Virgin Blue Recruitment (Merged)

[seektofly]

Sorry - Have been studying ! Finally Week 1, Days 2 & 3

Hi Everyone,

It is Wednesday evening - I have yet another exam tomorrow morning - I am not thrilled about this one especially since I only got 92% on the last one. I was actually hoping for 100% but I screwed it up.

Sorry for not posting last night - I went out to a birthday party after training - as we didn't have an exam today and then when I got home I opened my manual and started studying to the point that I couldn't keep my eyes open.

Here goes...

Virgin Blue Training - Week 2, Day 2

Well, Only 18 days of Training left. Today we had our 2nd exam. I found some really tricky multiple choice questions in there and they threw me a bit. I found myself thinking that two out of the four possible answers looked right - and when I finally chose the "better one" out of the four possible answers, - I got the whole question wrong because in fact, the question asked me to choose 2 options out of the 4 available options - and I had only chosen one - it was half right, but I failed to choose the other right one. Never mind - I need to learn to read the question properly!!!

I made some other errors - as I didn't word the answer as it appears in the book. I disappointed myself, but will know for the next exam which is on Thursday.

After the exam we had this guy come in to do a presentation on Safety - and we did a couple of activities associated with it. It was interesting, and after that it was lunch. After lunch we had a social activity called the three C's. - We had to go around the classroom, and everyone had to tell us their Career b4 joining Virgin, What is their favourite City, and finally their favourite Celebrity. It was fun, and we had a few laughs.

For the rest of the afternoon, we did Standard Operating Procedures; which is what our exam is going to be about this Thursday. 50 pages of pure theory. It was a night mare. We were all falling asleep. It wasn't the most hands on topic. Basically it is what we DO everyday, but in writing and the theory behind it all.

All in All, an ok day. I am just glad that I passed my exam. I am not looking forward to the next one which is on Thursday. I still haven't had a chance to study for it - as I am going to a Birthday Party tonight.

Anyway, I hope all is well. The BRATZ seem to have settled down a bit - not as much as I would have liked them to, but the fact that the Trainers set up the room each day the way they would like us all to be seated (they put our name badges in a different place every morning so that we are never sitting with the same people) makes all the difference I think.

Tomorrow we are finishing the Chapter on Standard Operating Procedures ... and then moving onto Non-Standard Operating Procedures, which I believe will be a bit more hands on - woo hoo.

Thanks for reading, I hope you all enjoy my adventures at Training school!

STF

[Hostee]

Medical done

Well did my medical yesterday! All good.. passed! I watched the ladies at the clinic fax off the results to Virgin!

Just gotta wait til Virgin phone/email now!!

[seektofly]

Virgin Blue Training - Week 2, Day 3

Hi Everyone!
I know I am replying to my own self, but I want to quickly fill you in on todays continuing story of my training school days at Virgin Blue. Before I go on, I have to answer a couple of questions that came up...

STF, what do you wear at training.. do they tell you before you start training that it's smart casual or anything goes or business/professional? Or do you wear the uniform

At the moment, my new uniform is hanging in my wardrobe at home. We can't wear it at the moment because some people are having alterations done to their uniform - so until they get theirs back, we can't wear ours. Its ok - I need to lose a couple of kilos (like 15) before I will start feeling comfortable in my uniform! So we are wearing the business/professional look during training, but I wear pants and a skivvy and a jacket and I am fine. - No one has ever pulled me up on my clothes. It is not like a full on suit -I would even go so far to say that people are in smart casual - but no one can wear jeans. They told us before training that we could wear smart casual/business/professional but no jeans. So for now, as long as we look ok and are comfortable, thats the main thing.

Another thing, Hostee, where are you? Did you do the medical? How did it all go?????????????????????? Would you keep us posted ???!!!!!!!?????

(Julz, that goes double for you too! )

Virgin Blue Training - Week 2, Day 3.
More Standard Operating Procedures today, but we started on the next topic called Non-Standard Operating Procedures. It was ok - but we didn't get a break this morning until 12pm. We went for 3 hours no break. It was very difficult. Lunch was at 12-1. I wanted to study during lunch seeing that my exam is tomorrow, but I also realised that I forgot my watch at home, and heaven forbid if they were to do a grooming check on us! So I dashed home. It only took me 9 minutes. I even managed to have a bit of lunch with my mum.

