the F.A.J.O blog

by Tidewater Muse

Where are all the Pilot Jobs?

I have been flying for a living for over 10 years now. I have been one of the lucky ones who has found employment in a financially strong company and I am a very happy pilot! Things could have been very different if I had completed my flight training in today’s financial environment. A quick search on Google for ‘how to find a pilot job’ takes you to pilot employment sites and few of them offer any real help and support apart from www.flightcrewfinder.com. I think we know how tough it is to find a flying job especially if you are starting out on your career.

What I intend to do is offer some practical advice on how to build a network and increase your chances of finding work. This is not a definative guide but hopefully will point people in the right direction.

Research is important, you need to target airlines that you want to work for. You need to ensure that they are hiring or are about to hire and that you meet their minimum criteria. As an example, if Cathay Pacific only hire pilots with 5000+ hours it is no good applying to them if you have just qualified. Find out who reads the CV’s and address all correspondence to them, you need to build up a personal relationship with them.

Flexibility is a feature all pilots are familiar with and it will be needed in huge quanities when you are looking for work. You may need to spread your wings a little further than your home town or even your own country. As part of my work at www.flightcrewfinder.com I look around the world to see who is recruiting and what opportunities there are for our members. There is work for very many qualified pilots in Asia and in the Far East but, some people’s commitments make it impossible for them to move.

Planning is a thing that all pilots do every time we take to the skies even for the shortest flight. You need to make an ideal career plan but accept it will change as your life changes and you get older. Where do you want to be in 20 years time and what steps do you need to make to get there? You may have to make a short term sacrifice to achieve your goal.

CV/Resumes are still important but getting less so in today’s environment of online applications. There are plenty of resources on the web that will help you write the ‘killer’ CV but remember it needs to be factual and only on one sheet of paper. The covering letter is the place where you can embellish your achievements.

Internet and Networking I was talking to someone who works for a large recruiter recently and he stressed the importance of ensuring your online identity is professional and becoming of an airline captain. So now maybe now is the time to look at your social networking sites and suspend or cancel your accounts. I do know of one employer who searches Google and Facebook before every interview, could this cause you embarrassment? Is your email address suitable? ‘snugglypooch@email.com’ may not be the best address to have, set up a gmail/hotmail account just for the recruiting process.

More people are using ‘linkedin.com’ to help build up a professional network. It is hard when you come to a new industry to find people that maybe able to help you get an interview. The more groups you join, the more you interact, the more articles you write, the more people will ‘link’ to you and help you build a network.

Employment websites like www.flightcrewfinder.com are used by employers who are looking for pilots and cabin crew and listing your details has proved very useful for many. www.flightcrewfinder.com is trying to do things differently and encourage interaction via forums, articles and news items. You can standout from the crowd by getting involved and contributing, this may just raise your profile and help you get a job!

MSNBC aired a report on April 3 2008 with a story about Alecia Lutz-Rolow, a Flight Attendant with American Airlines. Story goes that she received an award as a recognition from saving a passenger’s life with a defibrillator; problem is that AA is using that as damage control… see the whole report for the details. Let’s not forget the track record that American Airlines has in terms of safety and ‘damage control’. On the aftermath of Chicago’s O’Hare crash (AA Flight 191), the lawyers team of the airline resorted to dirty tactics on the courtroom while trying to determine the insurance pay-off to the victim’s survivors or next of kin… going as low as to trying to determine a deceased father’s *worthiness* as a parent to a surviving son. Look for the History Channel’s ‘Seconds From Disaster’ documentary on Flight 191. They’re at it again. Under very unfortunate and absolutely preventable circumstances, AA lost a passenger on February 22 2008 in flight 896: Ms. Carine Desir. Google for more details. – - – - – - – Found the following website: tellyouraastory.com One of the places that have linked to this video. – - – - – - Comments need to be approved only because of abuse by porn pushers and those people with no control of the foul language. .
Video Rating: 4 / 5

The Different Types Of Airport Job Roles

Cabin Crew

It takes a certain type of person to deliver good customer service and to put potentially nervous customers at ease. This role involves a great deal of travelling and requires the candidate to be flexible and very hard working. Cabin crew members need to be smart and presentable.

Airport Services

Everybody knows that cabin crew play an essential role in the airline industry, but the ground staff are just as important.  They have to manage a large number of passengers and guide them to their flight in a smooth and organised way.  Good customer service skills are also very important for this role.  The airport services team needs sensitivity to produce a perfect service to people from all over the world.

Pilots

This is a very special and important role that must be filled by highly trained and skilled individuals.  To even be considered for this role you need to have at least 2,500 hours of flying time and a UK ATPL or JAR Ops licence, the right to live in the UK and an MCC qualification.  A first officer is assigned to fly long haul on a range of international flights, essentially supporting the commander.

Engineering

Anyone working in the sector of the airport should be fully aware that their role is key to passenger safety.  There is a very big engineering department that works behind the scenes and they work very hard to follow specific safety procedures and to add innovation and creativity to the airline industry.

