How to write a CV to become a flight attendant

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

The curriculum vitae offers an overview of one's educational and professional background. In some cases it may also include other information: experiences and skills, certifications or qualifications, language fluency, awards and recognitions. In general, applying to work in the cabin crew, therefore as a flight attendant, is not all that different from other jobs that require specific skills. The important thing is that the resume is clear, concise and error-free.

Steps

Part 1 of 5: Reviewing the Job Postings for Flight Attendants

Step 1. Review the websites of various airlines, specifically the careers page

Before updating or writing a resume, take your time to review the sites of the companies you would like to work for. Being airlines, the home page will be aimed at customers, but most websites have a link dedicated to job seekers - you can find it at the bottom of the main page.

• Read the general professional information provided by the company;
• Look for information on the ideal candidate and company culture;

• For example, British Airways' job portal includes key statements such as:

  • "We are looking for candidates who know how to play as a team, eager to stay in contact with others and help them, motivated to make every single customer feel good";
  • "The ideal candidate must always be willing to adapt to change and innovation";
  • "The ideal candidate is committed to enthusiastically delivering enjoyable flying experiences. In fact, he cares about every single aspect of the profession: from passenger safety to our products and services";
• These websites often offer a great selection of keywords that you should try to include in your resume or cover letter (or both);

Step 2. Search for recent job postings for flight attendants

The same websites where you looked for general information about the company should also include a list of available jobs. Use the associated search tool to see if any positions that interest you are offered.

• Remember that not all companies refer to cabin crew jobs in the same way. Your search criteria should include specific words used by the company itself to describe flight attendant positions.
• Many portals allow you to create an account, so that the registered user can set the notifications he prefers. You will then be able to indicate which jobs are of interest to you. The system will automatically send you an email notification when vacancies are available.
• Pay particular attention to the sections of the announcement that list specific qualifications and requirements;
• Also, pay attention to the keywords that occur most frequently in your ad so you can include them in your resume or cover letter.

• For example, a British Airways announcement for flight attendants (called cabin crew members) includes the following main points:

  • "The ideal candidate should naturally be predisposed to engage in interactions with customers and put them first during working hours";
  • "The ideal candidate understands that their job must be done in a timely manner and understands that punctuality is necessary";
  • "The ideal candidate is able to lift a weight of 9 kg from a height of 195 cm, which is equivalent to taking an emergency kit stored in the overhead bin of an aircraft."

  

  Step 3. Determine which companies you prefer to focus your efforts on

  You will soon realize that not all are the same. While they basically offer the same type of service, the methods are very different. You have to decide which ones are your favorites and which ones to discard because you don't want to work on them.

  • You are by no means forced to apply to all the companies in the world just to start making yourself known and making contacts. Choose only those in which you imagine you can work for a long time and in a rewarding way.
  • If a portal doesn't give you a satisfactory overview of the company, you may want to talk to a company employee about it. Since many job positions require direct customer contact, it shouldn't be difficult to find someone to turn to, even if you don't know anyone at the moment.
  • Narrow down the list of companies you want to apply to, then spend more time analyzing the site and vacancies of these companies.

  

  Step 4. Keep in mind the specific characteristics required by the company when writing your resume and cover letter

  As you type, make use of the key words and phrases you've found. Enter as many as possible, but you certainly don't have to use all of them. Also try to show your creativity through the CV and letter.

  • Introductory personal profile: describe yourself using some of the adjectives found in the ad. For example, instead of writing "Experienced flight attendant with more than five years of service", write: "Experienced, dedicated, ambitious and energetic flight attendant with more than five years of service behind him" (if the company indicates your specific job with a different expression, use it).
  • Distinctive skills: When writing the list of your skills and abilities, use both adjectives and specific requirements. For example, instead of writing "Cabin crew member duties performed with a pragmatic and direct approach in full compliance with company policies and protocols", write: "Cabin crew member duties performed with passion and determination for offer a memorable and relaxing flight experience to all passengers. Offer impeccable service in accordance with the current regulations established by the company ".
  • Previous professional experience- Use key words and phrases from the ad itself to describe past experiences. If they're not related to the aviation industry, don't worry. For example, if the offer states that the company is looking for a "good communicator," use this term when describing a past job. Instead of saying "Provide information on area restaurants", you prefer: "Provide information on area attractions".

  Part 2 of 5: Digging into Past Professional Experiences

  

  Step 1. Gather all the necessary information about the jobs you have done in the past

  The professional experience section should list all the details regarding past employment, including: job name, division of the company you worked in, company name, city, province and possibly country, month and year you were in hired, month and year in which you stopped working, list of your duties and responsibilities.