This afternoon, we got put into groups again to do our wonderful group presentations, and I noticed that 2 of the "older people" have a really rude side to them - and I thought "that is soooo unecessary". They were muttering things under their breaths, and when the person asked "sorry - what was that"? the response would be "nothing nothing". Really really rude and no manners at all. Oh well, if that is the way they were bought up then there is nothing anyone can do about it. I put it down to "her" being cut when people don't automatically agree with her, and secondly, she was dismissing other's ideas and talking over them. Its awful and it shouldn't happen. BUT ANYWAY...

Tomorrow is the exam. I am sooo unprepared for it that it isnt funny anymore. So, I must cut this short and go and study a bit so that I can memorise a few things word for word... Aiming for that elusive 100% in my exam tomorrow. Not that I think I will get it. Actually, I am not confident that I will pass this one!

I will keep you all posted as to how it goes, and what mark I get.

Until Tomorrow..... STF.

[seektofly]

Whoops.. sorry

sorry Hostee, we must have been posting at the same time! I didn't see your post until mine went up. Glad to hear that you did well on the Medical. You will have to tell us all about it! Like what did you have to do etc...

See you in the sky!!!

STF!!!

[Sylphie]

Aww. Stf. Good study vibes coming your way. I remember them saying that in the 5 weeks of training there is something like 11 exams and most of which don't allow for less than 90 percent pass rate [or.. something?]. Ooooooh!

Haha at the narky people. You just have to see the funny side when things get that tense. At the JQ day, there was one really unnecessarily rude woman, in her early 40s perhaps late 30s who not only complained about how long the day was progressing to a recruiter, but actually used her hands in a stop sign and bellowed "EXCUSE ME!" to interrupt another applicant in the group activity. I could have laughed so hard but managed not to. There's no way after that, that she would be getting a 2nd interview.

Hostee, you'll have to fill us in on the medical! Congrats for the pass, it's only a matter of time now 'til you get the magic call!

[Iulia]

Alooo, still here!

I'm still alive! Struggling to drag myself out of bed each morning, put un a horrid navy tie, shirt and trousers... trudging off to school, feeling more like a guy, and less feminine.. I mean, whats with the tie?!! I used to have a winter skirt, but have somehow misplaced it and can't find it.. at least that piece of uniform used to make me feel slightly better about the school.

BUT... as I and many of my friends keep saying, there are only a few more weeks left, and then its over. Thank goodness! I'll be the first to embrace the end of school with the biggest smile and probably wetest tears of joy! School is a nightmare these days, but thats a different story.

I've been extremely busy with the Census stuff, as well as being bombarded with 4 SACs (School Assessed Coursework- like a class 'test') this week, most had crammed in them like 4 chapters because the teachers were slack in breaking up the chapters and setting them to us in smaller sacs.

My parents left to Fiji last night. I went with my two brother's to see them off at the airport. How exciting it was, being at the international check-ins! It kind of stung with my dad turned around after checking in his luggage and said to me in his language 'see, you could be doing the same job as them', I thought, "its not that easy to get in dad!" But I think he honestly didn't mean to offend, I think he was just trying to give me suggestions, but we didn't continue the conversation because we all scuttled along so the next people could check-in.

My heart sank though as on the way to the car, after seeing my parents off (they insisted we leave and not hang around any longer because it was after midnight and we have school/work the next day), I saw the VB and REX check-ins. My older bro was like 'look, there's that REX company you tried out for!' and he even read the sign that directs you to where the new check-ins have relocated. Once again, I felt uncomfortable, and a loser, a complete loser. My family were so excited for me. I'm glad I only told the family about my interviews, especially since I never made it to medicals/reference checks.

I figure if I get some hospitality experience, and try out again next year, I'll be a year older, closer to 20 and I'll have that customer service experience in the food industry!

I wont be posting much these days, because there's really nothing much to post on my behalf, its like I'm stuck in this time warp, its not moving.

I do however, want to encourage STF to continue posting her daily training notes, they're a great read! And I think most people who follow this thread will agree its fun to follow especially for the training updates Also Hostee, I'm so glad for you!!! Please keep us informed! With STf's reply from VB after the medical, it was quick, so hopefully your days of playing the waiting game will be ovver sooner then expected

Sylphie, hang in there! You and I are due to reapply at about the same time (I'm less then a month after you) to VB. We're gonna have to renew out CPR's soon though..

