How to Become a Flight Attendant

Do you feel drawn to the life of a flight attendant? Flight attendants play an important role in air travel, working to help passengers feel comfortable and stay safe. With layovers in hundreds of cities around the world, they have the opportunity to experience sights, smells, and tastes that most of us can’t imagine. This article outlines the details of a flight attendant’s job, the qualifications you need to be a candidate for a position, and tips on landing a job with an airline.

Method 1 of 3: Preparing for a Career as a Flight Attendant

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   Know what the job entails. Flight attendants are caregivers customer service professionals, and safety providers. They ensure that passengers have a safe and calm passage while they’re on the plane. Their responsibilities include:
   • Greeting passengers as they board the plane, and thanking them as they exit.
   • Helping passengers get seating and stow their luggage in the overhead bins.
   • Giving a presentation of the airline’s safety procedures.
   • Facilitating beverage and food services.
   • Answering passengers’ questions, and calming passengers who are anxious or upset.
   • Guiding passengers to safety in the event of an emergency, and administering first aid if necessary.
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   Get familiar with the benefits and drawbacks. In addition to getting the opportunity to travel all over the world on the job, flight attendants receive steeply discounted airline tickets for themselves and for their families. For many, this makes up for the fairly low pay (the entry-level salary is $18,000 per year) and the taxing hours a flight attendant must endure. A particularly grueling trip might include a ten-hour flight, a twenty-four-hour layover, another ten-hour flight, and so on. In addition to base pay, flight attendants also receive a "per diem" from under $2 to $3 per hour depending upon domestic or international assignments, to cover meals and incidental expenses while they are away from their base - even when on layover and not working. Thus, a flight attendant with a per diem of $3 per, receives an additional $72 for each day spent away from base.
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   Understand the hierarchy. New flight attendant hires go through a few months of training before they become “junior” flight attendants. Junior flight attendants are under close scrutiny, and they receive lower pay and fewer benefits than “senior” flight attendants while they learn the ropes. After about a year of doing a satisfactory job, junior flight attendants get promoted to senior status, which gives them greater control over their hours.
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   Make sure the lifestyle is right for you. Since flight attendants travel so much, they often have to make personal sacrifices. But flight attendants function as each other’s family, and they provide each other with a lot of support. Flight attendants usually have the following qualities:
   • They’re fiercely independent. Flight attendants are able to navigate new places alone, and they enjoy being on their own, even if it means being away from their families during long trips.
   • They live in the moment. Many flight attendants explore the nightlife in the cities they visit, or take advantage of the attractions each city has to offer. They enjoy having new experiences and finding something great about every city.
   • They’re generous with time and space. Flight attendants don’t get a lot of personal space. They share their quarters with other flight attendants on longer trips. While flying, they have to put the customer first, even if they may be just as exhausted from being in the air for ten or more hours. Flight attendants have a cheerful attitude and uplift others under uncomfortable circumstances.

Method 2 of 3: Qualifications for the Job

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   Be a citizen of the US, fluent in English, and at least eighteen years of age.This requirement will be different in countries outside the US.
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   Meet the physical requirements. Each airline has different physical requirements tailored to the dimensions of their planes. Airlines want to make sure that flight attendants are tall enough to reach the overhead bins, but not so tall that their head hits the ceiling of the plane. Airlines also require that flight attendants be able to sit in a seat and buckle the seatbelt comfortably.
   • The height range for most airlines is between 5’0” - 5’ 1” and 5’8” - 6’3”. Some airlines do not have height requirements, but instead require that you be able to reach a certain height.
   • There is no numerical weight requirement, but many airlines do a visual assessment, looking at weight in proportion to height.
   • In the 1960s, flight attendants were required to be females of a certain weight, and to retire before they reached a certain age. Some airlines continued these discriminatory practices through the 1980s and 1990s. Now men can be flight attendants, there is no numerical weight requirement, and people may continue working as flight attendants until they’re ready to retire.
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   Have your GED. Airlines won’t hire people who don’t have their GED, but no higher education is required. That said, airlines do look favorably upon people who have a college degree, or even a few years of college under their belt. It shows that you’re ambitious and able to handle a challenge.
   • Some companies offer “flight training programs,” but this is not a requirement before applying to airlines. You’ll receive training if you’re hired as a flight attendant.
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   Have some customer service experience. The primary role of a flight attendant is to provide excellent customer service, so it really helps if you’ve worked in a similar role before. There are many types of jobs that count as customer service experience: answering phones for a company, working in retail, or working at the front desk of a small business all require interacting with and helping the public. This isn’t a mandatory requirement for all airlines, but it will help give you an edge.