Cargo

These are the people who make sure everything is organised and delivered safely and quickly to its destination.   The people who hold the cargo business together are split into five different group: Commercial, Operations, Corporate Services, Marketing and Finance.  Cargo employees are required to have good commercial awareness and experience in a cargo environment.

Head Office

The workers at head office are key to keeping an airline company running smoothly and efficiently.  This department is usually made up of many different roles, such as Marketing, Sales, Flight Operations, HR are and Commercial and Finance.

Clubhouse

This part of the airline industry provides a very specific service, making customers feel like they are travelling in luxury and delivering exceptional customer service.  This is quite an exciting role dealing with a large range of first class passengers from VIP’s and businessmen to several celebrities passing through.  Customers who use this service are paying for a high standard of travel and expect the very best service from staff.

Find More Cabin Crew Jobs Articles

by wakingphotolife

Question by Chinchilla: Please, any tips to success in Air Stewardess job interview?
Anyone who are good at interviews or favourably are air stewardess or steward would like to give advice to stand out in a crowd of hundreds of women in such a job interview? Or managers or HR dept experts would like to give suggestions? Thanks a million!

Best answer:

Answer by courtsnort51
smile, and more smiling. good luck and mention the word career. employers love that word, never say job, always CAREER.

What do you think? Answer below!

by jessamyn

Are You Looking For The Jobs On Superyacht

Getting a job on a superyacht could certainly be an exciting and rewarding career. The job though, is not open to everyone. Like any other career in the work force, a job on a superyacht entails some form of accreditation and probably even some background. For one to be eligible to work on a superyacht one would initially have to undergo training from the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watch keeping or STCW. Thereafter, you can now begin choosing which profile you would like to handle. Some of the jobs that need to be occupied in this field are the deckhands, stewards and stewardesses, engineers, chefs, and captains.

Deckhand

A deckhand is in control of overseeing the externalizes of the yacht. This occupation requires complexities because one would need to know the ins and outs of the yacht. Moreover, the salary is in the range of around ,000 and can be highly gratifying.

Stewards and Stewardesses

Stewards and stewardesses are the main crewmember who handle the aesthetics, cleanliness, and arrangement of the yacht in general. Some of the jobs that they may take care of include attending to the guests on board, accommodating to all their desires, and serving their food. Essentially, this job is like being a personal assistant in the sense that you get to handle the needs of the people on board and aid in all their needs.

Engineers
Because a superyacht is a complicated watercraft, it calls for the experience and knowledge of a skilled engineer. Frequently, these superyachts travel long distances. If troubles come up and an engineer is not present, a lot of problems may happen. That is why for security and safety, every yacht is required to have an engineer. Having said that, it is important to have an engineer aboard because he will guarantee the safety of the voyage.

Chefs

Chefs are also usually aboard a superyacht. Usually, yachts that are associated with a company include chefs. Nevertheless, private owners still would rather have their own chefs aboard. The beauty and luxury of yachting is that you get to benefit and enjoy relaxation at its greatest disposal. Chefs compliment the complete traveling experience by creating gastronomically alluring food and satisfying the people on board at all times.

Captains

The yacht’scaptain is perhaps the highest paid member on board. After all, a superyacht captain needs to pass rigid training and attain high level experience in order to be called a captain. Their occupation is one of the most positions on board because they handle all the operations, they lead the whole crew, and they are responsible for the superyacht itself.

Related Stewardess Jobs Articles

Question by wendybird: What kind of jobs require lots of international travel?
I don’t want to be a pilot or a stewardess so what other jobs would require me to travel a lot. I love to travel.

Best answer:

Answer by johnny utah
flight attendant

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

by Kevin H.

What You Need to Apply for Flight Attendant Openings

When you are looking for a job as a flight attendant, there are several places you can look to find flight attendant openings. Since the major employers in the air transportation business are airlines, you can check the websites of the airlines to see if they do have a need for flight attendants and are hiring. Some large corporations with private jets also have need for flight attendants from time to time and they may post the ads in magazines related to their business or to air travel. There are also job search sites on the Internet where you can find postings for flight attendant jobs. If you post your resume and cover letter to these sites, when an opening comes up you will get an email alerting you to the posting.

In order to determine whether or not you qualify for a flight attendant opening when it is posted, you do have to read the ad to find the qualifications that the employer is looking for in the applicants. The minimum level of education required by all airlines is a high school diploma, but this is just the minimum. Most of the flight attendants that are hired today have a college or university degree. Even though this education does not give you the training you need to work as a flight attendant, it shows the employer that you are willing to work hard in school to better yourself.

One of the major qualifications that you will need to be successful in obtaining a position as a flight attendant is exceptional customer service skills. You don’t necessarily need to have experience in this area because it will come with practice once you start the training for the job. However, if you do have experience and have a good reference to attest to this, you have a better chance of getting the job. Many people don’t even realize that they do have this experience and never put it on their resume because they think they should only list the skills that are related to other aspects of air travel. If you worked in any area in which you dealt with the public, you should list this on your resume as customer service.

