You don't need a university diploma in order to work as a flight attendant. But you do need a handful of skills to face that lifestyle. And there is no in between with flying: either you love it or you hate it! If you love it, you will always want more, you won't be able to stop and when on ground you will always be aware of the aircrafts flying above your head just by the sound. If you hate it, you will suffer and some people still do it. Why on earth?! Obviously, because of the benefits! And the pay. You'll finally be able to live comfortably and also put something aside. That's if you manage your perks wisely, but I have heard of Crew who used all their savings in drinking, partying or fancy branded bags, shoes and clothes. What to do, we are all different. What made me happy was to travel even more during my free time, that's where I invested part of my savings. And what I have out of it is beautiful memories, many of which will find their final destination in this blog!
Interesting enough is a fact that a high percentage of Crew that I flew with actually has a university degree! Some even multiple masters. Probably hoping to put it to use one day AFTER the flying career. I had my university class mate from Italy as a fellow Crew working in the same company overseas years after: what are the odds?! I helped him out for the interview and saw the positive result of my efforts when he got recruited, just a couple of years after me. It was quite comforting to have close someone from home, while so far from home. We are still in touch and always remembering the good old times in Bologna.
Interesting enough is a fact that a high percentage of Crew that I flew with actually has a university degree! Some even multiple masters. Probably hoping to put it to use one day AFTER the flying career. I had my university class mate from Italy as a fellow Crew working in the same company overseas years after: what are the odds?! I helped him out for the interview and saw the positive result of my efforts when he got recruited, just a couple of years after me. It was quite comforting to have close someone from home, while so far from home. We are still in touch and always remembering the good old times in Bologna.
But let me go back to the main topic. While flying, I discovered that IT is my ideal job. That I don't want to go back to what I have studied at the university, also because I was already putting it to use on board, even though in a different way than imagined. I've studied International Relations at the Political Sciences Faculty, so foreign languages are my main asset and I do speak lot of them. Well that is exactly what I was doing on board as well! Also being diplomatic, patient, tolerant and moderate was part of the skills I learned and used on board. How to read the situation quickly and always find a solution is another skill I can brag about.
If you love it, you will never stop. But what if you're forced to stop flying? Let's say because a certain mortal virus shows up in an epic number of the year 2020 and aviation is the worse affected industry because while the whole world is in quarantine, the aircrafts are in hangars. Period.
Then you need to reshape your future. Measure your skills and understand what your strengths are. Focus on those and look for a job that will fit your profile. Apply apply apply.
So which are the possible outcomes for a former Flight Attendant? What comes AFTER?
Here is a short SUPER FUNNY and greatly ACCURATE video about Cabin Crew trying to work from home, it is obviously Covid-age.
TRAVEL AGENT
You surely know a lot about traveling, why not starting your own business in the same industry? You have all the tips needed about places you have seen by person, contacts of trusted people, material to show the visual and even the leftover currencies (this last one is for your own memory). But get the point?
TOUR GUIDE
If you don't like organizing, let someone else do that and you go directly on the field! Get specialized about a certain place where you would like to live and go show it around to the others! If you know how to tell catchy stories and keep people's attention, not only the tourist will have fun, but you will as well.
TRAVEL BLOGGER
Hello from the other side! Here I am. If you have a lot to tell and an interesting way to tell stories along with a lot of media, this is the right job for you. It takes time, dedication and consistency, but if you are talkative as I am, it will only be fun!
PHOTOGRAPHER
If you don't like to write, but you are a good photographer, why not tell your stories through the media?! Get a network and go out there! Catch some memorable moments and places and make everyone dream with the beauty around the world.
CRUISE SHIP
If you still want to get your hands dirty, but on ground or better on water, a job on a cruise might just be right for you. It's a hard job, 24/7 availability, but it is also as fun. Camaraderie is evergreen.
AU PAIR
You are not going to earn even closely as much as Crew, but you can travel and learn new languages if you like baby-sitting. After dealing with countless screaming children on board, we all learned how to be a nanny. But not everyone likes it. If you know how to deal with children effortlessly, why not give it a try?
LANGUAGE TEACHER
Most of the Cabin Crew I have worked with know at least one foreign language, along with their native one. Some speak 3 or 4 and a niche goes beyond with 5+ (yes, I am among those! 🎓). If you like teaching, it should come quite natural to you putting those language skills to use. Surely you will need to be certified, so some studying and exams will be the first step.
UNIVERSITY
Many colleagues of mine interrupted their studying career in order to start flying. Wrong choice! EDUCATIONE COMES FIRST. But it is never late to finish your studies, because there is no age to studying! And if you still have to understand what your dream job is, put your time to use by starting a course (nowadays there are plenty online, especially because of the Covid-19 crisis, but I do prefer to go to the classroom). And if you didn't get the chance to study because you started flying early, well this is your chance to rectify. Hopefully you have some savings from your Crew life that will be helpful in this decision.
HOTEL MANAGEMENT
Some of the Crew come from a hotel management background. Going back to it is like a deja-vu, but that might just be what you like to do. Stay in the customer service industry, but on ground.
BARTENDER
It goes under the customer service, but specified with the drinks. Were you that Crew preparing cocktails and mocktails on all the parties? You had it in you all time long!