Have a good day people, I'm off to put on that dreaded uniform... I've estimated I'll have to do it about another 35 times this year, which is good, I can't wait! I feel like having a bonfire in the place where I live, invite my schoolmates and get us to burn the unforms and books together! Wouldn't be too good for the ozone layer however...

[followyourdreams]

Seektofly- I am loving reading all of your posts, but am getting so nervous about the training (if I get through to it- I'm still waiting on another phone call). It seems so full on and so much to study. I have completed 5 years at uni so I know I'm not stupid, but getting 90% right in all exams is a hell of a lot of pressure. Is is more about the amount of things you need to learn over being hard questions??

[seektofly]

Virgin Blue Training - Things are getting interesting...

Hi Guys

Me yet again with another fascinating day at training. Firstly though, I would like to say Julz, now I have 2 reasons to come out to your side of town- 1. For those Krispy Kremes and 2. To knock you out! Don't feel like that. It really made me sad to read your last post. Don't worry. It will happen - just think of it like this. When Virgin blue starts the U.S. flights (Australia to the US), then Virgin is going to need to hire more staff. We got told today that they would most likely fill positions internally first - but either way, they are going to have to get more flight attendants. By that time, you will be more experienced in customer service, and a bit older too - so you will have a really good chance. I promise.

Follow your Dreams, to answer your question - the stuff that we are learning is not that difficult - its just that there is a lot to know and the attention to detail when you are studying is the killer.

Talking about studying - I should get back to my diary entry for the day.

VIRGIN BLUE TRAINING - Week 2, Day 4. (Thursday 10//08/2006)

It looks like we have had a casualty of training. One person seems to have dropped out or not been allowed to continue. This person was not there today... and she has been in and out of the classroom for the last 2 days.

We started the day with our 3rd examination. Standard Operating Procedures. I ended up studying until 2.30 in the morning last night so as you can imagine, I am absolutely exhausted now. The exam wasn't as bad as I had first imagined. My score was 98% - Which means in effect, I picked up 1 more point. I was happy and quite surprised that I did ok.

After the exam we had 2 people come in to the classroom to give us a chat. The first being the head of the Cabin Crew department from Brisbane. He is soo cool. He was the one to tell us that we have joined the company at a very exciting time, and he told us about going to the USA next year, and the fact that Virgin would have to buy new jets like the 777 or the 747 to do that. YAY!!! The second person who gave us a bit of a talk, I can't remember what his position was, but he looked mainly at the financial side of things and told us that we have to be happy before making our passengers happy.

Then lunch.

After lunch, we had a session called "your most embarassing moment or your worst date". I went with the most embarassing moment! We had a few laughs and then back to our NON STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. I can tell you all now that there is soooooooooooooooo much to learn in this chapter that it isn't funny. I thought the last exam was going to be difficult. This is going to be even more so!
Part of the chapter is entitled "FIRE". We studied the effects of fire on a plane and we also did a couple of role plays. That was pretty much it. It is strange our group has been reduced down to 19 people. It is really really weird. I hope the 20th member of our group does come back.

Anyway, our next exam is on Monday. The chapter is some 60 pages long - but with heaps to learn. Tonight I am off to have my nails done, so I probably will give my brain a rest tonight and start again over the weekend. I figure, If I study 20 pages per night, then I will get through the chapter by Monday morning.

It seems our group is starting to come together a little more. I think the exams have something to do with it.. I guess when you are in a difficult situation, you open up a bit more to those in the same predicament.

Anyway,I must go now as I do have an appointment to go and have my nails done. Funny though - I am having my nails done tonight and we are having a fire drill tomorrow morning - climbing through smoke filled cabins and all that.... This is going to be a lot of fun .... At least it's my nails and not my hair. (Not the hair not the hair!!!! )

Will keep you all posted.

Until then,
STF

[scottie380]

dj

iulia u are so young and so much time ahead of urself.. plenty of time to work for an airline.. checkin is good experience but very hard work..abuse everyday from px.. and QF havent put a school thru for a very long time but DJ maybe a good stepping stone for u.. lots of ground crew transfer to cabincrew and infact the company encourages staff to move around..Virgin couldnt be a better company to work for..after being with QF for 8 years its very refreshing..


good luck to everyone waiting.. its a hard slog having to wait.. but that call when u get it is an amazing feeling

oh and the pass mark is 80%

[followyourdreams]

Hi guys,

I am stilllll waiting to hear back about whether I have had my references checked and a call for the medical. Two weeks ago this Tuesday I got my email saying I got through the VRD (July 27th) and am now in limbo land not knowing if my references have been phoned or not. Do you think when they asked for the two references they check both? The reason I ask this is because I still work with one of my references so she would tell me straight away, wheras my other reference may not think to call me and tell me that, and she may have only been the only reference that was contacted.