Fluency in more than one language is one of the qualifications that will really make your application for the job stand out. Airlines fly all over the world and deal with customers that speak many different languages.  Fluency in English is a requirement and unless you are fluent in English you will not get a job as a flight attendant in any English speaking country.

You do need to have a passport because of the different countries you will be flying into. You must also be neat in appearance, with no tattoos, visible body piercings or wear offensive jewellery. You must also be willing to relocate in some cases when you apply for one of the openings for flight attendants and of course, you must be willing to work shifts that will require you to be away from home for short periods of time.

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i was a PASSENGER on this flight from LAX to Chicago MDW. it was quite entertaining and had people laughing. i couldnt record the flight attendant b/c he was not visible to me, so i just recorded the sunny southern california weather. enjoy. just a few comments on this video: 1. it is a real recording, there are some people on youtube who have had this guy. 2. it is southwest airlines, so the demos are not like other airlines. 3. once again, i was just a PASSENGER 4. THIS IS THE ORIGINAL VIDEO!!!! dont think i dont see peoples stealing my video. (thanks to the 2 videos though for the reference)
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Watch this video for a demonstration of “How To Ask Out a Flight Attendant”. Tocomplete the task, you will need: Charm Chivalry A business card Get started with the first step: Dress in clean, neat business clothes. Youll immediately distinguish yourself from the 90 percent of flyers who have dressed for comfort—you know, the ones whose gnarly toes are sticking out of their flip-flops. For the complete guide, go to www.howcast.com Also check out Howcast for other do it yourself videos from Stabbey and more videos in the Air Travel category. How can you contribute? Create your own DIY guide at www.howcast.com or apply to the Howcast Emerging Filmmakers Program at www.howcast.com
Video Rating: 4 / 5

by manintheorangeshirt

The Facts About Flight Attendant Jobs

Airline flight attendants have been glamorized in film and books for decades – ever since the first stewardess pinned on her wings and greeted a passenger at the gate. We all know what airline flight attendant jobs are like, don’t we? After all, we’ve seen the movies and read the books. Flight attendants lead glamorous lives with parties in every city. They’re always impeccably groomed and ready to fly at a moment’s notice. They get to meet celebrities and take advantage of all sorts of job perks – like free travel.

The realities of the job are a little less glamorous, according to those who work in airline flight attendant jobs. Here’s the real lowdown on airline flight attendant jobs according to the people who should know – airline flight attendants.

Before the flight:

- First call of the day, a briefing of the flight crew by the captain. He’ll fill you in on anything you need to know about that particular flight – evacuation procedures, the rest of the crew, the flight details, expected weather conditions and anything important you need to know about the passengers.

- After the briefing, run a check on safety equipment on board – are all the first aid kits in place and stocked? Does all the safety equipment work properly?

- Check the passenger cabin to make sure that you have everything you need for the passengers during the flight – food, beverages, blankets and more.

Flight time – you’re on!

- You’ll be the first one to greet passengers as the board the plane, and responsible for checking tickets and telling them where to store their coats and carry-ons.

- Once the passengers are seated, you’ll inform them about the emergency equipment and demonstrate how to use it.

- Check each passenger to make sure that they’re safety belts are fastened properly, and all their bags are safely stowed before takeoff.

During the Flight:

- There’s all the normal stuff. You’ll have a schedule worked out with the rest of the cabin crew – usually under the direction of the lead flight attendant – that tells you who will be responsible for which seats and cabins. Your job – as long as nothing unusual happens – is to make sure that the passengers are comfortable and have everything they need. You’ll deliver meals and drinks, distribute pillows, blankets and reading material, answer questions about how to use the reading light, how to recline the seat and where the bathroom is. Except for the fact that you’re up a few thousand feet in the air, it’s a lot like any other service job – until something out of the ordinary happens.

- Sometimes the out of the ordinary is a passenger. You may have mothers or fathers with small children that need an extra helping hand. If you have a disabled passenger on board, you’ll anticipate whatever needs they may have, and take steps to make sure that they’re taken care of.

- Then there are the ‘normal emergencies’ like turbulence. You can expect turbulence often – and when it happens, there are always flyers that are worried – or worse – and need reassurance. Some of them will get sick – your job is to make sure that they’re all right. You’ll also make sure that anyone who gets injured or sick while in the air is taken care of.

- It may never happen – most people working in airline flight attendant jobs never have to worry about all those safety drills and emergency evacuation procedures – but if it does, you need to be ready. In the event of a forced landing, you’re the one who’ll be keeping everyone calm and helping them get off the plane as safely as possible. You’ll also be trained to watch for ‘odd behavior’ that might signal a hijacker or terrorist, and told what to do if you see someone suspicious.

Before the Plane Lands:

- You’ll take inventory of all the equipment to make sure that it’s there and accounted for.

After Landing:

Even after the plane lands, you’re job isn’t done. You get to help the passengers deplane, and then check the plane for any articles left behind. There are post flight reports to fill out, and information to be conveyed to the captain and crew. It’s a surprisingly long day for a flight that may be as little as a few hours – but every bit of it is necessary.

More Flight Attendant Jobs Articles