Virgin UK - Wannabees & Recruitment
 

This has got to be the most traumatising feeling ever! One of the blokes on my assessment day just found out he got the job so I rang them up and asked them if they could tell me the outcome of my interview and they said my application is still active- nothings been posted out yet so they couldn't tell me anything! I'm just thinking thats got to be a bad sign coz surely they wouldn't mind giving u good news over the phone but not bad news!

Has anyone else out there had an interview recently and heard anything yet?

Sam.x.

YIPEE!!!!!
 

Hi All - this is an ecstatic Emmy Lou,

:O Have found out today that I have got the job of In-flight Beauty Therapist!!!!!

Am soooo happy and excited!!!!!

Training is due to start on the 26th Feb - anyone else starting training then? :O

Congratulations guys! I have a friend who was on the selection on the 2nd of Jan, he hasn't heard yet. When did you guys do your selection?

Melbourne,

In response to your question on the Virgin general thread, you asked "Do Virgin only hire ex- VB crew?"

I take it you mean Virgin Blue, and when you consider that V/Atlantic have in the region of 4000 cabin crew, and have been operating for nearly 22 years, perhaps a little research is required about the company you'd like to join!? :ugh:

I had my interview on the 4th of Jan. Still haven't heard anything yet! People who had their interview on the 8th have heard as well..... this wait isn't good for my health! Ive been comfort eating and I'm sure I must have put on about half a stone in the last 4 days!

Don't hege your bets,guys. Virgin have a bad reputation for firing peoplre at the ned of their probation if their face doesn't fit

Ground Bound what exactly do you mean by this? Please elaborate...

When u say ''if their face doesn't fit'' what do u mean?

Any reputable company would have the sense to initially hire you on a probationary period to see how you work. If you don't work hard and tend to have a demotivated attitude to work its only natural for them to not want to keep you on. If u ask me, you've got to be a fool to mess up and if u do then the job really isn't for you!

E-Learning Tests
 

Does anyone know if you only get once chance to take and pass the Knowledge tests of each section in E-Learning?
Or are you able to take the tests as many times as you like until you pass? :confused:

Hi everyone

I wanted to ask a couple of questions relating to Virgin, I was wondering if someone could let me know if...

Do junior crew train on both airbus and boeing aircraft and operate all routes stright away?

Roughly how much is the take home pay monthly?

How many sectors/nights away a month?

Does Virgin like "old crew", previous flying experience/not far off 30 here!

Do you still fly out of both LHR & LGW?

Can you request routes ?

I have not flown for a couple of years but am thinking of manking a return at the end of the summer, always quite liked the idea of Virgin but know things change in this industry all the time so would be greatful for some information.

Thanks in advance.
Skyboy1919

Firstly, as for the precourse e-learning, you can take the modules as many times as you want, the important thing is you have to achieve the pass mark and finish them all.

Yes, crew are trained on both Boeing and Airbus, and yes you fly out of both LHR and LGW. Please note you only get one parking pass now, so have to catch the Virgin bus between airports if you fly from the one you don't have a parking pass for. This adds a lot of time to an already long day.

Can't really comment on takehome pay, as I have pension etc deducted, but the gross pay for the first year is about £10,500. You get allowances on top of this which vary from very low to OK, and are paid in local currency downroute. SFO is one of the higher allowances, MCO one of the lower.

Nights away? You are guaranteed nine days off per month, the rest of the days you work. I usually get about 11 days off per month. Trips vary in length from two days (JFK) to nine days (KHG-SYD)

Yes they are taking on a lot more mature crew nowadays, there's no longer that age limit.

You can bid for trips after a year, but there's no guarantee you'll get them.

If you want more info on the allowances, please PM me. Virgin is like all other airlines nowadays, with cutbacks and getting you to work more. Having said that, I've worked for a few airlines and Virgin is definitely the one I'm happiest at. Good luck :ok:

Bexter,

As long as you can turn it around and draw on any customer service examples you should be fine. I know a few people who have been successful even though they haven't been in face to face customer service roles. Like you say you're well travelled and have a broad insight of different cultures etc.

