Back from the interview.... completely exhausted....
Where do I start from? 5 hours in that room and I feel like if I had been ran over by a truck!!!...
Few points:
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1) Bring original AND PHOTOCOPIES of passport/visa, birth certificate, senior first aid, resp. service of alcohol, language diplomas. A passport photo is also required. Don't bother bringing a resume 'cause they won't take it. If you don't have your photocopies, you'll have the pleasure to queue for 30 minutes in front of the reception... (so did I with another 25 people, bu-huu...)
2) A.A. CEO Denis Adams was there! He didn't say anything but it was obvious he had his word when it came to choose the candidates for stage 2... maybe he was just watching pretty girls, that I will never now!
3) We were abt. 60 people this morning, 12 where "rejected" because of their paperwork or height (they measure you so you can't cheat!). Another 18 or so where called around lunch time and only 30 returned into the room for a psycological assessment after the break. All 30 are booked for a 2nd stage interview early July (panel interview).
4) A.A. received 6000 applications (phone calls). Interviewing 960 people, of which about half will go through stage 2 and only 180 will be hired.
5) There is no preference for ex-Ansett people or fashion' queens...
Men seem to have same chances as women.
Average is 25-35 years. Asian looking candidates are definitely a minority but I was surprised to find out loads of "traditional Aussies" with fluency Japanese or Mandarin! Well done!
6) Salary is AUD 36'000 / year for cabin crew and 52'000 for cabin manager. 6 weeks leave. Allowances paid at ATO rates. Language allowance is 15 AUD per week per language. NO REBATE ON TRAVEL! Roster 28 days period. 9 days off per month. Duty hour 8-9 per day.
7) The fleet will be 4 x 767-300 series all economy (over 200 seats) and will increase to 12 a/c within 2 years. Even if all the crew will be based in Cairns, a different base will be established within 2 years.
8) Despite the all Y class, A.A. will be a "high value/fare quality Airline" serving in particular large groups from Asia (incentive travel).
9) Other languages than the ones required are welcome, since many European passengers travel to Australia via Singapore. Make sure you mention that! The last question they ask while "registering" you is "do you have any language certificate?". That's were you should take your chance to shine!
10) In case you didn't register for an interview, I suggest you send your resume to the following address (I got it off a letter they give you during a group excersise but I don't know if it is real... worth trying? You decide.):
Cabin Crew Manager
Australian Airlines
Level 3
150 Main Street
Cairns QLD 4870
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Now to the interview itself:
1) you can't be wrong with your table 'cause they separate you by letters and by numbers. Letters first, number next. Practically towards the end, you'll have to seat at a different table, with different people and a different facilitator. It sound complicated but it isn't and if I didn't f#*k up myself, then anyone can do it right. It's a good system because you get to be scored by two different moderators instead of one.
2) They introduce A.A., show you a video about a passentger (Mr. Lee) that goes through a lot of krap with the cabin crew. You have to pay attention and observe a lot 'cause you'll have to work on that scenario for about 3 hours, in about every excercise you receive! You'll have a combination of questions and group discussions. There is a lot of paperwork to fill in. NOTHING like the usual questions: "why would u like to become a f/a? what is the role of a f/a? etc." NOP! All about that scenario again and again.
Then you receive a huuuuuuge piece of paper with 7 different problems and you have to write which one is a priority, why, how you deal with it, etc. It is very difficult to say what is right or wrong but not all of us that got through mentioned the same thing so I guess it is not extremely relevant. In general, you have very little time to write down your answers. You have to be quick and sharp at picking up details.
3) While completing all these questionnaires, you'll also have to prepare a scenario and a recruiter will take you out for a chat. Mine was "a new recruit is about to start his training and would like to know how it is to work with asian passengers and deal with problems on board. What would you recommend?". During the 10 minutes chat, I got asked what is different in working with Asian people, what do they expect, how to adapt and what would be in a few words my slogan for Australian Airlines. (That last one is a pain in the brown hole, I tell u! Anyway, I said "Excellent Quality of Service and Safety at all time! She seemed pretty happy with that...).
4) Once over, you swap table, one more scenario with pussed-off passenger Mr. Lee and hop! Out of the room for coffee (at noon!).
45 minutes later they called 12 people out of the bunch and took them appart for the thanks but no thanks thing. We were back in the room to find out we had to spend another bloody hour on psycho/p0ersonality tests.... Naaaaaaaa! This was the cherry on the cake! Anyway, it is good to know BEFORE you go through all that crossword shrink stuff that ANYWAY you get booked in for a stage 2 interview before leaving!
Ok, I think that's about it... I'm gona have a cup of tea now...
Hey folks! GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL!
Mrs. FloatJockey