Minimum age for acceptance as aussie cabin crew
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Minimum age for acceptance as aussie cabin crew
Hi can anyone tell me what Australian airlines are looking for in cabin crew andidates?
My daughter is naturally attractive (no I'm not biased). She is very friendly, outgoing and easy to get on with. She is 18½ but she has 3 years hospitality experience working as barrista, waitress, bar assistant, gaming assistant and function coordination and running. She often works within large functions solo so maturity and being able to handle responsibility is not a problem.
She did a year long traineeship during school and has a cert 2 & 3 in hospitality, an rsa, first aid, swimming competency cert, and current passport, so everything she needs to apply is ready.
She has been successful in getting through to the assessment days this year with Qantaslink, Virgin, Jetstar and Tigerair which she was thrilled with. She had also gone through to the interview stage but has not progressed through to reference checks with any of them. She participates well during the assessment days and is neither the quiet or shy candidate or the over the top dominant one so she is very frustrated with the lack of feedback the airlines offer.
I think she is even more frustrated because a friend of hers from high school went through an assessment day with her and was lucky to be recruited (her mother works for same airline also) so I feel maybe this helped her as she is close to the same age, doesn't have anything other than McDonald's experience (but she did put a false reference and job experience down) and she didn't perform well at all during the assessment day.
I keep saying to my daughter that it's possibly her age and I understand they can't "say" she's too young and that's why she's isn't accepted further but why do they bother putting her through to assessment days and interviews if they have no intention on hiring the young ones. Why not just toss the application the moment they see her age.
Can anyone tell me if she is too young in the eyes of recruiters as she can't work out what she's doing wrong or poorly in and with no feedback she's very disillusioned.
Any info is appreciated!
My daughter is naturally attractive (no I'm not biased). She is very friendly, outgoing and easy to get on with. She is 18½ but she has 3 years hospitality experience working as barrista, waitress, bar assistant, gaming assistant and function coordination and running. She often works within large functions solo so maturity and being able to handle responsibility is not a problem.
She did a year long traineeship during school and has a cert 2 & 3 in hospitality, an rsa, first aid, swimming competency cert, and current passport, so everything she needs to apply is ready.
She has been successful in getting through to the assessment days this year with Qantaslink, Virgin, Jetstar and Tigerair which she was thrilled with. She had also gone through to the interview stage but has not progressed through to reference checks with any of them. She participates well during the assessment days and is neither the quiet or shy candidate or the over the top dominant one so she is very frustrated with the lack of feedback the airlines offer.
I think she is even more frustrated because a friend of hers from high school went through an assessment day with her and was lucky to be recruited (her mother works for same airline also) so I feel maybe this helped her as she is close to the same age, doesn't have anything other than McDonald's experience (but she did put a false reference and job experience down) and she didn't perform well at all during the assessment day.
I keep saying to my daughter that it's possibly her age and I understand they can't "say" she's too young and that's why she's isn't accepted further but why do they bother putting her through to assessment days and interviews if they have no intention on hiring the young ones. Why not just toss the application the moment they see her age.
Can anyone tell me if she is too young in the eyes of recruiters as she can't work out what she's doing wrong or poorly in and with no feedback she's very disillusioned.
Any info is appreciated!
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Doubt she's too young, Qantas hire a fair few people in their late teens. Many people have to try several times before they get a crew job, that's just the nature of the industry. Someone I know who worked for QF said that they know of people who had to try 8-10 times before they got in. She'll get there! Every AD she goes to is great experience 
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At 18½, managing to even attend assessment days for Qantaslink, Virgin, Jetstar and Tigerair is a feat in itself. Some people go many years without even having an audience with a single airline, let alone 4. I personally know crew who have spent the better part of 20 years trying to become a flight attendant, and only have recently reached their goal.
I'm not a recruiter, so I can't speculate with any certainty. But in my opinion, your daughter is just starting to become competitive with her age. Some airlines have recently been trying to replace all the 'oldies' with fresh out of school 18-year-olds, but the attrition rate during training and in their first year has been quite high, so I think more and more airlines are looking at candidates that can demonstrate a reasonable amount of life experience (19 and beyond), and for candidates that are willing to commit to the job.
