Does geography play a role in obtaining a job in corporate aviation? I have two answers: yes and no! OK, I will expand on that. And as always, I will be very honest.

I am originally from New York, but I began my career as a corporate cabin attendant in Los Angeles, California. I was much younger at the time, and really lucked out getting a full-time position with zero experience. Again, for one – I was young. Two – I was hired with no experience. Could I have had that same opportunity in New York? From my knowledge and experience now in the industry, I really don’t think so. Southern California has a strong reputation in the corporate aviation industry for targeting cabin attendants that are under the age of 30. It also has the reputation of hiring candidates that have not yet had cabin emergency training. The goal of most of these employers has been to satisfy the clientele with a young, pretty girl for cabin service.

Has this changed? A little. I have seen the industry raise their standards quite a bit nationwide, including Southern California. However, I still feel that Northern California and the East Coast of the United States still holds the highest standards and tends to hire more experienced, professional and cabin safety trained individuals. Age is also not as much of a factor in other parts of the country as it is here in Southern California (especially the Los Angeles area). So, in short, if you are young, attractive, and have a social and pleasant personality, you have a great shot at being hired by many charter operations in Los Angeles.

Now, having said all of that, there are also highly-reputable companies, such as Jet Professionals that have a presence here and will not hire an unprofessional or untrained cabin attendant. Their hub is in New York, and the standards they hold there extend across the whole country. Superficial things, like age, carry no weight with them. They just want the best quality and highest caliber people for their clients.

What about the process for obtaining a job as a corporate cabin attendant?

This process is pretty much the same in every geographic location:

• First – I highly suggest making sure that your cabin safety and CPR trainings are current. If you haven’t taken these trainings yet, contact FlightSafety International or Aircare FACTS for information on training at a location that suits your needs.
• Second – Have an excellent resume that reflects your customer service experience, any culinary skills and experience you may have, your education and training.
• Third – Take the time to reach out to people in the industry and network as much as possible. Social media sites, like LinkedIn, can be very helpful with this. Attend functions held by groups like the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA).
• Fourth – Figure out what type of employment works best for you (i.e., contract, full-time, Part 91 or Part 135) and select the operations that deal specifically with what you are looking for. Do your research to figure out the right person to contact. Give that person a call, send them your resume, and, if possible, stop in for a visit so they can meet you in person. Even if it’s an unofficial visit, and you are just “dropping off your resume,” wear a suit and play the part. More experienced cabin attendants tend to reach out to the recruiting companies or track down the lead flight attendant for large corporations. In Los Angeles, corporate flight attendants with less experience usually start with local operators (charter companies).
• Finally – After you have made contact and applied through the proper channels, all you can do is think positive and continue to follow up.

For help with locating potential employers, I suggest taking a look at a site called Air Charter Guide. You can use that site to locate every operator in your geographic area. Additionally, job sites such as Indeed, Simply Hired, LinkedIn and Climb to 350 will advertise positions for cabin attendants nationwide.

A positive mental attitude, belief in yourself, and perseverance will eventually land you that amazing job you are searching for as a corporate cabin attendant!

Questions?

If you have any questions about this article, contact Kathryn Martone at kathryn.martone20@gmail.com.

If you would like to be considered for becoming a guest author, please contact socialmedia@airculinaire.com.