# data[].attributes.body
Currently, I am completing the end of my second year at the University of Northampton studying International Tourism Management, alongside working part time at Sports Direct to help further develop my skills. During 2021 I moved from my home city of London to Northampton independently to begin my University journey which has consisted of responsibility, dedication, and motivation. My university experience so far has taught me to always stay determined even when stressful times approach, especially living independently stress management is a skill needed and that I have somewhat perfected. Deciding to study International Tourism Management allows me to further my knowledge about the tourism industry as a whole; the topic of sustainability interests me the most because it is only recently becoming globally known about and deserves more recognition.

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Pursuing a career as a flight attendant interests me because of the dream of flying, being on an airplane 36,000 feet high in the sky creates an out of world experience for myself. The career is one that requires confidence as it is a different career from the norm; being able to work in the sky is not your standard career and therefore is something unique just like myself. The airline industry becoming more sustainable is something that is developing over time and I would aspire to be apart of that journey, to fulfil my career ambitions as well as helping the world to be a better place.

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The Myer-Briggs (1943) personality indicator test was introduced during World War II in an experiment of understanding other people better (The Myers-Briggs company, [n.d]). Using the test, my personality type is INTJ - introverted, intuitive, thinking and judging, indicating that I am independent, rational and determined (16 Personalities, [n.d]).

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I have been working in part time jobs in retail since I was 16 years young, gaining experiences working with the public and developing my customer service and communication skills. I have also obtained the skill of adaptation by transitioning to different companies which have all provided me with individual opportunities and skills.

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During my free time a passion of mine is going to the gym, I persistently go 4 times a week with a set schedule I follow by. Gaining a love and passion for the gym has helped me with my confidence, self-love, and improved my mental and physical health; it has also improved my people skills by allowing myself to step out of my comfort zone to interact with strangers in the gym. Besides the gym, I also enjoy reading and watching podcasts and talks on YouTube that can help further my knowledge and mindset, as well as spending time with loved ones.

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I have been working in retail since i was 16 years old over 4 jobs including: MyCookieDough, One Below, JD Sports, and Sports Direct whom are my current employers. Working in retail has required me to learn and gain skills which are able to go hand in hand with the skills needed to be a successful flight attendant.

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Teamwork is a skill I am confident with as I take part in working effectively in a team multiple days a week at work, I also gained experience of teamwork when taking part in group assignments and presentations at university. I first gained teamwork skills from a young age as I used to compete in dance competitions around the country and perform in shows which all required strong teamwork for a successful performance. Teamwork is vital for being a flight attendant as previously stated, therefore as I have worked with many different teams in different environment's I am experienced enough to feel confident working within a team.

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I identify myself as a confident individual who has clear effective communication skills. This has been practiced at my retail jobs dealing with customers, in education speaking to teachers to further my knowledge, and in general everyday communicating with friends, family and the public around me. Being confident with my communication will make me a perfect candidate for a career of a flight attendant.

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I have attained 4 years of delivering professional customer service over my previous and current retail jobs, making sure I respect the company's values as I am representing them. I am confident working and dealing with the public and ensuring customer satisfaction at all times. Customer service is one of the main skills as a flight attendant, therefore already having years of experience makes me ready to take on this career.

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Flight attendants have to be flexible and adapt to new environments daily which I have already experienced due to me moving away from my home to a new city at 18 years young for university all independently. This gained me skills in being able to adapt by myself at such a young age which has made me confident in being able to do as a flight attendant.

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Stress management is something I used to consider a weakness of mine, until I started practicing daily meditation. Meditating made me confident with dealing with stress and stressful situations and providing myself with a clear mind space; this will be beneficial when dealing with abusive passengers and mainaining calm and collected during emergencies.

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I have gained leadership skills during my retail job's by training new employees by demonstrating clear instructions with certain activities, as well as leading group meetings and assignments at university. This aligns with flight attendants's leadership skills of their level of authority with other crew members and passengers.