Method 3 of 3: Becoming a Flight Attendant

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   Research airlines to find jobs opening. Go to the websites of airlines that appeal to you and find their “careers” page. Make a list of all the jobs that appeal to you, and figure out whether you meet their requirements before proceeding.
   • Some cities host flight attendant “open houses” to give potential flight attendants the chance to learn more about the career and meet employers. Do an online search to find out if there’s an open house coming up near you.
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   Apply to open jobs. Most airlines will require that you submit an application with your basic information, a resume, and sometimes a cover letter. Make sure your application materials are clear and well-written, and stress your customer service experience.
   • It may be a matter of days or as long as several weeks before you receive a telephone call or an email from the airlines to whom you have submitted an application.
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   Ace your interviews. Airlines are quite selective when it comes to hiring flight attendants; the right candidates must have a special mix of cool-headedness, endurance and the ability to provide excellent customer service. Show that you’re personable, responsible, and that you care about people’s safety and comfort.
   • Most major airlines have only one city in the United States where they conduct interviews, so you may have to travel to your interview.
   • Use anecdotes to illustrate times when you handled a situation that required acting as a leader while others were anxious and stressed.
   • Know what makes each airline unique, and discuss the qualities that make you right for this particular airline during your interview.
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   Pass the medical exam. If you’re hired for a position, you’ll have to undergo a medical exam before the airline makes it official. Find out what the exam will entail and make sure you’ll be able to pass it.
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   Excel during the training period. The four- to six-week training period is described by many as being difficult, but rewarding. Learn from your mistakes and always maintain a positive demeanor. Remember that every flight attendant started out as a rookie. You have a lot to learn, and a lot to look forward to.

7. Here's some tips to be succeed in a flight attendant interview 

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   Do your homework. The airline industry has been through extensive change in the past ten years. Many airlines have been sold, merged or restructured recently. Study the history of the airline you're interviewing with to be sure you understand what kinds of changes it has undergone. This will allow you to effectively answer questions about how you may handle company integration challenges and customer confusion. Do a search online for the company or organization. Few businesses stay offline, so even if it's just a Facebook page, you can find out information about your potential employer. Read through the website or related pages and soak up everything you can.
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   Dress the part. Flight crew members wear uniforms for a reason; they need to be able to command respect when necessary. Demonstrate your ability to command respect by wearing appropriate airline industry attire for your interview.
   • Wear a suit in a neutral color. Airline uniforms are usually in neutral colors, so by wearing a neutral suit, you will look the part of a flight attendant.
   • Keep your hair, jewelry and makeup conservative and professional. Airline dress codes typically prohibit unnatural hair colors, jewelry that is large or noisy, and makeup that is brightly colored.
   • Remove piercings and cover tattoos wherever possible. Piercings and tattoos violate the dress codes of most airlines.
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   Understand the job. Flight attendants are on board an aircraft primarily for the safety of passengers. In an interview, you will likely be asked to talk about past situations in which you've faced an emergency and been able to remain calm under pressure.
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   Prepare to demonstrate your public speaking abilities. Being able to clearly communicate and compel strangers to follow your directions are key skills for a flight attendant. During your interview, you may be asked to read safety instructions or relevant documents to a group of people. Your interviewers will be evaluating whether you can speak in a loud, clear voice without faltering. Be precise when they asked about your qualification and why they should hire you, be specific. State in a way that catches interviewers’ attention and make them feel that they would make a mistake if you are not hired.  
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   Demonstrate adaptability. Flight attendants have to be able to think quickly. When a problem crops up at 35,000 feet, they must use available resources to solve it. Be prepared to give examples that demonstrate your ability to be resourceful and flexible.
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   Be friendly. Flight attendants are the primary customer service providers of any airline. Hiring managers want to see candidates who can smile, demonstrate warmth and likability, and take any unpleasantness in stride. Keeping a calm, friendly demeanor no matter what happens will set you apart from other candidates.
7. 7 Prepare for some delicate questions. Most of the time, interviewers ask some tricky questions because these are how they separate the people they want to work with from everyone else. And quite simply, if you're not well prepared, you will get caught off-guard. So be ready to answer the typical questions that throw many interviewees: 

• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• Why do you think they should hire you? Tell them something unique about yourself
• Why do you want to become a flight attendant

Trust me, that is a question you will have to answer

1. 8  Be yourself. First impressions count. It's a nerve wracking experience, but try to relax and don't forget to smile. Introduce yourself to other candidates in the rooms. Airlines prefer applicants who are friendly. So be yourself, enjoy the moment, and laugh. Have fun!
2. 9 Confident is key. Keep it positive whenever answering a question, especially when discussing yourself or any past employers and coworkers. Also, dont be the last person to answer each question. Be confident. Raise your hand.
3. 10 Talk the talk. Use the phrase "good customer service" and the word "flexible" as often as possible. Flight attendants spend more time with passengers than anyone else in the industry, so airlines are looking for applicants with experience in customer service. Because a majority flight attendant do not get based where they live right out the training, and because a flight attendant's schedule is constantly changing and many of us are on-call for days, even months, at a time, it's very important to remain "flexible". Show examples of taht as well. Remember to slow down and add a little life to what could be a long, drawn out, monotone speech. Before the interview takes place, try practicing reading magazines, books, whatever, out loud at home.
4. 11 Buh-bye, adios sayonara, see ya later. Flight attendants are expected to welcome and say goodbye to each and every passenger while boarding or deplaining a flight. Wouldn't hurt to do the same to the person(s) conducting the interview process. Thank the interview for their time and tell him or her you look forward to seeing them again.
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6. Hope that will help. Good luck.

Sources : 
http://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-Flight-Attendant
http://www.wikihow.com/Succeed-in-a-Flight-Attendant-Interview
http://www.gadling.com/2010/01/20/galley-gossip-how-to-prepare-for-a-flight-attendant-interview/
http://www.wikihow.com/Limit-Your-Mistakes-During-a-Job-Interview