Anyway this next question is probably premature seing as I haven't been called up for a medical yet, but I am a bit nervous if I do. The reason being, I had my eyes checked a few months ago and I am slightly short sighted now. So I wear my glasses when driving, movies etc. However, I have found the more I am wearing them the more I am finding it difficult to see properly without them on. Do you think they still employ staff that have eye sight problems? I guess I could always get contacts if I need to. My eyes are not even that bad, but I thought I would ask. Also, I have asthma but doesn't effect my day to day life. Do you think this is frowned upon???I am super fit and go to the gym most nights so its not like I'm dying or anything. What checks to they actually do at the medical??

Also, lets just say I get through the medical and get to the training school - where do you park your car? Do you get parking or do you have to pay for it everyday? Where do cabin crew park there car during the day? Is that at the airport like everyone else?

Sorry I'm sounding like a stress head, but the more time that goes by and I still haven't heard about the medical/references and I know I have passed the VRD, the more questions I have.

Seektofly- keep up the training day journal as I love reading it.

[Iulia]

Heya Follorwyourdreams, I really think they'd call both your references, and not just the one. I understand your worry that perhaps they may have called the other that you no longer keep in touch with, but going by other ppls past experiences with VB, it seems they do indeed call both references

Also about the slight eye-sight problem... I suggest, get contacts! If you are called in for a medical, rush to get contacts, unless at the medical they ask if you're wearing contacts... I dunno if CC can wear glasses...

About the asthma... its like a high % of Australia's have asthma, mild that is, and I'm one of them, though the last time I used a puffer was when I was like 9yrs old and they always made us run laps of the oval in primary school I have never felt anything since, so I consider my asthma non-existant.

Hmmm good question about the parking at training... it'd be horrible to have to pay a parking fee everyday! Dunno... we'll have to wait for STF to get back to us on that one

Toodles!

[followyourdreams]

I have asked a few people about the eye thing and I think it would be discrimination if they were to turn someone down over a slight eye problem. I would say there are many people that are cabin crew that wear contacts, so if I was to have an eye test and it wasn't 100% (which it won't be) I'm sure they would you just suggest you waering contatcs rather than glasses (I wear glasses driving my car etc). Ohhh know I'm stressing.

[seektofly]

RELAX - Parking is free at the training school and even at work!

Hi guys

Sorry I didn't make an entry last night, but I was completely buggered.

Ok to answer everyone's questions... Parking is taken care of both at training and once you start working. You don't pay a cent. When you start working there is a staff car park near the airport and we all get access cards to that car park and then we hop on a bus and that takes us to the terminal. For training, there is a car park (free of charge) at the training centre.

As far as glasses go, no need to stress. A couple of people in my class wear glasses for reading the board etc... so don't panic.

Ok Let me get back to the diary - Where were we?, Oh thats right;

Virgin Blue Training - Friday August 11, Week 2, Day 5

Well today was the fire drill. We had to get to class at 8am this morning, so you can imagine there were quite a few people almost sleeping during the theory side of the lesson! Then we all went out to the fire station located airside at the airport. This was sooooo much fun. We got to go up into the tower that the firemen use to watch planes land and takeoff so they can see if there is are any problems on take off and landing - and we got to sit in a fire truck - gosh, lucky I am not a firey, it took me ages to get in and out of the truck!!!

After that we went down to actually use fire extinguishers and put out fires. The fire extinguishers we used were like a powder base liquid, so all this white powdery stuff came out. When it was my turn to have a go, the wind changed, and I ended up wearing half of the white powdery stuff as it ended all over me - it doesn't taste so good either. Just a tip.

After that, we went to another section belonging to the fire brigade down by the airport and they have set up a building which is completely black on the inside and filled with smoke (not real smoke, but generated smoke... the type you find at a night club - but not cigarette smoke) - We had to have a walk through in groups of 3 plus the fireman. I couldn't believe how scary and dark it was in there, and was glad to be out.