  • Make a list of your past work and get all the required information.
  • Try to list all the jobs you have done, even the first few jobs. If necessary, you can always edit and remove irrelevant experiences.
  • When writing your work experiences on your resume, list them from most recent to oldest.

  

  Step 2. List the assignments for each job done in the past

  Once you have completed your work experience list, detail the tasks, activities and responsibilities that each profession entailed. The purpose of the list is to allow potential employers to get an idea of your concrete experiences. It should be written in a clear and concise way, aimed at emphasizing your growth, your achievements and your responsibilities. Rewrite it following these guidelines:

  • When describing your current job or past employment, don't express yourself.
  • To make the resume more professional, describe the jobs using mostly nouns.
  • Each sentence should explain what you did and because.

  • Here are some examples of points describing tasks:

    • "Passenger welcome and ticket control (what) to ensure optimal boarding (why).
    • "Instructive demonstration on the use of safety equipment (such as oxygen masks) and on the actions to be implemented in emergency situations";
    • "Assistance to passengers left on the ground and resolution of related organizational problems";
    • "Control of aircraft corridors to verify compliance by passengers before take-off and landing".
    • "Supervising the performance of the cabin crew during the flight. Consultation with the flight deck and cabin crew to receive up-to-date information on the travel process."

    

    Step 3. Decide which jobs to discard

    Since the resume has limited space, you may not be able to include all past experiences. In most cases, there is no point in including high school jobs, unless they were specifically related to this industry.

    • There are three ways to reduce the space occupied by this section:

      • First of all, you can reduce the points dedicated to each job;
      • Secondly, you can eliminate all points regarding older works, including only titles;
      • Finally, you can completely get rid of older jobs.

      Part 3 of 5: Describe Education and Certifications

      

      Step 1. Describe your education, training, and certifications in detail

      This section is also very important to have a complete curriculum. It should include all undergraduate and postgraduate courses, training courses, and workshops you have attended. In most cases it is not necessary to enter high school, but it is possible to do so in the absence of a higher degree.

      • List all the courses you have taken from high school onwards;
      • For each entry you will need the following information: name of the institution, address, start and end of the program, degree, diploma or certificate obtained and faculty (if necessary);
      • You must indicate which training courses you have completed by specifying the date on which you received a certificate or graduated. If you think unfinished courses may raise too many questions, you can rule them out.

      

      Step 2. If applicable, list your acknowledgments

      Have you received an award or scholarship from one of the institutions you attended? Add this information to your resume.

      • If you have received fewer than three awards, use a bulleted list to place them under the relevant institution;
      • If you have received more than three awards or scholarships, create a separate section to list them. In this case, write the title of the award and the year in which you obtained it.

      

      Step 3. Include skills that are important and that will make you stand out among other candidates

      For example, you can enter certifications (such as those awarded after a cardiopulmonary resuscitation or BLSD course), languages you speak fluently, associations you are a member of, specific interests that would make you more interesting in the eyes of headhunters. Certifications are particularly important if they are required for concrete work.

      • If you list certifications that indicate the date you earned them (and possibly the expiration date), specify the month and year on the resume. List them from earliest to earliest.
      • Here are some examples of special interests: volunteering, special skills (playing the piano, practicing ballroom dancing, and so on), and any other passions that would spark an interesting conversation during an interview.

      Part 4 of 5: Writing the Introductory Personal Profile and Distinctive Skills

      

      Step 1. First you need to know how to develop your personal introductory profile

      This section, also called the introductory paragraph, gives you an overview of your main features. Name it as you see fit. You should write a paragraph containing a short personal description. The text should bring out some of your best qualities and characteristics.

      This is the first paragraph of the resume, so it will also be the first part that the employer will read. As a result, you should get noticed and intrigued

      

      Step 2. Write your profile draft

      This paragraph should summarize all sections of the resume, which is why it is best to write it last. You need to summarize your skills and experiences in three to five concise sentences. This description should make it clear that you are the perfect candidate for an airline.

      • If you have no experience as a flight attendant, the profile should focus on those soft skills that you can use for your new job.
      • If you have experience as a flight attendant, your profile should include specific examples from past jobs.

      • Examples of profiles for an experienced and non-experienced flight attendant:

        • "Cabin crew member with solid and proven experience of over seven years. Specialized in pre-flight and post-flight verification procedures aimed at ensuring constant attention to passengers and a safe journey."
        • "Specialist in the field of customer care with over five years of experience in the hotel industry sector. Experience in offering impeccable, competent and patient service to national and international hotel customers. Problem solving skills in emergency situations".

