10 ESSENTIAL Skills Needed To Be Cabin Crew!
If you’re interested in becoming Cabin Crew or simply just want to know if you have what it takes – then you’re going to want to know the major skills needed to be Cabin Crew, especially as the role is highly competitive. Read on to find out everything you need to know, and how to develop these skills!
All views expressed here are my own and do not represent my employer.
Contents:
Is Being Cabin Crew a Good Job?
Is being Cabin Crew a good job? Being Cabin Crew is an incredible job, offering a selection of unique experiences that you could never find with a regular desk job.
As Cabin Crew, you will get the opportunity to travel to different places, see the world and speak to new people from all different backgrounds and cultures. People skills are a huge asset in this role, as you will need to attend to customers’ needs and make sure their flight is enjoyable.
With such a rewarding role, you can expect great pay, a flexible schedule which allows you to balance work and travel, and an exciting new chapter in your life. No day is ever the same!
What is Being Cabin Crew Like?
What is being Cabin Crew like? Being Cabin Crew is a fast-paced and rewarding job. On each flight, crewmembers are responsible for ensuring the safety and comfort of passengers, so they make sure to perform all safety checks and keep the cabin environment pleasant and professional.
They also provide customers with excellent service throughout the journey, such as serving drinks and snacks, answering questions, helping with luggage, ensuring security and completing any required paperwork.
In addition to their onboard duties, they also need to be prepared for any unexpected situations that may occur. From medical emergencies to potentially unruly passengers, crewmembers must be prepared for anything and be able to respond calmly and effectively.
When they’re not flying, cabin crew members can still be found either catching up on rest, learning new skills or attending team meetings and safety training.
Overall, being Cabin Crew is a challenging yet gratifying job, offering opportunities to build relationships with customers, travel the world and become a part of something amazing.
Related Post: 10 Tips for Passing Cabin Crew Assessment Days
10 Skills Needed To Be Cabin Crew:
To be Cabin Crew, you need to have a lot of skills. If you don’t have all of these skills just yet, don’t worry! Read on about the 10 skills needed to be Cabin Crew:
1. Customer Service
Customer service skills are critical for the role of Cabin Crew, as one of the main duties is to ensure the total comfort and satisfaction of passengers. Many airlines need to have a huge reputation for good customer service to create lifelong relationships with passengers and make sure they keep using the airline for years to come. As a result, Cabin Crew need to possess excellent customer service skills in order to maintain these relationships.
Developing customer service skills takes time and effort. This can include reading books on the subject, going to training courses, or even asking other experienced Cabin Crew members for advice. Getting a job in the Customer Service sector is also extremely beneficial.
Additionally, it is also important to practice active listening and problem-solving techniques, as both of these are essential in resolving customer issues. Finally, a friendly and positive attitude should always be displayed, as this will leave a lasting positive impression and help keep passengers satisfied during the flight.
2. Flexible and Adaptive
Being flexible and adaptable are essential skills needed to be Cabin Crew, as Cabin Crew never know what situation they may face on a flight – also, remember that being Cabin Crew is a lifestyle, not just a career.
On a daily basis, they could be dealing with medical emergencies, unruly passengers, various customer requests or any other type of situation which would require creative problem-solving abilities. As such, they must be able to react quickly and remain composed under pressure.
There are many ways to develop this skill. For instance, practising a ‘yes or no’ attitude is helpful for adapting to customer requests and overcoming challenging situations. This means that Cabin Crew must be open to ‘Yes’ answers, but at the same time have the confidence to say ‘No’ in a polite, but firm way to anything which isn’t in the company policy – safety is the number one priority!
Additionally, reading books or watching YouTube videos on customer service can be hugely beneficial in familiarising yourself with best practices for different scenarios. Finally, regular practice of SEP is also vital and will help your confidence in this area, so you should always strive to be prepared for any and all possible scenarios.
3. Cultural Sensitivity
Cultural sensitivity is an important skill for Cabin Crew, as they must be able to relate to and understand the needs of passengers from all different backgrounds, cultures, and religions. Demonstrating cultural sensitivity also involves respecting diversity and avoiding any behaviours which could be seen as disrespectful or offensive.
To develop cultural sensitivity, it is important to actively educate yourself on cultures and religions which are different to your own. Reading books and watching documentaries are great ways to gain knowledge, and there are also many online courses available which focus on cultural awareness.
Finally, it is important to show sensitivity in your words and behaviours and remember that everyone is unique.
4. Confidence
Confidence isn’t just for walking down through the airport with your uniform on (although that does feel absolutely amazing); it’s very useful for being able to handle a wide variety of situations with grace and poise. From dealing with unruly passengers to responding to medical emergencies, Cabin Crew must demonstrate a level of confidence in their ability to act proactively and effectively. Additionally, they must be able to build connections with customers and make sure their journey is as enjoyable as possible.
Developing confidence as a Cabin Crew member starts with identifying your own strengths and weaknesses. It is important to practice self-awareness and be honest with yourself about what you can and cannot do.
Additionally, it is worth utilising any training schemes or courses offered by companies, as this is a great way to brush up on your skills.
