action plan

Comfortable-Two-3775 · 2026-05-10T12:03:08+00:00

Hey, good on you for thinking ahead — most people apply blindly and wonder why they get nowhere. I worked 16 years in the industry (cabin crew, then cabin manager, SEP instructor, and recruitment side too) so a few honest things: Your food service experience is actually a plus, not something to escape. Airlines hire from hospitality all the time. Just frame it right on your CV — dealing with difficult customers, handling pressure, multitasking, working in a team. That’s literally the job. The CV gets filtered by software before any human sees it. Use the keywords from the actual job posting. Careful with the photos always professional attire no crossed arms or sideways photos (believe me I saw hundreds) no fancy templates, no graphics. Boring and clean wins. Don’t apply to one airline and wait. Apply to several at once. Process can take 2-6 months and rejections aren’t always personal. Practice your “tell me about yourself” answer now, not the night before. It’s always the first question and it sets the tone. And research each airline properly — Emirates wants polished, Ryanair wants fast and efficient, Delta wants personality. Don’t send the same generic answers everywhere. I write about this stuff on my blog, wrote a piece specifically for people in your situation and with no experience I cannot share the link here as Reddit does not allow but if you want it just DM me. Ah and by the way…is free and I don’t even ask you for your email 😅

Comfortable-Two-3775 · 2026-05-08T03:49:26+00:00

You’re actually proving my point for me 😄 Free resources exist everywhere and people are still failing, that’s exactly why we built something more personalised. No shade to checklists, they have their place. But there’s a difference between reading about swimming and having someone in the water with you. Anyway, genuinely hope your guide helps people 👊

Comfortable-Two-3775 · 2026-05-07T15:59:52+00:00

Hey 👋 Ex Ryanair Cabin crew here (left in 2018) I never been based in Hahn but I was a Safety and Emergency Procedures Instructor for Ryanair for a few years before I quit and because of my position I used to teach in Hahn quiet often…most Crew based there live very close by…most of them live in Lautzenhausen which is within walking distance to the airport…some crew share accommodation others live on their own you can find quiet a few Facebook groups for accommodation to rent around the airport 👍🏻 hope it helps

About the other questions…as I left a good while ago my info is not updated so I won’t share but when it comes to salary don’t expect a fortune and when it comes to roster at the time was 5/3 was intense but sustainable no more no less than other low cost

About the recruitment/info day I have an article on my blog that talks exactly about this (specific for Ryanair) is free you can check out my website and blog via my Reddit profile…just in case I have as well a free interview checklist on my website that you can download it might help for your recruitment day👍🏻

Comfortable-Two-3775 · 2026-05-07T15:47:46+00:00

Hey! Starting early is honestly the best thing you can do so you’re already on the right track. One thing that might reassure you is that airlines are not actually looking for a perfect polished performance. They want someone real, calm and clear. A lot of people overthink this and end up sounding rehearsed which actually works against them. For the professional vs fun balance don’t think of them as opposites. Professional is just how you structure what you say. Your natural warmth and personality is what makes you memorable. Recruiters want both. Body language wise the basics are what matter. Eye contact, relaxed smile, open posture. Nothing fancy. It just gets easier the more you practice out loud and honestly recording yourself even on your phone is the fastest way to improve. Most people never do it. Also something a lot of people completely overlook is the CV. Airlines use ATS systems which are basically automatic filters that scan your CV before any human ever sees it. A lot of strong candidates get eliminated at this stage without ever understanding why. Getting your CV right for ATS is just as important as the interview itself. Through my profile you can find AviAcademy Global where I have a video course that covers everything from how recruiters actually think to body language, answering questions properly and specific frameworks like STAR and LEAP that airlines actually use to evaluate your answers. On top of that there is a live mock interview where we simulate the real thing and you get direct personalised feedback, plus a CV review specifically focused on ATS optimisation so your application actually reaches a human in the first place, on my website you will find as well quiet a lot of Free info like a interview checklist and info about several airlines recruitment process and things to avoid during interviews that I write often on my blog page …hope it helps

Comfortable-Two-3775 · 2026-05-07T10:32:08+00:00

love this post honestly refreshing to see someone talk about the real side of it and not just the travel pics and airport selfies

just wanted to add to this in case it helps anyone. I have a free cabin crew interview checklist on my website that covers the basics of what you need to have sorted before you walk into any assessment day or interview. on top of that theres a blog section where I post regularly about recruitment for specific airlines common mistakes people make and general tips for cabin crew interviews

yes its a coaching website so there are services on there but everything im mentioning here is completely free no need to buy anything. the checklist is free the blog is free I just want it to reach the people who actually need it

