AviaNation Reaches Out to Displaced Airline Personnel Worldwide

While airlines around the world are shutting down and laying off workers, AviaNation is reaching out to help displaced airline employees locate new positions in the industry by granting free access to its world wide database of job postings.

Delray Beach, FL (PRWEB) -- In response to financial turmoil that has gripped the global aviation industry, leading airline job firm AviaNation is opening up its database of job postings to airline personnel around the world. Job seekers can post their resumes on the website for free as well as access thousands of current international job positions.

For the second time in a decade, there is turbulence in the field of aviation. In 2001, massive layoffs resulted after 9/11. Airlines downsized and underwent bankruptcy protection as passengers stayed home out of fear and uncertainty.

Five years on, the rising price of petroleum delivered another severe blow to the industry. In the US, Aloha Airlines, Trans Air, Champion Air, Eos, Maxjet, and Skybus have all shut down operations and released thousands of employees into an already slumped job market. LAvion in France has done the same, Air Canada is closing crew bases, Alitalia is in bankruptcy, and Indian and Asian airlines are experiencing comparable pressure.

According to Tim Kirkwood of AviaNation.com, finding a job in todays precarious airline industry is challenging.

We have been in online aviation job placement for over 15 years, and we know how hard it can be to find an aviation career in an environment such as we have today," he says.

Our responsibility is two-fold: to provide the most and best jobs for our members, and to provide sufficient applications to our member companies in order to ensure that they continue to post their openings on our website."

Job searchers have free access to position listings two weeks after they are posted on AviaNation.com, giving paid members first read. However, many of these jobs remain active long after being posted.

Additionally, job seekers can post their resumes on the website for free, thus allowing any company around the world that searches the database to see applicants resumes and contact them directly.

AviaNation does not come between the applicant and company during the hiring process, nor do they take money from either the employer or applicant once a hire has been made. AviaNations entire revenue stream comes from active members who pay to see jobs within two weeks of their original posting, as well as additional search enhancements. Consequently, these tend to be the motivated applicants that employers look for.

Employers are also able to register and post their aviation job openings for free on the website. In doing so, employers have the ability to ask pre-screening questions, post blind ads, and even simultaneously post on their companys own employment web page.

Recently, AviaNation reached a milestone in their membership with 1,700 paying job seekers and nearly 60,000 members taking advantage of the free search option.

To view AviaNations posted jobs, please visit www.avianation.com/student or simply click on the FREE JOBS link at the bottom of the homepage at www.AviaNation.com.

Applicants seeking to post their resumes can access the resume input form at www.avianation.com/resumes or by clicking on Free Services" in the FOR JOB SEEKERS box on the home page.

ABOUT AVIANATION.COM: AviaNation.com is one of the premier job posting web sites for pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, and all other aviation jobs. With their world-wide database of companies posting jobs, and 54,000 resumes from around the globe, AviaNation is the one-stop location for an aviation career.

ABOUT TIM KIRKWOOD: Tim has been an aviation professional for over 30 years, active in aviation job placement for over 15 years, and is the author of The Flight Attendant Job Finder & Career Guide, a career guide book for US and Canadian flight attendants- now in it's third edition.

Contact information:

Tim Kirkwood
AviaNation.com
561-843-6006

Assistance for Aloha/Skybus/ATA employees

AviaNation.com, the on-line aviation job placement service for aviation is offering its assistance to displaced Aloha/Skybus/ATA employees. AviaNation is offering free resume posting in its applicant database, as well as free access to their world-wide job aviation job postings.

"Out hearts go out to these loyal employee groups who, through no fault of their own, now find themselves out on the street" says Tim Kirkwood, AviaNation.com representative. "We average 20-30 new job postings on our site every day, and we want to make these available to any Aloha/Skybus/ATA employee. Recruiters can search our database of applicants for free, and locate any Aloha/Skybus/ATA employee who utilizes our free resume posting service."

Job seekers can get an idea of the quality of jobs we get on our site, clicking on "Free Jobs" in the links at the bottom of our home page, or by this direct link: http://www.avianation.com/aviation_jobs/showjobs.cfm?jobFilter=FREE.


Aloha/Skybus/ATA employees and post their resume for free on our homepage at www.AviaNation.com by clicking on 'Free Service' in the FOR JOB SEEKERS box, or via the direct link http://www.avianation.com/mem_resumeonly_p1.cfm.

AviaNation.com is also working with the Aloha/Skybus/ATA unions to assist their members.

