Virgin Atlantic Interview & training (merged)
 

Hi,

I've had several people message me asking what to expect at a Virgin Atlantic interview so here's what happend to me when I had my interview on 10th June.

So here goes...

The first thing to say is that surprisingly it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience, so you really can just relax and enjoy the day.

Essentially the day is slpit in two with the morning being a group interview scenario, and the afternoon being reserved for one to one interviews with those that make it past the earlier stages.

We all arrived at the Virgin Flight Centre (usually the interviews are held at Virgin Atlantic's head office) at similar times and were taken to the staff canteen. We were told just to talk to one another until we get taken to one of the training rooms. After about 20mins 3 senior cabin crew (who were also the assessors) escorted us to a training room. When we got to the room they introduced themselves and then explained a bit about how the day would work (They also explained that there is NO set amount of people that will go through to the next stage. It could be all of us, it could be no one!!).

We sat in a semi circle around the room and they kicked off with an ice breaker which in our case bagan by us in turn introducing ourselves and explaining what we did in terms of employment.

Next they let us sit down again and gave each person a card with some typed text on it. Basically each card provided a bit of info about Virgin Atlantic's operations. Each person then had to read their card in turn, providing the assessors with an opportunity to see that you can actually read, how you cope reading to a large-ish group of people and giving some basic info to the group.

Next they spit the group in two and provide you with a scenario. Each group represents a team of cabin crew, whose plane has been grounded on an Island due to bad weather. They explain that you will be grounded for the next 8 hours and that you have to entertain the passangers during this time. The in flight entertainments system is off line and no one may leave the aircraft.

They then give each group a pack of about 10 cards each of which has a picture of a different objact on it. Each group is then given 15 minutes to consider what thay could utilise each object for i.e how can you use it to entertain people.

While this exercise is being carried out, each candidate is pulled out of the group and asked by one of the senior cabin crew "why do you want to become a member of Virgin Atlantic air cabin crew?".....A VERY important question!!

Meanwhile, the other two senior cabin crew are walking round the room assessing and making notes on how each candidate interacts.

Finally each group has to present their planned entertainment programme to the other group,who now adopt the role of passengers.

At the end of that exercise you get to relax for a bit while they talk you through the life of a cabin crew member, covering things such as working hours/patterns, wages and annual leave arrangements. They also give an example of a typical working day. Then they give each person the opportunity to ask questions.

They then thanked us for attending and explained that they were now going to make "some decisions". Everyone was then sent out of the room and left to sit around in the canteen for 20 minutes or so.

After a half hour or so the 3 senior cabin crew came down stairs and again escorted us to the training room. There was a fourth senior cabin crew member then and she to thanked us for our time. Eventually they explained they were going to read out some names and that they'd like those candidates to leave the room....

Five names were read out. Mine was one of them. I have to say I was so incredibly nervous and I had no idea what to expect.

We were then told that we had been successful and had made it to the next stage. Unfortunately though, the other 11 candidates were sent home..

Congratualtions if u make it this far because competition is tough, however don't be disheartend as it is just as hard to get an interview in the first place.

If you make it this far you are then required to sit a Maths and English test. Both of which are timed. The English test is more to do with memory, you are given a page of text to read. AFte 2minutes the page is taken away and you are required to tick correct boxes relating to the text you have just read.

For the maths test you are required to answer 12 questions in 10 minutes. The questions cover muliplication division, addition and subtraction, and you are required to get six out of 12 correct.

The five of us were then told if we had passed the tests. If you are successful (which all 5 of us were) you are congratualted and told you are going to attend the final 3 on 1 interview and are given a time to return later that afternoon.

You then have to fill out the necessary security forms so you can obtain an airside pass so that you can work in the airport and onboard the aircraft.

About 2 hours later we each had our interviews. Quite intense but I still enjoyed it. One senior cabin crew is asking the questions, while the other two are writing down your every comment and move.

At the end of the interview you are thanked for your time and told you will be informed as whether or not you have been successful in gaining a job within 7-10 days.

Four days later Virgin Atlantic phoned me and offered me the job! It still hasn't sunk in. I think I'm so surprised beacuse I was the youngest one there and one of the only ones not to have any cabin crew experience.

I start my 6 weeks training on 12th July... So wish me luck!

I REALLY hope this is of some use to everyone attending a Virgin Atlantic interview. Let me know how you get on.

Good luck everyone!! Hope to see you onboard soon!:ok:

I can almost guarentee that this interview process changes from course to course...

I am unsure about whether this is a good thing to do.

If you are the right person you will get the job. Simple...

No need to practice before hand about all the activities and come across all false. Just take all interviews and questions in your stride. If you show confidence and a willing to get it right, they will notice...

Congratulations on getting the job hopefully we get to meet somewhere at work.

However if someone was doing the same job as me "practiced" model answer questions, then I would be very pissed off because I put all my heart and soul into my interview and I got the job from my own hard work. Not through reading how its done over the internet....

Virgin Cabin Crew
 

Hello Virgin Crew

I am thinking of applying...

