Virgin Blue Recruitment (Merged)

[seektofly]

The weather was gorgeous today where I was!!!

Hi ya guys!

I just got home from training today. Where I was today, the weather was absolutely gorgeous - FYD don't get too jealous... I was in Melbourne all day! - we never ended up going to Brisbane - ahhh the joys of getting 20 flight attendants to go on standby tickets. We are always the last to get on the plane if we travel standby.

It was an absolutely gorgeous day today and I was thinking seriously about going for a long walk by Albert Park. But I have been up since 3.00 am this morning so, under the circumstances, I don't think I will go anywhere. I might just study a bit for our exam on Friday and go to sleep.

Before I do any of that, I just wanted to say to NJSBOI, that I sincerely hope that your reserve days and cough cough days (I like to call them URTI's) have gone well and that you are looking forward to starting training. FYD - it won't be long for you either.OMG, you both will be flying by November!!! YAY - cant wait to meet you both online!!!

DRUMROLL PLEASE...................................................... ..................

VIRGIN BLUE TRAINING. Week 5, Day 3. August 30, 2006.
2 days to go... (ok one and a half but who's counting???)

Today. What can be said about today? Long? Fun? Interesting? Exciting? Disappointing? - all of the above.

Today we all showed up at the airport at 5.15. I personally was there by 5 am and most others were too. Our trainers showed at exactly 5.15 am and after a quick head count we were informed that we weren't going. At first everyone thought our trainer was joking!!! But the other trainer shook her head and said "no, its true"... Apparently we could get there, but there wasn't enough room on the return flights home for all 20 of us. So at 5.20 we were told to meet back at the training centre at 6.30am.

So we all disappointedly went back to the crew room and we did a re-enactment of a flight that would happen on a day to day basis. Of course there was alot of acting involved, which was fun, but it was ok. I started nodding off around 8.30 and the trainers could see that half of us needed to go back to bed - well, they did tell us that we would be able to get a power nap on the way to Brissie, and on the way back, so none of us really had a "decent nights sleep".

After the role play, we had a presentation (that should have been done in Brisbane) of our payroll and Leave (annual, sick etc..) and that was really interesting to see how our pay is broken down. After that we had a module that I have really been looking forward to ..... STAFF TRAVEL!!!
WOO HOO - its just that some Airport taxes are higher than the actual tickets!!!

After staff travel, we had a module on Corporate Response to Emergencies etc.. That was really interesting and after all of that - we got to go home!!! It was soooooo nice finishing soooo early! However, even though we did finish at 1pm - our group stayed until 2pm as we really need to practice for wings night. I must admit, we are getting it together slowwwwllllyyyyy but we are looking and sounding better each time with practice.

Ok - well, I am off now. I want to start studying for the exam on Friday. Wouldn't it be awful to stuff up the training now???!!!???
I am really really excited now as training has only 1.5 days left, and yet, at the same time really really nervous!

Stay well, until my next entry - tomorrow the 2nd last day!

STF
(Y'all know that by now!!!)

[njsboi]

seek to fly....do you really have to finish training so soon???
ive been hook and captured by this diary for the past 3 weeks.... its been absolutely great to what your thoughts and impressions of ground school are... and then i can sorta compare it as to what i will think!
hmmmm thats reminds me that i still need to call in sick*cough cough*
only a few more days to go!!!! then ill be on the great dirty road heading home....ohhh i so cant wait!
started writing out a few codes and learning them again....geez cant believe theres that many!and i dont know international codes....
good luck on your last test...youll be fine!

[seektofly]

Don't kill yourself learning those codes... just a guide only

NJSBOI,

Hi, thanks for the kind comments, but I just wanted to let you know don't stress too much about all those codes etc... etc... I mean, don't learn them all off by heart or anything - leave some brain cells for the stuff you will be taught in training school!!! I didn't really learn all the codes - as the booklet (the welcome aboard booklet) is massive!!! I got really excited but then I just read through it once and did the quiz at the end... that was about it.

