How can you write your CV to target the airline you’re applying for? We recently caught up with our industry partner, Cabin Crew Wings, to find out.
Personal details
This part is overlooked so often in the CVs we are sent in as part of our CV Review Service! I can’t emphasise enough how important it is that your personal details are correct and up to date.
Occasionally the recruitment team might need to contact you to confirm a detail and only have the contact number on your CV in front of them – so imagine how you’d feel if you missed an important call due to not updating your number!
Spelling and grammar
Your CV will often be the first impression the recruitment team get of you, and bad spelling and grammar is not only unprofessional, but also considered unacceptable in this day and age where access to various spelling and grammar checking apps and software is readily available. There’s no bigger turn off for the recruitment team than this – don’t let yourself down here!
Targeting your CV
Basically you would ideally start off with a CV which highlights all of the standard cabin crew requirements that you fulfil, and your past life and employment experiences can then be tailored each time you apply to a different airline.
It may seem like a lot of work – essentially you’re rewriting your CV to some extent with each application. But trust me, you’ll reap the benefits!
The ‘personal statement’ section of your CV is vitally important as this is the first part that the recruitment team will read, so this will undoubtedly be the part that needs the most updating for specific airlines as you selectively edit the most relevant information to put within it.
Airline research
Do your homework! As I’ve mentioned, look at the requirements for each airline – although many of these are the same across the board, such as having high standards of personal grooming, a positive attitude and customer service skills there are certain traits more desirable to some airlines than to others.
For example, low cost carriers such as Ryanair and Easyjet place a lot of emphasis on onboard sales, so if you have any experience in a sales setting make sure to highlight this! On the other hand the more luxurious airlines like Emirates or Etihad hold excellent customer service skills in the highest regard – if you have customer service experience or can relate a time where you’ve been recognised for going above and beyond your duties in this area then don’t hold back, put it down!
Airline identity
In addition to their requirements each airline will have their own ‘brand’ or ‘identity’. You can get a feel for this by reading blog posts and news articles on the airline – either on the official blog on their website or through blog posts written by the crew who work for them, which give fascinating ‘behind the scenes’ titbits and advice.
Look at the airline’s mission statement too, this will give you insight into their core values. For example, some airlines make a huge commitment to sustainability and the environment – if this is something that you feel strongly about too then make sure they know this.
You can tailor your personal information with relevant facts about yourself that highlight any experiences (not just in employment – perhaps in your personal life doing things such as volunteering, charity work or hobbies) in this area.