You'll be fine mate! best of luck!

by the way guys...... its been 8 days now and still not heard anything! :ugh:

Don't worry sumeya, talking to my friend who did his interview on the 2nd he still hasn't heard back although most of the people he did the selection with have been turned away. I'm sitting here with him now and he's a heap of nerves!! I keep on having to tell him no news is usually good news. Keep us informed.

Sumeya, have you heard anything yet?

nothing yet guys! absolutely nothing! thats pants! Mind you the post hasn't arrived yet for today so i got my fingers crossed there will be a big A4 size envelope in it for me! :hmm:

Bexter, don't send a photo coz they don't ask for one. They don't judge you by looks- unless of course you weigh 18 stone and theres no way u'll fit down the aisle! so I really don't think u got anything to worry about. In regards to helpful hints and tips.... they will ask you two main questions in the application form in regards to your customer service experience. They asked for an example of when I gave excellent customer service to someone and how I went that extra mile and secondly, how I dealt with an irate customer. So just think long and hard befpre you put pen to paper because this will be your only chance to sell yourself for an interview with them!

VS recruit all year round and they have plans for more routes this year

Bexter. they look for the "Virgin Flair" ...:)

they certainly do look for the virgin flair coz that was one of the questions in my interview. Also, if you try your best and give your application form the thought its worth then your application will stand out like a sore thumb amongst the rest!

p.s. 9 days now and still nothing! I'm thinking now they may have meant 7-10 working days. How am I gonna get through the weekend guys?! Sob Sob :(

hah hah! u don't wanna know what i said! well they kind of rephrased it to me... they asked ''how would virgin customers remember you?'' to which I replied after a small pause ''my beautiful smile!'' followed by a giggle. how cheesy! so yeah i did kiss arse but i did add i have a bubbly and friendly personality, i'm the sort of girl who will make conversation with a granny at a bus stop. also i have exceptional customer service skills and looking for a new challenge! (deep breath)

** I feel like I'm reliving my traumatising interview again!

Don't worry sumeya, my flat mate had his interview on the 2nd and he still hasn't heard back yet either despite the fact it's been 10 days.

Head in clouds,

Even more routes than the already announced Chicago, Nairobi & Mauritius?

Don't forget it's 7-10 working days, I found out after 10 working days and thats because I called them, because of notice period etc.

I got told that they have lots more but haven't announced them yet. Don't know how true it is though.

Bexter,

As far as I'm aware they don't ask you any personal questions. For instance why you only worked your last job for a short period. At the end of the day there could be a variety of reasons behind it which may be personal to you. So I wouldn't worry about it. If however, you had a string of short jobs, they again most probably wouldn't mention anything but may think you can't offer them any security.

P.S Nothing in the post for me today either! 10 working days will be next Thursday.

Sam, you poor thing- I really feel for you waiting so long! It took 9 days for my letter too. To make me feel better during the long wait I thought to myself... it's bound to take longer to send out a pack with a contract than a rejection letter. :)

Bexter, I'm sure they won't ask you at Virgin but I had an interview a while back with another company and they asked why I left ships, I was in the same situation. I explained that I had left for a more challenging role shoreside (didn't mention the evil boyf!) but made a mistake and felt the move just wasn't right for me.

Hope that helps!

thats what I'm hoping! Surely if it was a rejection letter I would have had it by now. A few peeps from my course that weren't successful got a letter last thursday. However, when I rang them on Wednesday they told me not to worry because nothing had been posted out just yet and that I should hear by Saturday or Monday at the latest! Fingers crossed ey?!

p.s no back up- will 'only' work for virgin if i do cabin crew. told them that at the interview.

if I am unsuccessful, then I'm just going to continue working at O2- where I work at the minute and reapply in 6 months!

oh and Bexter, seriously babe.... u aint got nothing to worry about. I'm sure you'll get an interview. You sound like u know what u want and this will shine during your interview!

I'm in exactly the same boat as you! I graduated from university in 2005- got myself a BSc hons in Computing and management science! Worked my t*ts off for it! Even managed to get a fantastic placement and worked for Reuters for a year but like yourself, the thought of earning a wad load of money sounded tempting but sitting in front of a PC from nine till 5 was a horriffic thought! I jus couldn't do it- not even for the money! I'm the sort of person who works to live not live to work therefore job satisfaction is far more important to me!

