Life after being Cabin Crew

[riversandlakes]

The trainees, at least, seem so happy...

[toygirl]

When you're new, you're cheerful and perky. As you keep doing the same thing year after year - Then, the reality sets in

Remember, I can smile on cue, laugh on cue, cry on cue - Shit, I should be an actress!

[SIA Cabin Crew Gal]

im currently training with SiA.

What r uthe other fields i can pursue if i decide to leave SIA?

i know i can opt to work on ground...
but require a degree to do so....

how?

[Plavt]

I should be an actress!

A good many FA's are aren't they?

Plavt.

[onlygoh]

let's see - generally the common professionals are: -


1. cabin crew for budget carriers for those who really love to fly but not young anymore
2. housewives (average) - yes, for those who marry for love and not $
3. rich tai tai - yes, i am not kidding, i seen quite a lot!
4. sales (because you got customer service skills and you basically know how to flaunt it)
5. real estate
6. front line
7. customer service
8. food & beverage
9. hotel
10. receptionist
11. public relations - yes.

those that are a bit more qualifications usually try being cabin crew for a short time and then move back
to their real jobs - i know of one law grad who is now a polytechnic lecturer. i also know one who is an accountant, she quit and did ACCA.

if you have like professional degrees - like law, medicine, dentistry, engineering with good honours and then do cabin crew jobs and then return to the real world remember you will be grilled and hr will wonder "is this girl stupid or only know how to serve and nothing else" - trust me, it has happened to me! my interview was like "so you only fly, what makes you think you are qualified" - stuff like that.

YES, you have to pay back the bond, they will not hesitate to take action against bond breakers. usually i stay clear of companies with bonds - reason being something has to be wrong - high turnover or they are worried you'll run away. i was with one "bond" airline and gosh, the experience was like....

in my current company, and some of us that went to normal office jobs after being cabin crew did have a shock - one of my batch girls ended up applying for PA and during interview they asked "so you're not qualified coz you only know coffee, tea and service". basically the work is specialised in cabin crew so expect to start again at the bottom.

the ones that end up really long in this profession are categorised into 3

- those who can't quit coz they need the cash
- lazy coz they knew they can't work office jobs
- educationally they know they won't earn the same salary anywhere else.
- passion for the job - yes, some of those really inspire you to try harder - however, you find some gems too

=============================

LIFE AFTER leaving an "uniformed" organization... is to pick it up once again and move on learning new skills. I was a policeman for a good numbers of years...irregular working hours, a true 100% committment to the work... after i left the Force, i have this difficulties on waking up on time for work... and my conversation with clients or collegues are once related to be "interrogation"and "demanding"...haha

Thinking back... I have overcome my resistance to adopt new environment and challenges... overcome my ego... overcoming most of my resistance... accepting peoples' critics...

Well, at least I am really proud that I have fulfilled my childhood dream being a law-enforcer, a Policeman....

Best wishes to all....

[singaporeexpat7]

I've a friend, a first class honours genius graduated 3 years ago from NTU, has been flying with SIA ever since. No intention to quit anytime soon & feeling very proud to be working for the Best & Most reputable Airline of the World.
Had never once felt that degree earned has gone to waste.
Any comments out there?

WTF NTU Local FARMER university for FARMERS "genius"?!

U must be a big-time farmer who doesn't know the real geniuses, the top 1-2% of the population who attend top universities ala Ivy League or Oxbridge and other top universities - of which NONE would be found in Singapore.

[Plavt]

U must be a big-time farmer who doesn't know the real geniuses, .

Looks like somebody could be saying the same about you, have you seen the date of Nikki1166's post!

[no name]

Thanks for the reply.

Supposed u are a FA? Do you really get to TRAVEL a lot? Or does a FA usually get so tired after a flight that SLEEP becomes more important??

Plus, how do u adjust to the time differences? Suppose u hv to fly to London, then a few days later Tokyo?

We can be. Sleep eventually get important more than going out unless its a new destination (meaning if you have done that route before).

Adjusting to time differences will eventually come when you start the job. I had trouble initially.Someone like me who needs a minimium sleep and pretty routine it was difficult and gotta need alarm clock or wake up call all the time.

[no name]

Hopefully ex-cabin crew get to see this and post some advice...
I suppose the shelf life of a cabin crew can be quite short especially if u are 1) a lady or 2) do not intend to stay on for long... So what kinda jobs have ex-cabin crew taken up? Easy to get employed?

By the way, does anyone know whether can break bond if u finally decide not to be cabin crew? I mean do you have to PAY back to the company...

Not true for all places. Crew job can be long. See examples from north american side, australia and etc. Probably just asian/middle eastern carriers.

[MabelSoe]

If you do not intend to stay a cabin crew for long, it is a job best started when you are young. Say you have just graduated and join as a cabin crew, when you leave to join the ground working world you can say that you were taking a few years to "see the world", "improve you communication/customer service/PR skills' etc. However, if you make a mid-career switch (and I have seen lawyer and doctors doing this) it will indeed be harder for future potential employers to take you seriously when you no longer want to fly. After all, most people do not fully understand the role of FAs to take them seriously.

Having said that, I have also seen many ex-crews move on to fantastic careers. I have met successful business owners, bankers, sales directors, PR executives and the likes. At the end of the day, how you land your next dream job depends on how you execute your CV and interview. A good candidate will turn any past experiences (even glitches) into positive stepping stones.

[bent]

How easy is it for cabin crew to switch to ground positions like their Generalist position?

I have a degree and am thinking of joining as cabin crew for 2 years then switch to ground job...is that advisable?

Or should i just apply for ground job right from the start?