After that at around 12.30 we went back to the training school and it was lunch until about 1.30. Lunch was good - I went out with a couple of the girls for lunch because I hadn't had time the night before to prepare something - but it was good to be out and about.

This afternoon we did more Non Standard Operating Procedures. It was just really alot of theory - and I don't know how well I am going to do on the exam which is coming up on Monday morning. Eek... I will be losing points on Monday. I can tell you now.

Anyway, will keep you posted as to how Saturday goes. It should be alot of fun as we are doing our security training. From what I can remember, it should be a pretty physical day with all the yelling and self defence we do.

Take care all, talk to you guys over the weekend!

STF

[SkySista]

Hey all!! Am loving this thread, especially your 'training diary' STF!!! Great stuff!!

Don't be too discouraged, when I was training my class was like that as well... there are some people who hang back a bit and some people who are a bit abrupt or 'rude'... I think sometimes they don't realise they are doing it, it's just because they are out of their comfort zone, and can feel 'threatened' by people who adjust more quickly than they do!!

There was an older person in my class who I know didn't like me, at first I took it really personally and it upset me, but then I thought, I'm not doing myself any favours, I'm just affecting my own work!! So I didn't worry about it any more!! The good thing is after we finished things got better, I think the stress of exams was just getting to everyone!!

You;re bang-on about diving up study over the weekend, you HAVE to give yourself a time-out to give your brain a rest, otherwise the night before that big exam it will just go on strike, right when you don't need it!! Keeping up study is good even after training, as I am sure you guys will have to do theory, mini-quizzes etc for your initial training/flying...

Fire training is GREAT fun, isn't it?! I think those dry-chem and BCF extinguishers smell like crushed ants...! You know that funny smell like when you step on one... ewww!!

Grooming is fun yet can be SUCH a hassle!! It's so much easier to keep it up on a longer flight than a short one!! I too had the 'wispy bits' hassle, like you I had to start carrying hair spray with me. At first nothing worked, here's a tip, if you have very fine, flyaway hair, try the small-size 'Tresemme' hairspray that you can get from most Coles/Woolies it's about $4, it's the white can with black lid, 'extreme freeze hold' I think it's called... much better than the Schwartzkopf version, that one gave me 'helmet hair' but the Tresemme one seems much better. Also, I found a tiny purse-size hairspray in Priceline - the Charles Worthington 'Take-Aways' are great for a small bag, mine was about $2.25 on special, and they're about the size of the smaller mobile phones - perfect if you don't have much room!!

Anyway enough from me, enjoy training everyone, take heaps of photos and above all HAVE FUN!!! You'll remember more if you make it fun, I PROMISE!!! So when you're doing your exam, stuck on that question, you'll think, 'OH yeah, so and so was joking about it being answer x, because...." and there you go!!

Iulia, hang in there, if there's anything the airlines value, it's persistence!!! Which you have in bucketloads!! I too thought I would 'never make it', but I'm flying, and you will be too!! I know it!! So hang in there girl!!

Have a fab rest of weekend, everyone!!!

Sky x

[Hostee]

no news is good news right??

Hi all!!! Just a quick update to say that there is no update yet! Haha.

Passed the medical on Tuesday, and i watched the ladies at the clinic fax it off.

Virgin never said how long it would be til they contacted me after the medical.

I guess Wannabe and STF scored with the phone call the next day!!

I've got enough to do to keep my mind off the waiting!
OOH is my apartment going to be sparkling clean!! Hehehe

Sorry cant write more, in Singapore, and i need to have a nap before my flight tonight.!

[Iulia]

Haha isn't it amazing how cleaning can just keep you soooo busy? I love my trusty old toothbrushes, getting on my hands and knees cleaning the bathroom and floors in those hard to reach places!! It helps when I've had an argument with someone and am really hurt, I take the fustration out on the poor grout Or just to pass time..

Hostee, I rekon they'll call ya sometime this week, perhaps around the afternoon who knows! but definately no news is good news!! And I mean, the only thing to possibly hold you back now is if there were anything seriously wrong with your medical, and I think the doc would have scrunched up their face and been concerned if there were anything major wrong that would hold ya back from passing, don't you?

Anyway, do let us know how you go!!