Can someone please let me know what the avergae monthly take home £ is ?

what are the trips like, ie, how long is the rest period at the destinations, parties, crew moral etc

Is it worth leaving BMed (if anyone knows)...

many thanks

recruiting now
 

Despite what it says on their website they are definitely recruiting now :)

Hello,

Could someone then please give me some info, how to apply if they are recruiting at the moment,....and why does their website state otherwise :confused:

Thanks

BRGDS

Apply to Virgin
 

I have heard that the pay for CC can be as low as £1000 per month.

Check: gumtree.com under travel and overseas jobs for 14 Otober they are always advertising on there.

Luck!

Thanks a lot lot lot lot! :D

See ya

Yes they are definately recruiting. I just had a second interview, once again having a final interview but no cigar :( however one of the girls i met on the day starts on november 15. good luck

craic1510

Hello

Does anybody know, how long it takes for them to get back to you, after you've sent them the app form???

And how many male flight attendants do actually work for them, and what's their "preference for male F/A wannabes"??'

Your help much appreciated


Luks

Good luck to those that were succcessful :O

I really would like to know about the trip lengths and pay, if anyone can help I would ber very grateful :D

Hi Clubworld
Definitley apply 2 Virgin. Trips are normally 1
nighters if u do an east coast US trip & 2 nighters
if u do a west coast trip although there are longer
trips eg. Vegas & Capetown.Sydney trips also
starting in Dec which i think is gonna be 9 days
long.Wages not as good as some airlines but
also not as bad as some make out.(coming from
bmed though u might notice a drop as i hear that
your wages are quite good?!) At Virgin your
allowances are given 2 u when u get downroute
so its really up 2 u if u want 2 blow all your cash
or save some! I would say GO FOR IT! You
would have a fab time!! PM me if u want 2 know
anything else

lol x

2 nights in Hong Kong, 1 night in Sydney and another 2 nights in Hong Kong. Doesn't exactly give you much time on the ground in Oz.

I think BA crew get about the same layover times when they do a trip to Oz, 2 full nights in either BKK or SIN then one full night in SYD/MEL.

exmax your right our (BA) MEL/SYD stopovers are all one night now. You get into OZZ in the early hours like 5am and then leave the following day in the afternoon.

All the OZZ trips go via Singapore or Bangkok. I did the 9 day BKK/SYD this year and its really tiring. The good thing is though when you get back to Bangkok you get two local nights rest so your relaxed for the trip back to London.

For my final phase on the interview I had to beat up a guy in a Godzilla outfit....who knew!?
That Richard Bronson fella is one crazy cat...he should have a reality tv show or something...

http://apollo.ascelon.net/gifs/chapzil.gif

DOOR SET CABIN BOY
Congratulations on your recent job offer!!! It must feel great to have gone through that tough process and come away from it with such a positive result. Good on you.
I have an interview with Virginblue in AUS on the 25th which I am really nervous about but I can now imagine what I am in for!
Good luck in training and your career!

Clubworld...

Basically, further to Cosmic Girl's reply, the average take home for Virgin per month is about £1,400 given basic pay plus allowances downroute.

Activities downroute depends on the crew and range from being boring and not leaving your room - trip up the Empire State Building after some Bloomingdales shopping - Laying on a beach for a 3 night St Lucia - Partying hard on a 5 night Vegas. Most trips include a serious drinking session on the night of arrival, even if it's a one night east coast US. You can't beat it.

They're expanding liek never before so apply apply apply!

LDF

Clubworld..

I worked for Virgin for about a year and did enjoy my time there. They have an image of bitchiness but i found it very friendly and relaxed.

Money wise, I will have to disagree with the above. I rarely took home over £1100. Infact, only once. My friend has been there now for two years and she still struggles on the money and she left bmi. However, she is now doing less work than bmi.

The trips are good. some sociable and others not. South Africa is a fab trip. Not good money but you'll have a fantastic time. I NEVER got sick of NY. The Caribbean are good trips but compared to the prices there, the money isn't great. Hong Kong is fantastic and one of the best places I'd ever been too. Thats very socaible too. Good luck with it all. Any further info just message me.

Dear srs what ? Sorry i wasnt a bit more specific when replying to clubworld about the trips virgin do! Yes i said that we are starting trips to sydney in Dec & that the trip i think will be 9 days long but i didnt actually specify that you would be in oz for the whole time did i?I was merely explaining that you can do trips that are not just bullets.Next time i shall try & explain myself a bit clearer.Anyway,1 night in Sydney is still better than a kick in the teeth isnt it?

Anyone going to an interview with Virgin in Crawley on Weds 22 Dec??

Anyone at all ?????

Virgin 2 on 1 interview questions
 

Hi everyone,

Was wondering if anyone could help me, i would really appreciate it. I have an interiew for Virgin Atlantic next week. I've had one interview with them before and blew it on the 2 on 1 interview. Does anyone who's had a 2 on 1 interview at virgin know what the questions are likely to be or what kind of questions they may ask me? I am cabin crew at the moment so presume it may be related to that??

Thanks very much
:O

Not too sure what the c/c interviews are like, but all the other Virgin interviews seem to favour scenario questions based on a "Tell me about a situation when....." etc etc.

