How I Became a Flight Attendant (Part One)

How I Became a Flight Attendant (Part One) of Four?

Flash back picture! Me: 2016-As a current Flight Attendant.This post is part one of everything that lead up to me getting to this picture above. Enjoy! :) 

*Disclaimer*: My application process went a little more quickly and smoother than most. Also, everyone’s experience is a lot different, so this post isn’t intended to be the holy grail of flight attendant applications or an exact timeline. Read with caution and enjoy*

It is absolutely no secret at all that I am a flight attendant! However, when I went through my interview and hiring process, I didn’t speak much on it publicly, or even to many friends. I didn’t speak on it mostly because I didn't want to make a big deal of it, for one. I also kept it to myself because many people surrounding me during my college experience weren't the most genuinely supportive people (Yes, a depression and lifestyle stress post will be happening this month due to people I surrounded myself with during college days)-so I didn’t want to give anyone else a reason to judge any actions of mine. 

It’s also such a rewarding experience to quietly work hard for something and come out happier and more on top of life than ever. They do say the best revenge is your paper (and happiness), right? 

I was quiet about my hiring experience, not because I feared my interview or others criticism, but because I didn’t want to make a huge deal in case anything went differently. I do not like for others to be able to write my paths or story (endings) for me, and I didn’t want to make some huge announcement that I was changing my life and have something go completely different than expected.

Personally, I know that I usually rock at my interviews in life, and I’m a huge people person. I’m outgoing and I feel like my personality is really genuine and warm. I often get compliments from people that I just met within the hour that they feel that they’ve known me longer in life just because it is so easy to hold a conversation with me. I take great pride in having a welcoming and warm personality and impressing those that I have just met with something so naturally free: myself. I am also a firm believer in positive networking and making lasting impressions. 

I began flight attendant training a week after I graduated from undergraduate school. I felt like a mentally burned out boss, and it was so dang rewarding! 

But, let’s rewind a little bit.

At the end of February, just a couple of months before I graduated college, I applied to be a flight attendant. This idea wasn’t completely random for me. I remember seeing adorable, professional, and extremely classy looking flight attendant on my flights to visit family. I also followed a friend on Instagram who was one at the time (she still is). This girl always looked amazing. And, honestly, amazing is an understatement. She literally looked like she dominated the freaking sky, and it literally became a daily habit for me to look at her Instagram and just be in complete awe. If we’re being honest, she is probably one of the reasons I applied! 

(I’ll totally link her at the bottom of this post IF she gives me permission to do so—she gets questions daily from people, so I know she may want a questionnaire break from time to time)

One night in February (the last Friday of February 2015), I was sitting with my roommate and closest friend, and I was telling her that it was something I was quietly considering. Being the extremely supportive and loving human she is, she encouraged me to do so. So, on that Friday night, I applied. I filled out the application, submitted my resume, and took an assessment. 

*again, please do not think this a direct timeline of everyone's events* 

I submitted the application and tried not to think twice about it, for the sake of my own nerves. I went about my business and focused on my regularly scheduled life and classes. 

Tuesday morning rolled around, and I received an email from my (future) airline. It was an invitation to do a video interview, and it gave me a three day window to do so. Again, this was Tuesday. So, when did I finally do my video interview? On Friday. I swear I didn’t wait three days because I’m a procrastinator (because I am a good procrastinator sometimes), but because I had three exams in my classes that week. Ok, I was secretly also nervous to do the interview, so I wanted to wait until I got my thoughts together. 

Friday came and went. I did the video interview as soon as I woke up that morning (and got myself together because I am not a sight to see when I first wake up), with a huge smile on my face, offering my most genuine self. I answered a few tough questions as honestly as I could, based on past experiences, and I didn’t overthink them. A big thing about the video interview is to not overthink. I think when too much thought is put into answering a question, it becomes less generic. By all means, please think before you speak, but do not think so much that it becomes a recreated version of an event  and strays from being the organic truth. I won’t share the question that I was asked because I like the process that my airline has for their interviews. They keep it challenging, and that’s the beauty of what makes me so proud to work for my airline. If it were easy to become a part of this team, it wouldn’t be worth it. The challenge makes it even more desirable, and it’s a healthy challenge. 

