Virgin Atlantic - Wannabes & Recruitment II

[faye]

There is also a lady coming from Belfast-thankgod someone lives further than me!
Also a girl from Cambridgeshire-I'm lodging with those 2 during the training at a ladies house in Horsham.

Wonder how many there will be of us??!!

[redgirlcrew]

25m swim

Well is it going to be all girls do you think? I am glad we are all diff ages, soooo excited.
Anyway help does anyone have any idea about the 25m swim? I am not a good swimmer, can do the 25m but I do it in an unconventional way. Will they care as long as I do it?

I am practising, but I doubt I will ever make the Olympics...................LOL

xx

[GusInTheSky]

!!

Hi guys and gals

I was invited to an interview today for the 10th October, really happy for you that you're all going to training - I hear the interview process is really competitive - so well done! Could tell me how the interview is structured - what kind of questions they ask? I know its elsewhere in the forums but those posts are four years old.

Id be really grateful for any tips/pointers, REALLY want to be up there with you

Oh, and if anyone else is going to interview that day say hi

x

[LIKE A VIRGIN]

In my interview there were about 12 of us. We all had to introduce ourselves one by one and then we had a group exercise when we were split into two groups. After that I think it was the maths test and the memory test (if I remember rightly!) Then we had to go for another break whilst they discussed us and then it was time to get height measured. We were then told that those who were still with us would be having a 2-1 interview. They just asked why we wanted to work for Virgin, Virgin flair etc. I am very excited that I got the job offer and can't wait til October.

[faye]

You will be fine at the swimming-everyone makes it seem harder than it is.
I have flown before, and done the swimming twice-both times done the same thing, however it may be different with Virgin??!!
If it's similar-you swim your 25 metres-not timed or anything, then jump in the pool with a lifejacket on.
You have to do a little bit of lifesaving-swiming whilst pulling someone along.
Tread water then you have to get in a liferaft and put the roof on it-canopy thing!
I find the hardest bit is getting myself in the liferaft!!-god help me!
Whilst your doing the liferaft they ask you questions about it-all things we will learn in the classroom.
I'm dreading the slide!!!-I hate that soo much.

[LIKE A VIRGIN]

Sorry about my ignorance. I have never flown before but what is so bad about the slide? I have heard that the bit where they "smoke" up the cabin is the worst. What do you have to do - just find your way out in the smoke?

[redgirlcrew]

Swimming

Thanks for that, was worried but that it may be a timed swim and I am not fast. I scuba dive so I know that getting in the raft is hard, I always struggle getting in the rib after a dive.
The smoke filled room is not to much to worry about, spoken to Friend who is a fire officer and he has told me what to expect and how to do it, however we will be given training. I am guessing the slide is a bit scary, but I shall treat it like a fairground ride......

[LIKE A VIRGIN]

Hi. I sent mine back too - recorded, signed for, first class delivery. However, when I checked with Virgin 2 weeks later they said they had never received it! I checked with Royal Mail who told me that "no-one was in to sign for it". I had to wait another two weeks for my contract to be returned to my house! Anyway, when I spoke to recruitment at Virgin they said not to worry as it seems they hadn't had a few back which they are blaming on the postal strike. Just phone them. Don't worry. I faxed mine to them so I knew they had received it second time around.

[InTheZone]

recruitment

Hey guys...

Just a question out of interest. How long does it usually take to be invited for an interview with virgin, if at all, after u submit the online apllication How come you arnt required to send in your cv and cover letter?

Cheers!

[Kristina1980]

Thanks Like a virgin, thats put my mind at rest a bit, just had visions of them offering my job to somebody else because they thought i hadn't accepted.

[redgirlcrew]

Acceptance

Hi all,
I had a call from HR on friday, nearly died on the spot as I have been told they only ring if there is a problem. Seems they have never recieved my signed contract either, sent back during postal strike! Joy assured me that loads of candidates contracts have not turned up, but I still have a job . However I shall be resending everything and faxing it just in case.
So if concerned give them a ring, they are all really nice, I keep calling and asking questions. LOL sure they will be fed up with me soon.