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Time management is one of my stronger skills that I can acknowledge. My daily schedules currently are packed with uni lectures, work, going to the gym, completing assignment work outside of uni, and maintaining a social life; balancing this lifestyle is accompanied by successful time management in order to fit my schedule in. Having the routine of long busy day's already gives me an advantage of managing my time which is important for flight attendant's as their routines are also long days.

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I have the ability to sell products to customers confidently, especially add on's which motivate me due to the extra commission I receive. With being confident communicating with customers, I am able to convince consumer purchases which will benefit the future airline company I will work for.

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Problem solving is a skill I have attained most previously working in retail due to customers being unhappy with problems they have. Problem solving requires me to think critically and quickly on the job to ensure customer satisfaction, I am confident with doing so as I can keep myself and the other parties calm during the problem being solved.

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I attained a GCSE qualifiction of grade 4 in maths during secondary school, this indicates that I have basic math skills. I also deal with cash handling on the till during my current and previous retail jobs, meaning I am experienced and confident with doing so; this will benefit me when selling in-flight services.

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Having the ability to swim at least 50 meters is essential in being qualified as a flight attendant. I am a confident swimmer since I took part in swimming lessons for around 8 years as a young child and gained certificates of my qualifications, therefore indicating I have a positive attitude in the water.

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Working effectively in a team is a basic skill for flight attendants due to the open communication in every flight (Green, 2022d). Each flight is likely to have different crew members which relies on confident team-working skills and being able to adapt to new people every flight. "Teamwork not only creates safety but efficiency" as there are high risks when being in-flight, being able to work well as a team to overcome challenges is a must in order for a successful flight and keeping the passengers on board relaxed (Komarniski, 1998). Flight attendants have the same goals and missions when working which is ensuring customer satisfaction and ensuring a safe flight; teamwork can ensure that everyone is motivated towards these same goals and it arranges less time wasted.

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Ford's (et al., 2013) study was to investigate cabin crew's willingness to contribute in intergroup communication and teamwork whilst in-flight due to the research into airline crashes which where caused by failure of communication and teamwork. The study was conducted by questionnaire's to establish who were either social or personal identities and how they would take action during an in-flight emergency. The results concluded that crew members who had a social identity are more likely to have a positive attitude towards working and engaging within a team than those of a personal identity. This study helps identify how important team work is being a flight attendant due to the research of airline crashes previously. The study also highlights that having a more confident social personality improves the teamwork contribution, which I attain as shown in Belbin's team roles assessment.

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"Teamwork is simply when a group of people from different backgrounds work together to complete a project or task" (Indeed, 2023). Successful team working depends on factors such as team members attitudes, personalities, goals and skills.

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Belbin's study of team roles identifies 9 different behavioural attributes which combined together are used to build "high-performing teams" (Belbin, 1981). The nine roles are: resource investigator, team-worker, co-ordinator, plant, monitor evaluator, specialist, shaper, implementer, and completer finisher. After completing the assessment, my results indicated that my strengths within teamwork are co-ordinator and shaper, and my weaknesses are plant and specialist.

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Being able to communicate effectively is a must as a flight attendant due to the relationship between passengers and other crew members. Communication takes place assisting passengers throughout the flight as well as demonstrating instructions clearly, especially during emergencies in order for coordination (Krivonos, 2005).

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Customer service is one of the most important skill required as it links to the rest of the skills. Flight attendants are seen as the face of the airline and represent the airlines values, goals, and missions. Flight attendants provide the service and experience during the flight, therefore delivering professional customer service allows passenger satisfaction and a sense of comfortability (Hannah, [n.d]).

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"Cultural awareness can also be considered as a foundation of communication" (Angel of the Skies, 2009). Flight attendants being aware of different cultures is important due to the interactions with passengers from all around the world. Cultures have practices and customs which are different from one another, therefore having the knowledge is important and shows respect.

