How to build up your resume
and stand out from the crowd
In this post, we’ll provide you with tips and advice on how to make your resume stand out and get you noticed by potential employers. We’ll discuss the importance of gaining experience in a related field, such as hospitality or customer service, as well as the value of having a college degree. So, if you’re ready to take the next step in your career, read on and get ready to take flight!
Education
Let’s start with the basics here. If you’re thinking of becoming a flight attendant, you should realize that the competition for the jobs is fierce. That means you absolutely have to get your high school diploma or GED. If you don’t do that, then you have no chance of achieving your goal!
Below I’ve suggested some inexpensive online courses you can start with. The idea is to allow you to try the courses first, before you commit to a full course.
But the goal here is to improve your resume, so to do this, you’ll have to (at least) take a full course.
Bellow are some inexpensive online courses you can take on Udemy that can start you off. Because Udemy has a 30 day money back guarantee, it’s a great place to start!
Your Social Network Accounts
This may be a little off subject because you’re not directly improving your resume. But your social media accounts can act as an extension of your resume!
Why are the Social Networks Important
All your social accounts that you have will be searched by the recruiters. Airline recruiters want to get an idea of what you’re like. And the easiest way to do that is to look at your social media posts. You need to review everything you have online and make sure there isn’t anything embarrassing or unprofessional.
I’m sure they will be looking on the big 4, like Facebook, Instagram, TickTock and LinkedIn.
Edit Your Social Networks
You’ll want to start by deciding which accounts you want to keep. If there is an account that you don’t use that often, this is a great time to get rid of it. This will eliminate any confusion between you and the recruiter if they google your name and come up with an account you have forgotten about.
Use LinkedIn as an extension to your resume!
LinkedIn is a great asset. You can use LinkedIn as an extension of your resume, by using the profile to include the extra details you wanted to put in your resume, but didn’t have the space! But that means it has to look professional!
Use a professional headshot for your profile picture.
Make sure that your posts are complete, accurate and are consistent with the ideas you’re trying to convey. Check your spelling and grammar, yes it matters!
You want to appear reliable, trustworthy, professional and have a positive tone
Think of yourself as a product or brand.
Now answer this question: How would you like to be presented to the recruiter?
You want to edit all your social accounts with that answer in mind!
You want to go onto any remaining social network account you have and make sure there isn’t anything embarrassing! Make sure you get everything, posts, images and tags. You’re looking for anything that will reflect negatively on your image. Including that post you wrote years ago that you don’t want your employer to know about!
Eliminate anything someone could consider inflammatory or controversial. And above all, make sure there isn’t a post that has you swearing!
If there is something that’s between you and your friends or family, make sure they’re set to ‘Private’!
Do you have strong opinions?
If you’re someone with strong opinions, why don’t you create a separate ‘Private’ account where you can talk with your friends and family the way you’re comfortable with?
And keep a ‘Public’ account where you can maintain your professional face.
Make the content professional and consistent
Make sure your profile pictures are appropriate and review any other accounts to make sure they look good.
Think of your remaining posts as an extension of your resume and your personality. Make sure that your posts are complete, accurate and are consistent with the ideas you’re trying to convey. Check your spelling and grammar, yes it matters!
You want to appear reliable, trustworthy, professional and have a positive tone
Post Relevant Content and follow the right groups and people
Are you interested in being a Flight Attendant?
Then post relevant content!
The content you post tells the recruiter what you’re really interested in! So post content about the career you want, and airline industry news.
Join relevant online groups that are focused on the airline industry or the flight attendant career field. You can use the search bar on the networks to find groups and pages.
And find and follow people in the groups that feel the way you do. If you hit a rough patch, it would be a great asset to have someone you can talk to who knows how you feel and push you forward.
Follow airlines your interested in
Pick a couple of airline companies that you’re interested in working for and share and comment on current news and career advice. Be as active as you can, liking and commenting is something a lot of applicants overlook, but it can really show your passion for the career!
Update your references
Reach out to anyone you have as an email or phonebook contact, you may be surprised to find that you’ll end up with a couple more references!
Make sure you contact all your references and remind them of the career path you want to follow, and what your job target is. And while you’re at it, why not send them your current resume, just in case!
Take a quick course on being a Flight attendant
“Cabin Crew Career – The Complete Introduction”
From the description: “This course Prepares you for a Successful Career as a Cabin Crew”.
From the description: “Become An Air Hostess OR Cabin Crew OR Flight Attendant”.
Taking these courses would be a great way to find out if you’re interested in a career as a flight attendant.
Customer service
The courses below should give you an idea of what the airlines are looking for. But the airlines are asking for customer service experience. To get the experience, you could simply get a waitress / waiter job and stay for a couple of years. Or, if you have experience in patient care or experience in a role ensuring the safety and/or care of others.
- “Aviation : Passenger service and handling” (https://www.udemy.com/course/aviation-passenger-service-and-handling/) From the description: “By completing this course, you will not only have an advantage when you start your initial training, but you will also greatly improve your chances of being employed”.
- “Aviation: Customer Service In Airline Industry” (https://www.udemy.com/course/aviation-customer-service-in-airline-industry/) This course talks about what the airlines expect in customer service. Improve your customer service skills to increase customers loyalty and sales performance.
- “A first step on the path of getting a job in Aviation as an airlines’ passenger service agent” (https://www.udemy.com/course/aviation-passenger-service-and-handling/) this course is geared for the Passenger Service Agent’s position (Ticket counter). But it will give you an idea of what the airlines consider customer service. And the Ticket counter could be a good stepping stone to get to a flight attendant position.
NOTE: if you’re certain which airline you want to work for. You could start with a gate, ramp or ticket desk position. The idea is that being inside the company you’ll have the inside track on the next hiring.
Customer service
The courses below should give you an idea of what the airlines are looking for. But the airlines are asking for customer service experience. To get the experience, you could simply get a waitress / waiter job and stay for 2 years or more. Or, if you have experience in patient care or experience in a role ensuring the safety and/or care of others.
“Aviation : Passenger service and handling”
From the description: “By completing this course, you will not only have an advantage when you start your initial training, but you will also greatly improve your chances of being employed”.
“Aviation: Customer Service In Airline Industry”
This course talks about what the airlines expect in customer service. Improve your customer service skills to increase customers loyalty and sales performance.
“A first step on the path of getting a job in Aviation as an airlines’ passenger service agent”
this course is geared for the Passenger Service Agent’s position (Ticket counter). But it will give you an idea of what the airlines consider customer service. And the Ticket counter could be a good stepping stone to get to a flight attendant position.
Taking these courses would be another great way to find out if you’re interested in a career as a flight attendant.
Language
Airlines are constantly looking for flight attendants that have language skills other than English and Spanish. If you have the language skills the airlines are looking for, you could put yourself a step ahead of your competition and increase your starting pay! Below are a couple of inexpensive language courses that may be helpful.
“Learn Dutch -The Fast, Easy & Fun Speaking Dutch Method 14hr”
From the description: “Learn Dutch for Beginners: Fully Master the Essentials of Dutch Speaking (A1-A2) – Unique Learning Dutch Method, 14 hrs”
“Complete Italian course: Learn Italian from level A1 to B2”
From the description: “Learn Italian with this complete course for beginners. Learn this beautiful language in a fun and easy way!”
The courses above are a great way to start and make sure it’s something you want to do. But if you really want to learn a language, you will have to take a full course.
College
The airlines in the U.S. are asking, not requiring, applicants to have a bit of college. If you’re willing to go for a college degree, anything in hospitality, tourism, public relations, business, communications, psychology, sociology, nursing, and education are all good choices.
There are several airlines, like Delta and American, ect…, that prefer applicants that have a college degree.
