discover? Certainly you would want to check on these aspects.

Appearance and Bearing: What is his first impression like? Is he able to make a favorable impression? Does he create an impact? How are his dressing habits and grooming? Is he cheerful and bright? Does he smile? Is he neat and clean? Does he reveal pleasant and good manners? Does he observe the rules of etiquette?

Level of Intelligence: Is he intelligent as well as sensible? Does he show good awareness? Has he a quick and goof grasp? Is he well read? Has he got good general knowledge and sound commonsense? What is the extent and depth of his knowledge in regard to the job he has applied for? What are his qualifications and experience? How has he acquitted himself in his studies? Can he learn quickly and improve by training? Does he reveal imagination and foresight? Is he mentally alert.

Power of Expression: Can he talk? Does he speak fluently or does he prove to be a tongue-tied? Is he capable of communicating his thoughts clearly, crisply, coherently and effectively? Does he put across ideas freely, convincingly and powerfully? Is he able to reason out in a logical and rational manner? Does he sound convincing ? Does he speak with enthusiasm and interest to impress Others?. Is he able to command and hold the attention of his audience? Is he practical and accurate in his talk or does he resort to waffle? How does he react to criticism ? is he good at selling his ideas and winning over others to his way of thinking?

Organization: Is he resourceful? Has he tackled any difficult problems with success? Is he capable of producing workable solutions in practical situations? Is he industrious, painstaking and thorough? Does he display the required concentration? Is he able to stick to his objective and avoid going after red-herrings? Does he know his own mind? Has he the ability to work to time, method and situation? Does he go about a job in a planned, methodical and systematic manner? Is he steady and consistent or does he do things by fits and starts? Can he combine his resources judiciously with an eye for economy? Is he able to exercise control and coordination while effecting decentralization of authority and responsibility?

Physical Fitness: Does he enjoy sound health? Is he physically tough and fit? What efforts does he make to keep himself physically fit? Does he play games or take exercise regularly? How good is his stamina? Does he get tired easily or is he able to carry on and withstand fatigue effectively? Does his physical movements and activities reveal vitality and strength?

Dynamic Qualities: Has he rousing enthusiasm, urge and interest? Is he active, energetic and lively? Does he reveal dash, speed and push? Has he enough self-confidence and courage to act boldly and decisively? Will he take plunge without hesitation? Is he enterprising? Can he take decisions? Does he display initiative? Has he got determination and tenacity? Is he able to grasp and make good use of the opportunities that come his way? Is he willing to take reasonable risks? Can he preserve and hold on with patience and faith in the face of difficulties? Can he get over his defeats and set-backs and succeed in spite of them?

Social Aspects: Is he warm, friendly and cooperative? Does he display the attitude of give and take? Is he ready to make sacrifices for the sake of others or his Organization? Does he prove to be flexible, accommodative and easy to approach? Does he enjoy the company of others? Is he reserved, aloof, dull and gloomy or does he prove to be hearty, sociable, cheerful and a ready mixer? Has he been able to get along well with his superiors, equals and subordinates? Is he able to adjust himself readily or does he complain, bicker, bind and moan about all the time? Has he been utilizing his spare time? Has he many friends? Is he willing to help? Can he conduct himself in a cordial and pleasant manner at a social gathering? Is he fond of traveling, seeing new places and meeting new faces? Can he feel relaxed and comfortable in his presence. Do people specially seek out his company? Do others find it easy and natural to confide to him? Is he able to look at things from the viewpoint of others? Does he display adequate tact? Is he considerate and sympathetic towards the feeling and sentiments of others? Does he keep pace with changing ideas? Is he progressive in his outlook? Has he a good sense of humor?

Character and Integrity: Is he honest, loyal and trustworthy? How is his financial moral rectitude? Has he proved to be reliable and dependable in his past dealings? Does? Does he keep his word? Does he prove to be responsible while talking about or commenting on others? Does he refrain from speaking ill of others in their absence? Is he discreet and reveals capacity to safeguard company secrets? Has he got national pride and a sense of patriotism? Are his habits temperature and praiseworthy? Is he prudent in spending money or does he prove to be extravagant? Has he the moral strength to withstand temptations? Is he well disciplined and capable of good self control? Has he self-respect and the courage to stand by his noble ideals? Does he display a sense of duty?

Leadership Qualities: Does he reveal esprit de corps or team spirit? Can he get along well with others? Is he able to create a strong impact on a group? Has he the ability to bind the group into a well-knit and harmonious team? Is he capable of encouraging others and bringing out the best in them? Can he exercise effective command without giving rise of frictions and complaints? Does he place the interests of his men, group or organization before his own? Can he judge others with reasonable accuracy? Is he able to select the right type of man for the right job? Is he a bully or a democratic leader? Can he successfully motivate and influence others? Has he been able to get things done smoothly and efficiently? Does he reveal a genuine interest in the welfare of his men? Does he set an example for others to follow? Is he liked, loved and respected by his men? Is he able to inspire others with confidence and enthusiasm when embarked upon difficult and hazardous assignments?

Optimistic Outlook: Does he display optimism, positive attitude and constructive approach in his under takings? Has he clear objectives, definite goals and laudable ambitions? Is he confident of success? Does he look forward to a bright, prosperous and happy future? Is he determined to win? Do his words, thoughts, attitudes, approach, behavior and action always reflect his faith in ultimate success?

Now you know what your employer or interviewer is interested to find out about yourself. Naturally, he cannot ask you direct questions on such factors or expect to get correct and truthful answers for them. In any case actions speak better than words. Therefore, he will try to get these details by making you talk about yourself, your activities, achievements and dealing with others. Since you know his mind, and are aware of his requirements, why not take the initiative and present them yourself. You need not have to leave it to him to wriggle and struggle with you to extract the information. Instead, you can subtly and tactfully convey it yourself in the course of the conversation. It is for you then to take advantage of the possible opening in the conversation and present your assets in the best possible manner. It means that you should be ready to talk and touch on such favorable incidents of your life and experience when the opportunity presents itself. Do not keep on saying ' Yes' or 'No' monotonously all the time when questions are put to you. First understand the question fully and determine what all or what exactly he wants to know. When he asks about your educational qualifications, sports activities, hobbies, domestic background, friendships and association, travel experiences, job experiences, reading habits life's ambitions and so on, you will have all the opportunities you need. Since you are going to blow your own trumpet, it has to be done in discreet, subtle diplomatic and expert manner. It should not be too loud, blaring or jarring. The best thing, therefore, is to state the facts and Refrain from drawing any conclusions yourself. Do not talk about the qualities or attributes you possess but state your performances accurately and leave the task of drawing any inferences to the interviewer. If you have consistently secured distinctions and position in your academic career, do mention them when you deal with that topic. If the topic does not come up by itself, then find the appropriate opening where it could naturally be introduced. It is here your initiative should be brought to lay its part. Similarly, you should present your co-curricular activities at the appropriate time. The same rule should also be followed to highlight all your other strong points. At the same time you should remember to stay within bounds, to be tactful and to proceed judiciously when taking the initiative. Do not change the topic totally unconnected matters. Never rub it in. don't show yourself to be over anxious. In other words, do not overdo. First, be a good listener and encourage him to talk if he is inclined to do so. When you play the role of a listener, be interesting, lively, enthusiastic and appreciate. All of us would like to have such an audience when we talk.

Interview, after all, is nothing but face to face conversation with a purpose. If you make the conversation interesting and enjoyable, your purpose is achieved. To make it interesting, you have to listen and talk as the occasion demands. You must listen with interest and talk with purpose. In both cases you must exercise initiative to say the right things at the right time. Imaginative use of initiative in the interview will thus ensure you sure success.

Flight cabin crew interviews normally include a panel or group interview with airline assessors. The process may take the form of a group discussion, which involves you and a number of other candidates meeting together, with opportunities for each candidate to talk about themselves and their career goals, followed by participation in group tasks or activities. During these activities the assessors will be evaluating how well you get along with other people, how easy you find it to work with new people, what kind of personality you have etc. You may be asked to perform practical tasks such as making morning tea for another group, solving a puzzle or debating a topical issue.

After the group interview there may be an opportunity for you to meet the interviewer/assessor on a one-on-one basis. Most airlines will make a selection of people from this process to move forward to the next stage and you will be notified if you have made it through to the second stage. The second stage varies a lot from airline to airline, but may involve individual interviews, written assessments or personality profiles/questionnaires. Candidates who make it through the second stage may then be invited to the final process, which may also involve a medical check. The process may seem quite lengthy – but if you make it through you’ll have a fantastic job!

Forms of Address

It is important to address passengers correctly at all times, and airlines will usually prefer formal terms of address, such as ‘Sir’ or ‘Madam.’ and these terms are used at all times when addressing passengers, serving refreshments etc. i.e. ‘Would you like some coffee sir?”

Flight attendants who work in first or business class will meet VIPs such as members of royal families, celebrities or politicians and will be given special training and briefings on how to address particular VIP’s.

Greetings and farewells with passengers must always be warm and sincere.[remember what we said about first impressions? Well last impressions are just as important!] Flight attendants are expected to have high standards of interpersonal communication, and this will be tested at interview. Subsequent training will also focus on communication skills, with key points including:

• Correctness of speech (Both tone and clarity)
• Listening skills
• Ability to remember people/places/events
• Importance of posture and not invading passengers personal space, i.e. not sitting on armrests during conversations with passengers, no lounging or leaning over the back of seats.

• Need to not demonstrate any discrimination to customers at any time, in terms of their age, race, religion, disability, and culture.
• Importance of engaging and talking to as many customers as possible
• The intention to make every passenger feel safe and welcomed

Air cabin crew, also known as flight attendants, are primarily responsible for ensuring passenger safety during a flight.

A flight attendant may perform the following tasks:

Prior to a flight, they receive a briefing on the flight and schedule, check all cabin equipment (including safety equipment) is working properly, receive prepared meals, beverages and equipment making sure the plane is carrying sufficient supplies

Before take-off a cabin crew’s duty is to-

Greet passengers and direct them to their seats

Ensure luggage is stored safely and give a safety demonstration showing passengers

Advise passengers about safety regulations

Demonstrate emergency equipment and procedures.

During a flight a cabin crew’s duty is to-

Make sure passengers are comfortable and deal with any requests.

Distribute reading material and serve meals and drinks and sell duty-free goods.

Make announcements for the pilot or captain.

Take action in the event of decompression, turbulence, mechanical malfunction, or unlawful acts by passengers.

Prepare for emergency landings and the evacuation of passengers.

Provide first aid treatment and assist sick passengers (if needed).

Anticipate and provide for the comfort of passengers needing special attention, including unaccompanied children, parents with infants and people with disabilities, the elderly and non-English-speaking passengers

At the end of a flight a cabin crew’s duty is to-

Make sure passengers leave the plane safely with all hand luggage

Fill in a written flight report recording any unusual incidents

To complete some paperwork including customs and immigration documents, accounts of duty-free sales, and meal and drink orders.