Yeah, not long to go before you leave to come to Melbourne to start training YAY!!! And by the way, I am soooooooo relieved that someone really likes my diary entries (apart from Julz, who, I know likes to read them when she isn't toooo toooo busy )

I know that there are only a couple of days left of training for me... but don't worry, I will keep writing to let you guys know how my first duty goes, and my first trip and I will be getting online to chat to some of you! I just hope that one of you guys in Sept 18 training school (yes, I am talking to you too Hostee!) post a diary too - to remind me what I went through. If there are any questions you want answered just let me know and I will do my absolute best to try and answer them!

Apart from all that - Have a great night. Until tomorrow night....
STF

[Sylphie]

And by the way, I am soooooooo relieved that someone really likes my diary entries

Oh. I think I told you in a PM about three weeks ago STF that I enjoy your journal entries, but you must have missed it seeing as I never got a reply. But no worries...

[flyoneday]

hello seektofly,
am not a VB cabin crew wonnabe but am rather an EK (Emirates) wonnabe.
I however enjoy reading all you posts too, from the time you were waiting your call till now!
You really are an inspiration.
You are helping so many people.............please kip u the good work.u even made me decide that when i get to EK, i will have a diary entry on the EK forum.
Thanx so much.
Your a gem!

just out of curiosity, how many attempts has it taken you?
iv failed in two with EK and one with Gulf Air,thought my world was crumbling till i got to know about pprune!!!

p/s, You are also very comical and i love the way you describe stuff.
Virgin Blue is very lucky to have you on board!
CONGRATS too!!!

~
flyoneday

[laraj182]

hey seektofly .. ive just been threw all the interviews for MAM and are awaiting the final news .. i have spent about 3 hours just reading all your posts and now i am so excited and you have made me procrasinate even more on my homework !! .. your stories are not going unnoticed trust me!! and im sure that there are many more people reading your funny posts like me and are not leaving any msgs thanking you for your effort sounds like youve had a wonderful time and if i am succesful i will be really looking forward to my training .. good luck for your final days see you flying one day hopefully

[seektofly]

IM BAAAAACKKKK -- couldn't keep me away with garlic!

Hi again - me

I was sitting in the study trying really really hard to stay focused on the books for the final exam on Friday - (trying to fight off the urge to go to bed really early because I am soooooo tired ) I went to the computer to check if my pay had gone in, and I quickly checked pprune, and you guys are too much - I turn my back for 1 second... and there are messages - for me?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

I publicly appologise to Sylpyhie, who, I must admit has mentioned how much they enjoyed reading my posts. So Sylphie, I'm sorry that I didn't reply that day.

I probably had my head stuck:
a) in the clouds,
b) up my ar*se
c) in a book
d) to the can of hairspray that I have to carry around now

see what happens when you have 11 multiple choice exams in 5 weeks ????? You start everyday conversations like that!!! (Lock in B Eddy!!!)

To everyone reading - thanks for the kind words (you guys all rock)!!!
I should really consider writing a book called Confessions of Cabin Crew. I think my failed attempts (all 6 bazillion of them) plus my training plus my on board stories should make for er... amusing reading!

LaraJ, I hope all goes well for you with MAM. I really wish you all the best of luck. Just remember what I always say. You are only a failure, when you fail to keep trying!. If it isn't this time, you will just have to try again. I went for 4 Qantas medicals - and not once did I get anywhere. I know how it feels. I am sure though that you will be posting a great result on this thread letting us all know when you start training!

Flyoneday - and you will. I promise. If flying is what you really want to do, then you will do it. NEVER GIVE UP. NEVER LOSE SIGHT OF THE BALL. OR THE PLANE (in this instance). Once you fly - you will never ever want to go back to doing a "regular" everyday boring job.
I would like to know what you are up to - what airlines you are applying for.

To everyone reading this thread. Never think that you aren't good enough for an airline. Airlines would only dream of having people like you working for them.! Remember that!

I know I said I was going... but that was before. This is now.

Until tomorrow night. (I mean it this time!) (Oh unless I guess someone posts a question - or I fall asleep finishing my studying!)

STF

[flyoneday]

hello

hey seektofly,

I dream to work for one and only Airline............................

EMIRATES-Keep Discovering!!!

Thank you so much for the advice and the encouragement that you give to all of us.
God bless.

~
flyoneday

[seektofly]

Second last day of ground school training!

Hi ya everyone

This post won't be too long as I am still to go and revise quickly for the exam tomorrow. I have been busy making a cake for a birthday party.