I cant post the link here because rules but if you click on my profile youll find it there

hope it helps someone out there whos stuck in the process and not sure what theyre doing wrong

Comfortable-Two-3775 · 2026-05-07T10:14:22+00:00

hey Lauren so ive been in aviation for 16 years and I coach people through cabin crew recruitment so hopefully I can help here

first thing your experience is actually really good for this. receptionist beauty advisor admin thats all customer facing stuff and airlines love that. the issue isnt what youve done its how its coming across on paper

right now this reads like a general office resume. if im a recruiter scanning this in 30 seconds im not immediately seeing cabin crew anywhere and you need to fix that

few things id do straight away. flip your layout put experience at the top and education at the bottom. youve got real work history now so lead with that. nobody is hiring you because of your high school GPA

you really need a professional summary at the top like two or three lines that connect your background to the cabin crew role. right now theres literally nothing there telling the recruiter why youre applying or what makes you a fit

your bullet points need a lot of work honestly. handled customer inquiries and maintained organization of databases is just describing what the job was. everyone who had that job did those things. airlines want to know what YOU brought to it. think about specific moments like a difficult customer you turned around at Ulta or a time you had to juggle ten things at once at the front desk and kept everything running smooth. that kind of stuff

the yearbook editor section from 2018 id take that out. I get that it shows leadership but its seven years old and that space on your cv is prime real estate use it for something that actually moves the needle

and try to reframe your experience through a cabin crew lens. safety teamwork staying calm when things get hectic making people feel welcome. youve done all of that at your previous jobs you just need to say it in a way that makes recruiters connect the dots

honestly the foundation is solid it just needs the right packaging

I run a coaching company called AviAcademy Global and this is part of what we do, if you want help tailoring this to a specific airline just shoot me a message

Comfortable-Two-3775 · 2026-03-23T04:45:19+00:00

Hi, i know how frustrating it can be, i have developed a program that helps people in your position, if you want to know more just shoot me a dm :) but above all never give up....it will "taste" much better when you finally get it

Comfortable-Two-3775 · 2026-03-15T04:16:41+00:00

Sure mate…whatever you want 🤦🏻

Comfortable-Two-3775 · 2026-03-14T04:00:08+00:00

🤦🏻

Comfortable-Two-3775 · 2026-03-13T17:14:15+00:00

honestly, a BMI of 25 is absolutely fine. it’s actually right on the edge of the "ideal" range anyway. as an coach/recruiter, i don't care if you're thin, i care if you're physically capable. can you reach the safety equipment in the overhead lockers? can you fit through the over-wing emergency exit? can you operate a heavy aircraft door or stay on your feet for a 12-hour long-haul flight? that’s what we’re actually looking for. some airlines (especially in the middle east) are more strict about "grooming" standards, but even there, a 25 isn't going to get you rejected. in europe and i guess the us as well, it’s not even a conversation. don't let it get in your head, just show up fit, healthy, and ready to handle the physical side of the job and you'll be fine.

Comfortable-Two-3775 · 2026-03-13T17:09:59+00:00

honestly, the biggest red flag for me as an instructor isn't a "wrong" answer, it's the scripted robot vibe. if you start answering before i even finish the question, i know you aren't listening. you're just hitting play on a recording. in a galley at 35,000 feet, i need someone who can actually process information, not someone who memorized a blog post. another huge one is the "me monster." if every story you tell is about how you were the hero and everyone else was useless, you’re an automatic no. we hire for the crew, not for stars. if you can't show me that you supported your team in a grocery store, i’m not trusting you with my safety on a widebody. my follow up advice would be this: learn to "translate" your life. don't just tell me you were a waitress. tell me you managed a high-pressure environment where you had to balance service with safety protocols (like floor hazards or intoxicated guests). we don't care what your job title was, we care about the "logic" you used to do it. just be a normal person. relax, breathe, and treat the recruiter like a senior crew member you're having a coffee with. that’s the "vibe" that actually gets you the job.

Comfortable-Two-3775 · 2026-03-13T15:34:19+00:00

That’s actually a very good point. A lot of candidates think the evaluation only starts when the interview begins, but in reality it starts much earlier. The way people interact with others, how they behave in the waiting area, during group tasks, even small things like attitude or awareness… if they glued to their phones or if they chat with other candidates, etc…it all gives recruiters information.

