EXCLUSIVE I recruited flight attendants for major airlines - and these are the do's and don'ts if you want to get hired (and whether good looks and being tall will help get you the job) Elena Carmen López is a former Emirates crew member and recruiter She reveals the appearance and personality traits that airlines look for Do you think you have what it takes to be a flight attendant? Tell us in our poll...
READ MORE: Meet the man who stays in Britain's worst-rated hotels By Sophie Foster, Deputy Travel Editor For Mailonline Published: 04:46 EDT, 16 July 2024 | Updated: 04:46 EDT, 16 July 2024 e-mail 1 View comments Do you have dyed hair and a tendency to roll your eyes when criticised? Then you can forget about becoming a flight attendant, according to Elena Carmen López, 43, from Barcelona, a former cabin crew recruiter who has revealed to MailOnline Travel what airlines are looking for when they interview flight attendant candidates. While the job is not all about looks, there are some aspects of appearance that could get you the job - or get you discounted. Elena explains: 'If we talk about image, having yellow or cracked teeth, coloured hair that is not natural, tattoos, piercings and big scars will definitely be a "no" to name a few.
'Airlines are not looking for good-looking people as such, but people with a good and professional image.' Elena Carmen López (pictured) is a former cabin crew recruiter who has revealed to MailOnline Travel what airlines are looking for when they interview flight attendant candidates Elena (left), who worked as cabin crew for Monarch and Emirates, comments that on recruitment day 'you should dress in formal attire and for ladies it is recommended to wear a knee-length skirt, hair tied down, stockings, nails manicured' How tall you are could also help you during the recruitment phase. Elena says: 'They are very focused on height.
'They need tall people to be able to access all emergency equipment in overhead compartments...
and hiring managers also look for fit individuals to be able to cope with this fast-paced lifestyle.' So, you must be fit, and professional and avoid unnatural hair colours..
. but what about how you dress on a recruitment day? Being late, not smiling enough or being too rigid could also be factors that could instantly lead to rejection Elena Carmen López - recruiter Elena, who worked as cabin crew for Monarch and Emirates, comments: 'You should dress in formal attire and for ladies it is recommended to wear a knee-length skirt, hair tied down, stockings, nails manicured. Male candidates should wear a suit with a tie.
'It is advisable to follow the required formal dress code so recruiters can picture you on board the aircraft.' Elena does note that this isn't always possible as sometimes flight attendants are recruited on 'walk-in' open days. If this is the case, she notes wearing formal clothing 'is not mandatory as some candidates might not know or they might have decided to go without being prepared'.
Elena, pictured, says: 'They are looking for genuine personalities and people with a tendency to smile' 'Being late, not smiling enough or being too rigid could also be factors that could instantly lead to rejection,' says the former recruiter It's not all about how you look, though. Elena shares her thoughts on how personality influences the hiring process. She says: 'They are looking for genuine personalities and people with a tendency to smile.
'They do not look for leaders, attitude or rudeness. Being late, not smiling enough or being too rigid could also be factors that could instantly lead to rejection. 'Not paying attention to what other candidates are saying or rolling eyes are also other common mistakes.
' Does she have examples of the best candidates she's met with or coached? Elena, seen here in Dubai, notes: 'What I loved the most about the flight attendant job was travelling to different destinations and living a lifestyle that you cannot really have with any other job' Read More 'Malfunctioning bots and rip-off phone lines': Which? tests customer service responses at 8 airlines Elena notes: 'As a recruiter, you can see straight away, right from the beginning, if they are what we call a "star candidate". 'Their grooming is flawless, they are polite with others, they smile often, [they're] gentle, resolutive and their overall performance is just phenomenal.' And the worst? She says: 'The ones that do not reflect on their previous rejections and they don't do anything about it, they are defensive and they blame others for their failure.
' The recruitment coach, who now helps people snap up a contract with airlines, claims there are also post-interview do's and don'ts that airline hopefuls should note. She says: 'Some candidates tend to change their email addresses after their application gets rejected online. This is a big "no" that could lead you to a "black list".
' Elena adds that prospective crew members should 'stay away from Facebook groups' and 'consider coaching' ahead of their interview. She also recommends reading The Golden Call - her book all about the cabin crew recruitment processes of Middle Eastern airlines Emirates and Etihad. Elena says that they are the 'most difficult' airlines to be recruited for.
Elena has written two books about her experience in the airlines - Life After Dubai and The Golden Call Above is The Golden Call (£14) - Elena's book about the cabin crew recruitment processes of Middle Eastern airlines Emirates and Etihad She explains: 'In my opinion yes, as they are the hardest airlines to get in, and because they have high demand, they raise the bar when it comes to cabin crew requirements. 'Middle Eastern airlines want to have the full package: they are looking for natural skills, personality and, of course, a good image! Middle Eastern airlines are very conservative, so a conservative look and grooming is prized.' For those keen to work for a Middle Eastern airline, Elena has further advice.
She told MailOnline: 'I think many candidates have - influenced by social media - a slightly different idea of what it is to live and work for a Middle Eastern airline. 'They tend to have very high expectations on the job and the country and some of them might not be very happy afterwards.' What did Elena love most about her time working in the skies? She comments: 'What I loved the most about the flight attendant job was the fact that every day you were flying with different people, meeting new cultures, sharing different points of view, travelling to different destinations and living a lifestyle that you cannot really have with any other job.
'What I loathed about the job was the lack of sleep and jet lag - which I think you never get used to - and the loneliness.' The recruiter notes: 'After five years flying for Emirates I thought it was time for me to hang my wings. I was ready to leave the cabin crew.
' Those who want to hear more from Elena can find her on Instagram under the username @carmenlarecruiter , on her website larecruiter.es , or can buy her books Life After Dubai and The Golden Call. Share or comment on this article: I recruited flight attendants for major airlines - and these are the do's and don'ts if you want to get hired (and whether good looks and being tall will help get you the job) e-mail Add comment.
