Are you physically fit? Can you stand for hours at a time and work long anti-social hours? Can you swim at least 50 metres and lift objects that weigh around 40 pounds? If you answered yes, yes, yes then you satisfy some of the fitness requirements to become Cabin Crew. But you’d be surprised just how many people don’t have what it takes.
When you think about it, some of these demands are actually quite tough. Being a member of Cabin Crew is really physically demanding and not everyone has what it takes – Even if they think do.
That’s why recruiters from nearly every major international airline don’t sugarcoat the physically demanding nature of the job. They need candidates who will perform their best after the longest of flights – there’s no time for exhaustion or relying on teammates to take up the slack.
Okay, so what does this all mean? Emirates says that they look for candidates who are “Physically fit for this demanding role” but that doesn’t really explain much. So expect physical exertion such as pulling, pushing, reaching, bending and plenty of walking. You’ll also need to have the ability to push or pull carts weighing in excess of 250 pounds.
Then there’s the strength to lift objects like carry-on bags or First Aid kits weighing up to 40 pounds from the overhead bins. Finally, you have to be confident in the water – able to swim at least 50 metres and tread water, fully clothed and wearing a life-vest, for at least 3 minutes.
Being a Flight Attendant suddenly doesn’t sound so easy – and we haven’t even mentioned the jetlag yet. And that’s a big deal. Many flights take-off late at night or super early in the morning – the kind of times when most people are tucked up in their beds. Then you’ll be spending days away from home, thousands of miles from your friends and family. It’s like working shifts but even worse.
This is all really important because airlines invest a lot of money to recruit and train their Cabin Crew. So make no mistake – the fitness and physical stamina of candidates are a big deal for airline recruiters. And they will judge you – Your age, appearance and experience will all get factored in.
It sounds scary but it’s actually a great opportunity to stand out from the crowd – and the first place to do it is on your Cabin Crew CV.
Feeling fit and healthy? Here are three ways you can use your CV to highlight how ideally suited you are to the role of Cabin Crew:
1. Previous Work Experience
- Working anti-social hours or doing shift work regularly
- Spending days away from home on business or for work
- Travelling frequently as part of your job
- Taking on physically demanding work
The trick is not to go into too much detail but rather mention relevant health and fitness information as a side note. Attach these details onto examples that highlight your best achievements – the examples that prove you have the skills, qualities and attributes of a fantastic Flight Attendant.
For example:
Excelled in my role as night duty receptionist – Awarded Employee of the Month Award for going above and beyond to help customers and being available to assist at all hours.
2. Voluntary Work
If you don’t already do some form of voluntary work then I would highly recommend exploring the opportunities. Not only is it really good to improve your overall skill level but voluntary work will supercharge your Cabin Crew CV. There’s a full article about the benefits of voluntary work here: Got Voluntary Work Experience? The Cabin Crew Resume Hack You Definitely Need
If you’re doing a full-time job and any type of voluntary work you’re showing a huge commitment and great time management skills. You might even get involved with voluntary work that requires physical exertion.
For example:
Volunteered at a farm for children with Special Needs while managing a full-time job. Successfully ran workshops for children and actively helped in physical chores around the farm.
3. Personal Interests
Does the ‘Personal Interests’ section of your CV say something like: “I enjoy going to the gym and keeping fit”? There’s nothing wrong with this sentence but it doesn’t really stand out. In fact, it’s such a common example that most recruiters will skip over it.
Instead, you want to go into a little more detail and use the space to yet again highlight your achievements and qualities. Maybe you took part in a race to raise money for charity, or perhaps you help coach sports to children at the weekend? It could even be actively taking part in team sports that show you’re a good team player.
For example:
Constantly improving health and fitness as a keen and active runner. Successfully completed a 10K race in record time to help raise money for a national Breast Cancer charity.