I went to the RMIT city campus open day today, it was so exciting! A lecturer talked to me for ages, she was really authoritative-like but everything she had to say was really informative, and I hate to admit it, but I am looking forward to my uni-life next year. Hopefully like the house-cleaning I do, it will keep my mind preoccupied and help the months pass til I reapply to VB and REX, as well as add the years onto my age... next year, 19, wow, and then 20! The big 2-zero!!

It amazes me how time passes, tomorrow is the beginning of a new week, last week seems to have just flown by!

Speaking of flying I may go on a study tour to Europe next year, that way I gain credits for two subjects and I can travel by train to Romania and see my relatives again.

Take care people, and I hope you have an enjoyable week!

[seektofly]

Hostee, training school in October

Hey everyone!

It is Sunday night, and I just wanted to take a few minutes before getting back to studying for my exam tomorrow. Yes, another exam. Exam #4. (Acutally exam #5 if you take into consideration the exam I had yesterday at training for security/self defence). Yes, tomorrow's exam is a nightmare. There is soooo much to remember.

Anyway, I hope everyone is well, and Hostee, I heard that there is going to be a training school for October... so keep your phone on. Sometime between now and next month you should get that magical ring ring on the phone.

Virgin Blue Training - Week 2. Day 6 - Saturday August 12, 2006
Today was our security day. We learnt all about security onboard the aircraft and how to look after ourselves and protect ourselves. It was fun, but scary in a way to imagine using the techniques onboard an aircraft, and being told that if those techniques don't work the first time that there is no second chance

Lucky they weren't looking at our grooming today, because by the end of the day, my hair was a mess !

It was a good day with lots of laughs. Next week is our last Saturday at the training school, as the following 2 weeks will be just Monday to Friday. On Monday we have an exam and we start Emergency Procedures - jumping down the slide and yelling out to passengers to jump down the slide. It should be an interesting week. At least we won't be stuck reading theory in a classroom all week. We will be running around and doing fun stuff.

Anyway, I know it was a short entry but I have to go and study for Monday's exam. Until my next diary entry on Monday night, take care!

STF

[Hostee]

Iulia: I definitely passed the medical.... I saw the doc sign the bit where it says "FIT for duty as cabin crew". So i know that parts all good.
Just gotta wait for DJ to make their final decision.
Not watching the phone as much as i was last week, still got it VERY close by of course, and NEVER on silent

Time flying by?? I know ALL about that.... seems like yesterday i was getting on that plane making my way to Dubai... 4 years ago!
And here I am coming home!

Doing the medical was kinda fun, me and the doc had a giggle at times.
I have really good reflexes in my knees... and when he hit my knee with that little hammer, my leg went 'kick'!! I couldn't help but laugh, then he laughed too. Probably laughing at me tho!

STF,Thanks for the inside tip about October! Sounds like you are having a fun, yet studious time at training! Fingers crossed I'm in the same boat as you soon!!!

Just back after a 9 day trip... so time for some sleep for me.
Will update of course as I know!

[seektofly]

Virgin Blue Training Diary - by STF

Hi Guys

Well, it is Monday. Only 2 more Mondays left at the Virgin Blue ground school for me. My goodness how time flies. Hostee, you are right, time is flying by. Soon it will be Christmas!!!

I hope this diary entry finds everyone well, as I endeavour to keep you all amused at my training school adventures.

VIRGIN BLUE TRAINING : Week 3. Day 1. Monday August 14, 2006
Today was Monday. The first day of the week. Yet another exam took place today. All of the class studied like there was no tomorrow. No one failed the exam as we were all really super stressed about it so we all studied and perhaps to a point of overkill for me... (yeah, the study nearly killed me!!!) - 5 people in the class got 100% in today's exam. I am proud to say, I was one of them. I would have been most disappointed if I hadn't - because, as I said; I studied my butt off!!!

When the exam was finished, we started on a topic called Emergency Procedures. I guess this will be the final topic before our HUGE exam on Tuesday of next week (of week 4). The exam has 2 parts - the first part being the practical part of it, when they observe us yelling our commands and then the written part which involves all the material that we have learnt in the past 4 weeks, all rolled into one huge exam. OH GOD .