Today was my second last day.. Talk about an expectant air in the room. It feels exactly like the last week of school. Today we didn't do much so my diary entry is going to seem a bit strange. But here goes...

Virgin Blue Training. Week 5, Day 4. August 31, 2006 (last day of winter) ONE MORE DAY TO GO.

I can't believe it guys. Tomorrow is my absolute last day. I really can't believe it.

This morning when I walked into training school, I brought with me the garment that I will be wearing over the top of my clothes for WINGS night. I brought it in so it could be decorated for the big wings presentation. 9 am came and went and there were no trainers in the room. 9.05 is when the trainers came in with 2 guest speakers - our managers from Melbourne base. OMG It is getting very real now. They talked to us about leave and attendance policies, which is really good. We get loads of sick leave and 6 weeks of Annual leave. It is really really good!!! After that, the trainers told us we could continue what we were doing (I was colouring in my garment with glitter pens!)

Then we did a practice on the safety demonstration. It was good, and only now am I getting confident with it. After the practice of the Safety Demo, everyone sort of lost the plot a bit and started doing strange things with the oxygen masks. One girl even got toilet paper and draped it around the bottom of her chin and said that she was from EMIRATES. It was hysterical!

After that we sort of did some revision for the exam tomorrow. I think I am going to need to do some more study as I am not exactly sure on a few things. During this afternoon, we also had our final appraisals (that includes the points system) - I haven't lost any and am sitting on a grand total of 29. I would have loved to crack the 30 mark, but that is going to be a bit difficult. There is one girl in our class who has achieved 100% on all her exams. She is one smart girl!

Anyway, we did a bit more revision and then... we did FACE PAINTING!
Gosh it was fun painting each other's faces, and, driving home you could imagine the strange looks I was getting from other drivers!!!!! I was painted a pretty butterfly. I can really imagine getting into face painting onboard!!!

Ok, so now I am going to go and study for my last exam on my last day. Gawd, I start on Monday! - 3 sleeps away and 4 days away


Until tomorrow (at some stage - or maybe on Saturday) when I fill you in on how the wings went, take care!
The one and only - Seektofly

[milbud]

All the Best

Hiya STF.
Firstly all my best wishes to you for your flying career! And secondly, I don't think I've seen a more passionate crew member...I sincerely look forward to seeing you on board in the (now) very very near future. My biggest bit of advice for your first day on line is. TAKE A CAMERA AND USE IT! I unfortunately didn't take any pics on my first day and regret it now. You'll never recapture the excitement and thrill of your first take off as crew.
Congratulations for getting through the course so well, so many people just don't understand quite what you go through, especially the emotions from the stress. Well done.

See you on line soon.

XX

[Emster]

Hi Iulia.

Good luck with your interview.
I was just wondering if you could help me figure out this website. how do i posT my own messages.
i'm living up in qld and having been trying since jan to get a cc job. No such luck yet. Im kinda losing hope that my dream will ever come true. Need some advice.

Emster

[njsboi]

seektofly......were all waiting for the last entry....and im dying to know what glitter pens had to do with wings night!!!!!
Ohhh did you get my pm??? if you were there 12months ago you might have seen me around...im dying to know what/who you are sweetie!!!!
hape your last day of training was a blast... ill have to bug you with q's when i start training hahahahah.
once again...fabo job on completing the 5weeks

[DJ_Fly_Boi]

Hi All,

I am just wondering who has been confirmed for the September 18 Ground School, besides myself, Hostee and NJSboi?

Pvt msg me if you like.

Looking forward to training and meeting you all.

DJ.

[njsboi]

hey dj_fly_boi....ohhh yay another person from here!lol i can jsut see our first day... hostee and me having a ciggy and you asking if were those people of pprune hahahha
when was your VRD?? ours was the 5th july.... ild like to know if anyone else from that day got through!!!

[Iulia]

Hey all ;)

Emster, unfortunately I don't have any interview as of yet, not for an airline anyway. When you enter the forum, such as the Cabin Crew, at the top left hand side there is a lil tab/button titled 'new thread' click on that, and you're set to go!!

I love computers...! Especially all those short cuts you can do like Alt + Tab to change screens... try it, its amazing!!

Anyway...

.. on a positive note, I'm nearing the end of my horrendous high school years, have only got about 4wks to go.. woo hoo!! And I've applied for a job at a near by restaurant, its a well-known place. I went in for a quick interview to hand in my resume, and on the spot she asked me when could I come in for a trial. I went for my trial on Wednesday night, did well, and was asked to work for them Its a bit hard, juggling the library job, now a waitressing job, and trying to do well in my VCE but it'll all be worth it someday!

I forgot who, but someone once pm'd me and said I should do stuff that will look good on my resume by the time I reapply (in June), and an example was to get a job in hospitality... and so I have done!

STF, I'm so proud of you!!! I bet your parents are even prouder! Their baby girl, flying once again

xoxox meeeeeeeeeeeee!

[SkySista]

Iulia, that sounds like something I would say!!! (the hospitality thing I mean!!) (Plus, I've been known to give the 'focus on what you can do between now and then' lecture to people when they don't get thru the final interviews...

Great to hear you're getting on with things and not sitting in the one place too long.. that's what airlines like, someone with some get-up-and-go!!!

STF, you've done it!! It's now Friday night so I guess you are out celebrating eh?!!! Well done!!

Sky

[followyourdreams]

Congratulations Seektofly - you have your wings girlfriend and you will be flying as of Monday. Its been a quick but long road for you through training but you did it sister! Well Done.

You must let us know how yu have went on your first day, and if you really feel like, let us know how you go for the first few weeks etc up in the air. I am dying to hear about your night last night. I'm sure your nursing a hangover right no though

[followyourdreams]

It's mwa again- well I just thought I would say that my refeences were contacted last Monday and the Friday before yesterday and I have had no phone call about the emdical as yet. Is that normal? Why does it take so long between references and the next stage? hmmmmm

[seektofly]

Happy and (a bit) Hungover.

Hi Everyone!!


I am now officially one of the newest Virgin Blue Cabin Crew members.

I still can't believe it.

Last night was the wings night and it was better than I expected it to be. 3 of our trainers plus the base manager in Melbourne came along. My parents came along too - and they really had a good time.

It is 12.45pm on Saturday afternoon. I had a big sleep in today as I was a bit hungover from last night. 5 weeks of stress gone in one night. I drank practically 1 bottle of champagne last night so you guys can appreciate how I would be feeling.

I am sorry I didn't write anything yesterday but it was a big crazy day and I didn't get time, but for those waiting for the last day of training installment of the diary here it is. I will also include the wings night too.

VIRGIN BLUE TRAINING. Week 5. Day 5. September 1, 2006.
The last day.

Well. How do I possibly begin to describe the excitement of today?? Ok, first things first, I arrived at the training centre and the training centre was decorated with Streamers. What a good way to start the last day of training!!! I got into the classroom and on the screen there were all of our photos put to music in like a presentation. It was funny and really well done.

At 9am we were told that we would just get the exam underway - as we were all keen to get it over and done with. The exam was really easy but there was one question that I couldn't remember exactly what the answer was ... the question was :

"If you lost your crew bag, who would you tell?"
a) the Captain and the Cabin Supervisor
b) Operations
c) Baggage Blues
d) Both B and C

I wasn't sure if they told us to just contact operations or both operations and Baggage blues - so I put both B and C - I got it wrong. The answer was baggage blues.

We had a break after the exam and we were really hoping to see if we all passed but they told us that they weren't yet marked...

After our break though, our trainer comes into the classroom and the first thing she said to us was
"well, you are all now officially Cabin Crew"
Needless to say, the classroom erupted with cheers and people were stamping their hands on the desk! It was the nicest thing I have heard in that classroom for the 5 weeks.

We then got our exams back. I got 98%. YAY I passed!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway as you can all imagine none of us could concentrate after that, as we were made to listen to a few other things - like a department that takes care of Cabin Crew - if we have any problems or need help or advice with something, we can just ring these people. Then it was time for some dvd's of Virgin Blue people just being.... well .... themselves I guess. It was a good dvd and funny too. After that, we had our final activity - which was to go around the room and ask people their expectations and concerns. That was interesting to see what everyone was worried about.

