Who is hiring at BHX?

[pilot_dude]

Hey guys!

So I am new here and hope you wonderful people can help me out

I was looking for some passenger service agent jobs and found this website advertising a position on behalf of their (unknown) client.

So I applied; however dont know who it is for It cant be menzzies because they will come forward in april and this the positions advertised are due to start on march.

I am also quite concerned about having applying because I am 17 and currently and a level student in my first year the advertisement did NOT state an age requirement and stated that full-time, part-time and weekend positions are available.....

I think I wrote a preety good cover letter and cv ( I did spend 1.5 hours on it) but just dont know if they will bother looking at it..... By the way, on mv cv it states im currently in college and I put my date of birth on the top; but did not state my actual age i.e. 17 years old.....

I hope you guys will be able to tell me who the mysterious company that hiring is and whether I will have a chance.....


P.S. just had a long day soooo you will see my grammar, spelling etc... is terrible....

[750XL]

Premier Work Support?

If so, it'll be Swissport.

[Capt Wannabe]

I doubt Swissport will be doing much recruitment at BHX at the moment, but you never know.

[pilot_dude]

I dont care who it is- but I just want to know! I would prefer if it was servisair though....

I also want to know if tehy will accept me because of my age

Im a frequent flyer and aviation enthusiast and think I will be good at this job because I know alot about airlines, travelling and aviation. I am also a speaker of 2-3 languages.

If anybody knows who this mysterious agency is hiring for, could you please tell me!

[pilot_dude]

Well as I said, the position is posted for passenger service agents for MARCH.Swissport and Servisair havent posted anything on their website for jobs at BHX and menzies are going to commence handling for flybe on APRIL.

So it cant be menzies if they are going to start operations at APRIL; whereas the advertisement has said PSAs are needed at MARCH.....

I really want this job and I would preferably like it with servisair.

Thanks anyways EGNH19!

[pilot_dude]

Hey, I would like to firstly thank you for taking to the time to write back!

and yes, I have tried BHX airports website (Im usually on there) and it does not state the need for any ground handling related job...

It would have been really appreciated if that agency had stated the company they were advertising for! I can try sending my cv and cover letter to menzies, but im afraid that the agency was actually advertising for them and therefore sending an application for the same company will not be good.....

also the agency stated this: Our client, a large Ground Handling Company, is looking for Passenger Service Agents (Check in staff) at Birmingham Airport, to cover the busy Summer period. (menzies isnt large at BHX, right?)

Anyways, once again thank you! and I hope your not annoyed at me....

P.S. can any Servisair or swissport BHX based staff come forward and tell me if their companies are hiring?

[akaSylvia]

I'm not sure knowing who is doing the hiring is going to help you - and there's no way to know whether they will take an application from a 17-year-old seriously. The only thing you can do is apply and keep applying whenever you see something that you could do. Even if it isn't your dream company, it gets you on location (where you'll hear about other opportunities) and into the industry (meeting people who can help you learn more).

I'd be surprised if anyone was upset at receiving two applications from you (one through agency and one through direct), it just shows that you are serious about finding work.

Good luck!

[750XL]

It's difficult to get your foot in the door so to speak at a handling agent, its more about who you know than what you know.

I think you'll struggle getting a job at 17 as generally for access onto the ramp you have to be 18.

[BenHuddy]

Forget it at 17, highly unlikely to get an airside pass.

[Capt Wannabe]

menzies are going to commence handling for flybe on APRIL

Actually they start in March - late March, but March none the less.

Does it really matter that much which company the agent is working on behalf of? Chances are you won't actually be employed by the handling agent anyway.

As for sending a CV to the company as well as the recuitment agency, I wouldn't worry too much. If they respond they will just tell you to contact the agency anyway.

As 750XL has stated you are not likely to get much at 17.

[pilot_dude]

Thanks guys......

its confusing..... Ive spoken with a servisair manager and he said nothing to me about being 18 and that they offer apprenticeships. Ive also spoken with many PSAs from different companies who said my age is a barrier Im also 18 in may sooo I dont have a long way to go....

They could have at least stated that there was an requirement!

Its amaing that you can fly a light-aircraft at a young age; but cant work as a PSA......

Anyways, thanks for your inputs!

[750XL]

It depends on the company and what the job role is but generally 18+ is required.

If you're solely going to be based within the terminal (such as on a ticket desk or on permanent check in) then it shouldn't be a problem getting a job unless the company has specific rules about that. However, most handling agents don't work this way and PSA staff are trained to do 'everything'. Depending on the airport and handling agent, PSA are required to stand outside on the ramp to supervise passengers embarking/disembarking aircraft. To get an airside pass with the relevant zones to access the ramp you need to be 18 due to various health and safety laws.

I spent two years working airside in the terminal before starting my role as dispatcher, on my 18th birthday

[pilot_dude]

Does that mean you startd at 16?! what typ eof work were you doing?

by the way, here is the job description and it dosen't say anything about working at the ramp..... but anyways here you go:

You will help move queues along, answer a variety of queries and questions, check Passports, Visas and tickets, check-in, weigh and tag baggage. You are Customers' first contact with their chosen airline and your quality attitude and helpful approach will need to reflect this.

Working at the boarding gate assisting passengers with the boarding process. You may have to announce delays and departures and help late arriving passengers; accompany disabled passengers or children travelling alone.

At the boarding gate you will be reading passenger announcements, checking passports, visas and boarding passes, ensuring passengers enter the aircraft safely and on time, working within tight time constraints.

[750XL]

I worked in retail at weekends while attending college 5 days a week for two years. The experience of working within the airport, working shifts and also the contacts I made at the airport went a long way in helping me get my dispatch role Airports are usually quite tight 'communities' and you'll soon start to meet various people from various companies who can usually pull some strings in helping you find out and get jobs.

Getting your foot in the door is the hardest bit, whether it be cleaner, burger flipper or dispatcher

[EKA380LHR]

Hi there,

Just going to give my two cents here (or pence), you don't have to be over 18 to get an airside pass!! As long as you can give 5 years of employment or education then your sorted!! We have a number of under 18's working for us, well they where under 18 but all growing up now. I was 17 when I started at LHR and have worked my way up now been there 9 years and am now in Operations and Dispatch. I wish you luck in your hunt for a job at BHX, nice little airport to work at and also welcome to the mad bad world of ground handling!!

[legalize]

I don't think it will be Swissport as they are on the verge of closing the base at BHX.

[dionysius]

I believe that Servisair may still have some dispatcher vacancies for the summer, pm me and I will send you the contact details

[Gentle Climb]

Why don't you take a walk around the GA/Bizjet area over at the old terminal area? You are more likely to meet the people concerned and I know for certain that at least one operator is recruiting and another may very well do so in the near future.

[MAG-BHX]

Menzies

I have not heard that Menzies are looking for new staff via agencies, but could be possible I guess seeing as we are taking on 100+ staff.Menzies is the biggest ground handling company in the UK now, not big at BHX (yet) but deffo big elsewhere.

[MaHell]

Reading the posts here itīs pretty obvious that Servisair, Menzies and Swissport donīt advertise very much (at all?) at their own web-sites. Does anybody know what agencies they usually use - local and/or countrywide in UK? Or any other search options?