After leaving uni I joined O2 and this was only meant to be a temporary measure but it wasn't long before I was actually one of the top sellers in my whole area- possibly in the UK. Then.... in November last year after being pronounced one of the top sales girls for Nokia and Samsung mobile phones, O2 rewarded me with two fantastic holidays. One to Barbados and one to Miami. I flew with Virgin and can honestly say that they are by far the best airline I have ever flown with. I came back and thought ''thats it! I'm going to work for Virgin!''

I'd always wanted to be an air stewardess since I was a little girl but it was only just a dream- Virgin brought my dream back to life.

Soppy or what?!!!

Don't worry guys, my flat mate (who still hasn't heard after 11 days!) is a graduate and is currently training as an airline pilot. I think there's quite a good mix of people at Virgin, some school leavers, some graduates, some more older crew. Should make for a good career and a great working atmosphere. I don't think they look for strereotypes either these days. My flat mate is straight, a graduate and ugly!!! (only joking about the last one!!)

hah hah yeah! hopefully fingers crossed we'll all get it! And bexter, if u need any help with preparing for your interview i'm here for you baby!

p.s saatchi & saatchi..... oooohhhh!

Exactly!
 

GCSE Maths!
 

Ok guys, a question..

Unfortunatly Maths in not my strong point. Im not terrible at it, but sure aint great. My problem is that i never actually got GCSE Maths (got a D everytime i took it!)

However, i do have a full set of GCSE results (mainly A*'s and A's), a full set of AS & A-Levels and a good BSc (Hons) Degree in Consumer Marketing.

Do you HAVE to have a GCSE in Maths, or will my other qualifications be enough to cover my ass?!

Cheers,

J x

Thanks Bekster,

yeah i know, general working life is so boring..cant wait to become crew (tocuh wood) and get travelling!.

Although i didnt get GCSE Maths, it has never been a problem with university or work, so i figure Virgin will look over this given i am educated to much higher standards than GCSE overall!. Also, it doesnt say anything about it in their recrutment lit., only that you have to be educated to a "good standard"..

So how far are you now then? got an interview yet?

J x :)

Yeah the Maths test is my main worry, however i think i can pass it, i aint that bad,..it was all the **** like pythagereous theorum and equations etc that i was rubbish at and im sure that wont come up lol..

Im in the same position, preparing my application as well. In fact, i bought a great cd rom with loads of info and tips on filling out the application and how to come across on test day etc. Its designed especially for cabin crew wannabe's,. you can order it at http://www.how2become.co.uk/cabincrew.htm its only £9.99 and i found it really useful!

Im so excited about the idea of working for Virgin, i also am applying for Qantas, although i really want 2 get the Virgin job! Have you / are you applying for other airlines?

Yeah
 

Yeah cool Bexter.

The maths test is my main worry, but im sure i can pass it. My big prob at school GCSE was all the equations and pythagereous theorum etc that i was ****ty at.. and im sure that wont come up lol!

Im exactly the same as you, just preparing my application etc sooo exciting.. have u applied for any other airlines? I am applying for Qantas as well, but really want the Virgin job!

I cant stop thinking about getting away to new york for example with a cool crew and having 3/4 days there etc, it will rock!

Also, check out this website http://www.how2become.co.uk/cabincrew.htm . i got from them a really cool and useful guide about filling out cabin crew applications etc, its only £9.99 and helped me alot!

James x

SUMEYA, have you heard anything yet??? :ugh:

Sorry, but if you can't manage to add/subtract/multiply/divide simple numbers you shouldn't be offered a job with anyone...you should be going straight back to school.
I recruit for a major UK airline and I'm sorry, this level of ignorance is totally unacceptable...the level of maths required in the job is BASIC (addition of meals, the odd manual currency conversion when no bar computer or calculator is available, calculating arrival times etc.) If people can't even manage this BASIC level of maths then I'm afraid they should consider getting some tuition asap.
Sounds harsh, but the truth often is.

whoa! smell the coffee i agree,

I only said in the first place that Maths was not my strong point and i think Bexter was just trying 2 b sympathetic! :)

I know that alot of people worry about the Maths test and thats fair enough given the short time there is to do it in!.. more often than not its probably a case of worrying to much about it than it;s really worth, but i can understand peoples nerves in this subject!