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Flight attendants will be travelling within different countries constantly, therefore will have to be able to adapt to time zones and weather conditions confidently. As well as this, each flight might have different crew members making it vital for adaptability (Bhadury, 2021). The job is "filled with uncertainties" travelling to new countries and environments, especially the potential of covering shifts last minute.

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Airlines are known for abusive passengers and turbulence which can cause stress to flight attendants as well as passengers, therefore being able to manage and control stress whilst on board is important in remaining professional and taking care of mental health (Bhadury, 2021).

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Leadership is an important skill as a flight attendant due to the level of authority they possess; they are in charge of the passengers on board, as well as potential other crew members depending on their position (Royal Signature, 2022). Leadership would also be used in the case of an emergency.

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Being a flight attendant means that a work schedule will be different to the norm as some days flights may be early hours and other days mid/late hours, therefore having time management skills are crucial in order to be on time for work. Making sure there is enough time for key tasks before, throughout and after the flight is important to provide safety and security. Time management skills = being punctual = successful working career (McHnery, 2010).

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Having the ability to sell products, food and beverage to passengers is important as airlines rely on these sales as another source of income. Flight attendants having sales experience is an advanced skill as they have skills to market and convince consumer purchases creating profits for the company and potentially extra commission for themselves (Bhadury, 2021).

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During a flight, unexpected emergencies or situations may occur in which the flight attendant must escort to solve the problem as quickly as possible in order to keep the passengers happy, calm and content. Problem solving "enables us to identify and exploit opportunities in the environment and exert control over the future" (Kepner-Tregoe, [n.d]).

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Maths is a basic skill which will be used on flight when selling in-flight services and products. Flight attendants will be dealing with money especially in different currencies sometimes, therefore basic maths is important in ensuring the right change is given to passengers. Numerical problems come hand in hand with problem solving and critical thinking skills, therefore showcasing multiple skills at once (Silverstein, 2016).

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Swimming is a crucial skill that is required when being a flight attendant, it is essential during training and flight attendants must be able to swim at least 50 meters. During safety training, employees will learn procedures of landing on water or ditching as well as learning the equipment such as life jackets, life rafts and survival packs. Even though these procedures only happen during in flight emergencies, flight attendants must be able to be confident within the water in order to take care of themselves and the passengers (c. Green, 2022).

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- Teamwork
- Communication
- Customer service
- Cultural awareness
- Adaptability & Flexibility
- Stress management
- Leadership
- Time management
- Sales
- Problem solving
- Numeracy
- Swimming
(Bhadury, 2021)

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Airlines have a minimum age requirement of 18 in order to be a flight attendant due to the responsibilities that come with the job such as the safety and welfare of the passengers. A height restriction between 5'2" and 6'2" is ensured due to the height of the aircraft and ensuring flight attendants can reach the overhead cabin bin. A British passport must be attained with potentials to acquire certain Visa's for when travelling. Most airlines forbid visible tattoos and body piercings, apart from Virgin Atlantic who recently relaxed the policy in 2022 due to wanting to provide staff the opportunity to embrace their true authentic selves whilst at work (Clarkson, 2022). A disclosure and barring service (DBS) will be checked as well as other background checks which must be passed. Physical requirements also include being able to swim 50 meters, being able to tread water for 3 minutes, and being medically and physically fit enough that satisfies regulatory and role requirements (Cabin Crew Wings Team, 2023).

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To apply for the role of a flight attendant, applicants can apply online directly via airlines with no before hand qualifications apart from holding a GCSE of basic Maths and English. Despite the fact there are no required qualifications, applicants can still take part in college courses or university degrees which specialise in education about the travel and tourism industry; these courses and degrees can help provide knowledge before ongoing the job. Apprenticeship programmes are also available in the aviation industry that offer academic learning as well as on-the-job training, with chances of a career with the airline at the end of the programme (Beth, 2022).