The BEST airline to work for

People are constantly asking me, "Which is the best airline to work for?" Because of all the variables involved, I can't answer that question for you without more information; you have to answer it for yourself. I can give you some guidelines to consider when choosing the airline you would most like to work for.

LOCATION: Do you want to remain living where you currently reside? If so, you should look for airlines that have a domicile in your town. While there is no guarantee that you will be based there right out of training, you will at least have that option in the future. If they don't have a domicile in your town, then you will always have to commute to your domicile to begin your workday, and may even have to travel there the day before and spend the night in a hotel at your own expense, just to ensure you can check-in for your working flight on time.
Or are you ready to explore new places and new locales? Perhaps you've always wanted to live in New York City, but knew you would never be able to afford to move there without first having a job. You could select airlines that have flight attendant bases in JFK, EWR, LGA or ISP. All these airports would be within reach of the New York City area.

SCHEDULE: Do you want to be home every night, if possible, and not spend any nights away from home? Do you have children or spouses/family/significant others who you want to spend as much time with as possible? Then you would want to concentrate on the Regional carriers that usually have shorter runs, and fewer overnights.
If travel is what you desire, then the larger international airlines or charter airlines would be a better choice. Their longer trips and foreign destinations will give you more layovers and interesting destinations. You may be gone for longer periods of time, but you will be seeing parts of the world that your friends can only dream of.

SKILLS: Do you speak a foreign language? Then choose the airlines that fly to destinations where your language skills would be an asset. If you're a resident alien from Germany, you might choose an airline with flights to Germany so you can easily visit your relatives.

INTERESTS: Are you a South American history major? Do you collect Asian Art? Are you a professional surfer, rock climber, runner or biker? All these are things to consider when choosing your ideal airline. Once you have chosen the airlines that best meet your desires, you can go to their websites and investigate the companies further and refine your choice.

HIGHEST PAID: This is actually the last reason to choose an airline. As stated throughout this guide, there are no guarantees in this industry. You may start working for the airline that pays its Flight Attendants the highest salary in the industry, only to have your salary reduced by cutbacks or pay cuts due to slumps in the industry, bankruptcy or corporate takeover. If you live in an area with a low cost of living, and choose an airline that pays more, but requires you to live in an area with a high cost of living, such as New York City, or San Francisco- then your higher salary is being lost to your food and lodging. Keep in mind that just because an airline pays more, doesn't necessarily mean it's a better company to work for.

So which is the best airline to work for? The one that you choose to best satisfy your personal needs, skills, and interests.


Tim Kirkwood, Author
The Flight Attendant Job Finder & Career Guide
www.FlightAttendantCareerGuide.com

LOOKING FOR AVIATION EMPLOYMENT? Go to http://www.AviaNation.com and post your resume for FREE. Job postings for all segments of aviation can be found on the site as well. Just click on this hyperlink or copy it to your web browser: http://www.AviaNation.com

Airline Interview Tips

The interviewing process for the position of flight attendant is like no other interview you've ever had. Instead of a sedate interview of your past, held in the Human Resources office of a corporation, you may find yourself singing and dancing in front of a crowd of people! Because of this, successful applicants prepare for interviews with their airlines of choice by attending interviews with airlines they have no intention of working for, just for practice. That way, they're better prepared for any question or situation an interviewer might throw at them. You can also gain valuable information by utilizing the resources listed in the "Career Resources" section in the back of the Flight Attendant Job Finder & Career Guide. Knowledge is a good thing, and there is no such thing as enough interview knowledge.
During the interviewing process, most airlines will start with a group interview or "cattle call". A large hall will be rented and groups of applicants will be given an overview of the airline and job requirements. You are usually asked to fill out an application at that time, so you will want to have your resume information with you. One of the surest ways to be bumped from an interview is to say, "Can I get back to you on these dates? I don't have that information with me." Or, the airline may have mailed you an application to your home. If this is the case, it should be completely and neatly filled out before you arrive at the interview. As we mentioned in the previous chapter of the Flight Attendant Job Finder & Career Guide, it is even recommended to make a photocopy of the application, so you can practice filling it out, then putting that information on the original copy as neatly as possible. You should also make a photocopy of the finished application, and bring it with you to the interview.
Following the "cattle call", small groups of applicants may be taken before a panel of interviewers. Further interviews may be given at that time or applicants may be notified of follow-up interviews by phone or mail. The second and third interviews may consist of groups of applicants meeting with a panel of interviewers, a single applicant meeting with a panel, or a one-on-one interview. Usually you will be sent a pass to travel on your prospective airline to interview in their training city. These are "on-line" passes, and are good only on that airline's routes. If you don't live near a city your airline flies to, you will have to pay your own way to get to the closest city where the airline operates.
So what makes these interviews so different? The fact is, the interviewers already know your personal history - it's on your application, which has been pre-screened prior to your arrival. What the interviewers want to find out about you is your character:

How do you handle stress?
How do you conduct yourself when faced with a difficult passenger situation?
How well do you work as a team player?
How do you take direction?
Are your social graces sufficient to fulfill the requirements of the job?

