- Emma and Hendri in Uniform
First of all, I’d like to thank Forum Pramugari for giving me this opportunity to share my story with the readers. It’s an honor to have my story published on this awesome blog, don’t you agree? Hahaha! Let’s start with a brief introduction, my name is Emma and I am a Flight Attendant with Cathay Pacific. Through this post, I’d like to share my journey on how I decided to pursue this career and how I got it 🙂
One of the many cliche but true ambitions when I was barely a decade old was to become an air stewardess. I found walking in the air bridge before entering the plane, exhilarating, I loved the inflight turbulence and my jaw would drop at the sight of the ever so glamorous air stewardess walking by. But I never thought that I would be able to be them, I’m not pretty nor am I tall and slim.
Fast forward to December 2010, I graduated from University. I had a job offer with a five star hotel in Kuala Lumpur, however, it was very hard to get my work visa approved. In January, I was still unemployed and I decided to go for Singapore Airline’s recruitment in Surabaya, just for the fun of it. I didn’t make it far, and it really bummed me out. My parents spent their money to buy me airline tickets and even booked me a hotel room in Shangri-la, imagine how frustrated I was. I felt like I’ve let them down, it was heart breaking and I decided never to go for another airline recruitment, ever again….!
- Emma in Johannesburg, South Africa
Months passed by and one fateful day in May, I was desperate for jobs. I was searching for a job online, I was going through a random list of available jobs, I clicked and clicked on random buttons which finally lead me to a job advert from Cathay Pacific for cabin crew recruitment in Indonesia. Up to this day, I believe that God had brought me to this path, it was three hours before the deadline for the application submission. I quickly whipped up a resume, a cover letter and sent some decent looking photos of myself. Kept my fingers crossed for three days and an invitation from Cathay Pacific arrived in my inbox, they invited me to attend the interview in Jakarta. I braced myself this time, worried that I would fail again. I told my parents about it and they were still supportive of my decision to try my luck with Cathay Pacific. On the day of the interview, I prayed really hard, I put all my faith in Him as I believe that he’s planned this for me, He is finally answering my prayer, I could feel it in my bone.
I arrived at 9:00am for the interview and there was a long line of tall and beautiful ladies, nicely groomed gentlemen, outside the ballroom. I couldn’t help but to feel intimidated but in all honesty, there wasn’t anything to be afraid off. I went there, gave my best performance and I went through all the stages successfully, it was like a breeze for me. After the medical check up, which was the final stage of the recruitment, I had to go through six agonizing weeks waiting for an e-mail from Cathay Pacific to inform us on whether or not we are going to be hired. Pretty sure I was on Forum Pramugari everyday within those six weeks, sharing my nervousness with the other candidates :)) It was therapeutic in a way, so for future reference, after your airline interview, go to Forum Pramugari and share your experience or any information with your felow future flying buddies 😀 If I remember it well, I received the e-mail somewhere into the fifth week, basically telling me to attend a pre-training briefing, sign the contract and in about two weeks, “Hello, Hong Kong!!”
One thing you can learn from my story is that, if you didn’t make it the first time or the first few times, DON’T STOP! I know a friend who’s tried close to ten times, she failed and refused to stop and now she’s probably flying somewhere across the world. If becoming a cabin crew is really your passion, please follow it! I am not going to lie that I am quite a lucky girl to be given this opportunity from God, bare in mind that I’ve never seen myself as an ideal cabin crew material. One thing that I love about Cathay Pacific is that, they are able to see your passion and your potential to be great cabin crews. Ultimately, the key to pass the interview is to be pleasant, graceful, positive minded, bare those pretty teeth of yours and be confident! No other mumbo jumbo, promise!
“Life’s a Clim, but the view is Great” -Hanna Montana-
- Emma in Frankfurt, Germany
Tagged: Cabin Crew's Story, Cathay Pacific, Emma
![[Part 1] Cabin Crew's Story: Anak Kampung Juga Bisa!](https://forumpramugari.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/picture-of-doni.jpg?w=40&h=40&crop=1){kind=small}
Forum Pramugari 
woww.. so exciting :),, i wish i could be stewardess, that’s my dream since i was child 🙂
You have the same name with my classmate 🙂 It is exciting being a cabin crew, I am not going to lie!! Ha ha ha
Hi Emma, it is nice to read your story, but I’m just wondering if you know when will Cathay hold the recruitment in Indonesia this year? I am just so eagerly wanted to give it a try.. hehe
Hi Emma, I just was browsing post on working for Cathay Pacific and found yours very enlighting. I have an up coming 1st round interview with them in 2 weeks in US base, I would appreciate if I can have some pointers for the interview. Are you still working for them?
hiee emma@@ nice to know u here, i would like to have a try as well, but mostly they need HK Permanent Residence people, hardly to check it out for indonesian citizen to apply..btw, i am in Malaysia as well, very rare to see they open any recruitment in malaysia..hw many stages, and wht kind of interview they have?thanks yah=)
regards,
jia
Hi Jia, may I know if you are Malaysian or Indonesian citizen? Because Cathay would only recruit new crews from his/her own country. In my case, I’m Indonesian and have been living in Malaysia since I was 15. For the Cathay Interview, I travelled back and forth from KL-Jakarta. Thus saying, even if you’re in Malaysia, if you’re holding an Indonesian Citizenship, you’d have to travel back to Indonesia for the interview/recruitment 🙂
The recruitment in Hong Kong is still on-going, I think they do it frequently here in HK, but yes, you have to be a Permanent Resident here to apply. I don’t quite remember the stages in detail, mine was divided into 3 days in total, over a span of one to two weeks, it may differ to others’:
First part of the recruitment
1) Arm reach test
2) Group discussion and presentation on any assigned topics
3) Group debate on any assigned topics
4) Computerized personality test (I don’t remember the exact name for it)
5) Computerized English test
Second part of the recruitment
* Final Interview, one on one
Third and last part of the recruitment
* Medical test
-Emma-
it is psychometric test..haha I’m too bored and nothing to do thus browsing around..a nice post candy..
hi emmaa,thanks for ur reply,,ermm then i have been studying in msia since my high school, so 12 yrs old, hahaa, msia is like my 2nd home!! =)
the stages sounds difficult,haha..travel back and forth to jkrta everytime! big sacrificee for tht, i dont think so i will do tht =(..hahaa, btw if u happen to fly msia and off few days mybe v can meet up!
though this career not my priority, but it is sort like passion?heeee,im a law grads here, so it is totally out of the line ritee?! haha
keep in touch!!
Hello,
Did you have to take your shoes off for the arm reach test?
I am afraid if I am able to reach without shoes.
Thank you!
You said don’t stop to try. Okay..what about if my age are going to depart…It seemed I have no more chances even thought being a cabin crew was my passion, but I don’t think I am going to make it.
Gooddes of fortune are never with me……
🙂 Hello Flo
Would you share your experience please? And it would be nice to know your age, or the range if you’d rather not disclose it.
To be honest, it all depends on the airline that you are applying for. Some airlines have the what I call, ‘expiry age’ for the cabin crews. But I can proudly say that Cathay Pacific would overlook your marital status and even your age.
I have just flown with a new Indonesian crew, she’s 26 and married with a child. I also happen to know an Indonesian senior from 2008, she has just delivered her baby a few months ago and is currently on maternal leave. She’s going to resume to her usual flying duties soon. Many of my pursers, married or not, they’re very well near or over 30s and are still flying across the globe. And being one of the few youngest junior crews in my batch, may I just tell you that I have a classmate who is 29 years old :))
What I’m saying is, I need you to not stress over the age factor. Try and find more information on the airlines which prioritize professionalism and appreciate the well being of the crews. While the bitter truth is that some airlines out there are trying hard to keep and only display the superficial image of the crews, know that there are some out there who are just happy to have you, just as long as you fit the company profile. It’s almost like finding the right guy, you don’t know which one is right for you, but there’s one for everybody.
Lots of Love,
Emma
I still remember Emma, it was when we failed together during one of the cabin crew recruitment of an international in Surabaya last year (sorry I forget the exact date). Emma is a pretty girl, young, talented, with such fluent English, but the airline had such strict weight restriction that we could not pass. I recalled how devastated Emma was, but I know she was NOT someone who will lose without a fight. I am sure Emma was also struggling, in a hard way. And her efforts finally bear fruits, not 6months later, I almost cried when I saw a photo of Emma in her fb, holding her Cathay ID Card 🙂 You have a bright future in front of you, girl. And you sure deserve it.
Is this Ivon?! 😀
I’m tearing up just by reading your post. Thank you so much, it means a lot that you remember me in such a way ❤ Not going to lie that I was crushed like smoothie hahaha when I failed that one time, but everything worked out as what God has planned for me, this is where I meant to be 🙂 I can't wait for you to join me Ivon!
Hugs and Love,
Emma
Dear Emma,
I am now tearing up that you still remember me 😀 Those were gloomy days, but no matter what, they became such precious memory and hard lessons for our life, right? What don’t kill us will make us bigger, better and STRONGER. 🙂
Emma, can you share your experience with us cabin crew hopefuls about the life of a cabin crew? Like ’10 things I like being cabin crew’ and ’10 things I hate being cabin crew’ 😀 I found a lot of them in google of course, but I don’t know them, and most of my cabin crew friends are too busy to even update their facebook….I am sure we all want to hear those stories from you 🙂 It may boost us to keep trying and trying and trying to reach our dream.
it’s a good story emma.
let me introduce my self, im wita,18 years old. i have a dream to become a FA since i was child,
i ever sent a CV to an airline but i haven’t lucky yet hehe.
i wanna ask you some question
what are the important things i need to pass the test?
and are you still in cathay airlines till now?
thank you
Hi Dwitia, I think you were on my Facebook?
I have written in my story, the main keys to pass the test. But of course, I’m speaking from my experience on how I passed my interview with Cathay Pacific. I don’t have much experience with other airlines’ requirements.
“Ultimately, the key to pass the interview is to be pleasant, graceful, positive minded, bare those pretty teeth of yours and be confident! No other mumbo jumbo, promise!”
Yes, I’m still with Cathay Pacific 😀 I have only started flying, entering my 7th month of flying now.
-Emma-
What an inspiring story,Emma. My name is Catherine,indonesian too,:) and just graduated from one of institutes in singapore with diploma in hotel management. I was having the same thoughts as yours, that I don’t have that pretty face, gorgeous smile and tall figures.. However I’d still want to try,as I have my passion in service industry and being a stewardess is one my dream to make my parents proud and happy.
I’d like to know how often that cathay pacific do their recruitment in jakarta?
thank you 🙂
Hello Cathy,
I wrote Cathay when I typed your name the first time, lol.
Anyway, I’m not sure if Cathay will conduct another recruitment anytime soon. I really hope that they would!
Here’s why. Prior to their recruitment in Indonesia last year (2011), the last time they recruited Indonesian cabin crews was in 2008. Hong Kong interviews are almost always on-going all year long. Last year alone, Cathay Pacific recruited many new cabin crews from Malaysia, Indonesia, Korea, Taiwan, Japan and Thailand. And I believe they are about to recruit new crews from India.
The process of recruiting and hiring new cabin crew is long and hard. As of now, I believe Cathay has enough cabin crews to fulfill the language requirements from Indonesia.
But not too worry, because Cathay’s been purchasing new aircrafts and is rumored to be opening new ports/destinations soon 😀 this only means that they would need more cabin crews!! So keep your fingers crossed. I genuinely wish that there will be another recruitment in Indonesia soon!
-Emma-
Dear Ivon, I think that’s a brilliant idea. I can share you some of mine. Let’s start with the the dislikes.
It think there’s nothing much to dislike about being a cabin crew, maybe there are 4 of them which really bothers me, while the rest are just petty things. I’m only human, complaining is my second nature.
10 things, I dislike about being a cabin crew:
1) Stand-by block is horrible, you don’t know when the crew control would call you to operate a flight, you don’t know where you’ll be flying to, you don’t know what to pack! Summer or Winter attire!? You wait in agony at home within your standby period and wish that it would be over soon!
2) Mean crews, yes there are plenty out there. But I don’t really pay much attention to them because you won’t see them anymore after the flight 😀 And you can always report them if they did something out of line.
3) Unhappy passenger who probably had a bad day, would take their anger out on you. Complaint letters, oh gosh! I had a passenger, who screamed at me because I didn’t hang his coat, I smiled back and he was gutted. I WIN!!
4) Unruly passengers, who breaks the law and challenger our company’s policies. Just be professional and compose yourself well, the company will support you.
~*Here are some of the petty things which is just me being silly:*~
5) Total block from the outside world once you’re in the aircraft 😦 Especially when it is a long haul flight, you don’t get to make any contacts with your loved ones. Some ports don’t even have a free in room internet access, so I’d have to wait till I get back to HK to contact my family, days after.
6) Being an air stewardess, I have to spend an hour or so on my make up and hair, it’s pretty tedious at times, but you have to look good :p No matter how tired you are, you have to wake up an hour earlier before the male crews, just so you have enough time to groom yourself. Lucky guys!! And don’t get me started on my nails!!
7) Odd working hour and having to adjust to different timezones quickly. Thankfully, it’s okay for me so far. I get a little tired every now and then, but never to the point that I would sleep up to 12-20 hours to recover. I just need a power nap or a good 2-3 hours sleep minimum to recover after my flight. I think jet lag is just a mind trick.
8) Language barrier. Being a HK based airlines, there are more HK crews working with Cathay Pacific. Most of the time, I would be the only outport crew in my galley. I would often feel left out by my peers as they converse in Cantonese 😦 but some crews are considerate, they would speak in English when I’m around.
9) …. i’m not sure if red is my color ….. sometimes I wish the company would take back the vintage uniform design, they are so elegant.
10) I’m getting sick of airplane food….?
