Flight Attendant Fast Track Career Guide

By Carlin Laviolet Clarke

Professor of Aviation Science and Flight Attendant Program Director, Carlin Laviolet Clarke, introduces you to the dream job of a Flight Attendant and what it takes to get hired in this competitive position. Get an insiders view about the Airline Industry, Crew Lifestyle, and Flight Attendant Job Outlook. Carlin explains the Flight Attendant Qualities that all airlines look for and outlines what todays airlines expect in an applicant, including furthered qualifications & skills in Customer Service, Professionalism, and more. Additionally, Carlin teaches you how to prepare an Airline Resume & Application that will get noticed and has included over 50 real questions asked in airline interviews. Take a peek into her classroom and get ready to get fired up as you learn from the best in the industry how to prepare yourself for success!

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jul 16, 2018
• ISBN: 9781546218319

Carlin Laviolet Clarke

Carlin Laviolet Clarke has been involved in the airline industry her entire life and practically grew up on an airplane! Her father is a retired pilot for Continental Airlines and gave her her rst taste for international ying and her three brothers have also followed suit. Education: Carlin graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from McNeese State University with a focus in Health and Human Performance. She received her Masters Degree in Commercial Aviation Management, MCA, from Delta State University. Carlin also attended the Presidio of Monterey Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, where she certied as a Novice Linguist in Serbian/Croatian languages and served in the military as a 97L Translator/Interpreter for U.S. Army Military Intelligence. Career: Carlin became a FAA certied Professional Flight Attendant in 1997 with Delta Airlines, where she recently retired from a fullling job full of adventure! She has industry certications as a Flight Leader and International Purser and regularly ew as Purser to destinations all over Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and South America. She has been based in Atlanta, Boston, Salt Lake City, New Orleans, and New York City. Carlin has been privately coaching people into the Flight Attendant career for over 15 years. She founded the company, Airline ACE, Aviation Career Education, www.airlineace.com, which oers specialized career courses for those looking for extra qualications to help them get hired and/or promoted. She is the author of the popular book, Sky High Careers: Your Guide to Becoming a Flight Attendant, which has helped hundreds of people gain understanding of the commercial airline industry, what it takes to beat the competition, and nd employment as a Flight Attendant! Carlin is a faculty member in the Department of Aviation Science, at Utah Valley University, which boasts one of the largest and successful aviation programs in the United States. Her courses include: In-ight Service Awareness, Airline Management, Aviation Security, Air Transportation Management, Aviation Management, Ethics in Aviation, and Aviation Administration, among others. Carlin has been a speaker selectee at industry conferences such as the European Airline Training Symposium and the 13th Annual Oklahoma Aviation Education Research Symposium. Her interests include Rising Attrition Rates In Regional Carrier Airlines And Pre-Qualication Training As A Best Practice For Employee Retention And Airline ROI and The Application Of Menthol x Piperita As A Mitigation Technique For Crew Fatigue. Recently, Carlin has partnered with China-based Ming Tao World Sky to be the Director of Flight Attendant Training with the newly-established American International Aviation Academy of Utah, AIAAU, with base locations in Provo, Utah and Hangzhou, China. This partnership takes Carlins innovative coaching and curriculum to exciting new depths as AIAAU works to provide students with leading-edge career training, cultural exchange opportunities, pathway partnerships with airlines, and more! AIAAU is the only school of its kind in the world and works with students from foundational career training all the way through the interview process. Its convenient locations in China and in the MidWest, USA serves a global community with students representing countries all over Europe, Asia, and America. Personal: Carlin feels her greatest accomplishment has been raising a family and feels gratitude for the many opportunities the airlines have aorded in travel, experiences, and education. She shares 7 children with her husband; her youngest is severely autistic. Carlin volunteers as an educator lecturing on autism, natural health, and success strategies. Carlin loves sharing her enthusiasm for aviation and exploring the world with her family. Her husband is her favorite travel buddy and work partner and the two have logged many hours together traveling the globe. They split their down time between Utah and the UK and enjoy family activities such as: skiing, hiking, traveling, and Disneyland. Contact: Airline ACE: www.airlineace.com Having fun at Recurrent Training, MSP