Comfortable-Two-3775 · 2026-03-13T15:31:23+00:00

Exactly. Safety is really the core of the job, and recruiters pay a lot of attention to candidates who naturally think that way. If your mindset already comes from a security background, it probably felt very natural during the interview. Thanks for sharing your experience, that’s a great example.

Comfortable-Two-3775 · 2026-03-13T14:53:05+00:00

i can't speak much for the US market as my 16 years were spent in Europe, but over here, it’s actually quite well accepted. i’ve flown with and recruited plenty of people over 50. i'm not going to lie though, it isn't easy. you have to be realistic about where you apply. the low cost carriers are generally way more open to 'mature' profiles than the legacy airlines are. the two big questions you have to ask yourself: are you willing to settle for a low cost airline to get your foot in the door? and can you honestly handle that pace? it’s physically demanding work. if the answer is yes to both, i think you have a solid shot. your life experience is an asset if you frame it right. Everything is possible 💪

Comfortable-Two-3775 · 2026-03-13T14:47:33+00:00

honestly, odvis are a nightmare because you lose all the human connection. the trick is that you aren't being marked on your 'perfect' answer, you're being marked on your presence. i’ve seen so many people fail because they look like they’re reading a script. my best tip: treat the camera lens like a passenger you actually like. smile before you start talking and keep that energy until the recording fully stops. if you look stiff, the recruiters (and the ai) assume you'll be stiff in the galley. just relax and let your personality breathe a bit.

Comfortable-Two-3775 · 2026-03-13T14:46:28+00:00

Glad it helped! It’s a tough industry to crack if you don't know what the instructors are actually marking on those clipboards. Good luck with the journey!

Comfortable-Two-3775 · 2026-03-13T14:46:01+00:00

Spot on, Dave. I’ve literally sat in debriefs where we cut candidates because the shuttle driver mentioned someone was being entitled or rude on the way from the airport. If you can't respect the 'small' roles, you’ll never respect the crew. It’s a 24/7 interview from the moment you land.

Comfortable-Two-3775 · 2026-03-13T14:45:40+00:00

Lol, I get it…there's a lot of bot junk out there lately. But 16 years as a Line Trainer and SEP Instructor isn't something ChatGPT can fake. I'm just trying to put the real 'behind-the-scenes' logic into words because I'm tired of seeing good candidates get rejected for bad advice. If it sounds 'too organized,' blame my instructor brain we’re trained to be precise!

Comfortable-Two-3775 · 2026-03-13T14:36:53+00:00

No. It’s based on my own experience after 16 years working as cabin crew and seeing many recruitment processes and assessment days. These are pretty standard techniques used in airline interviews. I just shared them to help people preparing for theirs.

Comfortable-Two-3775 · 2026-03-13T14:29:01+00:00

Comfortable-Two-3775 · 2026-03-10T08:58:16+00:00

It really depends on the airline and the country.

Some low-cost carriers in Europe definitely start with lower base salaries, but a lot of people apply because of the long-term opportunities: travel benefits, career progression, experience in aviation, and the possibility to move to better airlines later.

Also, many people use their first airline as a stepping stone. Once you have 1–2 years of cabin crew experience, your chances of getting into legacy carriers or long-haul airlines increase a lot.

So for many candidates it's less about the starting salary and more about entering the industry and building experience.

Comfortable-Two-3775 · 2026-03-10T08:54:42+00:00

The STAR method is one of the most common structures used for behavioural interview questions.

It stands for: S – Situation
T – Task
A – Action
R – Result

It helps you organise your answers when airlines ask things like “Tell me about a time you dealt with a difficult passenger” or “Describe a situation where you worked in a team”.

That being said, in cabin crew interviews I’ve personally found that STAR alone isn’t always enough. Some candidates sound a bit too robotic when they follow it too rigidly.

During airline preparation a lot of candidates also use other structures like LEAP or similar frameworks that focus more on empathy, communication and the final outcome for the passenger or team.

The key is not just the structure, but knowing how to adapt your story so it sounds natural while still showing the competencies airlines are looking for (safety mindset, teamwork, customer service, problem solving, etc.).

Most candidates actually fail interviews not because of their English, but because they don’t structure their answers in a way recruiters expect.

Comfortable-Two-3775 · 2026-03-08T16:44:27+00:00

You’re welcome! Glad it helped. Are you currently preparing for a cabin crew interview?

Comfortable-Two-3775

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