As of this point, there’s nothing I dislike about being a cabin crew. As you can see, the things I was complaining about, they are challenges of being a cabin crew. It’s my job and I think they make it a whole lot more interesting. Everybody knows a good deal of what you have to give up or adapt to when you choose to become a cabin crew. Look at the disadvantages positively, make it a lesson to learn and you’ll sail through all the problems easily. You can definitely get used to it. There’s more to love than hate 😀
If you like, ask me about some of the ‘taboos’ about being a cabin crew. For example, is it true that you have to clean the toilet or clean up after vomiting passenger? Ask me and I will tell you the honest answers :)) just to help and to clarify your curiousness.
Hi, Emma I am lala,19 years old. I attended CX cabin recruitment at Crowne Plaze Hotel a year ago and I’m failed at Group Discussion. I’m just wondering that I failed due my age or I only have Senior High School Certificate. I was so confidence at that time because I have basic Tourism knowledge and I can speak English and Mandarin. Thx b4 😀
Hi Lala, may I know how old you were when you attended the interview? You have to be 18 years old or more, and High School Certificate is not a problem.
I’m from a travel and tourism background as well 🙂 I know the interviewer looked at how well you worked as a team as well as your ability to express or voice out your opinion individually. During my interview, there were some people who were a little too competitive and tried too hard to be the centre of attention, that they came out as arrogant. Thus saying, there’s fine line between an ‘active’ team player with creative ideas and trying to
dominate your team :))
But I’m sure you’re a lovely girl 😀 however, were you shy or too quiet? Because in my group discussion, there was a girl who didn’t make it because she was too quiet and didn’t make the initiative to make a conversation with anybody in the room. Being a cabin crew, you have to be outgoing and smile A LOT, basically show them that you’re able to have fun even under pressure.
Waoooo, nice Em. 😀 It’s kinda surprising that those 10things are not as ‘gruesome’ as I read on some posts in google, example =
1. Yeah cleaning toilet (because some people just never see a toilet and they choose to do their ‘things’ directly on the toilet floor) >...< If it is a long haul flight and we have to starve for the whole flight, I do not think it is also healthy…Is there any rules regarding this?
5. Acnes will get you grounded.
Acnes are always our lifetime mortal enemy. Is it true that we will be instantly grounded if acnes are apparent on our face and we can not cover it?
Btw Em, I think the red color is so elegant though…U look VERY GOOD in it. 😀
Udah bayar royalti pasang foto rommie gw? Hahaha good start, can’t wait ur own blog
Apaan sih Nyonya? Nggak nyambung deh XP *bweeeeeeeeeek*
I think my message above is truncated, let me add=
2. Clean up after vomiting passenger
Well, I think it is a part of the job right? To support the passengers….But some of my cabin crew friends said that it is not necessary, though.
3. The cabin crews MUST NOT use the toilet during flight!!!
OMG, cabin crews are also HUMAN, right???I am so shocked reading this, I do not think holding it in is healthy at all. @_@ Em, is there any rules regarding the use of cabin toilet (for cabin crews) during the flight?
4. During flight, cabin crews must NOT eat.
…this one confuses me also. 😦 If it is a long haul flight and we have to starve for the whole flight, I do not think it is also healthy…Is there any rules regarding this?
Okay, I don’t know which airline those rules applied for, but that is most definitely not the case here in Cathay Pacific.
1) Toilet – We are always told to use gloves before checking the toilet and we have a disinfectant spray with it (also helps to neutralize any odor). We don’t go in with a bucket and a scrub, lol. We replenish the toilet roles and tissues, wipe the basins, toilet seat and floor dry with tissues. It only takes 2mins or less to do it all. When there’s a gruesome sight or odor from the toilet, we have a secret weapon, hot coffee! You wouldn’t believe how effective it is to get rid of unwanted ‘stains’ and smell. It is not disgusting at all.
2) No Food – We have crew meals reserved for us at all time by the company. We are always told to at least drink before we go and start our service, to ensure that we keep hydrated. Usually once we’re done with tray collections and if we have time, we would then have our meals. It all depends on the crews, some doesn’t want to eat or some choose to wait until there really is nothing left to do, then they would have sometime to relax and have a nice
meal 🙂
3) Acne – It’s alright to have an acne on your face, we are human. For as long as it is not too severe, that it may actually look like a rash. Treat it soon, I must say that becoming a flight attendant, you develop this self-need to want to appear fresh and immaculate, you’ll automatically find a way to reduce the redness of the acne (those acne gels/creams) or to cover it with concealer 🙂
4) No Toilet – That’s preposterous! When you need to go, you gotta go! No such rules, never heard of it. This is funny :p
5) Vomiting pax – It depends on your purser. I’ve had a case of vomiting pax and a child with diarrhea. A pax vomited outside a lavatory and my purser asked me to clean it up, together with another cabin crew. Not too worry, coffee and disinfectant spray helps. And we have a little something we call ‘biohazard kit’, we use them when we need to handle anything that’s related to bodily fluids. In that handy kit, we have gloves, eye goggles, facial mask, apron, etc, anything that prepare us for battle hahahaha. One of my favorite kit is this powder which we would scatter on any bodily fluids to solidify them, so that it’s easier to be scooped. Trust me, the company thought this through. They care about our well being 🙂 On another case, I found a little boy sitting in a pool of (for lack of better words) doo-doo. He had a case of diarrhea, I wanted to take the biohazard kit and help the mum to clean the mess up. But my purser told me not to, as I am supposed to handle food and it is not hygienic. In the end, the mother cleaned it up herself, I felt sorry for her.
Dear emma,
can i ask you smtg abt cathay, is that true that cathay only accept peoples who has oriental faces?
and is it possible to apply if we only can speak english….? 🙂
Not at all. How can somebody define ‘oriental face’ anyway? 🙂 The rough definition of ‘oriental’ means a person or East Asian descent. East Asia covers only fair skinned asian countries. In which Indonesia, India, Thailand and the Philippines are not even accounted for 😦
I believe that Cathay Pacific is proud to have a multicultural asian heritage, being an Asian based airline (HK). You’re only required to have a smile on your face 😀
As for the language requirement, you need to be able to converse in English and one other asian language.
-Emma-
hi emma
first of all,,congrats for your achievement in CX..keep on flying high!!!
anyway,,just call me “F” for now,,i know the owner of this blog knows me,haha,but i prefer to be in anonymous for now…im once an active reader and contributing in sharing for this FP blog,,but however,,failure by failure makes me angry yet deeply sad for the rest of the candidates especially readers from FP that made it there and nailed the job,,makes me a silent reader.. how its not devastating for me that i shared and helped the candidates,yet they got it,while i got nothing…
i had my 15 times trying and trying for an airline,,from international,,and locals,,non of them get through even for the 1st round…..keep on thinking why why why why,,,,i started to look my physic that i thought are the matter,and started to gym like crazy (even until now)….im representing many of wannabes that might having the same or maybe worst condition than mine,,,some of them are really quit and dont want to even try to apply and gave up of theyre dream to be up in the sky…sad but thats how failure could made us be another person
blaming God,angry for a couple of months,and crooked down crying,,thats what ive been through..
until the owner of this blog shared your experiences,,the first i opened it and read it,,somewehere in part of my heart are a lil bit scratched cuz i found out someone successfully made it while im still standing here,,,but on the other hand,,,i feel another breeze of motivation are boiling in my vein!!!!hahaha
i havent quit from trying though,,thank God that He created me with such a stubborn manner and i will not give up (sorry Papa J)…..
taking a quote from the Fitness Club im in,,”winners never quit,,and quitters never win”
rest assure now that im not the same person as before,im grateful of what i have now,im not blaming Him any longer,and i would like to take it easy,sit back,enjoy the show,make fun of this stupid failure and keep on trying…
wish u always flying and share your amazing story!!
last but not least,,happy valentine for you!!! may love always brings you joy and happines to love and to be loved!!!
Dear Emma,
it’s really inspiring me 🙂
I aspire to inspire…lol what?! XD
Dear Emma,
Your story totally put me on the flash back when i was applied on the national airlines company for the Hajj flight for the very first time (2009). I didnt made it too that time. But it turns out the God had some plans, that my sister were getting married on the exact time as the hajj season going, and i’m the one who act as the wedding planner..
But i also didnt gave up, i applied the next year, and guess what, i’ve been flying as a Hajj Cabin Crew for Garuda Indonesia for 2 years.. And it is such an amazing experience.. I completely fell in love with the job.. Even the flight time tooks 13hours from my base but it never hasitated me to applied for the next season..
Warm regards
Ayu
Hi Ayu,
I’m glad that you’re enjoying your life as much as I do 🙂 It’s a blessing and I am really happy that you got it in the end, yay!!
-Emma-
halo emma,
are you indonesian, right? kamu beruntung sekali jd pramugari cathay pacific! tapi kamu emang cantik kok.hehe. Duh, pramugari dan pramugara cathay tuh emang cakep-cakep deh. Aku sampe sekarang masih keinget sama pramugara cathay yang mirip kayak daniel radcliffe, waktu aku pulang dari Hongkong ke Jakarta. Cakep bangettttt.. Rasanya pengen bgt aku foto deh.hahah.tp gak mungkin deh lampu pesawatnya sering dimatiin sih krn penerbangan malam.haha
emma kenal gak ya? mau tau dong namanya siapa. hehe. Penerbanganku jam 7 malem waktu itu,tgl 7 november 2011 sepesawat sama rico ceper. salam kenal ya emma. sukses selalu
Hi Nita,
Yes I’m Indonesian 🙂 Tapi kadang suka rada kagok kalau harus tulis atau bicara secara formal pakai bahasa Indo, makanya aku tulis ceritanya pakai bahasa inggris 😀
Yang mirip Daniel Radcliffe yah? Duh, so far aku belum ketemu pramugara yg bule nih ;p Kamu kalau mau minta foto lain kali samperin aja, kita suka sering diajak foto di akhir penerbangan hehehe.
Tapi aku pernah terbang sama pilot, dia masih baru sih, masih muda banget, tapi tampanya tuh bikin semua cewe2 meleleh! Muka dia tuh ‘cross’ channing tatum, wentworth miller dan cowo dari john tucker must die…omg banget nggak sih? LOL
-Emma-
Dear F,
It breaks my heart to read your post. It certainly brought me back to when I was desperate for jobs. For 6 months, I struggled, blamed God for all the failures and hardships he had put me through.
When I didn’t make it the first time, I gave up. I really did! I didn’t bother to even speak of becoming a cabin crew. But God did have a plan for me, he said, it wasn’t my time and place to be with the first airline I applied for.
Then out of nowhere, a second chance. Yes I was unsure, but God assured me that this is the path he wanted me to pursue, with Cathay Pacific. At times I couldn’t stop asking, Why me? What do you see in me? Why didn’t that super model look alike made it? Why can’t these people who’s failed over and over get a break?
I feel like I’ve cheated at times, to have been given a second chance and breezed through it like nothing. I honestly feel bad, it’s unfair to some other people who are probably more passionate than I am.
Honestly, there’s no answer for it. I can’t seem to figure out what he’s got up his sleeves for you and me. People often think that those who succeeded are the ultimate role models, you look up to them. I like to think otherwise.
Over the time, I take my job for granted because I got it pretty easily the second time, but reading your post. It struck me hard, look at F, you were in F’s position once. Remember where you came from Emma. Thank you for reminding me F ❤ from the bottom of my heart, I really thank you.
Your story is still being written and when it's done, it will be wonderful F. Believe me, you are now an inspiration to a lot of other hopefuls, as well as myself.
If it's okay, I'd like to share my favorite quote from the Bible which I previously shared to Marintan as well 🙂 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Even if you don't end up becoming a Cabin Crew, at least you will have a peace of mind, knowing that he has something better planned out for you. Something that God knows you will love, and be grateful for. Meanwhile, I'd like to hear more stories from you F. The good and the bad, but hopefully something Great will be coming your way. Good luck!!
Lots of love,
Emma ❤
hai Emma
thank you for keep on online and replying,,though cabin crew jobs are really though and demand a fast pace, you still trying hard to reply the posts here,,appreciate it so much
i read your reply exactly when i wake up from my bed,grabbed my phone and start to look for a paragraph or two of yours,and there you go!! Emma’s writing!!hahahha
well,feels like strikes by lightning of joy,hitted by a truck full of happines,and slapped by beyonce knowles,hahaha,what im tryin to say is,,its a goosebump when i read it, it calms me when i know someone is recognizing with what me and the other wannabes feels like, and when i know that im not alone, and when God indeed have a marvelous plan and still twitching and cricketing a very nice and warm sweater for me..
i will post a lot,and tell a bunch of stories once i made it,since i experienced only failure so far, what can i share?hahahhaha…but i will try my best to reply someones questions regarding Cabin Crew (( lumayan ngebantuin si empunya blog Intan,,,You better give me salary Intan!!!)),,wahahaha.
for a mean time,while me and the other wannabes waiting for a new Recruitment Day, we will fight hard,train hard,and will grab the Chance and never let it go,,and you Emma,,keep on flying high,but also keep it low on the ground,,share us some more stories and experiences when you flying on a Public Holiday when normal people are off,but youre not,examples like CNY or maybe Valentine!!!
NB:: im male,and im representing the Male sideview and Male do cries sometime,hahahahahha
zillion of love,
“F”
Dear F,
I actually worked on Chinese New Year and Valentine’s day! I love public holidays, although Valentine’s day is not a real holiday hahaha. On CNY, the company arranged a few ground staff, crews and in-flight managers to pass some ‘lai see’ also known as ‘and pao’ or the ‘red envelope’ hahaha!! During the briefing, my purser and ISM handed me and my colleagues and paos!! At the end of the flight, the captain gave one to all of us too!