After that we had our lunch time feast. There was soooooooo much food. There was pizza, lollies, chocolate cake, sushi, fruit platter, sandwiches, walnut twists, cheese and dips, olives and crackers, cupcakes with an iced letter on the top and the cupcakes spelt out "Congratulations Group 86". The cupcakes were amazing. My stomach didn't know if it was breakfast, lunch or dinner as I think I tried one of the 20 food groups all at the one sitting!!! It was good.

Then we got one more practice of our presentation and we got to go home. I had a few things to do in the afternoon - hairdressers etc... and when I arrived at the wings night, most people were already there. I had a couple of drinks and we started the presentation. First of all we got called up one by one to get our certificate and our wings. When I got called up I nearly started crying with happiness!!! It was ok. Then a few speeches later and the "high altitude award" was given out. I must say though that the person I thought who was going to get it didn't. I think they look at the overall performance and skills of each person - and not just how well people did in their exams.

Then our presentation. Now I can let the cat out of the bag.
We decided to have a cheerleading theme. We had blue and red pom poms and we all bought a bonds tshirt to wear over our clothes which we decorated with glitter pens. That is where the glitter pens came into play! We each had a letter of the alphabet which (when we lined up in the correct order) spelt out Virgin Blue Cabin Crew. So our presentation was us wearing these decorated t-shirts and shaking pom poms and running up to the stage, to some great music and then we lined up with the words VIRGIN BLUE to the back and Cabin Crew kneeling down in front. Everyone had a line to say that started with the letter on their T-shirt. For example one person who had the N of the word Cabin Screamed out NO SLEEP NO LIFE, NO TIME TO BE A WIFE! It was a great presentation and at the end of the presentation we chanted like from the movie Bring it on

"We're Sexy! We're Cute!
We're Popular to Boot!
2 Guys 17 Chicks,
We're group 86!!!!"

It was really alot of fun and everyone really enjoyed the presentation! After that we just hung around and went to another bar afterwards which was really good too. Alot of alcohol was consumed and everyone was looking a bit... well... worse for the wear I would say! Overall, it was all good, and we are all looking forward to our flying starts this week coming some as early as Monday. I know I am flying out on Monday morning very early but it will be ok.

As far as my diary entries are concerned, I will still write to you, as believe it or not, I am still in training in a way, as I have an online trainer now for nearly 2 weeks. So, next week I will still keep up my diary but I am sure it will be more interesting as I will be posting all the things that happen to me out online. OMG - I will probably stuff up the safety demonstation!!! Anyway, I will name it Virgin Blue Online Training Week 1 and so on until I don't have a trainer anymore, and then I guess I will have to call it "Virgin Blue. Online. My first shift" or something to that effect.!!! How funny will that be???

Anyway guys, a huge thankyou to everyone for following my diary entries and for all your support. As I have said before you guys are the best and I don't know what I would have done without this forum to come back to every night to report on my progress through training school. I hope it gives you guys some insight as to how much is involved in training to be a Cabin Crew member... It is hard work. To all of you who have PM'd me, I will respond to you over the next couple of days, and to all of you who have asked me specific questions, I will also answer them in the next few days - just check your pm's. I might answer you individually.

I will let you know how my first day goes on Monday. But I might write something later on today or tomorrow as well - just to give you guys the heads up on how my nerves are going!!!

Anyway, for now its goodbye from me, and I will keep making those entries.

Take care,
STF

[njsboi]

Honey...you really are an INSPIRATION and i know everyone has enjoyed these diary entries for the past 5 weeks and lets hope that when you do slow down or stop that there will be someone to take your place...im gonna try and post a few things once i start trainin...well see how training goes and all that!
all i can say is that im glad a friend of mine reminded me about this webite/forum! ive been hanging on post..and reply althrought my 2 month waiting period.and its deffinately given me something to do up here in DRW(as you can imagine not a lot here)
Busy packing the car atm(stopped for a smoke break and to see if anyone posted anything) and then pack to packing the car and cleaning as i will say
Cest La Vie to Drw tomorrow morning and embark on the 3700km's home to melbourne in a fluro yello daewoo lanos hahahahha
once again gongrats seektofly...cant wait to see you online and have a laugh with you...ive been singing random songs lately(like a human ipod)
so may have a song and dance with you hahahahha!!!!
NJSBOI
(soon to be a virgin...lol can you get that back? heheh )