Regional Airline
You could get a Flight Attendant job at a regional airline which may be easier than a major airline. Get experience there by staying for a year or two and then apply to the major airline.
What is a regional airline?
A regional airline is an airline that operates flights within a specific geographic region. These flights are typically shorter in distance than those operated by major airlines, and often serve smaller airports. Regional airlines typically offer lower fares than major airlines, and often provide connecting service to major airports. For example: American Eagle
The good thing about the regional airline job is, it may be easier to get. It will also give you the experience and training the major airlines are looking for. And you’ll be home more often.
The bad thing is you need to be careful about the company you apply to. Check out sites like Glass Door to determine if the airline is a place you want to work for.
Let's talk about Flight Attendant schools
Although Flight Attendant schools may be popular in other countries, it really doesn’t make sense to attend one in the US.
Why?
If you’re able to get accepted at an airline, the airline will train you the way they want you to be trained. So it won’t cost you anything, and you’re guaranteed a job as a flight attendant after graduation.
You can enroll in the best independent flight attendant school and you’ll get nothing like that!
So it makes much more sense to spend your time and money building up your resume. By getting a job in customer service, taking a class, or going for one of the college degrees in a subject listed here!
For example, Delta Airlines currently pays for training hours, housing, air travel and some food during the on site training. So, for the student, the training doesn’t cost anything, Delta gets to train you exactly the way they want, and you get a guaranteed job after graduation.
Yes, it is difficult to get into Delta, but it’s difficult for a good reason. It’s a good company to work for.
It’s very possible that attending Flight Attendant School can harm your chance of being hired by an airline. Because the airlines don’t want to untrain and then retrain you. So they may simply not bother to hire you!
So spend your time building up your resume and making YOU the applicant the airline wants to hire!
Let's talk about Flight Attendant schools
Although Flight Attendant schools may be popular in other countries, it really doesn’t make sense to attend one in the US.
Why?
If you’re able to get accepted at an airline, the airline will train you the way they want you to be trained. So it won’t cost you anything, and you’re guaranteed a job as a flight attendant after graduation.
You can enroll in the best independent flight attendant school and you’ll get nothing like that!
So it makes much more sense to spend your time and money building up your resume. By getting a job in customer service, taking a class, or going for one of the college degrees in a subject listed here!
For example, Delta Airlines currently pays for training hours, housing, air travel and some food during the on site training. So, for the student, the training doesn’t cost anything, Delta gets to train you exactly the way they want, and you get a guaranteed job after graduation.
Yes, it is difficult to get into Delta, but it’s difficult for a good reason. It’s a good company to work for.
It’s very possible that attending Flight Attendant School can harm your chance of being hired by an airline. Because the airlines don’t want to untrain and then retrain you. So they may simply not bother to hire you!
So spend your time building up your resume and making YOU the applicant the airline wants to hire!
Regional Airline
You could get a Flight Attendant job at a regional airline which may be easier than a major airline. Get experience there by staying for a year or two and then apply to the major airline.
What is a regional airline?
A regional airline is an airline that operates flights within a specific geographic region. These flights are typically shorter in distance than those operated by major airlines, and often serve smaller airports. Regional airlines typically offer lower fares than major airlines, and often provide connecting service to major airports. For example: American Eagle
The good thing about the regional airline job is, it may be easier to get. It will also give you the experience and training the major airlines are looking for. And you’ll be home more often.
The bad thing is you need to be careful about the company you apply to. Check out sites like Glass Door to determine if the airline is a place you want to work for.
Are You Ready to Become a Flight Attendant?
Still wondering how to become a flight attendant?
Then check out our post: Flight attendant interview process. Where we discuss The group discussion, The personal interview, Flight attendant interview questions and ways to answer them, and What you can do to stand out from the crowd
Or you can check out the next post in the series, Flight attendant interview questions. Where we go through interview questions you’ll be asked and suggestions on how to answer them.