[faye]

What a nightmare with all the post!-Joy called me on Friday to let me know she hadn't received any of my stuff either that was sent ages ago!!
Hopefully we will all be ok once it's all been re-sent!

Do you start on the 8th of October aswell Kristina?

If you scuba dive redgirlcrew you will be fab at the swimming!-nothing for you to worry about!
Yeah treating the slide like a fair ground ride sounds about right-I just scream all the way down!-it's just so steep!!

Smoke filled cabin is ok-we get to spend the day with a few fireman!!

[I Just Want To Fly]

[Smoke filled cabin is ok-we get to spend the day with a few fireman!! ]

Bit old for my liking!!!

To all people to are not confident swimmers. Please take lessons!!! Too many people get kicked out because they can't swim!!! I don't want to scare you but imagine going through all that training, only to get kicked off cause you can't swim well enough.

Lying on your back and trying to float from one end of a pool to another does not count.

You have to swim the full length of the pool at least three times over the day. You have to tread water for about a minute a couple of times, and put on and inflate a life jacket. I used to competitive swimmer and a swimming teacher. Although it was easy for me, it was still a little challenging at times.

If you are not 100% confident that you can do all of this, then please take more lessons. I mean, every day from now until the day you start training.

If you can't afford to take lessons try this....

Wearing a t-shirt, swim a lap, then tread water for 60 seconds, then take your t-shirt off. then swim another lap, whilst holding onto the t-shirt. then tread water for 60 seconds, then put the t-shirt back on. Repeat this for 10 laps a day, or as often as is practicle, until you can do this confidently!

Plus it's good exercise. Helps you fit down the aisles a bit better, and not bump the pax with your bum!

Good luck!!

[Kristina1980]

Hi Faye, no, i start on October 1st.

[LIKE A VIRGIN]

Thanks 'I just want to fly' for all that advice with the swimming. That was really useful. Is the swimming assessment near the beginning or end of the course. How hard is the course generally? I know there are exams everyday but are these essay type questions or multiple choice or what?

[I Just Want To Fly]

Swimming is during SEP, which is about 10 days into the course. Was a while ago now, so don't hold me to that.

The course is quite tough, and could be a little more organised, but it is only monday-friday, which is nice. Enjoy your weekends, because you'll miss them a great deal once your online.

Be nice and friendly, try to make friends and build a good rapport with all of the people in the group, and always say please and thank you to your trainers. Simple advice, but after 6 weeks of gruelling training, it is easy to forget the simple things.

Be prepared to study at least 2-3 hours per night. If you live far from Crawley, you need to think about moving down for training. Sitting in a car for an hour each way, will cut down alot on your study time.

Don't go out during the week, as tempting as it may be. And don't go overboard on the weekend. It is only six weeks of your life.

[faye]

Old!-thats the end of that then!

How long have you been at Virgin for?-were there any people thrown of your course coz of the swimming?

Feel quite anxious-I don't like first aid!!
Do you do defib training?

[LIKE A VIRGIN]

Is there a lot of role play on the course as well?

[redgirlcrew]

Thanks

Believe me you do not need to be a good swimmer to scuba dive. I can do 25m, on my front with a sort of crawl, tread water and I can put my dive kit on in the sea so I think putting life jacket on in pool will be okish. Thanks for the advice, I shall be off swimming again.

I think our biggest asset for the training will be working as a team, if we do that we can all help each other over the sticky bits which I am sure we will all have.

I am looking forward to it although I know it is going to be a tough six weeks.

Am I correct in we have an exam at the end of each day on what we have learnt that day or are they all at the end of the course?

[LIKE A VIRGIN]

I can only do breast stroke or back crawl but hopefully it won't matter what stroke you do as long as you get to the other side.How many people are usually on the course anyway?