Gonna be a long post, but may be worth sharing. Read on.
Im from batch 60+.
If you're thinking that u'll get to spend a few days' at the destination and go sight-seeing, i suggest u bury the thought at once. Go choose international carriers.
SilkAir provides turnaroundflights. U wun get a chance to shop there, much less overnight. Count your blessings if AOG (aircraft on ground) occurs, where u can at least get ur feet on the grounds of the airport of the destination, take a sniff of the place, and quickly make a souvenir purchase.
Turnaround flights can be very tiring. Its not like SQ where the flights are long-haul n u can take a break. For Silkair, upon reaching the destination, u have to immediately prepare (tidying, prepare meals etc) for the return flight. Imagine Ex-Sin is 5hrs, meaning in total, u work for 10hrs on the flight itself non-stop. N that excludes ur reporting time (which is 2hrs before the flight). Well, if all goes well throughout the flight, u'll be a happy stewardess at the end of the day. But, bear in mind it doesnt happen that way all the time.
I was fresh from school when i joined SilkAir. I didnt know much about the harsh working world. My first few training flights were completely sucky. I just couldnt understand the "culture", until a senior (not very senior in fact, just a batch before me, n still hadnt graduate too at that time) scornfully told me to "Adapt our culture." What with the zapping, seniority status (still greatly in practice), u-cant-voice-out-ur-opinion-or-it-means-ur-talking-back culture.. haiz..
Everything was a shock to me.. but certainly an eye opener.
I quit not long after, coz i was completely in a shock n i just couldnt adapt. Half of my batchgirls are still surviving there. Happy for them.
I respect stewardesses for having the strength of steel in them, able to be thick-skinned and enduring crews alike throughout.
My advice for those aspiring stewardesses is, talk to various people who work in the airline industry.. get an idea.. then make ur stand. Otherwise, u can jump on the boat now n be the Superwoman up there. Either way, just make sure u have the $7.8K handy aite. =)
take everything with a pinch of salt
anybody knw if their interview still have the swimming round cos i heard frm my frien she went for the previous intake, there is no more swimming test.