Mistakes to avoid during a cabin crew recruitment day

The year 2022 is the beginning of the recovery of the aviation industry. As such, airlines continue to build their capacity beyond pre-pandemic levels. Airlines continue to hire more flight attendants through different means. Here is a list of mistakes to avoid during an airline cabin crew recruitment day.

Dressing inappropriately

You are applying for a flight attendant position in the airline, and they put a high value on perfect appearance and professional look at all times. Wear a business-like skirt-suit with average but comfortable high heels. Please do not forget to put on mascara and lipstick. For gents, go for a suit, collared shirt, tie, and polished shoes.

Talking negatively about your current or past employer

Negative people tend to be a turn-off to the interviewers. If your friend talks negatively about her other friends, wouldn’t it also make you think they do the same thing to you? You might serve the company for maybe 10 years or just 6 months when you get hired. However, no company would want to take the chance that you might go around badmouthing them. Any gossip or negative comments you make against your previous employers, whether they are direct competitors you are applying to or not, is a total deal-breaker during interviews. Keep the conversation light, compliment your employers, and give a diplomatic answer about why you left or left your previous job if asked.

Avoid talking smack about your past current or past employer during a cabin crew recruitment day.

Not listening to the interviewer

Usually, the first part is you will be given the ‘house rules, like which group goes first, cellphone policies, what papers to bring in, where to proceed, and so on. The interviewer will then instruct you on what to do. Listen carefully, take notes if you wish, and if you are unsure of instructions, you may clarify with them later. There will be important information given to you at unexpected times. Your interviewers, at most times, are former or present cabin crew members; hence, not paying attention to them is not just a pet peeve. It is also a sign of disrespect and shows that you are not interested in the job and the company. 

Not interacting with the other applicants

You have to realize that everything you say or do is of specific importance during your assessment day. You will be or are already being observed for the entire time of your day there, not only during interviews, but even s you line up and walk around. Make it a priority to interact with other applicants, the same way the airline expects you to interact with all the passengers. You do not need to find your “BFF” or forever there; have a short and polite conversation. An excellent discussion may start with a simple “hello” and a friendly smile. Who knows, the person you approached and spoke to may become your batchmate, or if you are from the opposite sex, your cabin crew “forever” when you get in the airline.

Being too over confident or under confident

Just because you graduated from the best school with a degree in tourism does not mean that they will choose you over the others who finished a degree in performing arts, also; also, just because it is your first time applying for a flight attendant position, it does not work mean they will choose those with flying experience. Just be confident but remain humble. Overconfident people turn off interviewers as this gives the impression that they are not the type who is willing to listen and accept corrections. They also do not like underconfident people because, as cabin crew members,  you have to be able to control your passengers.

Mobile device ringing

Your interviewers or panelists will instruct you to switch your phone to silent mode. If you fail to do so and it rings loudly in the middle, it just means that you are not listening and paying attention to the instructions. Also, it will give the impression that you are not taking things seriously and that your application as a cabin crew is not essential to you. If let’s say, your family is calling because of some emergency and you need to take the call, approach your panelist and interviewers. Inform them of the situation and ask permission to do so. 

Consistently checking the time

Regardless of what others tell you on what time it will start or end, you are supposed to dedicate that whole day to your cabin crew assessment day. In the Philippines, some airlines will ask you to take a medical and written exam, even if you pass the first interview stage on that very same day. If your assessors notice that you keep checking on the time, it will give the impression that you have other priorities on top. The more time you give, the more your assessors will be able to see what you have and how you will be an asset as a flight attendant. Also, as a cabin crew, you must be ready to work up to 14 hours with rest times in between, and you may be away from your home base for up to 5 days or so.

Asking about the salary and benefits too early

If it is not stated on the website, only ask towards the end if it has been established that you are what the company is looking for and if you want to get into the airline. Better ask about career advancement, the company’s expansion plans, the fleet, the work environment, and other relevant questions. 

During a cabin crew recruitment day, always remember that recruiters are after people who like to become a flight attendant because of the nature of the job primarily.

Your enthusiasm is missing

Being genuinely passionate about being a flight attendant is what will separate you from the people who think it sounds like it’s an excellent job to have. You have to show that it has been your lifelong dream, that you are always excited to travel, to work with different people every day, to learn new cultures, and most especially, to have that desire to be of assistance to others, especially when it comes to their safety on board. These will ultimately separate those who get hired from those who don’t.

Good luck to all joining the airlines’ upcoming cabin crew recruitment days! Please do not forget to take of these things to avoid.