Yesterday was Valentine’s day, my boyfriend is all the way in New Jersey. My purser’s husband came along in our flight, they’re spending their Valentine’s here in Dubai, isn’t it sweet?! The cabin crew I’m working with, just broke up with her boyfriend two days ago, so it’s like I’m in the middle of lovey dove couple and a bitter single girl hahaha! Thankfully, I didn’t see any loved up passengers in my flight, so it’s okay! Oh yes, the company distributed some hershey’s kisses to all of us 😀
Not sure how it works with other airlines, but Cathay knows how their crews feel, having to work on some of the big major holidays. They would really try to make it as interesting and as festive as possible for us 🙂 We get some perks like extra allowance too on some holidays.
Last christmas when I was in Frankfurt, the whole crew I flew with each bought a present and then we played ‘pass the parcel’ game and took a picture together next to the christmas tree. It was a happy flight for me ❤ the captains stared enviously, because they weren't invited hahaha. They were a new set of cockpit crews lol, we did include them though. We asked our captain to take a picture of us hahahahaha!! Meanie Us.
And now we have a guaranteed day off on our birthday, so you get to have some me time or family time.
It gives me great pleasure to make people happy and to know that you're still as eager as ever to follow your dream, my heart is fluttering now, full of warmth. As cheesy as it sounds, I can't wait for the new chapter of your book!!
-Emma-
Hi Emma,
Greetings! My name is Livia. I had invited to Cathay recruitment last year but I didn’t come because I already sign a job contract just a few days before and now I regret it! ;}
I just tried my luck on SQ recruitment on January and I was overweight :p so is there any weight and height measurement in Cathay? What’s the standard?
Also kindly share the debate and discussion stage 🙂 what did u do (and finally made it) at those rounds? And what did you see others do (and made them failed)? 🙂
Thanks Emma!
God bless you 🙂
Cheers,
Liv
dear Livia,
i know that youre expecting E
ma’s opinion,however,would like to share some of my experiences and my view,while waiting for Emma’s..
regarding SQ,theyre theyre the most strict airline in Asia Pacific for physic appearance, starting from your face,acnes,make ups,weights,postures….if you persistent enough and you love SQ that much, then you might do excercises to loose couple of kg’s..
while in CX,,theyre theyre the most Human and full of considerable airline ((remember,im not saying which airline is bad or good,just a personal opinion))..how can i say so,,because when i attended CX open day,,im in the peak of my cuteness and roundness in my face,,like seriously,,im so freakin chubby and fat!!! im a DimSum bun,,or maybe Roti Boy bread face!! but i managed to passed until the group discussion!!!!!
if youre asking standard of weight,,as long as you are healthy to do a grueling,tough,in a different timezone,cant sleep due to jetlags,and you didnt often get sick,youre qualified!! its a matter of the crew’s health,,they might say, if youre to skinny, you cant lift the luggage,if youre over, the aisle isnt enough for two. and for security reason as well..
so my point is,every airline has a different SOP and rules,while SQ prioritizing the crews look,,CX prioritizing the potential inside of you..believe me,,youre not alone in this boat.
and about the height,,some put as 212 for the arm reach,,some put 208,,at least if you can reach the security and another tools or kit in the plane,,youre safe…..how can you safe the passengers if you cant help your self.???,……try to use “meteran” like abang-abang used while they measure the height,,try your best to reach it with your hand,,and let see when you do tiptoes and not,once you done,note it,an if you can reach those easily,,voila,,the Jobs are waiting for you!!!
regarding the group discussion, from my experience,, what is failed,and what is successful,its only separated by a thin wire, sometime we can see an think “why that silent girl could pass while the active one not??”” or ” why those bit*h get through while the nice one not??” ((i experienced the bit*h one))…..well Livia,,what i can say is,,keep on SMILING as what Emma mention it already,,thats yours and everybodies secret weapon,train hard with those smiles,but not a fake one,,be sincere,,,i know its tiring to smile all day,but trust me,when u get through,your smile will be wider than before…
be a team player,not a single fighter.because once youre on board, you cant satisfy passengers hunger by yourself,so team player here its a must..dont try to disagree,but to twist the words into a diplomatic one
hope it can helps you Livia
cheers,
“F”
Hi F,
thanks for your kind feedback 🙂
Yup, January was my second attempt after trying my first experience on Dec 2011 🙂 in Dec my weight was 60,5 kg (height: 161 cm) hahaha *totally fat* and in one month I did some exercises and diet and lost 5 kg in January but still didn’t pass to second round 😦 the difference is only 0,7 to their standard BMI.
Btw, should we know about the history of the airlines, their products and so on? Im wondering if they may ask about that in some stages.
I’m waiting for the next Cathay recruitment this year (finger crossed) 🙂
Thanks F and keep trying! when it’s your time then it will be happened!
amen.
Cheers,
Liv
Hi Livia and F,
I didn’t see your comment there F.. xD
Very well said indeed, we think alike don’t we ?! What F mentioned are very true. Your smile and positivity, bring them, express them at all time. You know how the room changes when somebody so confident and positive enters a room. Our CX recruiters are able to sense them, so be positively confident of your potential and smile gracefully (obviously bring hard to put all of my secret moves into one sentence, tee hee hee).
-Emma-
Hi Liv,
I don’t mean to put any other airlines down, therefore I do apologize if anybody from SQ read this post 😦 Do understand that I have no bitter feelings towards SQ whatsoever to have failed previously with them, it was a lesson learnt. I’m glad that things worked out for the better in the end because I’m happy to be with Cathay Pacific. Trust me, I travelled with SQ recently and I’ve been telling my colleagues things that SQ have over us, to which I’m thinking of writing a comment letter to company, there are things we need to improve ;p so it’s fair, no hard feelings.
SQ, is one of the best airlines around, just like Cathay. Here’s the difference, to me at least. SQ prioritize youthfulness and image of the crews which is a bit superficial because they are not long lasting (I know this from the purser who once worked for SQ), she had to quit because she got married.
CX crews are just as pretty and elegant, however we are given more flexibility, there’s a balance between work and personal life. We are allowed to get married and have babies, take a few months leave and if you like, come back and fly. But of course, you have to be fit 🙂 Don’t worry, I have a thigh I named thigh-ranosaurus. I’m not tall and slim like Blake Lively, I’m more Scarlett Jo, curvy :)) LOL LOL LOL.
I have to admit that I lost some weight prior to attending the recruitment x) but in the end, they didn’t weight us, phew! You just have to look fit, I’m sure CX knows that having scrawny cabin crews is not a good idea, how are they going to open the door during an emergency evacuation, help some wheelchair pax with their baggage, etc?
For the discussion & presentation, I got the hospitality topic, we brain stormed on things to improve in our imaginary hotel. One interviewee didn’t make it because she was too quiet, she was in my team and she was too shy.
For the debate, we were divided into two teams. We debate over the pros and cons of smoking, one team’s the pro, the other talked about the cons. It’s not about who win the debate, it’s more about how well you voice out your opinion without sounding arrogant, like one of the interviewee did :p
-Emma-
dear Emma well actually I’m really happy to read your story. since I was little girl I always want to be a Stewardess. now I am a Senior High student, I will take Flight Attendant school, I was accepted in a Flight Attendant School. I still wondering, can I be a Stewardess of International Airlines like Cathay Pasific? because as far as I know, International Airlines always search for University degree Holder.. is there any other International Airlines that accept Senior High Degree??? please help me….(>_<)
dear niluh,,
yes,,international airline sometimes accept High School,,but it will be better if you have some diploma or bachelor…its the matter of how you sparks the recruiters,,be smart,be generous,and SMILE..
hope it could calm you down
Dear Niluh,
If I may suggest this, There is absolutely no need to attend a Flight Attendant School. In my opinion, having such degree won’t guarantee a spot in any airline recruitments. Well, maybe some Indonesian based airlines’ who’s heard of the school, may consider your application.
Do you really think that having a Flight Attending degree would impress the airline you’re applying for? It’s just a piece of paper, Cathay Pacific, SQ, Emirates, Qatar, etc…they have different services to offer to the passenger, different working style and each looking for different type of crews. These are things that the school wouldn’t be able to teach you.
Another thing is, are you really planning on flying for the rest of your life? Are you positively sure that this is what you’d like to do forever? Not to scare you or anything, but it is always good to have a back up plan. There are existing threats to us cabin crews, we often get injuries on board, mostly minor injuries, but some unfortunate cabin crews had some serious accident. In one case, a crew lost two of her fingers because it got stuck in a trash compactor (automated trash bin in-flight), she had to resign 😦
What I’m saying is Niluh, go to a proper university, get a degree in something that you may actually like. I just think that it would be wiser for you to have something to fall back on if you decided to stop flying, you can do something useful with your work experience as a cabin crew and your ‘proper’ existing degree.
Now, if all you have is a degree from Flight Attendant School, how do you expect yourself to find another form of job? Consider your future, not just your goal. Good luck Niluh. Do share your though, why made you want to attend the Flight Attendant school?
Cathay Pacific accepts high school graduates, but you have to be of 18 years of age min.
-Emma-
oh my Goodness… this just make me confused. I say many thanks for you Emma. Your reply become wonderful advise for me. you know no one say this to me before. Actually I had ever think that I’d take Tourism D3 in Bali. Maybe I can become Guide tour over there. But I still want to reach my dreams as Stewardess. but when I check SIA, they always seek for University Degree, When i read your reply, Cathay Pasific accepts High School Graduates.. is that true? I’m so happy to read that.
please tell me what the interviewer asked to you when you had interview in Cathay Pasific??
I really need your help… (T_T)
Dearest Niluh,
Yes it is very much true that Cathay Pacific accepts High School graduates, but you have to be 18 years old and above (just in case you skipped a couple of grades).
But let me share this with you, just as a slightly older sister (ho ho ho). Go to university Niluh, get a degree in one major that you like. I have a business degree in Travel and Tourism, therefore if I decided to stop flying 🙂 I can still apply for jobs at hotels, resorts, theme parks, etc. My next dream is to work for Disneyland!!
Pick a major that you like, get a degree and then you can try for Cathay and SQ, so you have more choices when it comes to the airlines you’d like to work for and when you are done flying, you can be a tour guide, not just in bali…probably international tours (because I’m sure you’ll do a lot of traveling as a flight attendant). Think about it Niluh, but again, it is all your decision. Whatever decision you take, I hope they’re for the best of you :))!
-Emma-
Emma,
thanks for your kind feedback & explanation yah 🙂
Anyway, if you can write a comment letter to Cathay, don’t forget to write down about Indonesian cabin crew wannabes who are waiting crazily for the recruitment & suggest them to open the recruitment in Indo soon! ;}
Maybe now I have to live my life as usual while waiting for new recruitment from Cathay or SQ *until I reach their weight standard* haha -____-”
Thanks for sharing Emmaaa… youre so kind!
Cheers,
Liv
To Liv,
I just want to share from my own experience failing SQ for 7times…
Yeah the first time I failed was because of my weight. I am 169cm, but my weight at that time is 68kg. Then I asked a cabin crew forum about SQ weight standard, and a kind SQ cabin crew said that it must be between minimum 18.5 to 20 maximum. And she said that during the training, they keep taking our weight every week, to see whether we can keep our weight or not.
Not only overweight, they also will not take people who is underweight. If you fail during the weight measurement, ask the gentleman who take your weight, how much your ideal weight should be. He (usually) will tell you, like ‘you must cut down 3kilo” or “you must gain 2kilo”. I saw it with my own eyes 🙂
Well, just to share….After exercising in the gym like a crazy obsessed person and having tortuous diet for 97 days, I managed to cut down 11kilo, and managed to beat that cursed weight scale….only to fail in the self introduction stage because I was too nervous and stuttered all the time. So it all comes down to physical and inner beauty as well….*reminds me of those beauty pageant contests…
Ah sorry, what I meant about ‘it must be between minimum 18.5 to 20 maximum’ is the Body Mass Index (BMI). You can google it in google :’BMI Calculator’ 🙂
Hi Ivy,
Yes, SQ is one of the foreign airlines which has extremely strict requirements both in terms of documents, especially academic and physical requirements, especially the weight and height which should be ideal, they meet the criteria of BMI between the limits 18-22!
I think the beauty contest selection is not as tightly as the requirements of SQ, I’ve participated the national beauty pageant contest and then I became one of the finalists represent my province and I was not at all through this complicated process, I found out that the selection process to become a flight attendant has the extremely long and strictly than the selection of beauty pageant contest (the national tourism ambassadors)
there you go Liv Taylor,,,Miss Curvy Scarlet Jo explained all….in any airlines must be pro’s and con’s….but look it as the challenges..good or bad,strict or not,,its normal,,any company will do anything to make the business runs well…
awright,,Channing Tatum sign out!!!wuakakakkaka
Dear Ivy, Dee, F & Liv,
Oh gosh, I really don’t want to say this but I think it’s better for the wannabes to know. SQ was recruiting indonesian crews since dec 2009 till about may 2010, if I’m not mistaken. I failed in January, and I made friends with a number of girls I met during the interview. As I wrote in my story, I didn’t care anymore about pursuing a career as a flight attendant. But long story short, May was my Cathay Pacific recruitment. I couldn’t help but think that some of the girls who passed the SQ interview must’ve been flying already by now.
To my surprise, I met four of the girls from the SQ interview!! They told me that SQ didn’t call them back for the final interview since January. They were angry to have been kept waiting for 4 months. My friend, let’s call her V, said that the final interview for SQ is a few days after CX’s final interview!! I’m telling you, It took me less than a week to get all of my interview stages done with CX, it only took me a total of 3 days.
In the end, three of the girls made it to Cathay Pacific. One girl didn’t make it to SQ nor CX 😦 According to V, the reason SQ didn’t call them back for the final interview sooner was because. SQ only accept like less than 20 girls per recruitment, they waited until they have a big number of girls to choose from and then pick them out again. Thankfully my three friends applied to CX, because in the end, SQ decided not to take them =.=” and they were very angry, because SQ wasted their time, they were jobless too then.
