Preparing for your interview or open
house
When you go to an interview or open house, there are
required items that you must bring along. You are not the exception. Required
items are just that. REQUIRED. At my open house, I saw a woman get sent home
right away because she didn’t have her diploma. She had a great explanation
and/or excuse but it DOES NOT MATTER. From here on out in the aviation
industry, always remember, you are not the exception. Airlines want to see that
you can follow rules verbatim and in the future, the rules you will need to
abide by could cost them thousands of dollars if you break a Federal Aviation
Regulation. Show them that you can follow orders directly by doing exactly what
they want during the hiring process. Although the rules may seem tedious and at
times overbearing, following strict rules now will allow you years of freedom in
schedule and travel later!
What to wear to the interview or open
house
Gratefully, airlines no longer require
you to be a supermodel to get a chance at this job. Did you know that flight
attendants used to get weighed before a trip? Flight attendants today come in
all shapes and sizes but they still have to adhere to strict grooming and
appearance standards. Remember, you are the face of the airline! Prove to the
recruiters that you can properly play the part of a classy and well put
together individual.
One of the most helpful tips I got from a flight
attendant before I went into my open house was to dress like I was already a
flight attendant. I always tell people who ask me how to best prepare for their
open house or interview the same thing. DO NOT attempt to look “trendy” or
overly fashionable. You don’t want to stand out because of what you are
wearing. It is extremely important that you attempt to look extremely
professional, neat and clean. It is better to come off as looking overly
professional than to not look professional enough.
Airlines have strict uniform guidelines and they want
to see how you would look in their uniform so they can picture you on the job.
They don’t care about how fashionable you may be off the job. Classiness is
key. I have included below guidelines that will help you immensely when at your
open house or interview. Follow them exactly and you will have a much better
chance at getting the job.
Most
important tips for what to wear:
Black closed toe heels that aren’t too high and you can wear all day and
walk comfortably in. Be sure you are able to walk confidently and easily in
them for a very long period of time.
Pantyhose in either a neutral skin color or black.
Black or navy
dress pants or a looser-fitting pencil skirt
that is not too tight. If you decide on a skirt, make sure that it comes to at
least your knee when sitting and that you can move around easily in it without
it riding up.
Blazer that doesn’t look like you could wear it to a club.
Invest in a nice one.
Colored shirt in either white or a flattering, basic color.
As far as accessories goes, a nice watch will be
required on the job and will add to your overall look of professionalism. Keep
the rest of the jewelry as basic as possible. Even if you have more than one
ear piecing, I would recommend ONE pair of simple and elegant earrings such as
pearl, diamond, or small studs. Don’t wear a whole bunch of “arm candy” or more
than one rings per hand. A simple, small pendant necklace is a nice touch to
finish off your look.
ALSO: HIDE ALL OF YOUR TATTOOS 100%!
Hair
Airlines requirements for hair will be to wear it up
if it goes below your shoulders. For my open house and interview I desperately
wanted to wear my hair down because I feel more confident with it down. However
I took the advice of the flight attendant I talked to beforehand and wore it up
in a tight bun. A low, classy ponytail would have also been ideal. Just keep
all of your hair completely out of your face without any wispy pieces. Don’t
forget that airlines are looking to see how you would do following their strict
uniform guidelines. If you do have shoulder length hair, I would still at least
pull it back out of your face as much as possible. Extreme hair colors are not
approved and your hair color should look natural without roots showing.
Makeup
Simple and understated wins over dramatic. The one
thing I would recommend is a basic red on your lips since lipstick is a
requirement while flying. You can’t go wrong with a fresh, clean looking face
with some mascara and eyeliner and a good lipstick. If you are going to wear eyeshadow,
keep it neutral. Obviously, no black, sparkly or over the top eyeshadow. There
are some fabulous youtube videos to learn how to do makeup like a flight
attendant. Just don’t overdo a look that you are not comfortable in or that
cannot be maintained for the entire day. For example, wear eyeliner that will
not smudge and that you know you will not have to worry about touching up every
hour. The last thing you want to be stressed about is your makeup. Give the
makeup look you decide on a trial run beforehand so you know it will stay put
for many hours if need be.
Grooming
Make sure your hair and face looks clean and oil-free.
Your nails need to be on the shorter side and well-manicured. This is very
important. I recommend a simple, short red nail for the interview and open
house but any neutral color will do. Black or white nails are a big no go as
are stiletto nails or overly long ones. Make sure your eyebrows are also well
groomed. You may want to bring your toothbrush and deodorant along if you will
have a long day talking to recruiters. As far as perfume goes, stay away from
over powering scents or any scents that linger.