Careers 101 - How to become a Flight Attendant

Being a stewardess or steward was once a highly sought after career.   The girls (stewardesses) were always beautiful, the men (stewards) were always handsome and their lives seemed full of adventure.

Now days the more correct term for this career is 'Flight Attendant'.  This career still has that persona of adventure, but what does it take to be a flight attendant?

Flight attendants are the 'airline' to the traveling passengers. If the service is good or bad, it reflects on the passenger's view of the airline as a whole.

Flight attendants, primarily, are responsible for the safety of their passengers. They are the ones trained to handle not only scared, ill, or bad tempered passengers, but they also are trained to handle many emergencies, such as water landings, loss of air pressure, turbulence, many medical emergencies and hijackers.

Prior to every flight the attendants have to go over the emergency procedures: buckling seat belts, stowing baggage, emergency air masks, seat cushions as flotation devices, emergency lighting strips in the aisles, emergency exit locations. How many people pay attention to these? Probably very few. I was recently on a flight where the flight attendant sang these instructions. Everyone paid attention! She was clever and because of that, if there would have been an actual emergency, more passengers would have known what to do.

There are many airlines who look for applicants with at least an associates degree in college, some just require you to have a high school diploma.

If you are still in high school, begin by focusing your studies with a strong background of foreign languages. You'll need to have some background in a customer service related job that can include sales, restaurant work, cashiering, etc.

You'll also need to take courses in the travel and hospitality industries. Once in college it's advised you tailor your major to hospitality management, and more foreign language courses.

Current standards seem to dictate you be at least 5 feet 2 inches with weight proportionate to height, and be at least 18 years old, and it helps to know how to swim.

Airlines currently hire over 5,000 flight attendants a year. To be interviewed, present yourself with the highest levels of grooming (there are specific standards), poise, ability to connect with people. Over 90% of the applicants (with or without prior training) that interview for these positions aren't given a second interview.

A great Flight Attendant school will teach you about:

Emergency Procedures/Plane Evacuation

First Aid/CPR

Airport codes

Airline terminology, Airline call letters

Aircraft configurations

National and International geography

Federal Aviation Regulations

Formal flight attendant training

Then, how to go for that Flight Attendant job!

Resume writing and interviewing tips

Getting your Job as a Flight Attendant

The typical standards for grooming, when applying for a position as a flight attendant are as follows:

Men and Women:

Hands - be properly manicured, no chewed fingernails or rough dry hands.

Jewelry - Wedding rings are ok. Avoid extra rings. No necklaces. No bracelets, and watches are great if they are standard. Belts should be black with simple gold or silver buckles. Women - keep earrings small and simple.

Piercings and tattoos - No piercings, ever. Hide the tatoos.

Clothing - Think business suits - dark blue or black preferably, Men Ties - simple, that match the suit, Windsor knots are preferred also. Straight and clean and knots are centered. Womens suits should be a skirt and jacket if possible, with heels no more than 2" high. Blouses in white, simple, button down styles.

Hair - Professionally cut, clean and simply styled. Avoid all the styling products and wind-blown looks. Simple and clean every time. Men - Hair should be no longer than your collar, above your ears and no roots if you color your hair (which should be in natural shades). Women - hair has to be out of your face. This isn't the place for high-fashion hairstyles. If you can tie it back in a neat knot, then do it. If it's short, it needs to styled cleanly.

Facial hair - Sideburns must be neat, and should be no longer than the middle of your ears. Mustaches, beards, goatees are not recommended. If you must have a mustache, then it must be trimmed, and no longer than the corners of your mouth.

Cell Phones - Turn them off, hide them.

Don't chew gum!

Avoid perfumes, colognes, keep make up very simple.

This may all seem obvious, but since more than 90% of applicants do not get asked back for a second interview, you're first impression is critical!

Along with the typical benefit packages most companies offer employees (401K, health insurance, etc) most airlines offer free travel for their employees and their families, and some offer discounted fares on other airlines.

Go, land that perfect job!  Be a Flight Attendant!