In my opinion, what SQ did … well it was mean. Either you take the girls or you don’t. Some made the right decision to try their luck with another airline, some didn’t…some lost both :((
Okay, sorry…I don’t want to be bias, but learn from my friends’ experience. When SQ accepts you, keep trying your luck with another airlines until SQ tells you to pack your bags and move to Singapore!!
Love,
Emma
Hello again Liv :))
Last year Cathay recruited from Malaysia, Indonesia, Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Thailand. They are currently recruiting new cabin crews from India. That pretty much covers the majority of the asian languages, except for tagalog (Philippines).
Here’s how it works. The reason why CX recruit crews from different countries in asia is to fulfill the language requirements. Meaning, when there’s a flight to Indonesia port, at least one indonesian crew would be assigned to be in that flight. To help with the public announcement and translation.
As of this point, I think CX has enough manpower from different countries. But I am really hoping that they would start another recruitment in Indonesia soon! CX’s been buying new aircrafts and is rumored to be opening new ports this year, this would hopefully trigger a need to recruit more cabin crews!! AMEN!
Love,
Emma
Hi Emma,
I know how hard it is to get through the SQ, there is a friend of mine who has successfully passed the selection until the final stage, but she not immediately able to go to Singapore, because the SQ said that she had to wait for 6 months and I don’t have any idea what would she do during the waiting period of about 6 months??
However, on the other hand there is a friend of mine who is very lucky, once she passed the SQ’s selection process, only within a few weeks she was already in Singapore to conduct training for 3 months, and afterwards she started her debut assignment to fly
And of the several hundred applicants as walk-in interview sometimes they only get one or several candidates, and even they did not have a candidate in a selection process which they held
I don’t have any idea what happened with the SQ selection process and why it was so super hard and tight to the cabin crew from Indonesia?
I have some friends in Singapore and Malaysia and they said that the selection process for cabin crew there was not as hard, as long and as tightly as in Indonesia
I joined this forum just to help the wannabes who have a few questions and I will try to help to answer based on the best experience and knowledge I’ve ever had previously and provide support to them since I know they are in a position that requires very strong support from family, friends or from themselves
Cathay that’s my dream 😦
Dear Fiska,
It’s nice to hear that you have set your mind on your dream airline, it’s a good start!! 🙂
-Emma-
i look forward to join with Cathay Pacific someday.. * fingercrossed*
Dear Naura,
Amen, Amen…I am really looking forward to welcoming new friends from Indonesia. My seniors, friends and myself will give you all the tips we can when CX opens a new recruitment in Indonesia again.
Love,
Emma
Hy emma,, you are so inspiring and motivate,, all off wannabe must be happy bcoz you have shared your story n keep feed back even in your buzy fLigh, right 🙂
Btw how Long time CX contract their crew? Thank b4 Emma 🙂
Hi Ayu,
It’s a pleasure to be able to help in anyway I could offer 🙂
CX’s contract is divided into 2, the first is 3 years, and after working for 2.5 years with Cathay, they would evaluate your performance and based on that..
They would consider on giving you another 5 years contract. The good thing is, you are able to terminate your contract anytime, for a long as you give them one month notice.
-Emma-
Dear ema
ema saya hanya ingin tahu aja hal2 yg tidak menyenangkan jadi cabin crew untuk prepare
. apa benar salah satu tugasnya membersihkan toilet pesawat?
. penerbangan cx pasti longhoul semua karena international flight kurang lebih 7jam. apakah kita harus standby berdiri terus dalam penerbangan itu, tidak ada istirahat atau shift tugas di pesawat?
. apabila ada tempat istirahat untuk crew, seperti apa si? apa ada tempat tidur untuk istirahat atau tempat duduk aja?
. untuk penerbangan pasti sulit untuk mengatur uang karena setiap penerbangan pasti beda mata uang yg digunakan pada saat kita istirahat di tempat tujuan, itu bagaimana cara mengaturnya? apa kita dikasih uang us dolar untuk meal lalu ditukar di negara tujuan atau sudah diberikan sesuai mata uang negara tujuan
maaf ya kalo banyak tanya, hanya ingin tahu saja untuk prepare diri hi hi hi 🙂
Hi adps,
Kamu sekarang lagi apply untuk airlines yang mana? Karena kalau berbeda airlines, sistem kita bisa berbeda-beda, tergantung standard airlines mereka sendiri.
Anyway, aku jawab pertanyaan kamu melalu pengalaman Cathay yah:
1) Selama pintu pesawat belum ditutup, kamu punya ground staff (cleaners) yg bantu kamu bersihin seluruh pesawat. Tapi kalau kamu terbang, otomatis, itu tugas kamu dong 🙂 Nggak mungkin kan kita bawa2 cleaning service bareng kita.
2) Penerbangan CX tdk semuanya long haul, dan kita bisa consider itu long haul flight kalau waktu penerbangannya 12-15jam ke atas. 7 jam, masih kita panggil short haul kadang. Kamu akan dikasih waktu untuk istirahat, tergantung tipe pesawat, jam terbang dan in-flight managermu. Kamu kadang tidur di kursi, kadang di crew rest area, kadang bisa cuma duduk 30min, kadang tidur 5jam dan kadang kalau penerbangan penuh, yah mau nggak mau rela deh melek sampai nyampe rumah.
3) Susah untuk aku jelasin perbagian jam istirahat kita, kamu harus belajar tipe2 pesawat dulu, dan jam2 terbang baru bisa ngerti apa yg aku harus jelasin :)) tapi pastinya kita dikasih duduk setiap ada waktu.
4) Gampang banget cara ngurusin mata uang, nggak ribet sama sekali. Kamu langsung dikasih mata uang negara yg kamu datangin 🙂 Nggak usah ribet2 mikirin ganti uang, ini itu lagi 😀
Hal2 seperti ini kamu nggak perlu pusingin, ini semua adalah ‘part of being a cabin crew’ kamu mau yg enak dan asik, tapi juga harus ada juga yg kurang sip. Tapi beneran deh…jadi cabin crew itu lebih banyak enak-nya!!
-Emma-
Emma,
Were you on the flight from HKG-SFO on Feb 12? I thought I saw a FA w/ name Emma.
Hi Mjs,
Nope, actually Emma is just a short call for Emilie 🙂 I chose Emma because some people have difficulties in pronouncing Emilie, it’s just Emily with different spelling hahaha.
And I’ve been flying for close to 7 months and the crew control probably hate me 😦 they’ve never given me any american flights, yet!! Okay not counting, north america…but I want to go to United States!! It’s okay though, my leave is coming up this March and my plan is to travel to New York and New Jersey!
-Emma- ❤
Hai Emma, nice to know you 🙂
I just wanna ask you.
What kind of medical check will they do?
Hai Emma, nice to know You and your story 🙂
I’m Inas, now I almost 15 years old 😀
I just wanna ask you. What kind of medical check will they do?
Thanks, good luck with your job…
Hi Emma !!! 🙂 Nice to know you and your story.
I’m Inas. I wanna ask you something, can I ?
Hi Inas,
Sorry for the late reply. I was pretty much asleep yesterday and today :p
Yes of course you can ask me any questions related to you dream of becoming a Flight Attendant 😀
For medical check up, we did:
-Height
-Weight
-Blood test
-Urine test
-Eye sight test
-Teeth
Nothing too complicated, just your typical medical tests to ensure that you are fit for flying 🙂
-Emma-
international airlines yg nyari pramugara apa aja ya? 😀
Hi Emma !
What a great life you have 😀
Btw if you dont mind me asking, how old were you when Cathay hired you?
Is there a maximum age to apply? or will it be a disadvantage to be more than 25 years old?
I tried SQ and the BMI is such a pain in the as* LOL i had to keep eating to gain more weight urgh..
anyways really hope Cathay will recruit from indonesia again soon.
I really wonder if we can apply in Hong Kong if we are foreigners?
Thanks for the blog. so fun to read 🙂
i’ll be flying Cathay to Hong Kong soon, maybe i’ll see u ;p
Hi Emma !
What a great life you have
Btw if you dont mind me asking, how old were you when Cathay hired you?
Is there a maximum age to apply? or will it be a disadvantage to be more than 25 years old?
I tried SQ and the BMI is such a pain in the as* LOL i had to keep eating to gain more weight urgh..
anyways really hope Cathay will recruit from indonesia again soon.
I really wonder if we can apply in Hong Kong if we are foreigners?
Thanks for the blog. so fun to read
i’ll be flying Cathay to Hong Kong soon, maybe i’ll see u ;p
Hi Liv,
Thank you, I am content with my career and life so far 🙂
I was 22 when Cathay hired me, and turned 23 a few months after I started flying. I am not aware of the maximum age to apply because it’s never been written anywhere. It wouldn’t be a disadvantage even if you were to apply at 25 years of age or slightly above.
I’ve mentioned somewhere in this post that I have a friend who is 26 and is married with a daughter, as well as a 29 years old classmate too (he’s the one on my photo in uniform, not the giraffe #lamejoke ;p).
I think the main issue is your fitness, if you’re in your 30’s it may be a little late. Just thinking logically, it would be harder for you to handle fatigue and the constant time zone changes. While another factor which most people are most concerned about, is youth. Yes, it would be an advantage to have a fresh and youthful face, but honestly….the power of make up….it’s like girls best friend and boys’ worst enemies hahahahaha!!
If you are a little underweight, you can try and drink a big bottle of water, have cereal (with milk) or watermelon for breakfast… before they weigh you :)) It would put on an instant weight, but be prepared…know where the nearest toilets are!!
-Emma-
Hi again Liv,
Sorry I didn’t answer all of your questions. Got a little too overwhelmed hahaha.
Unfortunately you’re unable to apply in Hong Kong if you’re a foreigners, unless of course you have a Hong Kong ID. So basically, if you’re indonesian, then you can only attend the recruitment in Indonesia. That’s how I did it for the CX interview. I traveled back and forth KL-JKT for it.
I hope to see you too!! Well only if you’re flying to Brisbane, Amsterdam and New York soon ?? 🙂
Love,
Emma
HI Emma!
Thanks for all the tips 🙂
I think i should drink gallons of milk and a big box of cereal to get to the BMI *sobs*
I’ll be flying CGK-HKG 😦 CX doesnt give you flights to Jakarta often?
Good to hear you’ll finally get to see the states .
May I ask how many countries you get to go to in a month? Do u get repeat flights to the same destination alot?
sorry for the spam ;p
Love,
Liv
My apologies to whomever directed this question to me, I read it somewhere in the post but I couldn’t track it. One reader asked me about the questions and topics given to me for the Cathay Interview 🙂 Well, here they are.
1) Group discussion and presentation:
There were about 3 or 4 groups in one room. My group was given a ‘hospitality’ topic, other team ‘food and beverage’ and other topics related to the service industry. Basically, we’re supposed to imagine that we own a hotel and we need to come up with plans or things that differentiate us from other hotels and what makes it appealing to customers. Then each of us would present it in a given time, I don’t remember how long it was 3 or 5 minutes for group.
2) Group debate:
Again, it’s a team interview. You’re divided into two groups. I don’t know what topics were given to other groups, but for my debate, it was the pros and cons of smoking. My group had to come up with points on the negative of smoking while the other group’s the positives. There’s no right or wrong here, the interviewer wanted to see your ability in voicing your opinion, to not be too aggressive and be diplomatic in answering your questions. Each team member had to present his/her points in about one minute if I am not mistaken, then we debate it all out for about 3 or 5 minutes (sorry I don’t remember the exact time, but basically, you were timed for the discussions, presentations and debate).
3) One to one interview:
This is the final stage, some interviewers have a very good poker face. I remember mine was Ms. Melody, she barely had a smile on her face (which made me second guessing myself at one point, was I not being pleasant?) and she wrote A LOT throughout the interview. I’m sure they’re points about me 🙂 She asked me random typical questions like:
– “To your understanding, what is the job scope of a cabin crew?”
– “What do you wish to achieve by working with Cathay Pacific?”
– “Why do you want to be a cabin crew?”
– “Have you ever applied for another airlines before?”
– “What questions do you have about Cathay Pacific or your career?”
Typical and super easy questions, don’t worry about it. After the questions, she asked me to read a story and asked me questions regarding the story. It was about a boy who picked a dog with a limp leg and as it turns out the boy has a limp leg himself (weird, I know). She asked me simple questions like “What do you think of the story?” and “Why do you think the boy picked the dog with a limp, when there are other healthy dogs he could’ve picked from?”
Honestly, Ms. Melody scared me to death during the interview. But once we stepped out of the interviewing room, she was so warm and lovely hahahaha. I really think she was just trying to stress me out in there.
That’s all I could remember as of this point 🙂 hope it helps.
-Emma-
Hi Emma, you said that on the medical test, teeth is included for the test. My problem is on my teeth. I’ve got very healthy shiny teeth lol, but they’re not really nice in order (I can just say: a bit messy). I’m doubt for it…
intan- ^^
Hi Intan, I guess it all depends on your smile 🙂 some people with messy teeth actually look really nice when they smile, it’s those small imperfections that make you beautiful 😀
-Emma-
hai Emma mau nanya nih
1) “What questions do you have about Cathay Pacific or your career?” itu mksdnya apa ya? ehehehe maaf inggris kurang jago
2) pulang ke jakarta brp bulan atau tahun sekali?
3) kalo gigi gak rapi/bolong gimana?
itu aja makasih 🙂
dear Emma
waktu itu persyaratan utk cabin crew di Qathay apa aja ya?
apa harus S1 dulu,max and min ages nya berapa?
mau tanya juga,kira2 ada ga maskapai int’l yg persyaratannya ga harus S1 ?
di HK disediakan semacam dormitory/apartment/bgmana?
sorry if i asked too much
Thx b4 🙂
Hi Sasya,
Aku sekarang cabin crew untuk Cathay Pacific, kamu tulisnya Qathay, jadi aku rada bingung kamu masksudnya Cathay atau Qatar :p
Sasya tidak baca jawabanku untuk pertanyaan yg sama di post di atas yah? Untuk airlines lain, aku kurang banyak informasinya. Kamu bisa coba research airlines apa saja yg kamu tertarik dan persyaratannya. Soalnya itu caranya aku belajar tentang airlines2 lain. Kan ada untungnya juga untuk cari tahu persyaratan dan history airlines itu 🙂 Nggak mungkin kan kita asal pilih airlines, tanpa tahu asal usul, prinsip, destination mereka, dll.
