Virgin Australia - Wannabes & Recruitment

[ali2305]

Hello

To all the people that are on this and saying that they are so upset they didnt get thru, Do not give up. Ive been applying for Virgin Blue for the past 3 years and yeah I got the Job and Im in the middle of training now but trust me never give up and never think negatively, always think positively, Virgin Blue is a great Airline to work for and trust me Training is soo intense but the trainers are fantastic. All I can say to you is reapply, Reapply Reapply, Go over your resume make sure its up to scratch. I can admit it is soo hard to get in but dnt forget that it all starts of with your Resumes, The recruitment team do not know what you look like or what you personality is .... Make your Resume sell yourself.... Make them look at your resume and say WOW impressive resume!!!! Anyways Guys I wish you the best of luck and I do hope to see you in the near future

[LadyJ1]

Hi ali2305

Thanks for your post and positive comments....it's nice to know not every one gets in 1st shot...I only wish we could get feedback after rday to know what we are doing wrong...

All the best with your training and maybe one day I'll be there..

[I Just Want To Fly]

Just an update on current pay and conditions at V:

Salary:
Year 1: $39,000
Year 2: $41,500

1-5% bonus per year based on performance

Allowances:
LAX: US$120-150 per night
HKT: AU$80 per night
NAN: NIL (Day Return)
JNB: TBA

Trip Patterns:
LAX: 2 or 3 Nights
HKT: 1, 2 or 4 Nights
NAN: NIL (Day Return)
JNB: 3 or 4 nights

No Sector Pay
No Overtime

Leave:
Holiday: 6 Weeks
Sick: 10 days
URTI: 6 days (Upper Respitory Infection Sickness)

Rostering:
2 LAX, 1 HKT or 1 JNB plus some scattered standby days or Open Days
Days Off: 9 days off per 28 day roster

Request System:
There is no formal bidding system, but you can email crewing, and they are pretty good at honoring requests.

Staff Travel:
$1000 free travel on VB/VA for you and spouse/children/companion
32 sectors at staff travel rates to be allocated to your friends/family
Unlimited staff travel rates for you and spouse/children/companion
Interline fares with a few other airlines.

I think all this is correct, feel free to correct me.

Good luck to all applying, we have a very different culture to other airlines. It is totally awesome!

[cloudtraveller]

Sounds fairly accurate except for pay.. I have been with V for more than a year and am not on a 39k base and no many that are not. Also just so people are aware there is currently NO EBA, NO work rules, and NO government award in place (or at least that is the companies view) however this will hopefully change in the near future.

Oh also they are extremely short crew and as such have reduced the crews on LAX and JNB trips to 12 compliment until numbers can be brought up this was in part blamed on "higher than expected attrition for last month" I believe many cruise FO's are going to VB where conditions are significantly better.

[Brindabella24]

Well I am impressed with the pay. Even if it is less than what I just want to fly said. It's still more than I'm making! It sounds pretty good - I would love to work for them in the future, once I have some experience in the smaller airline I'm about to start working for.

So what are you on cloudtraveller? Is it close to 39K? And why is is they are extremely short of crew? I Just Want to Fly seems super happy working for V but you make it sound like somepeople perhaps aren't?

[flymenow]

why is v short of crew? cos they arent looking after us! its exactly as cloudtraveller said, no EBA (ie, we have no union contract = we have no say on our working conditions) no work rules, do nandi day trips because VB guys cant do it (legally they cannot work over 8:45 in a day, therefore, thats why we are stuck with day trips and get not one extra cent to do a 13 hr shift). the pay might sound good if you're not working in the industry (it isnt) but when you are on minimal rest, in a cloud of fatigue, no life outside of work, the money isnt worth it. people are leaving in droves! someone in this forum will be replacing me!

[Brindabella24]

I see what you mean. I'm about to start with a small regional airline and I will be only getting just over 30k so V Australia looks attractive, but I would for sure think twice about it.

[ANstar]

do nandi day trips because VB guys cant do it (legally they cannot work over 8:45 in a day, therefore, thats why we are stuck with day trips and get not one extra cent to do a 13 hr shift).

Thats one way of spinning it - this routes WAS OPERATED BY PAC BLUE beforehand who seemed to do just fine with it.
I that has more to do with aircraft utilisation.

"higher than expected attrition for last month"

As I posted in another thread, probably to do with the people who were "got rid of" after sickies on Public holidays.

Guys - you all knew the conditions when you signed up - what has changed since you joined?

[cloudtraveller]

Anstar - The main thing that has changed is that the Australian government has brought in a legal workplace award that V australia refuses to acknowledge.

Brindabella- Yes I am now after more than a year getting close to 39k, I would welcome you over and you will enjoy it here. I have heard they have been approved for 9 training classes this year.

I don't want people to get the wrong impression because I do enjoy my job and I am merely trying to state the facts, there have not been droves getting fired for sickies at all and the main attrition rate is purely personal choices that have seen crew leave on their own accord.

They are short of crew because they have delayed hiring crew until the last possible minute, this is business and not something specific to V and I don't fault them. I do not want to have that turned on me though as to why I should be understanding! As a note, V has applied with the government to return slots back to Pac Blue for Nadi sighting among other things economic reasons.