These are the most important criteria toward which the focus of the interview will be shifted. Therefore, the interviewers are not necessarily going to ask you about your last job. They're going to put you in situations and see how you get yourself out of them. For instance, in your group of applicants, you may be asked to stand up on a stage and sing the company's slogan, or invent a new one. They may give you an object, perhaps a pen or paper clip, and instruct you to "sell" it to the rest of the group. Many will give you in-flight problem situations, for role-playing, and evaluate how you handle them.
Many of these scenarios will have no "right" or "wrong" solution, and the interviewers do not expect you to know their specific corporate policies. They want to see how well you "think on your feet" and apply common sense to your solutions.

Airlines love to throw hard questions at you, to see how you react. Some examples of these are:

"You have such beautiful long hair. Would you cut your hair short to get this job?"

"This job will require you to move to New York (or Des Moines, Walla Walla, Timbuktu...). Will this create a strain on your relationship with your boy/girlfriend?"

"You are going to have to work every holiday for the next three years, before you even have the possibility of getting one off. Are you prepared for this?"

"Why do you want to be a flight attendant?" Please don't answer this question with the standard answer of "...because I love people and I love to fly!" Interviewers hear that response hundreds of times a day. A more correct answer would be one that demonstrates what you have to offer your prospective airline.

This is where your homework will come into play. Mention the new city that the airline is flying to, or the new nomination for CEO, etc. If you chose them for the chance to utilize your language skills, let them know that. Everyone at the interview wants to be a Flight Attendant. The airline wants to know why they should choose you over the other applicants. What skills will you bring to the airline to improve its standing in the marketplace? The pressure will be on you to perform, as there are no right or wrong responses. If you list a foreign language on your application, someone will test you, so you had better know more than "Buenos Días"!
During the entire interview process, consider yourself "on stage". It's not unusual for an airline to be evaluating you as you're waiting to be called into a session. It's a common practice for one of your fellow applicants to be a company employee working undercover. They may be talking with you before the interview, and reveal that they "heard" the airline is not a good one to work for. Never speak negatively about this company, or compare them to other companies in a conversation. These persons may convey your answers back to the company. (Some airlines even go so far as to ask the working crew how you behaved on the flight in.) They will be observing you to see how you get along with the other applicants. They may be talking with you before the interview, and reveal that they "heard" the airline is not a good one to work for. Never speak negatively about this company, or compare them to other companies in a conversation. These persons may convey your answers back to the company.
Throughout the interviews, whether it is the group, panel, or the individual interview, maintain good eye contact with the interviewer. And always, always, remember and use the interviewer's name. If you're in a group interview remember the names of the other applicants, and listen to what they're saying in their responses. Then use this information in your own responses, in a scenario such as this:

INTERVIEWER: "...and what do you feel is the main reason for flight attendants on an aircraft?"

YOU: "Well, Jane, I agree with Susan when she said it's for passenger comfort, but feel the larger reason for flight attendants on board is for passenger safety."

