What kind of information is featured on the ideal flight attendant resume? What does a sample flight attendant resume look like?
There are key elements that every airline HR department looks for when trying to select suitable flight attendant applicants. Incorporating these key elements into your resume and cover letter will help you obtain that coveted flight attendant position. Since your resume is your ticket to the interview, an impeccable resume and cover letter ensures that you will be given the opportunity to move on to the next stages of the hiring process.
A simple way to get started is to choose the type of resume you want to build. A profile or combination resume with an overview or objective section at the top is a good choice as it allows you to describe yourself and highlight your skills and experience. The following is a sample airline resume using the profile format:
Key Elements of a Winning Resume
Company Culture
How can researching an airline’s business, culture, route structure and history help you stand out in a sea of resumes? Sprinkling company knowledge into your resume and cover letter will help you grab the HR department’s attention and conveys your willingness to belong to the airline’s culture.
Resume Example: As a carrier that flies primarily to Asian destinations and offers premium class service, the opportunity to work for XYZ airlines is an ideal fit with my experience as a volunteer English teacher in Korea and my knowledge of the language, etiquette and customs of this region.
Showcase Relevant Work History
Recruiters will examine a candidate’s work history to determine if the kind of jobs they’ve held relate to the on-board tasks a Flight Attendant performs. If you have customer service experience, highlight your skills to distinguish yourself from the pack. If you worked as a bartender for example, the hiring team will assume that you will be great at mixing drinks and making small talk with passengers.
Cover Letter Example: As a bartender at Joe’s Steakhouse, my regular clientele were fond of my signature cocktail. Because of its popularity, this specialty drink was eventually incorporated into the restaurant’s cocktail menu.
Physical Fitness
Are you mentally and physically capable of doing the job? Since you are required to pass a medical test to prove your fitness, it’s a good idea to list some type of activity or sport under the ‘Interests’ category of your resume.
Resume Examples:
Competitive lightweight bodybuilder and avid surfer,
Enjoy hiking and mountain biking in my spare time,
Part-time yoga instructor and Pilates coach,
Tennis, running and biking
Languages
Fluency in a language other than English is an asset and in some cases a requirement if you want to land a position with an airline that has an extensive route structure. Some airlines conduct hiring sprees based purely on the need for language speaking F/A’s. A recent advertisement at American Airlines’ for Japanese speaking Flight Attendants listed the following requirements:
Must be able to fluently speak Japanese
Must be able to read, write and speak English fluently
Competent in handling difficult situations, problem solving and complaint resolution
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; friendly reception of all customers
Must present a professional image, may not have visible tattoos, facial, multiple or upper ear piercing, or extreme hair color or style while in Flight Attendant Uniform
Work in climates and locations across the globe and work variable shifts
Able to attend up to 8 1/2 weeks of training in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, and move immediately to the city to which you are assigned as a base
Resume/Cover Letter Example: As a tour guide for City Tours, my fluency in Japanese and knowledge of Japanese culture and customs is greatly appreciated by the Japanese tourists who take our tours and the company’s owners who have been able to increase their market share.
May the Odds Be Ever in Your Favor
Like the odds faced by Peta and Katniss in The Hunger Games, your chances of getting hired as a Flight Attendant can seem equally insurmountable. When over 90% of applicants do not make the cut (http://mentalfloss.com/article/31044/10-shocking-secrets-flight-attendants), you will need a winning strategy to defy the odds.
Like Katniss’ bow and arrow, a concise resume and cover letter/email that is free of spelling mistakes and formatting errors will help you hit the Flight Attendant job target.
The following resume tips taken from our book “Airborne,” have been designed to set you up for resume success.
Short and Sweet
A good resume is not long. One, maximum two pages should be sufficient when describing your work history, proficiencies, interests and activities.
Stick to the Facts
When it’s time to complete your background checks, what you say on your resume must match your work history or you will be withdrawn from the pool of available candidates.
Consistency
Consistent formatting in terms of font size, headings, bolding and bullets yields a document that is clean and polished. Your resume should have visual appeal.
Proper Spelling and Grammar
Without good spelling and grammar, you will undo all of your hard work. Put your spellchecker to work.
Mind the Gaps
Always account for any employment gaps. If you were unemployed and living with your parents for six months it’s a good idea to validate any breaks in your employment history.
Social Media
If you are going to direct the recruiters to your on-line resume or career information posted on social media such as LinkedIn, there are some important guidelines to follow. The information you direct them to should be up-to-date and consistent with what you’ve said on your resume. In addition, refrain from providing HR with too much information as some of it could work against you. For example if you tailored your resume towards your customer service experience and your LinkedIn profile emphasizes your IT background, the recruiters might overlook you in favor of a candidate who gives the impression of being more customer service oriented.
Last Word
The time and effort you put into your resume could mean the difference between a career at 35,000 feet vs. the view from your office cubicle. A resume that shines will open the door to a Flight Attendant job and help you gain access to a world where travel and adventure await!