Just after we started the topic - it was lunch time. So at lunch, I drove down to the milk bar and bought two large bags of M&M's because I have noticed that lately, everyone brings lollies and nuts and crackers to class and shares them around. Our class has become a bit closer, and I think that things are looking up - finally. So I too, bought these M&M's to class (and put them in an open container) for after lunch and even our trainer was scoffing them, while he was teaching us stuff. Needless to say, they didn't last long. Everyone was munching on M&M's!!! But overall, it was an interesting day. We know that this topic is going to be the death of us all... but anyway ... I think everyone thought that of the exam we did today... but the worst is still to come. The main thing is that the class seems to be a bit more relaxed with each other now. This is how its supposed to be.

This Wednesday, we have to start wearing our uniforms. Finally. We could wear them tomorrow, but we have been told not to wear skirts or dresses tomorrow, as we are going to the Qantas cabin trainer to jump down slides so it should be interesting. This is going to be one of those days - where I will need a camera - both video and still camera!

Anyway, I will post after tomorrow's adventures. Keep well

All the best. Until then

STF

[Wingletts]

training is training!

well guys intersting stuff reading your posts about the days of the Virgin blue school yard...only joking

A few morsels od advice:-
dont get too carried away with being the exam queen/king with 100% pass rates etc...in the end it is an attempt to get you motivated to be competitive, and too make sure you are good little vb children who do things the vb way! when you get out on line no one remebers who got 100 for this and that.. it's what you put in that is important and the attitude you have to your new role and what it involves that is important.. it is soo different out there on line - ie a lot more relaxed..as long as you understand what you are learning that is the most important thing! dont get too hard or down on yourself if you get a 90 or 89 etc ..it's a bloody tough environment in training let alone pushing yourself for perfection every inch of the way! remember you are there to learn as much as you can and the best way possible for YOU to be great flight attendant who pax will appreciate. Just be dillegent with a postive outlook and compassion for your fellow teammates ( b/c yes it is hard for some of them! we are all different ,esp in a pressured environment) and you will get thru just fine..who cares about a few measly little points ..you are all adults!
..and remember you will often see a different side to your team mates once the pressure is off after training --..just wait till Wings night!

remember that the people you bitch about on here are the ones you will fly with on line, and there is no bigger gossip land than the one of cabin crew! it will always come back to bite you on the arse big time, no matter how nice or sweet the people you gossip to seem! better still it will often get distorted in to a range of varied rumours that are nothing like what you have gossiped about in the beginning! i dont mean to scare you but there are some very fake people in this industry and they are the ones to watch out for ....no mater how good it seems to have all these new friends who air kiss you at every turn! you will make some great acquaintances and even better real friends who you KNOW you can turn to - usually you will make them on line when you start flying and if your lucky keep in touch with a few from training (as everyone goes their own way) ...it's a job where you have to work at freindships as you are always changing hours and shifts and often too tired to socialise...give yourself some time out too..you will need it...

be realistic...it all sounds amazingly exciting and it is ..at times!.. remember your health is number one and it will,at some stage cop a battering BIG TIME! the reaosn you are going to be dragged out to an aircraft at all hours of the morning to do drills for EPS is also so they give you a taste of just how buggered you will be at times.. even for the most fabulously fit crew it is a physically demading and emotionally taxing job! you wiill have days where you will be exhausted and days where you are jumping with joy after a pissy two sectors! you will have overnites where you feel like you Peter Allen form the Boy from Oz and on big holiday, and four day trips with the CS from hell and the crew who cant talk about anything but thier latest lippy! haha only teasing! ..you will have a ball no doubt just keep it all in perspective and remember to stay YOU, not the VB clone they sometimes like you to be - they recruited you for you... not for who you can be by their terms! remember that and your fellow crew and pax will not only love you but appreciate you wholeheartedly!

finally know your EBA - you probably wont have much exposure to it before you go out on line, but it is very important that you know you have a right to ask qus and understand your new & very unique working environment! IT'S not like working on the ground ,and yes it does need to be heavily regulated as you are in a tin can at 40,000ft for often up to 10-11hours at a time!
Ask qus and show interest and find out who your union reps are- join the union as soon as you can as it will be the best protection you can have for your life as crew you never know what situations you could find youself in out on line- FAAA membership is fully tax deductible so you get it all back at tax time. just know your EBA back to front and hopefully you will have new and better one very soon ..it's your life that is dictated by the hours you work so know what is reasonable and legal and not !!

well guys good luck - from an EX CS and flightie of many years ! you will have a ball and dont forget to remain true to yourselves! remember to PM mer if you'd like a chat or ask anything -i'll do my best!

Wingletts