Di HK kita disediakan flat, share dengan satu cabin crew lain.
-Emma-
Hi Liv,
Honestly I love answering your questions, they’re totally unique hahaha.
Yes, drink a lot for breakfast. But not to the point that your stomach would appear bloated 0…o” LOL
I don’t really get a lot of Jakarta flights, but I had one this month already 🙂 Basically every month you’ll be flying around 70hours or more. Typically, they will roster you for two long haul flights to europe or america. The rest are either short haul (around asia) or the medium haul flights (middle east, australia, auckland) an long haul flights (europe and america). For as long as it adds up to 70 hours or more.
In addition to that, you also try your luck by swapping flights with other crews 🙂 Like if you don’t feel like going to London, you can try your luck and ask another crew for their Paris flight or something like that. It’s not easy though, I personally dislike the swap method, tedious work.
Love,
Emma
Hi Emma,
Just read through your entire blog today …First of all I’d really like to thank you for sharing so many details about being a CX crew …your patience is really amazing responding to almost every question.
I recently finished my medical check up for the CX recruitment held in Mumbai,India on Feb 13th .From your blogs I understand this is the last stage & we have to wait 5-6 weeks for the invite.
Question – Hv you heard of anyone not getting a callback after medicals? assuming all medical checks are fine.? I want to know if I can start serving notice with my current employer (am working for an airline in India)
2. CX mentioned in orientation that they provide accomodation for the first 2 years?What happens after that? Do they provide a living out allowance?If yes what is the amount?I heard accomodation is very expensive in Hongkong?
3. Is it true that you total salary assuming a 70 hr month is approx HKD 16000?
4. If I get my husband along how will accomodation work out?
I hope the questions are not too probing and you find the time to answer 🙂
Hi Suman 😀
I am so excited! You’re nearly on your way here, so close!
It’s always a pleasure to help in the best way possible 🙂 So about your questions, I will try to answer them one by one. Here we go:
1) After the medical check up, they would have to wait for the result and at the same time, they’re doing your background check. Just to ensure that you are legit 🙂
I have a few friends who were called back for the medical check up because supposedly, some of the documents went missing from the hospital. =.=” I don’t know how true that is, some were called back to do eye tests and that was it. If you think that you’re healthy as a horse 😀 nothing to be worried about! Coz the clinic would send the medical results to Cathay immediately and they have nothing to do with the recruiting department.
What’s the latest period for you to give your company a letter of resignation? Because I can’t pin point when Cathay would inform you. I was actually the first to receive the e-mail from them, and some of my friends received them a week later. Then you have to wait for another 2 weeks for them to get your visa done.
2) Actually the first 2 years accomodation is the contract with the residence (Hong Kong Gold Coast Residence). On the 3rd year, you can choose to stay for free for another year, or take the housing allowance (I think it’s about 8k or 9k) and find your own place. BUT! Most of the time, you’d have to pay more than 8k for a small flat here in HK :p
3) It is approximately that much, but for the first 6 months (probation period) may be about $12k-ish. Don’t worry though, because they will give you pay raise after you passed your probation period. But honestly, I think you can easily get $20k plus a month (inclusive outport allowance). Because the crew control would make sure that you get at least 70 flying hours min, each month.
4) I don’t really know how the accomodation bit would work out if you were to take your husband here with you. If you want me to answer it honestly? It’s not possible. Because you have to share your flat with another cabin crew (most likely your classmate). Unless your flat mate don’t mind you having your husband staying in one flat… In addition, the rooms here are ridiculously small, single bed and I don’t think you can add anything else. I got a smaller room, and by additing a small trash can, my room is completely stuffed! Unless you are lucky to get a flat with the 3 bedroom (but the extra room is barely sleep-worthy, maybe just for overnight guests). Not to forget another thing…what will your husband do here in HK? Unless he has a job offer here in HK which would be able to get him a Hong Kong ID (some sort of a long term pass here). So basically, it’s quite complicated :p
Feel free to ask if you’re still unclear. I’m probably mumbling. I haven’t slept all night and still at the office. Missed the bus aaaaah *cries* *moody* hahahaha…
-Emma-
Dear Emma,
Thank you sooooo much for taking the time out to reply to my questions.I am sorry you had to miss the bus though :-(…hope it worked out okay???
With regards to your email …I need to serve atleast a months notice with my current employer …I think I shud be ok as far the legit verifications & medical go (fingers crossed)
With regards to the pay wow I think its much better than I hoped for 🙂 🙂
Regarding the accomodation bit yes youre right my husband will join me only if a potential job offer he is exploring works out…
Regarding the first 2 years accomodation that CX provides..Is there an option to start taking the housing allowance right away ..or atleast after my 6 month probation period?
IF my husband gets a job as well hopefully our combined incomes along with the extra allowance that CX provides might be enough for us to rent a small place 🙂
Also from what you have told me it looks like there is no guest restriction at gold coast apartment? ( cos Ive heard in qatar,emirates air they dont allow males after 10 pm,etc)
If yes my husband can atleast vist provided my roomie has no objection
Lastly if things do work out for me I am really looking forward to meeting you personally 🙂 You have been mmost helpful !!!!
Warm regards,
Suman
hi emma,
im indonesian too,
you have a lovely smile, anyway, kira kira tinggi kamu sekarang berapa? lalu mengenai test arm reach nya itu bagaimana?? btw ada table manner dan swim test nya yah??
thanks lotta ^^
-kaella-
Hi Kaella,
Tinggiku 167-168cm 🙂
Test arm reach itu simple kok. Mereka tempelin garis kuning di tembok, tingginya 208cm dan kamu harus bisa pegang garis itu. Itu dihitung2 ketinggian ‘overhead lockers’ di pesawat. Kamu boleh jinjit juga kok 🙂
Kita tidak punya table manner test, itu mah ada2 aja lol. Tapi iya ada swimming test, tapi kolamnya nggak dalem2 banget dan kita juga ada disuruh pakai life vest, itu sih kita kayak main air, bukannya lagi di test 😀
-Emma-
this is kaella again,,
ahh youre so tall emma….
oia kalau ngga salah kita dapet kode pribadi gt yah,, yang kayak buat masukin Groupwise ID gt buat check schedule,,
trus apa swap2 an jadwal itu susah ngga sih???
have a nice flight emma 🙂
Hi Kaellan,
Kalau Cathay Pacific, kita puny website untuk crew untuk swap dan kita juga punya satu iphone app namanya swapcheck untuk cek keberadaan temen2 kita, estimation gaji dan allowance kita, etc.
Untuk swap itu benar2 tergantung luck kita. Dan yang pastinya kalau swap kamu harus pinter dan adil, habisnya ada saja crew yg minta penerbanganku seperti Brisbane dan Dubai untuk Bombay, Manila, turaround flights, etc. Soalnya kita lihat hasil allowance dan juga kecocokan penerbangan itu dengan roster kita. Susah juga cara jelasinnya, tapi yah, kalau sudah coba sendiri pasti bisa 🙂
-Emma-
maaf emma salah nulis, Cathay mksd nya 😛
oh ya aku pernah dengar sekilas (udah lama juga sih),katanya klo penumpang yg brasal/dari/ke Indonesia jumlahnya menurun/sedikit. Maka itu akan merubah/mempengaruhi kapasitas recruiter yg brasal dari indo. Apa itu benar ya ?
-Syukran 🙂
Hello Syukran,
Sepertinya informasi itu kurang akurat deh ;p
Karena crew indonesia juga sering dibutuhkan untuk penerbangan ke dubai, jedah, bahrain, abu dhabi, karena jumlah Tenaga Kerja Indonesia yg travel dengan kita ke tempat itu lumayan banyak. Lalu untuk penerbangan long haul juga CX pasti mencoba untuk mencari satu set crew yg bisa bermacam2 bahasa, ada crew hk untuk (cantonese), crew philippines (tagalog), crew taiwan (mandarin), etc etc. Kan kalau lebih banyak variasi lebih bagus.
Aku juga kurang jelas dengan cara CX memilih tempat untuk merecruit new cabin crew karena, CX sudah mengadakan recruitment di semua port asia kecuali Philippine, entah kenapa, karena mayoritas crew philippine itu sudah menjadi purser, jadi mungkin mereka terakhir direcruit 7-10 tahun keatas yg lalu!! Untung saja mereka masih merecruit cabin crew dari indonesia tahun lalu, jadi mungkin saja mereka memang butuh banyak crew untuk translasi bahasa indonesia? 🙂
-Emma-
Dear all,
Sorry I’ve been MIA-ing for the past couple of days. Been catching up with my University friends here in Brisbane hahaha. Even helped them out for the University open day all the way at the suburbs, Ipswich and Gatton to be exact, travelled pretty far from the city hahaha.
Flying back tonight, midnight =.=” and I’d still have tons to do for the next few days DX when I reach HK tomorrow, I’m going straight to the office to do a couple of things and then sleep/recover. On the 25th Feb, this is exciting. I’m going to be playing football against the Cathay Pacific’s directors and managers, it’s just a friendly game, I applied myself for it. I’m the only girl…muahahahaha!! Wish me luck my lovelies ❤
I will reply all questions as soon as possible, please bear with me alright?! Now i have to prepare self for my flight home 🙂
xoxo, love from Brisbane,
Emma
Hi Emma…
I’ts great to read your story. I’m Ochi, 20 years old, I have graduated from aviation college in Yogyakarta and I wanna be a flight attendant. I ever follow the interviews for some company, I’ts about six times, but I have no good result.
Emma, I get so regret, I almost give up. I’m 162cm height and 48kg weight, but I have some problem, I have scars on my leg, and I think my teeth not white enough to give a gorgeous smile,.
And exactly that makes me not confident anymore,,
Please help me Emma….
Hi Ochi,
You were in an aviation college? Oh good, maybe you can tell me a little more about what they taught you in school. I have heard things about the flight attendant school and I have nothing against the people who are attending the school, but whoever came up with that is just plain bogus!
I have told a few girls previously that attending such school or attaining a degree in flight attending won’t guarantee you a spot in any of the airlines. Well unless of course the school promised to help you to enter a specific airline, to which I believe they didn’t? 😦 See? You have to fight for yourself now to enter the airline of your choice.
It got to a point that you even lost your confidence, this angers me, honestly!! Look, what’s done is done. You can’t lose your confidence, you have to be positive about your look and some of the skills you gained from the flight attending school, try your best to apply it to the best of your advantage. Those little scars meant nothing if you have the positivity to become a cabin crew. White teeth has nothing to do with becoming a cabin crew, it’s all down to your personality Ochi 🙂
Now would you please tell me whatever they taught you in the flight attendant school? What kind of skills they planted in you? What are the requirements to enter the flight attendant school? Do they promise you anything, (e.g. we know the owner of air asia, one or three graduating student will be guaranteed a place in air asia upon graduation). Tell me any useful information, anything at all 🙂
-Emma-
Dear Emma,,,,
Thank you sooooooo much you have replied my message,, I never thought that you will read my comment,.I’m sooooooo glad about that,,
thank you so much Emma…. :*
.Yeah,, I have a year in aviation knowledge. And I learn a lot of aviation knowledge there, such as poise and grace, aviation knowledge, pax handling, ticketing, personality development, food and beverage, flight safety and many more.
Thank you so much Emma, you have push my energy to get more confident.. 🙂
In this March I will goes to Jakarta to have interview with Garuda Indonesia, I’m nervous, 😦
well Emma, would you like to share your tips to get successfull in the interview test..????
hi ema…aq pengen banget jadi pramugari, sekarang lagi les bahasa inggris, yang aq mau tanyain ada ngga sih pramugari yang tingginya ngga sesuai kriteria..secara tinggi badan ku cuma 155 cm…hopeless jadinya..thanks ema
Hi Emma,
I’ve been reading your posts recently.. especially this week cause i was on my crazy wait on my SQ’s final interview, which i failed in skin check round 😦
Im very disappointed and feel devastated because i was that close in reaching my dream to be a cabin crew and failed only because acne!! and that stupid acne came just a day before the final interview! even though i refused to go outside and choose to stay home to prepare myself and of course my skin the whole week..damn you acne!!
What i want to ask you is… i found an opening for Cathay Pacific flight attendant in HK next march, do you think i could apply for it? because the requirements says that we have to be HK’s permanent residents but there is an online application that we can fill in and it is not only for HK’s pr. Is this just my desperation talking or what?
I am waiting for Cathay Pacific recruitments desperately…. i have finished my study on July and just graduated last September so its kinda like a ticking clock for me..plus, i studied french and have a basic knowledge in Spanish, Italian and Portuguese which i’m sure if i don’t use will eventually gone.. #Panic attack!!
Cheers,
A
Hi Emma,
Sorry one more question..When CX gets me a work visa can I assume my husband qualifies as a dependent to come to HK?
Regards,
Suman
hey Suman..they’ve started sending out mails from today on & supposedly few have been rejected..reason has not been stated..so I guess having completed the medical rounds did not mean that a confirmed employment..fingers crossed !
Hi Wei,
Yeah I heard a few rumours as well..I guess youre rt …anyways am hoping for a response soon…fingers crossed!
Regards,
S
Suman,
Rumor has it that Recruitments have been ceased for the time period from India
Hi Wei ,Where did you hear this ? what about the pending applications?