After the interview, be sure to thank your interviewer(s) by name. Reiterate to them how you would like to be a part of their in-flight team, and what you think is the one skill you would bring to the position. This will leave them with a good impression of you, which they will utilize when they decide who continues on to the next level of interviews, or who gets a rejection letter. If you get the opportunity, this is the time to attach a small photo to your application form or resume. It should not be much larger than 2"x2", and should be a professional looking shot of your head and shoulders. Interviewers may talk with hundreds of applicants in a day, and make notes on their applications. At the end of the day, the interviewers will review the applications that weren't immediately rejected, trying to further narrow down their choices. Having a photo on your application will help them remember your participation in the interview, and the impression you made.
Sometimes it's the little details that will make or break you. Airlines have been known to have applications to be filled out at the interview. If you forgot to bring a pen, you can ask the interviewer for one, and they will give you a pencil. Later, when they're going through the applications, they will throw out all the ones filled out in pencil, as this proves you're not good at planning ahead for a given situation.
Are you friendly and talkative, or are you shy and keep to yourself? Your posture and how you sit, walk, and talk will all be checked. This information may be reported to the interviewers before you enter their office. You will always want to be on guard at all times, not just the time you are in front of the interviewers. Are you slumped against the wall or slouching in your seat while waiting to be called? Is this what you would consider "professional flight attendant" demeanor? Your interviewers will not! . Be friendly, talkative, and sincerely interested in the people around you. Don't criticize the company, or any other airlines for that matter. Always be as upbeat and positive as possible. Even if it is allowed or permissible, don't smoke during the interview process. All US and Canadian airlines are now a non-smoking environment, and one airline even requires you to be a non-user of nicotine products to apply. As a working crewmember you will have the same smoking restrictions as your passengers, so it's best to get in the practice of abstaining from smoking now, before you are hired.
Interview attire is important also. A smartly tailored suit that is clean and pressed will give you a more businesslike attitude than a trendy or extreme outfit. Avoid wearing too much makeup, applying just enough to enhance your natural features. It's a fallacy to believe that airlines are only looking for people who look like fashion models. Actually it's the overall person they now hire. Age, weight, height, and appearance standards have been relaxed over the years, making this career available to a larger cross-section of the public.
It shouldn't need mentioning, but after seeing some of the applicants who have come to interviews in the past, apparently it does:

Shower or bathe before you come to the interview!
Your hair should be clean and styled.
Perfume or aftershave should be applied lightly, and should not overpower the room.

You want to put your best appearance forward. Neat, recently trimmed hair (most beard wearers will be asked to shave if hired), clean hands and manicured nails (nail-biters seldom get hired), clear complexion, and a slim, well-proportioned figure are very important for both sexes. Women, avoiding the excessively large or dangling styles should wear simple earrings. Even though a few airlines may allow male flight attendants to wear a simple stud in their ear, it's best to not wear any to the interview. Body piercing in other locations is not accepted, and should not be worn to the interview. Tattoos should not be visible while wearing your interview attire.
A lot has been said lately on the subject of weight requirements. Recent lawsuits against airlines by older flight attendants that were still required to maintain their hiring weight well into their later years have been settled in favor of the flight attendants. Now airlines will simply say that weight must be "in proportion to height," as opposed to strictly adhered-to weight charts. It will, however, improve your chances at the interview if you display a figure in good physical condition. . It's very easy to gain weight while working as a flight attendant, and maintaining a regular schedule of exercise can be difficult. Therefore, it's imperative that you begin now to control your weight and physical condition.
The appearance criteria may be very subjective. Every airline looks for a different type of person. Some want the all-American look, others want the sophisticate. Still others will want the characteristics most traditionally associated with the regions in which they operate. Each company and each interviewer for that company has a different interpretation of what will fulfill their needs. It's not unusual for an applicant to be turned down by an airline one day, and hired by another the next. One friend of mine was turned down three separate times by the same major carrier, was finally hired by them on the fourth try, and now has over ten years seniority.
After the interview, if you do not hear from an airline within a couple of weeks, it is an indication that you have not been accepted. Don't become discouraged or take it personally. Sometimes it can be the personal preferences of the interviewer subconsciously affecting their judgment. Perhaps they don't like blondes, or New Yorkers, or whatever.
Your interviewer is usually a flight attendant on special assignment, and may not be a professionally trained interviewer. Or, it may come down to five excellent candidates, and they have only four openings. This is where all the little things you could or could not do in the interview will make or break you. Turn this disappointment into a positive learning experience and go on to interview with other carriers.
Perseverance is the key to success. If you are turned down by an airline, you will seldom be informed of the reason(s) why. Any attempts to try and discover why you were rejected will most likely be unsuccessful. Again, keep in mind that an average interview series can have hundreds of applicants, and the interviewers travel to many cities to conduct these interviews. To try and speak with the decision-makers can be next to impossible. Some career counselors will advise you to send a thank-you note to the interviewers. I personally don't advise this, as trying to connect the note with your application or the interviewer may not be possible. Simply accept the loss of this application window, move on, and apply to that airline again at your next eligible date. I remember at my final interview, we were all sitting around guessing which applicants would most likely get the job. The ones we all agreed upon as "definitely" getting the job were never hired. Many of us were amazed that we were chosen instead!