In all some people forget they are only 1 year old operating today and things will undoubtedly get better as the company progresses, for a one year old their balance sheet is great and they turned a profit for the month of Jan 2010. Like all new ideas the kinks just need to be worked out and the company and the union need to just get something done so the crew can have black and white knowledge of their rights.

All just MHO

[engboi]

Questions

Hi There

I just wanted to see if that $39,000 includes all of the allowences.

I was invited to a interview but I am interstate.

I am looking at doing the Senior First Aid - Was this a easy course?

[somewhereat1l]

$39k basic plus allowances but I have heard the basic for new starters is now $32k. Appalling if it has gone down to $32k, they will be losing a lot of crew

[bjork]

Groundschool 22nd March

hey all.. just got the call, ground school starting on March 22nd.. am very nervous, but also very excited.. just wondering if theres anyone else out there starting in ground school 22nd March? anyone relocating & in need of a roomie as i have to relocate to Sydney & dont have much time to do so. If anyone is relocating or looking for a roomie i would much appreciate a message... xo

[I Just Want To Fly]

No idea about the changes to base salaries. Perhaps some of the new starts could confirm this...

I am extremely happy and have a positive outlook on the future.

The EBA negotiation members have been appointed, and negotiations will start soon.

We are a new airline, the company is doing what ever it can to stay afloat. Don't forget, we were losing $5M per week during the delay to launch! Is that management's fault? No, it's boeing!

There have been alot of people leaving, yes. It is actually quite common for an attrition rate of around 10-20% in the first 12-18 months. Trouble is, we all started at the same time, which is about 12-18 months ago.... I'm sure if you look at any airline training group, you would see that around 10-20% will have left after the first 12-18 months. After that, the % decreases considerably. This job is not for everyone.

There are 50 CC in training as we speak, with new groups every few months. This will help to cover the crew down problem to a certain degree, but we will need more! They have been actively recruiting alot, so should be sorted soon.

Is management perfect? No... I would like to see an airline anywhere in the world whose crew do not complain about management. We are being run by a low cost airline, trying to play with the big boys in the full service long haul market. They are a little out of their depth, but will find their feet. Hopefully the experience of our new VBGroup CEO will rub off on our Executives at V!

There is a big problem with negativity within the ranks. This is definately because of some of less than ideal working conditions. But what can be done about it. Remain positive, speak to your manager, email your Crew Consultative Committee members. Join the Union, stay in the Union beyond July! Stop being negative, and if you don't like it, go somewhere else. There are pleanty worse airlines in the world!

Although my roster is a little boring compared to some airlines, I still only average 3-4 trips per roster, plus one or two Nadi and a scattered Standby. I am not overworked at all! There are issues with regards to particularly long duties, which are being addressed, but things take time.

Sorry for the rant...

[bjork]

Libra 89.. re commuting

hi Libra, i dont know how to private message.. just wondering if you could give me the phone number as i have to start training on March 22nd in Sydney & would love to see if she has a room available.. cheers

[bjork]

V Recruitment and commuting

Guys just a bit of info i forgot to mention. If your thinking of commuting forget it. I got offered the job and tried to see if i could commute and its a no go. You have to commit to living/baseing yourself in Sydney. Im a bit disappointed, and so is my cat (who wont like living in Sydney) so alas he has to stay in Melb without me. But i guess you have to make sacrifices. This was my third go at applying, second time with VA, and i had a VB interview in SYD last month(which i didnt get) so all i can say is dont give up. persist persist persist. If you really want the job, one day it will be yours. I went for VA in 2008, and didnt get it, but third time lucky. If anyone is looking for a room mate in SYD or anyone is starting ground school on March 22nd and is relocating, please PVT me and maybe we can find a place together. And to all who didnt get through, please dont give up, as i said it took me my third go before i got the job. And its all happend ever so quickly, so good luck to all, fingers crossed and hope to see you all in the skies sometime soon.. xo

[engboi]

Senior First Aid

Hi,

Does anyone have information on how to obtain a Senior First Aid course, also are these easy to pass?

I live in a regional town and cant get onto one?!!?

Is there any online courses anyone is aware of?

[ilana182]

I did my First Aid through St John's Ambulance and my Dad did his through QLD Ambulance. It's a two day course, 8 hours a day, and you can't do it online. I'm sure if you call St John's Ambulance, QLD Ambulance (or relevant Ambulance body in your state) you'll be able to find a course near you, or organise one in your area. They're easy to pass.

[sydboy89]

Hey Everyone

Have my assessment day next week on Wednesday 9th March for V Australia......really excited and pumped!

Do you think successful applicants from this day will be in GS starting 22 March? Seems like it is quite last minute if so??

How did everyone else go on assessment day?

[Lulu85]

Groundschool 22 March

Hi Bjork

Just got the call too...really excited to begin training. Relocating to Sydney from the Gold Coast. Have been looking at renting a room in Maroubra, Bondi, Bronte...want to be near the beach. There are lots to choose from, but open to renting an appartment in the eastern suburbs..had a look on realestate.com.au and nice apartments $400-$450 per week.

[engboi]

Hi Guys,

I was invited for a interview but I am holiday was unable to attend

Feeling quite sick about it all actually.

Does anyone know when they maybe recruiting again?

Cheers

Another question

Does anyone know what the height requirement is? Im 5.5???