~Suman
Someone from within the company, in that case all pending applications from India will be considered void for the moment, Just wait for their official announcement & mail since it all could be on hold for the duration they choose .
thats really sad news if true 😦 ….anyways I guess i’ll will wait for official word from CX …I have sent them an email asking for an update..thanks wei.
It would then be very unprofessional of them. Hope u recieve a good reply Suman. Give me good news 🙂
Cathay has finally sent out mails today for all the selected candidates from India for contract signing it Mumbai on the 5th of May & date of travel to hong kong..wishing everyone a big congratulations & celebration time !! Hong Kong awaits you !
Hi Wei,
Yes I finally have the letter…happy & excited :-):-)
hi emmaa,thanks for ur reply,,ermm then i have been studying in msia since my high school, so 12 yrs old, hahaa, msia is like my 2nd home!! =)
the stages sounds difficult,haha..travel back and forth to jkrta everytime! big sacrificee for tht, i dont think so i will do tht =(..hahaa, btw if u happen to fly msia and off few days mybe v can meet up!
though this career not my priority, but it is sort like passion?heeee,im a law grads here, so it is totally out of the line ritee?! haha
keep in touch!! thank you=))
Hi Jia,
Sorry for the late reply…Actually, I live in Malaysia hahahahaha XD since I was 14, so … it is my second home in a way, we’re applying for PR now but with all this elections going on, it’s being postponed … no surprise there.
I know a number of crews who used to work in a bank, one was ready to become a doctor but decided that this was her passion, there’s also a couple with law degree. It’s not out of line, I’m planning on working here for 3 years and see what other opportunities I have before deciding on continuing or to find another passion hahaha!
-Emma
hi emma, nice to know you, do u have any email that we can keep in touch so it would be easier for me to updated and ask few qs related to this job, =) and hw’s life goin on? any flights to KL btw, u may drop by and we can catch up then, xoxo
take care yaa
hay emma..
i do really want to be FA n’ ur experience is very wondering.
that was inspiring me thank u n’glad to know u
hopely we can meet on board someday!!!
Hey emma,
You posted very useful information about the interview stages, thank you^^
I am preparing to apply to Cathay Pacific and I heard it is not easy to get
invitation for the interview! I really want to catch this chance, can you give me some tips about write CVs?
wish can meet you on board one day!!!
Safe flt
hello! Emma!
really nice to meet you online!
my name is sun young. I ‘m from Korea! YOU KNOW?
I read your story about a job. Also I’m very impressed that you finally made it for Cathay Pacific airlines.
honestly, my goal is to be a cabin crew of Cathay Pacific!!!
Currently your company have a recruit for Korean.
so I’m preparing for some resume and cover letter.. this is my first time to write it.. it’s a little bit difficult because i ‘m not good at english haha…
I would really hope to work in your company with you sooon^^
hi sarahPark , this month is the month for those koreans whose dreaming to be FA for CX , rite? how was it ? do you made it ?
Hello, RICKY!
as you mentioned, this month is the one for all korean girl who want to be a FA of CX! becuase they will hire korean crew next month. (exactly the middle of April )
I’m nervous and excited to have an interview.
I’m ready for preparing for my resume and e-mail coverletter..
after CX check the all resume , they will give each of people invitation.
so i’m soooooo nervous kk
actually, you also want to be a FA of CX?
so goooood!
hi sunyoung, that’s good then. So, you mean all korean girl, where all the boys? 🙂
I am a senior high school now, in the end of April i’ll finish my study. To be a flight attendant is like my biggest goal this year. I hope CX will open the recruitment for Indonesia this year. *keep my finger crosed X)
So Good luck for you , sunyoung ! Keep in touch 😀
Hi Ricky!
I mean that all Korean girl and All the boys as well ! I heard that they have an equal qualification between girls and boys! so you don’t have to be worried about that! They will hire all the boys who is entitled to be a flight attendant !
I hope CX will open the recruitment for Indonesia soooon~ after hiring Korean !
Good luck for you too!, Ricky!
hope that everything will be fine 🙂
hey Emma,
I’ve been reading your blog and its very kind of you to spare time from your busy flying schedule and respond to everyone.Its very informative.i attended the Cathay interview held in Mumbai, India on (Feb 5th ) and i am also done with my medicals on (Feb 16th) .some of the candidates that were there with me ..have received mails some positive and some negative.but my fren and me hvnt heard from them as yet.does this mean that we are still on a wait list????..we are still waiting in anticipation for a positive reply…fingers crossed
they have asked us to wait for 6weeks..is it 6weeks from date of final interveiw or from the date of medicals?????
I would be highly greatfull to you for replying….
Regards,
Mithila.
hey mithila,
6 weeks would be from ur medicals, few ppl have been asked to do medicals again & few for additional documents..the rejection mails were sent out for those who attended the final round but not the medicals..to my information only one person has been rejected after medicals..although 6wks have passed off..best thing is to only wait & let this coming week go by & then send across a mail to the ID that u sent ur application to !
hey wei,
thank you so much for replying..reading the blog I came across where u have mentioned that they have ceased the recruitment …any updates on that..I have sent them an email …hopefully looking forward for a positive reply..if u do get any updates please post it out to us…..looking forward for your reply wei….thank you so much again.
Regards,
Mithila
Mithila, check ur inbox, u should be having a mail from Cathay for contract signing on the 5th of May in Mumbai, they were sent out today evening.
Amazing story. Hope to see you in closer distance soon. I am a Korean applying for CX crew this year. Thank you for your sincere writing. I am so much impressed and inspired. Thank you again.
Hope you alls well
Hi @mithila suvarna : I hope you got email from CX soon ! Keep your finger crossed !! 😀
Hi @A : Today is the last day for your time to register to CX as a flight attendant, isn’t it ? Good luck for you ! 😀
@ sunyoung : So , Have you got your interview invitation from CX ?
Hi emma
Ur a true inspiration “)
My name is shan I rec an email recently from cathay pacific dat I will need to attend the pre-employment orientation in may n have to sign d contract d same day does tis mean m already selected ??
hey wei,,,
yipeeeeeee i did receive it and even my frens hv!!!!!!!!!!!!thank you so mch for always replying …god bless u.
thx for sharing your strory! i’ve recentlt had an interview w/cathay pacific in korea and was doing some research to get some information for the rest of the session of the interview. i did fill out some documents after i was done w/ the final interview. but i didn’t get the medical exam document. so, just wondering whether you were assigned the date you would get the medical check-up or not on the day of the final interview. it will mean a lot if you reply to this. you’ve got a very bright smile anyway:)
Jess,
For the final selection, all the candidates who complete filling in the immigration documents are not necessarily given a medical date & those whom they’ve chosen, are.. Since u are one among the former list..u will be on hold until they complete the medicals for the chosen candidates..if they are a few who in turn do not pass the medicals or the document assessment check then your file would be opened in order to see if u fit in the final criteria..if u do only then u would recieve a mail from them after a waiting period of eight – nine weeks to complete the further tests.
Hi, Is there a male cabin crew here? I am a male who wants to become one.
I need some advice on what to do, starting from submission or CV, do I have to smile in my 4r photo? what color of business attire should I wear? what to don on the first interview things like that. please help me.
looking forward for some reply, thank you so much :))
hey Emma! 🙂
I want to ask a few questions.
1. Is it okay to have one or two perforated teeth and myopic eyes if I want to be a cabin crew? I’m confused cos I heard it’s okay to have few perf teeth and myopic eyes but some says they just got eliminated in the first session interview because of it. How about in Cathay, is it okay to have myopic eyes and few perf teeth?
2. How to decide ideal height/weight? I mean what’s the rule for it, is it height-110 for ideal weight? Because, I’m pretty skinny (172-173 cm/49-51 kg), it really is hard for me to gain weight! ugh!
Looking forward to your reply.
Thank you.
-stefs-
hey Emma! 🙂
I want to ask a few questions.
1. Is it okay to have one or two perforated teeth and myopic eyes if I want to be a cabin crew? I’m confused cos I heard it’s okay to have few perf teeth and myopic eyes but some says they just got eliminated in the first session interview because of it. How about in Cathay, is it okay to have myopic eyes and few perf teeth?
2. How to decide ideal height/weight? I mean what’s the rule for it, is it height-110 for ideal weight? Because, I’m pretty skinny (172-173 cm/49-51 kg), it really is hard for me to gain weight! ugh!
Looking forward to your reply.
Thank you.
-stefs-
Good morning Ms. Em. I’m just one of the CX Flight Attendant wannabes and I have a few questions related to the interview session of the airline, hopefully you could spare some time to answer them hehe..
1. I heard that CX has an authority that is fine for FA to use glasses. So, when someday I attend the interview should I use glasses or contact lenses, is it ok? Is it true that CX FA’s are allowed to use glasses or have a minus eyesight?, because I have to use glasses due to my bad eyesight.
2. How should we handle the stress and nervousness before attending the interview?
3. Can I add/or follow your Facebook/Twitter? It would be good to have a friend that work as a International FA hehe..
thank you Ms. Em, you’re so lovely and nice. No Wonder CX chose you as their FA, hopefully you read and answer my questions :))
Hi Ikhsan,
I am terribly sorry that I only read your post today!! Yes, it is very late :(( I left this page open and somehow when I switched back to forum pramugari, it landed on your post, but it says that it was posted back in August =.=” sorry D:
Alright, before I answer your questions..I hope that in the past few months, things are going great for you…perhaps you’re on your way to becoming a flight attendant for an airline now?! heh heh heh.
Righto…let’s answer those questions :D:
1) Yes, Cathay Pacific allows the flight attendant to wear glasses and contact lenses, you can switch during flight if you like because I know how some of my friends complained about the dry air and how it usually irritate their eyes. But of course, we have a rule on which glasses are alright to be worn. With all the new weird, geek and/or glasses with little bows, colorful patterns and shapes, CX needs to ensure that even with glasses, the flight attendant would be able to look professional at all time 😀
2) How to get rid of those butterflies huh? Well, it may work differently for everybody, but these are some of the ways I handled those little pesky insects. When you know that you’re well prepared for the interview, you don’t stress or get too nervous. I get excited, I just want to get in there, strut my stuff and the moment I was done with introducing myself, I was calm and collected.
How do you prepare for an interview? Speak to yourself, in front of a mirror. I had a little notepad with scribbles of my self introduction and possible questions which may be thrown at me. I have composed my answers and memorized the important points (not words by words). So during the interview, when asked, you’ll be ready and confident with your answer. You don’t want to look confused, mumble or slur .. by saying ‘Eeeerrrrr……ehm…uh…” and might end up loosing a few points from the interviewer. Must be confident and spontaneous!
Positive outlook is important, you’ll always have that little evil voice in your mind “you’re gonna flunk this” … it’s okay…tell yourself that even if you didn’t get this one, there are plenty more chances for me. Past experiences are good lessons to bare in mind. But show up on the day of interview with a negative expectation, expect to excel !!
Talk with other hopefuls! Share your stories and give supports to each other, it would keep your mind off your nerves 😀
3) I don’t use twitter, apart from a synced update from my instagram hahaha. As for facebook, I had to delete a few people because they were invading my Facebook by adding my other flight attendant friends and even my boyfriend 😦 It was a little out of hand. No hard feelings or anything personal, but I would prefer sticking to forum pramugari 😀 for now anyway 🙂
Have a good one!!
-Emma
hi emma 🙂 its always fun and inspiring to read your blog!
may i ask, how long will it take to get promotion in CX? and also, the training took 6 weeks and then probation period is 6 months? do you get alot of leaves in a month?are we allowed to get married in CX? how many years does CX sign the new crews for? sorry if its kind of personal :p hope you have an awesome day!
regards,
Naomi
Hi Emma!
I’m Yuli, really great to read your post. Anyway you have great smile.
Yesterday I have just attended SQ recruitmen, and didn’t make it through 😦
Almost like yours, my parents buy me ticket and hotel to jakarta, and it’s disappointed to be still jobless.
Anyway, I won’t give, I believe God will make a way and never leave us, right?
I will wait for cathay recruitment and give a try 🙂
Though yes, I strongly support cathay to have vintage uniform, which is for uniform SQ had the best.
Is flight attendant already you dream career? Or it’s just suddenly came out after graduate?
Nice to know you,
Yuli Yana
Hi Emma..
I went to SQ recruitment in August. I made it to the final interview but was booted out in management interview. I was so disappointed in myself.
Ur story is very inspiring and really helps me not to give up and keep on trying.
SQ recruitment doesnt have all that presentation and discussion test.
Cathay recruitment stage sounds more difficult.
warm regards,
angel
Hi Emma,
Is CX strict with BMI? 🙂
Hi Ping,
No, promise that they won’t make you step onto a weighing scale except for your medical check up. Even then, it only plays a little factor if you have an amazing personality! Believe me, I guarantee it!!
-Emma
Really? Okay that makes me feel better! Because i have a little bit of fat tummy and im afraid they wont take me in because of the physical appearance! 😮 i sent you an email, hope you saw it and can reply to it! Thanks Emma! 🙂
Hello, Emma! I got a question for you. I think i left a message almost a year ago and you kindly relied to my question. Many many thanks to you:) I had an interview with Cathay Pacific last year and I have been on hold since last June. Back in the last year, Cathay Pacific has a hard time running business due to the high fuel cost, but now it seems like the situation has been better. I even heard that Cathay Pacific started recruiting crew members in Hong Kong. Is there any news about Korean recruitment you’d like to share with me? It will be very nice of you if you answer to the question. I wish you a happy and safe flight. 🙂
Hi Jess,
I think all of the airline companies were having a hard time dealing with the raise in fuel cost last year 😦 but it is all good, pheeew!!
I believe that we are not recruiting any new cabin crews, as of now. Because as I’ve explained a number of times on this post, we have recently recruited crews from Malaysia, Indonesia, Korea, Taiwan, Japan and India..therefore, it is unlikely that CX would start recruiting anytime soon.
