Tattoos & Crewlink Course v Thomson Course
 

Hi All

I'm posting this question on behalf of my wife as she has just recently been made redundant from a customer services role and is looking to get into cabin crew.

However, she has got a visible tattoo on her wrist (which could be covered by a watch) and one on her ankle. Will this mean that this career is a complete non-starter for her? I did ask a member of TCX cabin crew on a recent flight back from Zante and she said that one of the guys on board our flight had a tattoo which he covered with his watch and others use plasters to cover theirs.

The other question is, she has seen a Thomson introduction day for new cabin crew in Manchester for £95 where you get some form of certification for completing the course and has also seen the Crewlink course which is significantly more expensive at circa £1700. However does anyone have any opinions on which might be the best option or any other better courses.

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

Hello

I do recruitment for a very large UK airline, and the very first thing I will say to you is, don't waste your time, or money doing a course of ANY sort, it is not needed, and does not help you get a job within an Airline, it shows enthusiasm for the role, but bears no relevance on the outcome of the assessment day.

As for the Tattoos, If you ensure they are covered and totally 100% not visible, you ought to be fine.

Any more questions, get in touch! :ok:

The uniform standards for the airline I work at specify that tatoos are not to be visible. It is acceptable to take care of this by placing a flesh-coloured bandaid over ankle tattoos and the like. It is fairly common to see this on the line.

As above - the industry hasn't gotten to the point where outside courses mean anything (luckily!). ALL airlines train ALL recruits to their own standards, so taking a paid course is a waste of money.

You may find, however, when you check the application requirements, that an accredited St. John's First Aid certificate IS a requirement. The nice thing about paying for that is that it is a useful addition on your resume for ANY job she applies for in the future, as well as being able to use it as an example for showing enthusiasm and dedication at the interview.

Training courses - St John Ambulance

Wise words! also, AFAIK, it's a mandatory requirement in UK that an employer has a qualified First-Aider on site. That bit of paper really CAN be the deal-clincher.
(It also demonstrates that you're smart enough to absorb the training)

You could also JOIN St. John,- enjoy the cameraderie (anywhere there's a unit) get further training (free including basic FAAW) and, increasingly, they're paying for duties which are sub-contracted to the local Health authority.

No, I'm not a member...though my offspring were and one not only secured a job, but was given a pay-increment as the designated First-Aider. A Win-Win situation.

Thanks all for the advice, I will pass this on to her. She has been a qualified first aider before at work so a refresher course should be in order.

I actually think the St Johns stuff for someone wishing to join an airline as crew is also a waste of time.

Unless however there is a personal desire to do this training.

Again, coming to an Airline Assessment for the position of Cabin Crew and having St Johns training, does absolutely nothing to help your chances, it is not noted, nor are points awarded for this training being taken by a candidate.

The above may not be accurate for any other airline related role, however, for cabin crew... your wasting your time, the training for crew in relation to First Aid is designed for the inflight environment, and St Johns does not cover this.

Although it is handy to have if you are a regular person wishing to widen your knowledge.

My niece, who I'm raising, is thinking a career in In Flight service and having done both the In Flight first aid course and the St John's course I agree they are quite different but I would think the St Johns's course would certainly help one prepare for the in flight course. At the very least, the St John's course is pretty tough (At least it was back in the day)

The Crewlink course is only acceptable to Ryanair which actually (through an intermediary and some smoke and mirrors) gives the course. Although it is provided via Crewlink, the course is usually given by Ryanair personnel. Successful applicants will be offered a contract to fly with Ryanair but will always be employed by Crewlink. More than half all Ryanair cabin crew are employed this way and the proportion is rising every year.

Be warned: your wife will have a strong chance of either being fired or leaving because she cannot stand the pressure of this aggressive employer. I've seen figures that at least 25% will be either sacked or will quit in the first year. (Others say upwards of 60% but I have no way of knowing if this is true). Among reasons for being fired is failing to sell enough to passengers on board the aircraft. Your contract does not guarantee any basic minimum and you can be laid off for weeks, sometimes months. You pay for your uniform, don't get free meals and you are only paid while the aircraft is moving. Yet you are required to work several unpaid hours daily on ground and turnaround duties. You have little choice in where you will work and can be posted to Eastern Europe at the drop of a hat. Neither do you get expenses.

Getting fired can be exp[ensive and I've met kids at my local airport who are almost penniless afterwards. Ryanair makes outrageous deductions from final paycheck. You don't get your final month's sales commission, cost of uniform is deducted, and if you took advantage of the so-called "New Joiner's Allowance" (upwards of €1300) it's deducted from your final check. Ryanair won't fly you home either, just to the airport where you were based.

Be warned.