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To qualify as a flight attendant, each airline provides training course programmes which usually run between 5 and 7 weeks depending on the airline. The programmes consist of learning about pre-coursework basic knowledge, safety equipment, emergencies, aircraft types, firefighting and first aid. Despite the practical side of the training course, there are written exams that require revision for as most airlines have high standards with an average pass rate of 95% (b. Green, 2022).

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Angel of the Skies (2009). Cultural Awareness for Cabin Crew. Aviation English Asia [online]. Available from: http://aviationenglishasia.blogspot.com/2009/06/cultural-awareness-for-cabin-crew.html [Accessed 12 May 2023]

Batshevs (2019). Benefits Of Soft Skills Training In The Workplace. eLearning Industry [online]. Available from: https://elearningindustry.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/7-Benefits-That-Highlight-The-Importance-Of-Soft-Skills-In-The-Workplace.png [Accessed 16 May 2023]

Beth (2022). What qualifications are needed to become Cabin Crew? Aviation Job Search [online]. Available from: https://www.aviationjobsearch.com/career-hub/articles/career-advice/cabin-crew/what-qualifications-are-needed-to-become-cabin-crew [Accessed 11 May 2023]

Belbin. Dr.M (1981). The Nine Belbin Team Roles. Belbin [online]. Available from: https://www.belbin.com/about/belbin-team-roles [Accessed 12 May 2023]

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Ford. J, O'Hare. D, Henderson. R (2013). Putting the "we" Into Teamwork: Effects of Priming Personal or Social Identity on Flight Attendant's Perceptions of Teamwork and Communication. Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society [online]. 55(November), pp. 499-508. Available from: 10.1177/0018720812465311. [Accesse 13 May 2023]

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Green. P (2022d). Transferrable Skills: What Cabin Crew Can Do When Changing Career. Simply Flying [online]. Available from: https://simpleflying.com/cabin-crew-transferrable-skills/#:~:text=Teamwork%20makes%20each%20flight%20safe,of%20your%20new%20team%20easily. [Accessed 12 May 2023]

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# data[].attributes.body
Flight Attendant's or Cabin Crew is a responsible career of "providing in-flight services to ensure that airline passengers have a comfortable and smooth flying experience" (Indeed, [n.d]). Flights are either short or long-haul with duties such as greeting passengers, inspecting the cabin before take off and throughout the flight, enforcing and providing safety procedures and security regulations, and providing entertainment and personal assistance to passengers. Flight attendants were first introduced in the 1930's specifically targeted towards women due to the lower wages and sexist marketing practices which attracted customers by promoting charming women (Smithsonian, [n.d]). However, the perspectives of flight attendants changed from the 1970's due to the uprising equal rights between men and women, less discrimination towards women as objects, adapting to becoming a more professional career, and the dress code becoming more functional (a. Green, 2022).

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As my assessment showed that co-ordinator is one of my behavioural attributes within a team, it means I am focused on the overall objectives for the team whilst allocating work appropriately and being able to point out any issues within team members. These highlight my strengths such as being mature, confident, identifying talent and helping to clarify goals. Another behavioural attribute within Belbin's team roles is shaper, this means I provide enthusiasm and encourage the team to keep focus and drive them to stay on task; this also highlights strengths of mine such as being able to overcome challenges and thriving off pressure. Despite these strengths of working in a team, there are potential weaknesses such as I could be seen as manipulative, prone to provocation or offend people's feelings (Belbin, 1981).

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My weaknesses are highlighted during Belbin's team roles assessment as plant and specialist. As a plant's attribute is being highly creative with solving challenges in "unconventional ways", this could indicate that I am not the most confident with challenging myself to solve problems which require extra thinking outside the box (Belbin, 1981). A specialist brings knowledge into the team within a key area of the task meaning they are self-starting and dedicated. As this area is a weakness of mine, it highlights that I may not have confidence in myself to push the team to start working towards our objectives and providing knowledge.