        

        Step 3. Write a list of your skills, talents and strengths

        How to start writing this part of the resume? Take a notebook, sit down, think about your skills and all those characteristics that make you special. Most skills can be considered universal, so you can use them for any job you apply for. Other skills are specific to a certain employment or sector. For example, think about flying a plane, programming a computer, repairing an engine, and so on. For this particular curriculum, use transversal or specific skills, talents and strengths for a cabin crew member.

        • Here are some examples of strengths: adaptability, analytical skills, communication, perseverance, empathy, positivity, responsibility, self-confidence, strategy.
        • Here are some examples of skills: Ability to work under pressure, attention to detail, conflict resolution, ability to delegate, diplomacy, problem solving, mediation, persuasion, patience, customer service management, trustworthiness, ability to take initiative, teamwork, creativity.
        • In addition to these skills, remember to include skills of a general nature typically required in this industry. For example, many ads may ask for candidates capable of lifting a weight of 20 kg. Be sure to specify this in this section - hiring managers will know that you meet the general requirements.

        

        Step 4. Deepen your core competencies

        This section is quite similar to that of the profile, except that it needs to be elaborated by writing bulleted lists and providing slightly more detailed information. So you can expand your skills a little more and go into detail. It is not a mandatory section, but you can take advantage of it to give further importance to your application. Insert it between the introductory paragraph and the part dedicated to work experiences.

        • The core competencies section can be developed in two ways: through a bulleted list describing each competency in a few words or through a three to five point list that explains your skills in more detail.

        • A short list can include the following expressions:

          • Pre-flight and post-flight verification procedures
          • Safety on board
          • Meal service
          • Inventory management
          • Assistance in case of special needs
          • Intervention in emergency situations

        • A bulleted list consisting of complete sentences can be structured as follows:

          • "Ability to assume a leadership role in the face of a variety of emergency and non-emergency situations on board."
          • "Ability to proactively provide on-board services in full compliance with the policies and protocols defined by the airline".
          • "Proven ability to communicate technical information to passengers in a precise and customer-oriented manner".

          

          Step 5. Develop a personal slogan

          To make your resume stand out for creativity among many others, come up with your own slogan or motto. It takes some time, but it's worth it in the end. Here are some examples of slogans:

          • "Flawless service for a memorable flight".
          • "Exclusive service for sophisticated travelers: every flight will be a stylish and tailor-made experience".

          Part 5 of 5: Designing an Interesting End Product

          

          Step 1. Structure the final product

          There are different formats for a resume, but in any case you have to follow some guidelines that apply to any CV. The choice of the exact format is up to you because the proposal is wide. Search for samples on the internet and adopt the one you prefer. You can definitely add a touch of creativity. If you are not sure which format is right for you, create different versions, print them and compare them.

          • The first thing to write on the resume is your name, in the largest font. To facilitate the structure, write your name and other contact details in the header of the document. This ensures that the information will be repeated on the second page, if you have one.
          • Contact details must be written after the name and inserted in the header of the document. You should use a smaller font than the name;
          • Your slogan (if you have one) should be written directly under the header. In theory you should write it in a prominent font, perhaps, if you think the case, even in bold;
          • Write the personal profile or introductory paragraph after the slogan. This section should have a title;
          • If you decide to dedicate a section to your core competencies, you should write it after the introductory paragraph. Again a title is required;
          • Next, write the section of professional experiences, which also has a title;
          • The section dedicated to training must be written after that of professional experiences, which also has a specific title;
          • If you decide to dedicate separate sections to other qualifications, interests and awards, you can include them at the end of the resume;
          • If you decide to add the phrase "References available upon request", insert it at the bottom of the page;
          • If the resume has more than one page, number them at the bottom. It is also useful to enter the page count (Page X of Y), instead of only displaying the page number (Page X).

          

          Step 2. Use industry keywords

          Whenever you write a paragraph, use technical vocabulary. Also, if you have to apply for specific job offers, use words taken from the ads to write your resume (and cover letter).

          • Using keywords will also come in handy if your resume is saved in a database or posted online. Many large companies scan CVs for organizational reasons. When a seat becomes available, they search the database using specific keywords.
          • Keywords are also important if you post your resume online. Headhunters in the industry can search websites using keywords to find the best candidates.
          • You won't necessarily know what keywords each airline company uses when they search, but rest assured that many of them are also found in their job postings. Before finishing the resume, it's helpful to review multiple industry announcements.

          

          Step 3. The resume should be no more than two pages long

          The final version shouldn't be too long. If you are printing, choose the double-sided option, so you only need one sheet. If it doesn't take up two full pages, try to condense it into one.