You will want to bring to your interview the following items:

Social security card
Passport
A copy of your birth certificate
Copies of your résumé
A copy of the information needed on the application
Letters of reference
Alien registration & work permit (non-citizen)
Pen
Watch

Allow adequate travel time to avoid a late arrival. Interviewers will close the doors to the interview room promptly on the specified hour. If you're even a minute late, you will either be denied entrance until the next session, or will be allowed to enter- though you now have two strikes against you. Why this test? Airlines operate on strict timetables. You must be on time and reliable if you want to be in this industry. This is not a career for you if you are habitually late for appointments. In fact, if you are even 5 minutes late more than once for your flights, you are fast on your way to looking for a new job. So, as the interviewers see it, if you can't arrive at the interview on time, how likely is it that you will be on time for the flights you work?



-Excerpt from THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT JOB FINDER & CAREER GUIDE by Tim Kirkwood, now in it's 3rd edition. This updated resource also contains the hiring requirements and application addresses of over 80 US and Canadian airlines. To order, go to http://www.FlightAttendantCareerGuide.com, or call 1-800-7-FLIGHT.


LOOKING FOR AVIATION EMPLOYMENT? Go to http://www.AviaNation.com and post your resume for FREE. Job postings for all segments of aviation can be found on the site as well. Just click on this hyperlink or copy it to your web browser: http://www.AviaNation.com

50 Airlines still hiring Flight Attendants

50 Airlines STILL hiring flight attendants-

-just not the 6 you were thinking of.

Since September 11, the airline industry has undergone a drastic change, with many airlines downsizing or even going out of business. If you were considering a career as a flight attendant, you may as well give up, right? I mean, the majors aren't hiring, so there are no job openings, correct?

In reality, all that is far from true. When asked about the job of working for the airlines, most people are surprised when I tell them there are over 60 airlines in the US that hire flight attendants. Since 9/11, the "majors" have furloughed many employees, and yes, they are not looking to hire in the near future. But the "majors" (United, American, Delta, Northwest, USAirways) constitute only 10% of the 60 airlines in the US.

The rest of the airlines consist of the "mid-size" carriers, such as Southwest, jetBlue, Frontier; "regionals" such as SkyWest, Mesa, ComAir; and finally charter and niche airlines such as Sunworld, Pace, Casino Air and Era.

Prior to the events of 9/11, nearly all airlines were desperate for quality flight attendant applicants. When they majors had difficulty finding them at their own open houses and job fairs, they began to recruit from the mid-size and regional carriers. That left the smaller carriers with serious shortages of applicants, which has only eased somewhat with the cutbacks at the majors.

Sure, it's enticing to go to work for a major airline, and have the chance to fly to Paris or Tokyo. But keep in mind that it may take you years with your major airline to be able to work those more desired flights. Meanwhile, you'll be working the same type of flights as the regional airlines. And with major companies like USAirways and United on the borderline of bankruptcy, size does not necessarily matter in the job security department. It's easy to become just another cog in the machinery when you work for a major airline that may have over 25,000 flight attendants. With a regional airline, you have a more supportive "family" atmosphere. And with shorter flights, you may actually be home more often than you would with the major carriers. Another advantage is the possibility of being based in the town you live in- especially if it is the only base for that airline.

Charter Airlines are also included in the mid-size airlines group. These can have you traveling to all parts of the world right out of training, as their schedules are dependant on the contract they have with the group that books their flights. The charter airlines have been looking for flight attendant applicants since 9/11 as well.

In addition, the fastest growing area of aviation is the corporate or fractional jet Flight Attendant employment opportunities. These luxurious private and corporate aircraft cater to a high-end clientele, and require professionally trained flight attendants as well.

For more than 10 years, flight attendant applicants have been turning to The Flight Attendant Job Finder & Career Guide by Tim Kirkwood (Planning/Communications), a 27-year veteran of the aviation industry. Now in its 3rd Edition, celebrating the 77th Anniversary of Flight Attendants, applicants consider the Guide required reading. Kirkwood helps them choose the "best" airline to work for, and gives them the hiring requirements of over 80 US and Canadian airlines. No other career guide has the information and features available.

3rd Edition Publishing Date: Nov 15, 2002
Available from your local bookstore, Amazon.com,
or directly from the author at:
Tim Kirkwood, Author
P.O. Box 6455
Delray Beach, FL 33482-6455

www.FlightAttendantCareerGuide.com
crew4jets@aol.com