Two days after completing my video interview, I received a call from a woman who worked in the  talent acquisition department. She was calling me to do a phone interview. This phone interview isn’t as long as the video, but it is still a chance to shine and impress someone else. What was intended to be a conversation for her to get to know me and see me as a fit for the company, turned out to be what seemed like a familiar phone call between friends. The woman literally told me that it felt like she had been talking to a friend because I was so genuine in my conversation, warm, and honest with my answers. I say all of this not to brag, but to serve as an additional reminder to just be yourself. This woman didn’t know me before this call, and she still doesn’t, but to take what could’ve been a black and white, straight to the point, boring interview and turn it into a (still professional) fun “chat” essentially, is so cool to me! I love talking to people and I love meeting new people. Safe to say that by the end of the phone call, she invited me to the face-to-face interview to be held in the headquarters city of my airline. 

I happily accepted the invitation.

The interview would happen five days following this phone call. (Again, this is my personal timeline). I was sent an email with a list of dates and times, but I was unable to make these times due to my class schedule and more upcoming exams. I emailed the talent acquisition department letting them know that I would not be able to make these dates, and I was so worried that this would be the end of my journey. To my surprise, they promptly emailed me back with another set of dates and times that worked. Let's be real, y'all, I was this close to emailing a professor on some extreme "hey. Remember me? That student that probably isn't your favorite. But I still really need you to reschedule this exam you scheduled four months ago. Thanks." But thankfully, I didn't have to do all of that! Life worked out. 

I actually will be doing a separate, very detailed post to talk about how the face-to-face interview process was for me. I won’t give away specific things that were asked just yet, but I will touch on the general idea and offer tips of how to rock this interview like it’s your Hollywood debut! :)

My interview went so well! I loved the interview process (group and two on one question setting). I met new people, and I spoke to everyone with great respect and a genuine desire to learn more about them. I was a nervous wreck, but not one person could tell I was nervous. The whole day, interviewers (who are also flight attendants) complimented me on how put together I was and how I held myself. What they didn’t know, though, is I was sweating on the inside with so many racing thoughts, ha! 

I remained confident throughout the entire interview. The interview is set up as a group interview, and it is designed to be five hours long. Yes. Five hours long. But this interview is not just an interview as it is an observation. You are literally being watched all five hours. And, if you were early like me, probably the time even before the interview officially started. 

It is so important to mingle with people throughout this process. No, it is not okay to start awkward conversations or ones that aren't genuine just to look like you're a social person. The point of this is to genuinely meet others, not to look like you're having a forced conversation. 

Again, I won't get too into this so I don't spoil the fun post I'm working on about my interview- hour by hour! (Stay tuned for that) 

What to wear to the face-to-face interview: 

Some people say it’s best to wear a flight attendant imitated style to the interview. Since I am a female, this would be a skirt, shirt, and a blazer (and, of course, panty hose)-or something of that nature. I marched to a different tune when it came to this. I wore a nice top from Ann Taylor, a blazer from Ann Taylor, slacks…. from Ann Taylor, and pointed toe pumps... this actually also came from Ann Taylor. In all seriousness, none of these items were purchased together or even on the same day. I just have a really crazed love for Ann Taylor.  

*If you know me, you know I have deep love for Ann Taylor. I’ve always dressed conservatively, with a little chic thrown in there.*

Very important note about these pictures: I took these in March of 2015. At my guy friend's house. In his bathroom. At 5am. On my iPhone 6. Are they the best quality? Nope. Is that mirror a tad bit cloudy? Yup. Do I care? Nope. Why? Because that's just a guy's life for ya, and I was offered the job just a few hours later regardless! Also, this sweet friend of mine picked me up from the airport the night before my interview (after my flight was delayed) and he took me to my interview at 5am the next morning. My interview was scheduled to begin at 7am, but he lives in a city with heavy traffic, and I wanted to be 30 minutes early, so we left two hours early. Seemed legit at the time. Also, my nerves were shot through the roof, so I had to just get out of the    apartment and ride around with him.

Oh! Here's the uber adorable flight attendant I mentioned earlier. Seriously, she was an angel during my process and she was there for literally every question that I had. Now that we officially work at the same company, I can truly see the side of life that she displayed on Instagram, and I can honestly say each post of hers is realistic and very possible.

Y'all. Go follow her. Even if you're not trying to become a flight attendant, follow her anyway. Her posts are so fun and she's so down to earth. Also, she has somehow managed to match her a lot of shoes with her baby girl's freshly picked mocs! Like, seriously? I hope Freshly Picked finds her for some advertisement. Thanks, Janielle!! Huge hugs your way, girl. I can't wait until we fly together! 

Remember this post is part one of three (or four). This is my little series on How I Became a Flight Attendant. I'm excited to do collective sets of series with my blog!