RADIO talker or CALL CENTER
Used to talk over the interphone, not only among the Crew, but addressing passengers over the public announcements, just admit it: you always enjoyed hearing your voice loud and knowing that everyone else is hearing it too (besides the distracted ones that aren't listening).
Well use that persuasive voice to talk on the radio and keep your slice of glory! Or chat all day long with random people over the phone in the call center.
SALES ASSISTANT
Most of the airlines have a duty free on board. Therefor most of the Crew know how to sell. 1+1=2
As far as me is concerned, been there, done that.
EMR (emergency medical responder) or PARAMEDICS
There are some Crew who always play in the front line with confidence. Especially in the emergency situations such as medical ones. If you want to save people life full time, you will need to study some more and get the certification, but you will also stay in the game. A hero!
FIRE FIGHTER
You like action and you are not afraid of fire. You feed on it because you are a burning atom full of energy to give. We need these heroes in the society big time!
AVIATION TRAINER
And if you still want to stay in the aviation industry, but in the backstage, this is an interesting position to consider. But you do need to be able to transmit information in a clear and effective manner. There is much responsibility to it, so don't take it lightly. You can choose between teaching service, safety or first aid. Or simply following the ab-initio during their training weeks in bureaucracy matters.
Do you have any other suggestions on a possible career AFTER flying?
As you can see from the above, flying is not a dead-end career. It is just a beginning of your adventures. Good luck!
TOUR GUIDE
If you don't like organizing, let someone else do that and you go directly on the field! Get specialized about a certain place where you would like to live and go show it around to the others! If you know how to tell catchy stories and keep people's attention, not only the tourist will have fun, but you will as well.
TRAVEL BLOGGER
Hello from the other side! Here I am. If you have a lot to tell and an interesting way to tell stories along with a lot of media, this is the right job for you. It takes time, dedication and consistency, but if you are talkative as I am, it will only be fun!
PHOTOGRAPHER
If you don't like to write, but you are a good photographer, why not tell your stories through the media?! Get a network and go out there! Catch some memorable moments and places and make everyone dream with the beauty around the world.
CRUISE SHIP
If you still want to get your hands dirty, but on ground or better on water, a job on a cruise might just be right for you. It's a hard job, 24/7 availability, but it is also as fun. Camaraderie is evergreen.
AU PAIR
You are not going to earn even closely as much as Crew, but you can travel and learn new languages if you like baby-sitting. After dealing with countless screaming children on board, we all learned how to be a nanny. But not everyone likes it. If you know how to deal with children effortlessly, why not give it a try?
LANGUAGE TEACHER
Most of the Cabin Crew I have worked with know at least one foreign language, along with their native one. Some speak 3 or 4 and a niche goes beyond with 5+ (yes, I am among those! 🎓). If you like teaching, it should come quite natural to you putting those language skills to use. Surely you will need to be certified, so some studying and exams will be the first step.
UNIVERSITY
Many colleagues of mine interrupted their studying career in order to start flying. Wrong choice! EDUCATIONE COMES FIRST. But it is never late to finish your studies, because there is no age to studying! And if you still have to understand what your dream job is, put your time to use by starting a course (nowadays there are plenty online, especially because of the Covid-19 crisis, but I do prefer to go to the classroom). And if you didn't get the chance to study because you started flying early, well this is your chance to rectify. Hopefully you have some savings from your Crew life that will be helpful in this decision.
HOTEL MANAGEMENT
Some of the Crew come from a hotel management background. Going back to it is like a deja-vu, but that might just be what you like to do. Stay in the customer service industry, but on ground.
BARTENDER
It goes under the customer service, but specified with the drinks. Were you that Crew preparing cocktails and mocktails on all the parties? You had it in you all time long!
RADIO talker or CALL CENTER
Used to talk over the interphone, not only among the Crew, but addressing passengers over the public announcements, just admit it: you always enjoyed hearing your voice loud and knowing that everyone else is hearing it too (besides the distracted ones that aren't listening).
Well use that persuasive voice to talk on the radio and keep your slice of glory! Or chat all day long with random people over the phone in the call center.
SALES ASSISTANT
Most of the airlines have a duty free on board. Therefor most of the Crew know how to sell. 1+1=2
As far as me is concerned, been there, done that.
EMR (emergency medical responder) or PARAMEDICS
There are some Crew who always play in the front line with confidence. Especially in the emergency situations such as medical ones. If you want to save people life full time, you will need to study some more and get the certification, but you will also stay in the game. A hero!
FIRE FIGHTER
You like action and you are not afraid of fire. You feed on it because you are a burning atom full of energy to give. We need these heroes in the society big time!
AVIATION TRAINER
And if you still want to stay in the aviation industry, but in the backstage, this is an interesting position to consider. But you do need to be able to transmit information in a clear and effective manner. There is much responsibility to it, so don't take it lightly. You can choose between teaching service, safety or first aid. Or simply following the ab-initio during their training weeks in bureaucracy matters.
Do you have any other suggestions on a possible career AFTER flying?
As you can see from the above, flying is not a dead-end career. It is just a beginning of your adventures. Good luck!
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