Book preview

© 2018 Carlin Laviolet Clarke. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 07/13/2018

ISBN: 978-1-5462-1830-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-1831-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017918509

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1 The Flight Attendant’s World

A Day in the Life of a Flight Attendant

Emergency Procedures

Benefits & Perks

Compensation

Domestic vs International

Schedule Types

Reserve

Access Days

Line Of Time

Chapter 2 Flight Attendant Qualities

Flight Attendants Are People People

Flight Attendant Quality: Poise

Flight Attendant Quality: Savvy

Flight Attendant Quality: Flexible & Adaptable

Flight Attendant Quality: Conflict Management

Flight Attendant Quality: Leadership

Flight Attendant Quality: Decision Making

Flight Attendant Quality: Teamwork

Flight Attendant Quality: Public Speaking

Chapter 3 Airline Application & Resume

How to Apply to Any Airline

Making Your Resume Stand Out

Chapter 4 Airline Interview

Taking the Flight Attendant Interview

What an Airline Interview looks like

Phone

Skype/Video

Group

30-Second Sell/Introduction

Breakout Groups

One-To-One Or Panel

Chapter 5 Appearance

Brand

Image

Get Ready for Takeoff

Chapter 6 Resources

Flight Attendant Career Assessment

Airline Interview Questions

Public Address Announcements

List of Airlines & Websites

About the Author

"I

just wanted to thank you again for all of your invaluable assistance. I got interviews with several airlines. I definitely credit your fantastic book with helping me be prepared for an activating the application & interview process. Many thanks!!"

- B Lily Childs, Flight Attendant Candidate

I have been successfully working for a major airline for 4 years now, thanks to Carlin for her extraordinary professional guidance. Thank you Carlin!

- Stephanie T, Flight Attendant

Introduction

About twenty years ago my life was turned upside down when I ended a long-term relationship. I found myself suddenly thrust back out into the world without any defenses or skills and like so many others like me who have gone through divorce, death, or other life changing events, I had to pick myself up and start all over again.

With a pilot father, and having grown up in the airline industry, I had wanted to be a stewardess since I was a child. I admired the pretty flight attendants who offered me candy and coloring books as they made their way down the aisles. I taunted my parents frequently about my dream to become a flight attendant when I grew up.

While growing up, I pushed this dream to the background as I became distracted by the everyday stress of life. And now, finding myself alone and scared, the fantasy resurfaced and I began my pursuit to go and apply for the career I’d dreamed of.

With my application filled out and dressed in my best suit, I sneaked into a group interview at a university that I had caught wind of. Not being a student there, I was afraid they would single me out and ask me to leave. They did single me out, and I was relieved when I was asked to come back the next day for another interview! I came to find out later that I was one of only two in that group who was invited to return. I was one of only two who was prepared and dressed appropriately for the occasion. I was also the only one who received a job offer.

I don’t remember much of my interview. At one point my nerves just took over and forced me along for the ride. I do remember some chitchat about my application, my background and my willingness to relocate. There was, however, one question that I will never forget. It left me cold, and my mind was a total blank.

My interviewer asked, Are you a Chief or an Indian?

A what? Am I a what? Isn’t that a contradiction? How am I supposed to answer that?

I said a silent prayer and heard myself answer, I am both. I can lead and I can follow.

It was a perfect answer.

The end of that interview resulted in an invitation to join a class of new hire flight attendants the following week.

Change can happen very quickly! As I boarded my plane headed to the flight attendant training center, I knew I was right where I belonged.

Many people, since that day, have approached me wanting to know how to become a flight attendant. And why wouldn’t they? Flight attendants have a great job! We love to travel, meet new people, explore new places, try new foods, shop, have our nails manicured, enjoy our time off, manipulate our work schedules, vacation time, and have access to the perfect travel bags! No wonder this job is so competitive!

When I decided to apply to the airlines, I really did my homework. I went on stake-outs at the airport for days and flagged down Flight Attendants from all airlines who would stop and answer my questions. I chased them from gate to gate and even to the airport employee parking lot and my efforts really paid off as I learned valuable gems for how to get the job.

I practiced my interviewing skills over and over. I knew my application and resume inside and out. I really wanted this job. I wanted this career! For over 17 years I enjoyed a fascinating, fun and fulfilling career full of adventure!

In my flying career, teaching, and in my work as a Flight Attendant career coach, I have narrowed down what I have observed to be four components to a successful flight attendant candidate. No matter what airline you apply to, this information applies across the board for any airline. These are the things that airlines look for in a Flight Attendant. Although some may fall through the cracks, I have yet to meet a new hire who doesn’t possess all four components. I present them to you here in the hopes that you, too, will find enjoyment, happiness, fulfillment, and employment having reached your dream of becoming a Flight Attendant.

–Carlin Laviolet Clarke

The Flight Attendant’s World

"Flight Attendants are just plane people with a special air about them."

-author unknown

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As the tour bus rounded the Coliseum my heart skipped a beat. How amazing to be here! I couldn’t get over how blessed and lucky I was to have such a wonderful experience. If anyone knew what I really did they would be so envious.

The eight-hour flight I worked from JFK was worth the afternoon I spent in Rome that day. When would I have ever come here on my own? And have seen so much? I stopped at the Vatican and bought my mother-in-law a rosary, knowing how much it would mean to her. The peddlers on the street tried to beckon me over to buy one of their knockoffs. I browsed through their selection and decided on a purse for a friend of mine, whose birthday was coming up.

The pasta I ordered for dinner from a quaint out-door restaurant was unlike anything I’d ever tasted before and I thought for certain I would have to move here. Later, I sat down near Trevi Fountain and had one of Italy’s famous gelatos.

I soaked in my surroundings, thoroughly enjoying myself, and started to walk back to the hotel.

Wow, I said to myself, I love my job.

Yes, yes, the rumors are true! You can see the world and get paid for it! This can indeed be a glamorous job being able to cut to the front of the security line; get picked up at the airport in a car that is waiting just for you and take you to your layover! You can look forward to airline crew discounts and shopping for the most innovative luggage in crew stores. You will love being able to hop on a plane to who-knows-where on your days off for a quickie vacation. You will love the travel benefits and the fact that you can be creative with your schedule and may even take a month off on PLOC (personal leave of convenience); you will love socializing with other Flight Attendants, meeting new people from all over the world and from all walks of life; having the time to read, and spending a quiet evening in a quiet hotel room with room service! You will suddenly become entirely fascinating to others as you relate stories from your career. And, best of all, when you’re home, you’re home!

This job seems to attract a certain personality, and no doubt you’ve got it or you wouldn’t be reading this! But, to understand how to get into the profession of a Flight Attendant, one must also come to understand the Flight Attendant’s world.

Airlines like to hire candidates who know about the job they are applying for. It is up to you to show them you mean business, that you really want this job and have taken the time to research it, and that you know exactly what you are getting yourself into.

Flight Attendants view their schedules from a monthly standpoint, not necessarily daily or weekly. Everything in our lives hinges upon our bid award, the day our schedules come out. We are always thinking a month ahead and it is typical to have little memory of what has transpired in our lives two weeks ago, two days ago, or even two hours ago. We’d have to refer to our calendars for that. Nor are most of us able to remember with whom we flew or where we went on our last trip, without difficulty. Our minds are in the future and we walk around with our calendar books in our pockets and purses, as nothing can be agreed upon until we confirm our schedule, which may change from day to day as we continue to adjust them to our liking.

This may seem tedious or tiresome to those who are used to showing up to work at the same time, doing the same things, every day. But, we like it this way. Our schedules are under our control, as much as possible, and considering how many things we have to keep track of in our work lives, our personal lives become equally as organized. We are people who take care of things.

Flight Attendants are expected to always be on time. Airlines are sticklers for on-time departures. If a plane leaves the gate even a minute late it can cost the company several hundred thousand dollars. Airlines pay for their time slot at the gate and for every minute they go over their allotted time, they