Are you still on hold, or is currently still waiting for news from Cathay?
Thanks for you kind comment, Emma! 🙂 I started to be afraid that i might be bothering you by asking you questions here. I’m still on hold ever since last spring. You mentioned that Cathay has recently recuited korea crew members, and i believe that i may be one of them. As far as i know, cathay hasnt held any recuitment event in korea since the one i attended last year. I feel so much better after i heard that cathay is dealing with the fuel issue well. Emma, can you please update me when you have some news about new korean crew? I appreciate your help:) I Hope you have happy and safe flights.
Hi again Jess,
Okay, may I know what CX told you exactly regarding your application? When was the last time they were in touch with you? Because during the final interview, I received a yellow slip because I’ve passed the interview and is ready for the next stage, medical and background checks. Once I cleared them all, next and last stage was to sign my contract 🙂
However, they would give some of my friends a yellow slip as well, saying that they would call them in a couple of weeks (I can’t remember it, but there is a deadline). Meaning that CX would consider your eligibility as a candidate, they may or may not call you back. They did call one of my friends within the same week time, but those who didn’t get any calls … well they’re not too lucky 😦
I don’t mean to scare you or anything Jess, but it’s almost been a year since they’ve put you on hold. The korean crews recruited from last year have been flying for quite sometime..I doubt that CX would put anybody on hold for this long.
Did you try asking them about your application recently? Do you know anybody else who’s waiting for news from CX since last spring? Oh gosh, I really hope that it’s just me being paranoid … Don’t get too worried about this alright? 😀
Thanks for your reply again:) Yes, i got the yellow paper from CX saying they would let me know the result of the final interview within a few weeks. About 5weeks later, i got an email noting me that CX is struggling with high fuel cost. It also said that CX had a change for its recruitment plan an CX may contact me for the further interview when cacancy is available again. However, quite many people who had a final interview with CX received sorry letters from CX. As far as I know, almost 80 candidates who passed the final interview have been on hold. The email 80 of us got from CX contained the different statement from what the sorry letter was saying. The same situation happened to Korean candidates in 2008, and they had been on hold for about 2years. They joined CX in 2010. Sadly, CX hasn’t contacted me since last spring. Emma, i got one more queston for you. You said that there are alredy korean crew members who are flying now. But that makes no sense to me.. since noone hasn’t been hired from the last recruitment in Korea. Please let me know if there are really korean crew members who joined CX last year. It would help 80 of us in Korea get informed. I appreciate your kindness:)
Hi Jess!
Sorry for not replying soon enough..flying..haha..
Great great news, I’ve mistaken the japanese crews as korean :p oops, sorry to have gotten you worried :))) I double checked with my fiends as well as details of korean crews i flew with previously..they’re from 2010 😀
And I noticed some very new HK crews flying this month because I can see their rank on the flight details. So I really hope Cathay will deliver the good news to you guys really soon!! Yaaaay!!!
-Emma
Thanks a lot emma! Your answers to my questions have helped me feel a lot better:D
I wish you a happy and safe flight. Hope to see you in cathay city soon 😀 hehe..
Hi Emma,
First, I want to thank you for sharing your wonderful stories, so many things that I can learn and understand about other’s experience. U answered all of the questions with the diplomatic answers, it’s really great.. Now I realize become the CX cabin crew is soo tough, beautiful inside-out.. I’m so happy to find this forum, read so many kinds of regulations and experiences that CX cabin crew face it..
Actually, I have a friend, who is CX cabin crew. We met in the bus when we went to Botanic Garden (Singapore) last year, we just had a very short time to chit chat. Then we still contact until now, and the good news we had the opportunities to meet again in HongKong last week. We had the great time even in another short time, chatting, walking, dining, etc..
I have a plan to send the package for her birthday next month, but I forgot to ask her home address, all I know she just moved from the first flat to another flat in Tung Chung area. I’m so sure that she won’t to give her address even she invited me to her home last time.. Because I’m so sure if I asked her address, she know my secret plan and she won’t give it to me.. 😥
But I want to make the surprise for her. I can imagine while she feel so tired after flight back to other countries, maybe the gift should be make her so refresh. My plan, I want to send the package to the head office in Lantau, HK. I found it from Cathay Pacific website. Here’s the complete address:
Cathay Pacific City,
8 Scenic Road,
HongKong International Airport,
Lantau HongKong.
Is that OK if I send the package for her to the CX Head Office? Will the worker there inform the cabin cew if there’s the package for them? Or they’re too busy to give the package for the cabin crew?
I just called to CX office in Jakarta (actually, I live in Bandung), they said it’s not recommended for me to send the package to the head office because ther’re thousands cabin crews there. They told me that they worry if my package that I will send can’t be received by my friend.
Do you have any suggestions for me to do? All I want to do is to make the big surprise for her in her D-Day.. I’m confusing now.. Wish u can give any advice.. Thanks a lot, Emma 🙂
Hi carina,
I am terribly sorry to be this late in replying this message :((
It is not advisable for you to send it to our head office because there are thousands of us. The courier have no access to our mailroom because it’s strictly for us only 🙂 So even if the courier drop the package at the office and one of the employees from the receptionist accept it. He or she would not be able to locate your friend’s mailbox. Only a few people have access to our details…so yeap..it’s kind of complicated
So if it’s not too late..the best way is to deliver it straight to her apartment 😀 sorry once again for the uber late reply.
Hello Emma, gees that is really inspiring, but how about me? I am also an aspiring cabin crew, but I am only 5’2” and I have a scar in my hand 😦
Hi there Rob,
I can only share with you, my opinion based on Cx’s criteria 😀
It does not matter if you’re only 5’2″, I have a purser who is just the most petite thing ever hahaha. CX only requires you to be able to reach the red line taped on the wall during the recruitment. I believe that was an estimation of your arms’ length to ensure that you would be able to reach the overhead lockers, as well as other important features in the aircraft.
May I know where your scar is exactly on your hand? Is it an old scar, or is it still healing? What was the cause, if I may ask 🙂 because I burnt myself with a curling iron and it left a scar on my inner lower arm..it was pretty obvious during the interview (brown in color). It has disappeared now..but again, we do not have a thorough skin/scar check 😀 but if would give me more details, perhaps I can help with tips on how to speed the healing process or ways to disguise it.
Have a lovely day 🙂 I lost my voice today..I’ve been croaking all day hahaha :p
-Emma
Hi Emma,
Bisa minta email kamu ga ya? Mau nanya2 makasih…
Hi Nia,
I would prefer using forum pramugari to answer questions. It’s just that when I gave away my e-mail, some really friendly peeps would add me on facebook or other social networks and I was quite overwhelmed when some began to send friend requests to my boyfriend as well hahahaha (he was a little freaked out).
Another reason is, it’s usually the same question over and over. I was thinking of saving a generic answer and paste it answer the questions, but that would be insincere :3 So I was hoping that if you were to share the questions here, other peeps would be able to read them and get the same information and get a chance to ask a different question. So, ask away 😀
hi Emma. I’ve been wondering how do you go to work (to the airport). Do they come to get you or you use public transportation? What about when you’re overseas? Is it the same with other airlines?
I really want to try my luck applying for cabin crew position. Well, I failed on one-on-one interview with SQ last year. I’m hoping to apply for other airlines because there is no way I could get through SQ because I don’t have porcelain skin. My friend who has the most prettiest skin failed on skin check. Anyways, Hope you have a great day and
thank you : )
Hey Lisa,
We have a shuttle bus from the club house (we buy our own tickets) as I’m still residing in the flat/apartment provided by the company. When you moved out, you’d have to arrange your own transportation, be it by bus or train. In outport, we’ll have busses to pick us from and back to the airport.
Yep, keep trying…sorry to hear that you didn’t make it for SQ, maybe it’s not your time or perhaps your destiny is with another airline 😀 You have a lovely day too!
-Emma
Hi Emma!
Do you know when CX will held interview in Jakarta?
I’m looking forward to it!
I already looked at their website but they only open for hongkong citizen to be based on hongkong and london based.
Hope you get your voice back quickly.. 🙂
Hi Arrum,
Unfortunately, it is unlikely that CX would be recruiting new cabin crews anytime soon because they’ve just recruited a big batch of crews from different countries in 2011 and 2012. They haven’t been interviewing new cabin crews for months now.
It’s hard to tell when they’ll start recruiting again, because before I was recruited, the last batch of cabin crews from Indonesia were employed back in 2008 (3 years gap). I do hope that it’ll be sooner than 3 years!!
My voice is pretty much gone, it’s not even funny because I have only tomorrow to heal before my long haul flight D:
Thanks for answering my question 🙂
Wow, hope it won’t be another 3 years gap.
Take a lot of rest and drink hot tea or honey, it helps.
Emma, so i still have a chance to apply flight attendant position due to my age? right now i’m 29 yo, it’s slim don’t you? and my english is not really good, but i’m very confident. how about the english test and the medex? because i got scoliosis. fiuhhhhhhh…..
Emmaaaaa,
Very nice to get to know a wonderful person like you. You’re such an inspiration! I tried FA recruitment 3 times in my life, twice for SQ (failed the first time because I hadn’t had graduated back then, failed the second time in mass introduction), and once for GIA (failed because I didn’t meet the height requirement, which was 160 cm, but now they have lowered the standard to 158). I have so many questions in my head, but I think all the answer is to be confident and be sure with ourselves, right… And by thinking that the world is not gonna over if we fail. There’s always another time. Honestly I cried when I read your story. With happiness.
So glad. Hope we can meet one day, as friends. 🙂
Dias
Hi Dias,
Maybe you’re destined for a different international airline?! I hope Cathay would consider recruiting again from Indonesia, if not..there’s Qatar or Emirates!! Keep your passion alive and keep going for any new recruitments! I hope your time to fly is soon 😀
-Emma
Hi Emma,
If we are based in Singapore, can we still apply for Cathay Pacific? If possible, how do we do so? Please advice. Thank you. 🙂
Hi Ping,
May I clarify that you’re Singaporean? 😀 In that case, you can apply online .. right here:http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_INTL/careershome (i hope this link works, or else simply go to Cathaypacific.com and click career).
Submit you CV and a couple of pictures attached wouldn’t hurt your chance 😀 I did that because…well I’m not even sure why I did that, but soon after, they invited me for an interview..yippeee!!
However Ping, as far as I know, Singaporeans will be based in Singapore, and you won’t be having the same benefits or flying route as the HK based crews. I’m afraid you may not like your flying route because you’ll be flying to HK, BKK and SIN only 😦 They changed this scheme like a long time ago, so these days, we only have a few seniors who are singaporeans working as HK based crews because when they were recruited, they were set as HK based. Just like my aunt who’s Singaporean, she was in Cathay back in ’81-’88 and she was HK based.
I wish more Singaporeans are allowed to be HK based, the singaporean based crews are the best!!! I swear, I love doing flights with the singapore based crews to singapore! They are lovely, funny and we bonded all the time!! I hope you’ll still give this a chance, or why not try for SQ at the same time?! 😀
Love,
Emma
Hi Ping,
May I clarify if you’re Singaporean? 😀 In that case, you can apply online .. right here:http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_INTL/careershome (i hope this link works, or else simply go to Cathaypacific.com and click career).
Submit you CV and a couple of pictures attached wouldn’t hurt your chance 😀 I did that because…well I’m not even sure why I did that, but soon after, they invited me for an interview..yippeee!!
However Ping, as far as I know, Singaporeans will be based in Singapore, and you won’t be having the same benefits or flying route as the HK based crews. I’m afraid you may not like your flying route because you’ll be flying to HK, BKK and SIN only 😦 They changed this scheme like a long time ago, so these days, we only have a few seniors who are singaporeans working as HK based crews because when they were recruited, they were set as HK based. Just like my aunt who’s Singaporean, she was in Cathay back in ’81-’88 and she was HK based.
I wish more Singaporeans are allowed to be HK based, the singaporean based crews are the best!!! I swear, I love doing flights with the singapore based crews to singapore! They are lovely, funny and we bonded all the time!! I hope you’ll still give this a chance, or why not try for SQ at the same time?! 😀
Love,
Emma
Hi Emma,
I have not fulfilled my dream of being a flight attendant, but I would like to ask you. How do you keep in touch with family and friends when you are overseas?
It’s easy to make friends in Cathay Pacific? I was told that the destinations are varied and the flight attendants which may accompany you, seems to change much as the first time you see them. How can you make friends and find common ideas with any of them?. How can you find or maintain contact with someone or having something in common?
Hi Emma,
I’m Indonesian and tomorrow I will be attending one of the interview sessions here in Los Angeles. Do u mind if I ask you few questions? I read one of the popular forums at United States, mostly the one who attending the interview over here is either Vietnamese or Filipino. Kind of feel left out when I realize there is no Indonesian people. ;(
I just wanted to ask about the medical test. What type of body health requirement that they actually seeking of for the medical part? And how about the vision test? Is there going to be any issues about unperfected teeth?
I really appreciate your answer for my question.
Thanks emma,
VieVie ^^
Hello Vie (in short hahaha),
First of all, really sorry for the late reply! I was in San Fransisco when you wrote to me. Secondly, I hope your interview went well! Don’t feel too left out at all, you’re lucky because you’re surrounded by people who are fluent in English, there won’t be any problem when communicating with your future LA based colleagues 😀 Plus, you’re the unique one of all, that might play to your advantage coz you’re the only Indonesian speaking candidate!
Right, let’s get to your questions now:
You have nothing to worry about. If you have tattoos, make sure they’re covered by your uniform. They will count your BMI, but I don’t think it would matter too much because they don’t only hire scrawny model like candidates. They want to make sure that you’re healthy and is fit to fly. Imperfect teeth and visions are aye-okay! You can wear braces, contacts or glasses!
I hope it went well, update me!!
