ShesGreatInTheGalley, why must you lump ALL new, fresh out of ground school crew in the same boat like that?
It sounds like you are infact the whingey one going by that post. I personally have been nothing but enthusiastic and hard-working since I was checked to line a couple of months ago, and a lot of my ground school mates talk about how hard they're working just to avoid the kind of reputation you're talking about, ie. lazy, whingey, etc.
I have not heard any negative comments from any CMs about my particular ground school and most have commented on how well prepared and knowledgeable we have been compared to SOME ground schools of the past. I know my SOPs and EPs as well as any other crew member, and in some cases probably moreso because I've had them taught to me and drilled into me quite recently. I don't however go around pretending like I know everything in front of the experienced crew because I know how cocky and arrogant that would look. I also realise that I probably still have a lot to learn about the job, which will come with time.
And it's really disheartening to hear someone like you who will just brandish all new people as dumb and lazy. As for the example you gave about someone not knowing how to arm a door... Well if I was confronted with someone like that I personally would almost want to shoot them, because that procedure is drilled into us so much during ground school, I find it hard to believe anyone would actually have a problem with performing that.
I actually think that the morale at Jetstar could actually do with a bit of a boost from a lot of fresh, new faces like us who are still very excited to have got the job and still quite enthusiastic (however naieve you might think that is). I've even had some crew of about 3 or 4 years experience comment on how nice it is to see so many excited new crew out on line and that it reminds them of how they felt when they first started.
Ugghh! Sorry if I just got HUGELY defensive, but I can't stand people who generalise and take the actions of a few new people and talk about how all newbies are the same, when there are some of us who are putting in a hard effort to stay on everyone's good sides and positively work together with the existing crew.