          • If you need to shorten your resume and keep it from exceeding two pages, there are many formatting tricks. Here are some of them:

            • Decrease the space on the margins, but it should not be less than 2.5 cm;
            • Reduce the space for titles and footers. The text of these parts should take up a few lines;
            • Reduce the size of the font used for the header and footer to 8-10 points;
            • Reduce the font used in the rest of the resume to 10-12 points;
            • The font of the headings should be larger than that of the paragraphs. For example, use 12 points for headings and 10 for text.

            

            Step 4. Make sure your contact details are accurate

            You should indicate your name, surname, full address (including city, province and postcode), telephone number and email. Enter a single phone number and a single e-mail address. Check that all information is correct, otherwise you risk an employer trying to track you down without success.

            • Make sure that the number indicated has activated the answering machine function;
            • If you use an answering machine, the initial message should be professional. If not, register another;
            • Don't give out email addresses you don't control, such as your employer's. If necessary, open a new account just for the resume and connect it to the address you use most for importing messages.
            • Don't use email addresses with names that are anything but professional, like [email protected]. If you need an email for business purposes, open a new account.

            

            Step 5. Pay attention to character

            You can find many online, but many are not appropriate for a resume. The font must be clear and legible. You can use more than one, but your selection should be limited to a maximum of two to three. Choose one for the text and another for the titles. If you want to add a third one, use it for your contact details or slogan.

            • Here are the most recommended fonts for a resume: Garamond (classic), Gill Sans (simple), Cambria (clear), Calibri (simple), Constantia (friendly), Lato (friendly), Didot (classy), Helvetica (contemporary), Georgia (clear) and Avenir (precise).
            • The worst fonts to use for a resume are: Times New Roman (overused), Futura (impractical), Arial (overused), Courier (unprofessional), Brush Script (overused), Comic Sans (infantile), Century Gothic (little practical), Papyrus (stereotyped), Impact (overwhelming) and Trajan Pro (impractical).

            

            Step 6. Do not include references

            Obviously you will need to have some available so that potential employers can do the necessary checks. However, you should not provide any information unless explicitly requested. In any case, you can write "References available on request", but it is not mandatory. It's common to assume that most companies will be expecting references, so you don't have to name them on your resume.

            • You should still prepare all references with names and contact details (number and email) before applying for a job, so you will be ready when they ask you.
            • You need to make sure that the people listed are willing to be contacted and that they can speak well of you. First, contact the interested parties and explain the purpose of your application.

            

            Step 7. Check your spelling and grammar twice

            Spelling and grammar errors carry weight on a resume. The CV is used for the purpose of assessing your professional suitability for a particular job, so you risk being rejected due to these inaccuracies. If a hiring manager has to read an endless pile of resumes, they'll immediately trash the ones containing grammatical and spelling errors.

            • First, use your word processor's spell checker, but don't rely on it too much: it can't be the only method of verification;
            • Put your resume aside for at least a day, then pick it up and reread it;
            • Print a copy of the resume and read it. This ensures that the aesthetic result is pleasing, but it also helps you to notice mistakes more easily.
            • Read the resume aloud. This method helps identify sentences that don't make sense.
            • Review the resume from bottom to top. Reading it in a different way, the brain will not automatically scroll through words, as it tends to do when you read it normally.

            

            Step 8. Ask someone to read the resume

            Before completing it, invite a friend or relative to check it out. You can talk to anyone - they don't have to be an expert. A different look may notice simple mistakes you've overlooked and will be able to tell you if there's something that doesn't make sense.

            • You can also hire a career counselor. He will be able to give you an opinion on the format and content, but he will also be able to point out simple grammatical and typing errors.
            • If you are attending university, you can try contacting your faculty career guidance center. You can find someone willing to read your resume and help you correct it.
            • In theory, it would be ideal if an airline hiring manager read it. It will be able to give you specific tips on the keywords in the sector and the necessary skills you are looking for.

            

            Step 9. Prepare a cover letter for each application

            It is a fundamental document for proposing yourself as a member of the cabin crew. In fact, it allows you to customize the application for the specific ad you're responding to. It is also useful for making a favorable first impression.

            • The cover letter should tell your story, it is not a bulleted list;
            • It should describe how you plan to use your specific skills and experience for the job being offered;
            • The cover letter also allows you to broadly understand how you write and if you are able to communicate.

            Advice

            • Save two copies of the final resume: one in editable format (as docx) and another in PDF. Unless otherwise indicated, always send the PDF version with the applications. This ensures that the format and font remain the same.
            • Some online application systems require you to upload a copy of your resume, but then they analyze it and copy the information into specific fields in the database. It is almost certain that the system will not copy all your data correctly the first time. Before submitting your application, always review each field.