Things like when you have had a disagreement with someone in authority, or had to comply with a procedure you didn't agree with - stuff like that.

It's all fairly straight forward stuff, that you will have done at one time or another, it's just a matter of remembering it and twisting the words to make yourself sound good. :cool:

:)

Good luck for your interview, try not to be too nervous, the recruitment team are a bunch of nice people and they try to make the day as relaxed and light hearted as is possible.

Some questions I was asked in the final stage (2 on 1 interview)...

* Tell us how you have reacted when someone in authority has done something you dont agree with?

* Tell us how you reacted when someone in authority did something that breaks the rules?

* Why do you want to work for Virgin?

* When did you show exceptional customer service?

* How do you have fun at work?

* What will you do if you are unsuccesful today?

There were several more, but its been some time now and thats all I can remember! Maybe someone else could chip in and help... But anyway, start working on those, I was asked all of them and more.

Good luck, its a great company and we're recruiting really hard at the moment. Let us know how you get on!

Just wanted to say a big thankyou to both of you for your help, I got the job! Yey!!

Virgin training 21st Feb
 

Just wondered if anyone is starting their cabin crew training for Virgin on 21st February?

Hey thats great news. Glad I could be of some help - albeit not much !!.

:O

L7x3,

Many many congratulations on your successful application.

Having come from where you are now (though I am now on the ground), I thought perhaps one or two words of experience may be in order.

Please believe me L7x3, I don't wish to be negative, but you need to come here with your eyes open.

You WILL do lots of Orlando's (imagine a 747 nursery:p ) to start with

You WILL do lots of back-to-back East Coast states trips (OK if you dig shopping :D )

You WILL go to Lagos :yuk:

You WILL do the bucket-and-spade runs with the Chavs to the Caribbean :hmm:

You WILL at some stage, whilst doing all this, come out of the galley to start the service, look at the (seemingly) endless rows of heads in front of you in the Y cabin and lose the will to live :{ :{

But then you'll look around you, at the team you're working with, and KNOW that it'll ALL BE OK :ok: :ok:

On the plus side, you WILL go to Hong Kong, Cape Town, Sydney, Shanghai, San Fran, LA......so I'm sure you'll always keep that smile on your dial :O

On the plus side! :O

Orlando is a great flight, I love it! Its full of HAPPY passengers, who are VERY easily pleased. Beats a New York any day. :ok:

You only ever do back to back trips with your permission to crewing, you'll never be rostered a back to back trip. Always 2 days off in between at least. :)

I'm sure you will go to Lagos at some point, I've personally not had one rostered in 6 roster publications. :cool:

Caribbean flights are great fun! The passengers are ok, again, they're a happy lot, easily pleased. Not AS easily pleased as Orlando passengers, but generally OK. The money on Caribbean trips is EXCELLENT! :O

It's what you make of it...

virgin atlantic
 

hi there!

well, at my interview for Virgin atlantc I got this info:

- training lasts somewhere around 6 weeks
- pay of 10821 pounds per annum + duty free commission + trip pay of 26,6 per return flight
-allowance in local currency at layovers sth like 5000 pounds per annum
-you get somewhere around 4-7 flights per month
- two - three days off after flights.

Hope this helps.....if you have any more info...pm me

good luck

l.

"On the plus side, you WILL go to Hong Kong, Cape Town, Sydney, Shanghai, San Fran, LA......so I'm sure you'll always keep that smile on your dial"

Can soon remove Cape Town from that list if rumour control is to be believed !!! :hmm:

:)

Virgin Application Photo
 

Hi

I'm applying to Virgin Atlantic and need to include a full length photo. Can anyone help with what is best to wear in the photo.

Thanks


Leanne

plenty of leg, boobs and red lippy!

This is the first stage of the selection procedure so I would wear something that you consider suitable for an interview.

Despite the previous post, I have it on good advice that what they are looking for is someone who is smiling and looks friendly !

Shortm

My advice is to wear something that actually helps them picture you as a flight attendant.

Without being too obvious wear something similar to the current uniform with a big smile!

Good luck!

When I applied to VS I had professional photos taken in business attire.

They weren't expensive, you can get them done quite cheaply if you shop around.

Even if you decide not to use a photographer, definately wear business attire in your photos. I've heard the most hilarious stories during my training about candidates sending pictures of themselves on holiday wearing bikinis or even less!!

Despite some people's perception of Virgin, that is NOT the image the recruiters are looking for!

Good Luck!!:D :D

Wow! serious? :D

Serious!

Apparently the best one's show people s**t-faced on their holidays with an arrow saying "this is me"!!

They also told us about a guy who sent in a picture of himself in a thong!

Amazing the lengths some people will go!! :D :confused:

actually shortm. I work for them and the whole company is based on image . so although i did reply with a bit of sarcasm some of it would probably help!

Hmmm, I work for them too and I would disagree...

You don't want to look like a school mistress in the photo, but they are definately going to favour the smart & polished look over the had-a-few-too-many-bacardi-breezers-now-my-boobs-are-gonna-fall-out-me-halterneck-top look!

I know what I would choose if I was a recruiter!
;)