Your daughter seems to have a considerable amount of experience for her age, and if she performed in the AD's exactly as you've stated, I can't really give a reason as to why she hasn't progressed with any airline. Like Mn64 said, it's just the nature of the industry. You just have to make sure she doesn't give up.
If I had to give a reason, a recruiter would likely look at her resume and besides her work experience will only see the Cert 3 as her only qualification. (besides the necessaries of RSA, Passport, etc). And I would assume other candidates with more certs, diplomas, and degrees would be favoured over her. I would recommend the Aviation Australia cabin crew course. Not only is the Cert II Aviation well regarded from some airlines, it proves that your daughter has the stuff to commit to and pass an airline ground school. AA also have agreements with some of the regional airlines that place AA grads in a preferred recruitment pool, and that's not only a great way to not only get into the industry but to get some varied experience in it as well.
In any case, I wish her the best of luck, and if you have any more questions don't be afraid to ask.
I'm not a recruiter, so I can't speculate with any certainty. But in my opinion, your daughter is just starting to become competitive with her age. Some airlines have recently been trying to replace all the 'oldies' with fresh out of school 18-year-olds, but the attrition rate during training and in their first year has been quite high, so I think more and more airlines are looking at candidates that can demonstrate a reasonable amount of life experience (19 and beyond), and for candidates that are willing to commit to the job.
Your daughter seems to have a considerable amount of experience for her age, and if she performed in the AD's exactly as you've stated, I can't really give a reason as to why she hasn't progressed with any airline. Like Mn64 said, it's just the nature of the industry. You just have to make sure she doesn't give up.
If I had to give a reason, a recruiter would likely look at her resume and besides her work experience will only see the Cert 3 as her only qualification. (besides the necessaries of RSA, Passport, etc). And I would assume other candidates with more certs, diplomas, and degrees would be favoured over her. I would recommend the Aviation Australia cabin crew course. Not only is the Cert II Aviation well regarded from some airlines, it proves that your daughter has the stuff to commit to and pass an airline ground school. AA also have agreements with some of the regional airlines that place AA grads in a preferred recruitment pool, and that's not only a great way to not only get into the industry but to get some varied experience in it as well.
In any case, I wish her the best of luck, and if you have any more questions don't be afraid to ask.
Last edited by Slipspace; 10th Dec 2016 at 04:02. Reason: Change of opinion
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Thanks for the replies, it's really appreciated!
She had thought about doing an aviation cert (she went to an aviation based school but unfortunately they didn't do it the year she was there and as they are so expensive (I believe around $5000) she was hesitant especially as she has read that it would not benefit her. A few years ago I asked a couple of my clients that are cabin crew about the courses but they didn't think it would help her as each airline does ground school if their own. But maybe she should look into it again.
She's also considering going to Canada to work for 6 to 12 months to get some other experience and to show that she is mature enough to "look after herself".
Also does anyone know when the airlines say that you can't reapply for 6 or 12 months is this because they keep your details for the next round or is it so they don't have so many people reapplying that they've already assessed.
She had thought about doing an aviation cert (she went to an aviation based school but unfortunately they didn't do it the year she was there and as they are so expensive (I believe around $5000) she was hesitant especially as she has read that it would not benefit her. A few years ago I asked a couple of my clients that are cabin crew about the courses but they didn't think it would help her as each airline does ground school if their own. But maybe she should look into it again.
She's also considering going to Canada to work for 6 to 12 months to get some other experience and to show that she is mature enough to "look after herself".
Also does anyone know when the airlines say that you can't reapply for 6 or 12 months is this because they keep your details for the next round or is it so they don't have so many people reapplying that they've already assessed.
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I think if it says not to reapply, it is so they don't have to reassess a candidate they've already decided against. Better to leave it for another year (as tough as that is!). I hope she'll have success with this. I've wanted to do this since I was a child, and I decided to go to uni, get a office job etc, and got an invite for Qantas in July, and now I'm past the reference checks process. You just never know what will happen
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Thanks for the replies, it's really appreciated!
She had thought about doing an aviation cert (she went to an aviation based school but unfortunately they didn't do it the year she was there and as they are so expensive (I believe around $5000) she was hesitant especially as she has read that it would not benefit her. A few years ago I asked a couple of my clients that are cabin crew about the courses but they didn't think it would help her as each airline does ground school if their own. But maybe she should look into it again.