-Emma-
Hi Emma,
My name is Brad. I am part of the cabin cleaning crew at Brisbane International. Might have seen you on board a CX flight. If not I service CX157 on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday nights. I’ll be the one hooking up to the back of the aircraft haha…might see you some time. Take care. Brad.
Hi Brad!
I laughed when you said you’re the one hooking up to the back of the aircraft, it’s funny because I’m stuck inside the aircraft and the only way to take a peek at you is if I were to stick my head out of the back door or something 😀
Haven’t been lucky enough to get flights to Brisbane! It’s been a whole year since I was last in Brissie! I used to study in UQ until 2010, well my campus was in Ipswich, but I had classes in St. Lucia on Fridays.
Honestly..Brissie is the best <3. I do hope to see you one day, I'll ask around when I'm there .. "Is there a BRAD here? Brraaaad?!!" when you hear a retarded girl screaming about in the aircraft, you'll know it's me. You take care as well Brad, winter is here!
-Emma-
Hi Emma, nice to know that you’re already flied to so many countries :D..
I’m waiting for the news from SQ.. I had finished all the tests except the “Final Interview”
Hope me the best? 😀 thanks
Hi Shandy,
Oh goodie! Just a small step to your dream, keep practicing to keep a calm composure, confident answers and your beautiful smile!
I hope for the best for you! My university friend (who is Singaporean) recently joined SQ, her name is Evangeline. Maybe you’ll see her sometime in the future 😀 she’s really lovely!
Keep me updated and maybe soon I’ll be reading your Cabin Crew story ❤
Love,
Emma! GOOD LUCK SHANDY!!! ❤ xx
hy emma, i want to ask you….
can you explain to me, about the arm reach test ??
what is it ??
Hello Luad,
The arm reach test is very simple. The CX recruitment team would stick a tape on the wall of the ballroom (that’s where the interviews was held). It’s measured to a height of 208cm. Your task is to make sure that you can reach the tape with your hand. You can tiptoe, no jumping though :p The purpose of the arm reach test is to ensure that you are capable of reaching the overhead lockers or a few safety and emergency related equipments which are located in the aircraft. I hope this answers your question 🙂
-Emma
hi emma,
I’m from the Philippines and most of our airlines here are requiring really good set of teeth, but i have a problem on the alignment of my lower teeth, would i still have a chance to enter cathay pacific in this condition? by the way do you know if cathay pacific will conduct future hiring interviews soon in the philippines?thank you.:)
Hi LF,
Cathay isn’t picky about your teeth because sometimes unaligned or crooked teeth actually makes your smile lovelier 🙂 I have friends who are wearing braces and friends who are embracing their crooked smile 😀
In addition to that, you only have problem with the lower teeth, when you smile, typically only the top set of teeth are showing. Definitely not a problem at all.
Regarding the recruitment in Philippines, this question was raised in our company back in 2011. The company responded that they haven’t seen the need to recruit cabin crews from the philippines because our passengers from philippines are fluent in english. But don’t be too discouraged, I heard from and Indian ISM (In-flight Service Manager) that CX didn’t recruit any Indian crews for a good 17 years and look, they’ve just opened one last year! I hope it’ll be soon!
-Emma
Emma
what is the max age limit for initial in cathay??
Dear Mildi,
Cathay didn’t specify a maximum age limit to apply for them. I have a classmate who is 31 and a lot of friends who are married with child too 🙂
-Emma
Hi Emma, It seems that Cathay Cabin Crew are very good at english fluency. I’m so glad with that n hope that i can follow u to be the crew there. Success for ya 🙂
i dont know other FA details experience or sharing as awesome as Emma’s
and yet she so courage us to keep trying , dream and hope cathay will open recruit in indonesia…:)
thanks alot Emma 🙂
what was the height of arm reach test? how tall are u ? & what was the medical exam? what do they do during the hearing/ears section?
Hai Emma. Are you still working with Cathay ? Your story inspired me a lot. I want to be a stewardess and I want to try it with Cathay. Im 23 and Im Indonesian, I just red from the career of Cathay’s web that they looking a stewardess base in Hongkong. Aren’t they require from Indonesia ? I desperately want to try to applied with Cathay. Please reply my message or email me at triststs@yahoo.com, maybe ?
Thanks,
xx
Hi Emma. You have such an inspiring story being a flight attendant. Just curious though on how you flight attendants keep themselves fresh looking even without sleep on a long flight? ANd do you wear sort of compression stockings to keep your legs from getting tired of walking up and down the cabin? I am so fascinated on how the flight attendants carry themselves, well-groomed and standing tall all the time. I also like the way you do your hair up, how do you do it? I would like to try it, too! ^-^ I dreamt of becoming a flight attendant, too, but i guess it is not for me..ANd i would like to look like one if you can help me. Thanks.
Inspiring story…. u are absolute right…. DONT STOP trying because if you want it bad enough you will get it eventually… i tried 4x in SQ but got bummed out everytime…. it does make u demoralised but i tried somewhere else and now i am flying somewhere in the world. SO look beyond! To all those who has dream of becoming cabin crew, go for it! Keep going! good luck 😉
Hi Emma,
I was just wondering, does Cathay recruit Filipinos? Tnx
hi Emma,
Does Cathay recruit Filipinos?
Hi Emma,
Hope you have wonderful days there! Ric here, 23 years old Indonesian. Such an inspiring story you have here, and thank you for putting effort to provide us (FA wanna be) more information about cabin crew. I have graduated from a uni in KL and been looking for jobs in Singapore for months. I finally got a job last month, but luck was just not at my side, my working visa was rejected. The company tried to apply again but still rejected.
Recently, I am thinking of becoming a flight attendant (I used to think about becoming one, but never really took a first step). I have sent an application online on Cathay’s website but no response until today (it might be because the online application is for HK base). I desperately need a job, but all I can think of now is flight attendant position. I do not want to spend another year or time to do something else like accountant job that I previously looking for because I realised that my passion is in aviation industry. Thus, I am waiting for Cathay’s recruitment in Indonesia and wondering when will it be held here (any info?hehe).
I know there are other world winning airlines such as SQ, emirates, etc, but I missed Emirate’s recruitment in Indonesia which as few months ago. As for SQ, they do not usually recruit flight steward from Indonesia (too bad). There will be another open day in Singapore from Emirates, and one of the requirements is candidate must be able to speak Mandarin, Vietnam, or Malay. I was living in KL for more than 3 years but I do not really speak Bahasa Melayu, only the basics. My Mandarin is also mediocre,hmm I would say basic haha. Do you think I should go for Emirates open day in Singapore and try my luck? or I should just wait for Cathay’s recruitment in Indonesia which is still unknown . Checked on websites, looks like Cathay has not conducted recruitment in Indonesia this year. Cathay is still on top of my list.
From what I read in this blog, I found out that you are wise enough in your comments, so I am thinking to get an epiphany from you, LOL. Hope to hear from you soon and have a good day everyone!
Hai Ric, Im Tris and Im Indonesian too 🙂
I heard from a friend of mine that Cathay will open their recruitment in 2014 because they open a recruitment in Indonesia only once in 3 years.. The last recruitment in Indonesia was in 2011.. FYI, im waiting for Cathay’s recruitment too 🙂
Hai Tris, it’s good to hear that we are on the same boat 🙂 If the recruitment will be conducted next year, that means we still have to wait for quiet a long time. What should we do in the mean time?haha. I want to try Emirates’ recruitment in SG next month but I kinda prefer Cathay because the base is in HK.
Hahah yup we’re on the same boat. My plan is working in jakarta while waiting for the recruitment in indonesia.. its quite long time. I have plan to try SQ and Cathay.. i heard SQ recruitment will be held around the end of this year or next year. Emirates is looking for a timur tengah face, do they ? I don’t really know about emirates.
All the best for us then xx
Hi Tris, Yeah we should continue our own things while waiting for the recruitment, the sooner the better 🙂 about Emirates looking for Timur Tengah face, I don’t think it really matters for them because they do recruitment all around the world. Good luck for us 😀
Hai Ric, SQ open a recruitment on this August 24 and on the next September 21. Would u come to that walk in interview on August 24 ? I plan to come to that walk in, may be we can meet up there 🙂
Hi tris, I would love to but unfortunately they do not recruit male cabin crew from Indo. And I am a bloke, fyi. You should go for the upcoming recruitment, good luck! 🙂
Hi Trisiani,
I just checked SQ will recruiting again this August 24th and Sept 21st in Jakarta, u shud check the websites and good luck!
I’m thinking to go for SQ at first but i realized i won’t be accepted coz i have a tattoo on my back spine and it will shown if i’m wearing the famous kebaya,and also i dont have the perfect complexion face they needed.
If Emirates i will definitely suggest you to make a profile account at their website,so you can put your CV and photos there, Emirates is a really great expanding airlines and if you are single,GO FOR IT! Since it will be based in Dubai i cant go there too coz i have a boyfriend and it seems risky for the relationship/
So ,im hoping for Cathay Pacific!! yeayy ,hopefully end of this year of prob early next year they will recruiting again in Jakarta,and maybe i’ll try for Garuda too ..
Best of luck to all of us cabin crew wannabes!!! :):):)God bless
Yes, i already checked their web. I’ll go for it.. and what about emirates ? Do they accepted asian face ?
Hahah i want to try to applied to chatay also if i cant get the sq 😉
hi Ric, r u in indonesia now?coz im also studying and workin in KL now, i have tried the SQ and qatar airways, if u happen to be in msia now, actually qatar opens for any nationality, u can go for interview in msia, not a need to go indon..i have failed in last stages for qatar, goin to try again, but prefer to get in SQ, since i prefer to be based nearer, haha Singapore. if qatar u will be based in Doha. for emirates, one of my msian friend got the offer,she said she is the asian that was got the offer during tht time..ermmm i dunt really know what is that really hard to get into then, but u can try too .all the best!
Hi Jia, yeap I am currently residing in Indonesia. I would like to apply Cathay because the base is in HK, however it seems like they will not be recruiting in Indonesia in the near future. The only opportunity that I can try is Emirates’ global opp open days in Singapore, 6 July. I actually feel hesitate because I cannot speak Malay fluently, unless they do not mind me speaking Bahasa hahahaha
So, how’s your SQ application?Hope you’ll manage to get it 🙂
Cheers!
This is extremely inspiring.. I scanned for CX interview tips.. There will be a recruitment day in Hong Kong. (BTW, I’m based in HK but a Filipino) Someone from CX phoned me informing about the recruitment day. Now I am extremely nervous. I still got 2 weeks to go, but felt like I’ve got less time to prepare. I’ve also attended tons of recruitment day, interviews on many airline companies.. and just like you, I almost gave up. Until this one call! Now I’m back on track! Thanks again for sharing this.. 🙂 God bless!
Hi jho, how was your interview with CX? Hope everything went well. Btw, is the interview by invitation? Do they have like an open day in HK?
Thanks and Godbless
Hi Mimi, interview goes well .. I was a little bit nervous that time, but eventually, it turns out pretty well.. now I’m just waiting for my offer call.. actually it’s been 3 weeks now.. hopefully they’ll call soon. I was actually called by one of the CX staff HR maybe and invited me to come to their open day in HK on July 20. Are you base in HK?
Hi Emma, your review is quite interesting, and if i may ask, you said that you are not tall either slim… what that’s exactly means? i tried at GI but i failed because of my weight… i just wondering how the measurement works in Cathay.. 🙂 great if you can share.. ^^
Hi emma, thank you very much for responding. God Bless.:)
-LF
Great web site. Lots of useful information here. I’m sending it to some pals ans additionally sharing in delicious. And certainly, thanks on your sweat!
W0W…
hi emma 🙂 its always fun and inspiring to read your blog!
may i ask, how long will it take to get promotion in CX? and also, the training took 6 weeks and then probation period is 6 months? do you get alot of leaves in a month?are we allowed to get married in CX? how many years does CX sign the new crews for? sorry if its kind of personal :p hope you have an awesome day!
regards,
Naomi
Hi i was wondering for reaching 208 cm on tiptoes, is there a certain way of standing on tiptoes? I am only exactly 5 ft. I can only reach 208cm tiptoes but with 1 finger..
i stand kind of like this reaching 208, but will this be a problem? , http://www.deviantart.com/art/TippyToes-133777399 Would standing on tiptoes like in the second picture, would it be a problem for cx height check up? Thank you so much!
I was wondering like I applied in Australia but I want to be based in Hong Kong as a flight attendant.
I’m from Hong Kong and am fluent in English and Cantonese, I was wondering if they would actually consider me if I’m not living in Hong Kong yet but definitely will be willing to fly over if they want to interview with me.
Regards,
KK
Hello,
I want to ask like I recently applied for flight attendant for Cathay (based in HK). But I actually live in Australia but definately would re-locate if I was called in for an interview. Like I’m wondering would they consider me even if I’m not living in Hong Kong at the moment?
I’m from Hong Kong and fluent in English and Cantonese.
I’m scared if my chances would be slimmed as I’m not living in HK at the moment…
Hi emma I want to know if tattoo are not allow for cathay? or can it be cover?
if you have scar or tattoo on hand can you cover it for the interview ??? pls do answer my question 🙂
Hi emma im vinod from india im intrested in cabin crew but my height is169cm. Is there airlines who ill hirer me.
Hi Emma, I’m a UPS 747 Pilot. I have a friend that is trying to get hired by Cathay Pacific in HK. She has failed once and has an interview scheduled in 1 month. Do you know if there are any Cathai Pacific new hired flight attendant forums which i can use to find out the latest questions, etc?
Thank you so much :))
Despite your desire to get off the ground, your mouth is so dry that you feel unable to speak. Hands do not sweat and cold chills running on the back. http://resume-writer.net/blog/how-to-calm-your-job-interview-nerves It seems that the world around you begins to fade away, and you need only one second to lose consciousness. Your legs are not able to listen to your commands and you continue to stand in all office workers eyes, like a stone statue.