How to become a flight attendant: requirements for knowledge, speech and appearance

There are professions that are surrounded by a halo of romance. An example is the specialty of a flight attendant. It provides an opportunity to travel a lot, communicate with foreigners, walk in a neat and feminine uniform. But earning the right to work in this area is not so easy. Applicants must meet a range of criteria. If you want to learn how to become a flight attendant, then you will have to take this issue seriously.

Personal qualities

Every girl who dreams of mastering this profession must have certain character traits. If you are a nervous person by nature and tend to take everything to heart, you are unlikely to be allowed on board the aircraft. Here are some other features that are important:

• fast reaction;
• sociability;
• stress resistance;
• balanced character;
• diligence.

During the flight, emergencies often occur, accompanied by panic. Under the circumstances, the flight attendant is obliged to create a favorable psychological environment. Her tone of conversation, as well as facial expressions, should inspire calmness.

If you think you meet the above criteria, you can move on to the next step. You should choose an airline that seems more attractive to work with. In this case, you can be guided by certain conditions, for example, salary. Let's say Aeroflot flight attendants earn $1,600-1,800 a month. But this is possible only if there are a large number of hours worked and solid experience. The average earnings of flight attendants who have just started work vary between 600-800 dollars.

Contest

The next step is to be trained as a flight attendant. In large airlines, it is paid by the employer. In smaller organizations, candidates will have to take care of the financial side of the issue. That is why preference should be given to a prestigious company. In addition, work in it in the future will affect the size of your salary.

Specialized schools are present throughout Russia. The largest of them operates at Sheremetyevo Airport. All candidates initially go through a competitive selection process. It consists of several stages. First, the employer will invite you for an interview.

External Features

Appearance is very important. This does not mean that you have to look like a supermodel. It is enough to have pleasant facial features. But that's not the only thing that matters. During the selection, other features will be evaluated. For example, the height of a flight attendant should be 165-175 cm. Sometimes there are exceptions to the rules, but girls above 185 cm are not accepted anywhere. A short candidate also has little chance. She simply won't be able to reach the top bunk to help a passenger put luggage on her.

Potential applicants who are considering becoming a flight attendant should be aware that complete applicants are turned down for a number of reasons. The optimal weight is 54-65 kg. If it is more than these indicators, it will be difficult for a girl to move around the plane. There is little space between the rows, and therefore the flight attendant will face difficulties. Too little body weight is also not welcome, because the girl must cope with not the simplest manipulations without any problems. In particular, it is she who is obliged to open the hatch, and this is not so easy.

How old should the applicant be?

This is another indicator that matters to anyone who wants to figure out how to become a flight attendant. Representatives of the fair sex from 18 to 30 years old are allowed to work on board the aircraft. Some airlines are more strict about this criterion and set the upper bar at 25 years.

Whatever the age of the flight attendant, the maximum period during which a girl can fly is no more than 10 years. Many have time to get additional education, continuing to work in their specialty. One does not interfere with the other at all. This approach is correct, because one day you will have to leave the plane and return to normal life. It is at this point that new work is needed.

Before you go to flight attendant courses, you will have to get rid of any tattoos that are on exposed parts of the body. Piercing, permanent makeup, scars and large moles are not allowed.

Education

Before becoming a flight attendant, girls need to be tested not only for compliance with the appearance of the established criteria. Major airlines give preference to candidates with a higher education diploma in medicine, management or psychology.

It is necessary to know foreign languages, at least English. If you manage to complete specialized courses and receive an official certificate, you will have an advantage. But having a certificate of secondary education in a school with in-depth study of the language is also enough. You should prepare well, because the employer will provide you with a text for translation, as well as a special grammar test.

Body check

So, let's imagine that the interview is left behind. So what does it take to become a flight attendant if this stage has already been passed? Now a medical commission awaits you. As a result of the examination carried out by her, 2/3 of the applicants are eliminated. Good health is a must. There are various adverse factors in the air. Not everyone can bear them. These are pressure drops and climate change. In the presence of chronic diseases under their influence of these factors, exacerbations occur.

There will be several visits. Specialists will find out what condition the vital organs, hearing, and vision are in. They will also check how you tolerate turbulence. The flight attendant must stand firmly on her feet. Candidates are seated in special chairs that rotate for several minutes. After that, you are asked to walk in a straight line. You can't step back from it. The flight medical commission will issue a certificate of airworthiness if all these tests are successfully passed.

At the last stage, a psychologist talks to the candidates. Part of his testing will be a special role-playing game. It involves the artificial reproduction of critical situations that arise on board. After that, the expert observes your behavior. Thus, the suitability of employees in emotional terms, the ability to withstand stress is determined. In accordance with the results, a psychological portrait of the candidate will be formed.

Educational process

Are all stages completed? So, the main difficulties are left behind. Ahead of study, which lasts 3 months. If Aeroflot flight attendants pass it for free, then small companies do not have such opportunities. Prestigious organizations cover all financial costs, even if candidates have to travel to other cities for training.

After entering the school, you are divided into groups of 15 people. You will learn:

1. What types of modern aircraft exist.
2. How to provide first aid on board.
3. How to ensure the safety of passengers during the flight.
4. What are the cultural and political characteristics of foreign countries.

The study will consist of a theoretical part and practice. You will be awarded a scholarship, like all students. All students must be trained in a subject such as psychology. Conflict situations are not uncommon during flights. For this reason, the flight attendant must be able to find a common language with any people.

Practice is necessary in order to reinforce the learned information. For example, you will be taught how to evacuate all passengers from an airliner in 90 seconds. Sometimes the plane is forced to land on the water. Students are prepared for this situation. To do this, they practice in a huge pool.

At the end of the study, a difficult multi-level exam awaits. You will be tested in each discipline. Oral and written forms are available. School management usually independently determines which of them to assign to a particular candidate.

Finally, you can get to work. According to its results, the class of a stewardess is assigned. It depends on flight hours, which must be at least 30 and no more than 77 for the entire month. In certain cases, an International Flight Attendant Certificate is issued. To do this, you need to study abroad. Candidates have the opportunity to do this for free and even receive a scholarship.

Classification

The first class corresponds to 3,000 hours. Flight attendants of a lower rank make more than two years of continuous flights. Thus, an increase can be expected after approximately 2 years of work. During this time, you must earn the required number of hours each month.

Positive points

Flight attendants receive high wages for their work. It grows in accordance with the length of service, as well as the prestige of the airline where you are listed. Another plus is that you will always look good. Otherwise, it is impossible, since the employer makes increased demands on the physical form of their employees. You have to go to the gym regularly. For those who have just left the walls of a school or college, it is difficult to find a more profitable option for building a career.

During a flight to foreign countries, the airline pays for every day spent abroad. Flight attendants spend at least a few days in them before the next flight. You are also provided with free high quality meals. On free days, you can walk along the streets of the city where you are.

Flight attendants can take a vacation of 45 days. In general, the profession is recognized as unhealthy, as it is associated with exposure to electromagnetic radiation, vibration, and so on. For a similar reason, there are age limits.