She's also considering going to Canada to work for 6 to 12 months to get some other experience and to show that she is mature enough to "look after herself".
Also does anyone know when the airlines say that you can't reapply for 6 or 12 months is this because they keep your details for the next round or is it so they don't have so many people reapplying that they've already assessed.
She had thought about doing an aviation cert (she went to an aviation based school but unfortunately they didn't do it the year she was there and as they are so expensive (I believe around $5000) she was hesitant especially as she has read that it would not benefit her. A few years ago I asked a couple of my clients that are cabin crew about the courses but they didn't think it would help her as each airline does ground school if their own. But maybe she should look into it again.
She's also considering going to Canada to work for 6 to 12 months to get some other experience and to show that she is mature enough to "look after herself".
Also does anyone know when the airlines say that you can't reapply for 6 or 12 months is this because they keep your details for the next round or is it so they don't have so many people reapplying that they've already assessed.
The best advice I can give for your daughter is to hold off on applying for the next 6-12 months, and just continue to build up experience and fill her resume and then to have a crack at applying again. If she perseveres, I have no doubt she will get the job.
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Hi everyone,
FL- I'm sorry to hijack your thread - I'll keep it brief - but you've asked a really good question which I can relate to and that's been bugging me.
So I'm just over 18 years old, and a guy, and I've been thinking about applying to the airlines as cabin crew, but the age factors been making me think.
First a bit about me; I like to think I'm quite good looking (I am biased), I'm friendly, outgoing and easy to get along with as well - apparently. For the past few months I've been working in a high endish clothes shop in BNE airport, getting experience in customer service and so on, and also experience in an airport and the weird hours that come with it.
I've also been involved with aviation for years, with extensive experience in the operations side of aviation - albeit mostly GA - and I've got multiple pilot licenses and an aviation medical. Admittedly my goal a bit further down the track is to be a RAAF pilot - and I've completed the selection process for it - and ultimately a pilot for the airlines.
I figured that cabin crew would be a great way to get some industry experience, make some connections - and would be an amazing job I'd love to do - all the while letting me mature to the point where I'm happy to sign away 12 years of my life to the RAAF.
However seeing some of the replies to FLs question, considering I'm younger than her daughter, would I be lucky just to make it to an AD, and is that realistically the farthest I can expect to go?
Cheers.
So much for keeping it brief.
FL- I'm sorry to hijack your thread - I'll keep it brief - but you've asked a really good question which I can relate to and that's been bugging me.
So I'm just over 18 years old, and a guy, and I've been thinking about applying to the airlines as cabin crew, but the age factors been making me think.
First a bit about me; I like to think I'm quite good looking (I am biased), I'm friendly, outgoing and easy to get along with as well - apparently. For the past few months I've been working in a high endish clothes shop in BNE airport, getting experience in customer service and so on, and also experience in an airport and the weird hours that come with it.
I've also been involved with aviation for years, with extensive experience in the operations side of aviation - albeit mostly GA - and I've got multiple pilot licenses and an aviation medical. Admittedly my goal a bit further down the track is to be a RAAF pilot - and I've completed the selection process for it - and ultimately a pilot for the airlines.
I figured that cabin crew would be a great way to get some industry experience, make some connections - and would be an amazing job I'd love to do - all the while letting me mature to the point where I'm happy to sign away 12 years of my life to the RAAF.
However seeing some of the replies to FLs question, considering I'm younger than her daughter, would I be lucky just to make it to an AD, and is that realistically the farthest I can expect to go?
Cheers.
So much for keeping it brief.
Considering your experience, you are in a great position to apply to become cabin crew. Cobham are currently recruiting for QF 717 crew operating out of Brisvegas, and looking at your interests, experience, and personality, I think if you are ready you should apply.
Better yet, why not do a gap year in the RAAF as a crew attendant? You'll likely be a flight attendant out of RAAF AMB on the KC-30's, and that will get your foot in the door with the RAAF which can help progress your career towards being a potential officer or pilot.
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Hi can anyone tell me what Australian airlines are looking for in cabin crew andidates?
My daughter is naturally attractive (no I'm not biased). She is very friendly, outgoing and easy to get on with. She is 18½ but she has 3 years hospitality experience working as barrista, waitress, bar assistant, gaming assistant and function coordination and running. She often works within large functions solo so maturity and being able to handle responsibility is not a problem.
She did a year long traineeship during school and has a cert 2 & 3 in hospitality, an rsa, first aid, swimming competency cert, and current passport, so everything she needs to apply is ready.
She has been successful in getting through to the assessment days this year with Qantaslink, Virgin, Jetstar and Tigerair which she was thrilled with. She had also gone through to the interview stage but has not progressed through to reference checks with any of them. She participates well during the assessment days and is neither the quiet or shy candidate or the over the top dominant one so she is very frustrated with the lack of feedback the airlines offer.
I think she is even more frustrated because a friend of hers from high school went through an assessment day with her and was lucky to be recruited (her mother works for same airline also) so I feel maybe this helped her as she is close to the same age, doesn't have anything other than McDonald's experience (but she did put a false reference and job experience down) and she didn't perform well at all during the assessment day.
I keep saying to my daughter that it's possibly her age and I understand they can't "say" she's too young and that's why she's isn't accepted further but why do they bother putting her through to assessment days and interviews if they have no intention on hiring the young ones. Why not just toss the application the moment they see her age.
Can anyone tell me if she is too young in the eyes of recruiters as she can't work out what she's doing wrong or poorly in and with no feedback she's very disillusioned.
Any info is appreciated!
My daughter is naturally attractive (no I'm not biased). She is very friendly, outgoing and easy to get on with. She is 18½ but she has 3 years hospitality experience working as barrista, waitress, bar assistant, gaming assistant and function coordination and running. She often works within large functions solo so maturity and being able to handle responsibility is not a problem.
She did a year long traineeship during school and has a cert 2 & 3 in hospitality, an rsa, first aid, swimming competency cert, and current passport, so everything she needs to apply is ready.
She has been successful in getting through to the assessment days this year with Qantaslink, Virgin, Jetstar and Tigerair which she was thrilled with. She had also gone through to the interview stage but has not progressed through to reference checks with any of them. She participates well during the assessment days and is neither the quiet or shy candidate or the over the top dominant one so she is very frustrated with the lack of feedback the airlines offer.
I think she is even more frustrated because a friend of hers from high school went through an assessment day with her and was lucky to be recruited (her mother works for same airline also) so I feel maybe this helped her as she is close to the same age, doesn't have anything other than McDonald's experience (but she did put a false reference and job experience down) and she didn't perform well at all during the assessment day.
I keep saying to my daughter that it's possibly her age and I understand they can't "say" she's too young and that's why she's isn't accepted further but why do they bother putting her through to assessment days and interviews if they have no intention on hiring the young ones. Why not just toss the application the moment they see her age.
Can anyone tell me if she is too young in the eyes of recruiters as she can't work out what she's doing wrong or poorly in and with no feedback she's very disillusioned.
Any info is appreciated!
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Hey Slipspace,
Thanks a lot for the reply, and thanks for the suggestion about Cobham, I'm definitely going to apply. It honestly never would have occurred to me to look at Altara - my thinking took me as far as QF mainline and VA.
In regards to the gap year, it did occur to me. I'm not sure it's for me though - while being on the 330s out of Amberley would be absolutely incredible (speaking from very limited personal experience), I'm not sure I have the mental discipline to make it through basic training unless I knew I'd be fulfilling the childhood dream - being on the flight deck. Still it's definitely worth considering again.
Thanks a lot, I appreciate it
Thanks a lot for the reply, and thanks for the suggestion about Cobham, I'm definitely going to apply. It honestly never would have occurred to me to look at Altara - my thinking took me as far as QF mainline and VA.
In regards to the gap year, it did occur to me. I'm not sure it's for me though - while being on the 330s out of Amberley would be absolutely incredible (speaking from very limited personal experience), I'm not sure I have the mental discipline to make it through basic training unless I knew I'd be fulfilling the childhood dream - being on the flight deck. Still it's definitely worth considering again.
Thanks a lot, I appreciate it
I can't speak for VA in BNE as I know nothing about their recruitment, nor for Alliance or Jetgo.
The only other players at BNE are Jetstar and Tiger, and they have both ceased recruitment for the base. Generally, they are both excellent ways into the industry and they would be my recommendation if you want become crew, JQ especially.
I'm BNE based myself, so feel free to shoot me with a PM if you're after any more specifics.