Finally, it is important to remember that confidence comes with experience, so the more opportunities you take on and the more flights you complete, the more prepared and confident you will become.
5. Empathy
Empathy is one of the biggest skills needed to be Cabin Crew, as they must be able to understand the needs and emotions of passengers – as well as other crew members. From dealing with medical emergencies to responding to customer complaints, Cabin Crew must be able to empathise with passengers in order to ensure their total comfort and satisfaction.
To develop your empathy, it is important to be aware of how your words and actions affect other people. It is also useful to research different cultures, religions, and backgrounds, as this will help you to better understand people from different walks of life – remember that nobody is raised the same, so what you may find “different” can be normal in other parts of the world.
Additionally, active listening is a useful skill for acknowledging passengers’ concerns and getting to the root of an issue. Finally, it is important to try to see situations from another person’s perspective and respond appropriately.
6. Teamwork
Teamwork skills are essential for Cabin Crew, as they need to be able to work effectively with other crew members to ensure customer and employee satisfaction.
Additionally, the role of Cabin Crew involves a lot of collaboration, so they must be able to communicate effectively and make decisions together. If you do long haul, like me, then you will also need to be able to work well with your crew, who you maybe just met a few minutes ago, as you’ll be spending a lot of time together in a small space!
Developing teamwork skills can be done in a number of ways. Learning active listening techniques is a great place to start, and training sessions are a great opportunity to practice and hone this skill.
It can be helpful to observe the behaviour of other team members, even if you’re not working as Cabin Crew just yet, and take note of how effective their methods are. Finally, asking for feedback can be an effective way to assess the current team dynamic and identify any areas for improvement.
7. Initiative
Initiative is a vital skill for Cabin Crew, as Cabin Crew require the ability to act without direct instructions in order to keep everything running smoothly. From responding to customer issues to prioritising tasks, Cabin Crew must be able to identify and act on situations without hesitation.
To develop initiative, it is important to familiarise yourself with the airline’s company policies and processes. Knowing the company’s protocols will help you quickly and effectively assess different scenarios and respond with the most appropriate course of action.
Finally, it is important to practice and experiment with different approaches to identify what works best for you.
8. Quick Thinking
Quick thinking is a must for Cabin Crew, as they must be able to determine the best course of action in any situation that arises during a flight – fast! Sudden challenges can come in many forms, from resolving customer disputes to managing outbreaks of illness, so it is important to be able to assess the situation quickly and move from a reactive to a proactive approach.
To develop your quick thinking skills, it is important to reflect on past experiences and analyse what worked and what did not. Evaluating your own performance is a useful exercise for identifying any areas for improvement.
Additionally, there are various online courses and conferences available which offer useful advice and guidance on how to think quickly and remain composed in a variety of scenarios. It is also important to practice and familiarise yourself with procedures and protocols so that you are ready in the event of an emergency.
9. Self Control
Self control is one of the most overlooked skills needed to be Cabin Crew, as they must be able to maintain a professional attitude and remain composed in any situation. From being patient with customers to managing time-sensitive tasks, Cabin Crew must be able to exercise self-discipline and remain in control.
To develop your self control skills, it is important to identify and focus on any weaknesses you may have. Additionally, spending time in mindfulness, self-reflection, meditation, or even going to therapy can help you to control your reactions in pressure-filled situations. Finally, remember that good self control comes from practice, so it is important to take every opportunity to put your skills into action.
10. Cosmopolitan
Being cosmopolitan is a similar skill to empathy and cultural sensitivity, but it is still one of the most needed skills needed to be Cabin Crew, as they must be knowledgeable about the customs and cultures of different regions and countries. Being cosmopolitan helps provide an excellent service to international customers and also allows Cabin Crew to understand the different needs and expectations of passengers from foreign countries.
To develop your cosmopolitan skills, it is important to actively educate yourself on different cultures, customs and traditions. Reading books, watching films and exploring different travel websites (like this one ;)) are all great ways to gain knowledge.
Additionally, speaking to other Cabin Crew members from around the world and learning from their experiences is a valuable way to broaden your knowledge. Finally, it is important to keep up with global events and news in order to stay up to date with the community.
Cabin Crew FAQ:
Flight Attendants must be outgoing, confident, and have excellent customer service skills; they must also possess a tolerant and diplomatic attitude and be prepared to handle any challenging situations or unexpected events that may arise.
Due to the unpredictable nature of the job, being a Flight Attendant can sometimes be a stressful role. The training is especially stressful, and no day is the same – but it is definitely worth it!
Yes, while confidence and an outgoing personality are certainly beneficial, a shy person can still be a successful Flight Attendant with the right attitude and dedication.
10 Skills Needed To Be Cabin Crew – Conclusion
After reading this post, you’ve hopefully learnt all about the skills needed to be Cabin Crew. Remember, nobody is born with all these skills needed to be Cabin Crew; you need to keep practising them always. Which skills needed to be Cabin Crew surprised you the most? Are there any skills needed to be Cabin Crew that you think deserve to be on this list? Feel free to reach out and contact me if you ever need any advice! If you liked this post, you might also like:
