What to do when you get a rejection letter, phone call, or email..

Interviewing for a flight attendant job in an industry where so many people are competing for the same job is something that can be nerve wracking to be mild about it. 
For some companies, there are group interviews, others rely on online forms and telephone interviews. For all, there will come a point where there is the dreaded face to face interview. 
How you can fare throughout this entire process is something that depends a good deal on positive human interactions, some luck, and a private definition of what the company is looking for, as defined by each of the companies that are out there. 


Go to enough interviews, and you will assuredly, get the rejection letter or telephone call. 
How you handle this can determine if you could even get called back, and what type of person that you are. 

This is not reality television. This is not where you are trying to make a memorable exit. This is where you are trying to remind them that you are gracious and poised in the face of adversity. 
What do I advise?
The Thank you letter. 
You should already have written a Thank You letter to everyone that has been involved in your employment screening at this process. 
Here is how that should go. 
When you get the interview, note the name(s) of the people that interviewed you. Write them down in your notebook/legal pad. As soon as you get home, write that letter or card. NOT an email, unless you have no other resource. DON'T send a Thank You Text. It is not professional. Send the card or letter. Use the same name that is listed on your resume. Don't sign the resume as "Sugar" unless that name is on your legal documents. You want them to be able to cross reference that thank you card with your resume. 


After that interview, you may be interviewed with other people on the phone. They may or may not be able to give you their name. Get a name? They get a thank you letter or card. 
I am sure that you are seeing a trend here. Every person that you encounter who helps you in your quest to be a flight attendant (or any job, for that matter) deserves a thank you acknowledgement that they really are helping you. 


But what if you are declined? Do you feel let down that you did not get the job that you really wanted? Do you feel angry or upset? Sure. Perhaps. Maybe. Maybe you learned through the interview process, that the company that declined you was not a good fit for you. 


Send a thank you card or letter. If you do not have an address, then send it email, which is less preferred than a card or letter, but still, send the Thank you. 


Here comes the tricky part. What do you say to the very company that decided against you? 
Here is an example that I have sent out in the past:


Dear X Airline Company, 
CC Jane Smith, HR, John Jones, HR Development, Jill Doe, Recruiting
Thank you for the opportunity to learn more about your people and your company during the interview process that I just completed. 
Although I was not selected as a member of your team, I would like to thank you for taking the opportunity to get to know me, and for me to get to know better, as well. 
I wish you all the very best in your search for employees that fit your company's needs. 
Cordially yours, 
X
I actually got a letter back from the HR department, telling me that if there was going to be another hiring action, they would like to let me know and resubmit my application. You never know where the letter will go, so make sure that all of your contact information is on it, and that it is all current and correct. 

This letter is not the time to critique the staff that interviewed you. They already have a job with the airlines, you do not. Being negative in a letter after you have already been declined sets you apart...in a way that you do not want. If you do have some critiquing to do, it is best done in  a separate letter. 


Best of luck, and I hope that we all see one another at an airport soon. 

Frustrated Ex-Delta Flight Attendant wants her job back

In Atlanta, Georgia, Amber Robillard has expressed sadness over losing her job, and has stated that she would like to have her job back. 
In case you do not recall, Amber is the flight attendant that was found to be carrying a handgun in her luggage. 
She was booked and charged, but the charges were later dropped. She is also appealing her firing from Delta. 
Really? She is appealing her firing? She is lucky that she did not go to jail. 
She is a person that I would not want to have on a flight, after all, she was confused about whether or not a hand gun was on her person. 
 Want to see the video? 

United Airlines Pilot Charged with ferrying marijuana

A United Airlines pilot landed a plane in Shelby, NC, where it was quickly surrounded by law enforcement officials and was found to contain over $200,000 worth of marijuana. 

Delta Airlines Hiring Update

Delta Airlines is hoping to recall all of its' furloughed flight attendants and have new training of flight attendants starting in January of 2011.

The US Justice Department Approves United and Continental Merger

In non-shocking news today, The U.S. Justice Department approved the merger between United Airlines and Continental Airlines. 
Some concessions were made, including leasing space to Southwest Airlines.

100th Post!

This is the 100th post for my blog, and I really am enjoying posting to the blog, it has been and is a lot of fun for me. 
The big news right now is something that we have all heard murmurings about for a long time "Delta Airlines is hiring for flight attendants!"
Delta is a wonderful carrier, and there are thousands who have been waiting to become a Delta applicant, but until now, they have not opened their doors to hiring. 
For first day applicants, the process was a long one. The Delta site was hit very hard by potential applicants vying for a position with the legacy carrier. The site kept collapsing, leaving applicants wondering what to do. 
Fortunately, Delta already had that figured in, and, with a handy toll free number and a patience for hold time, applicants were able to get help once they were stuck with a page that displayed the dreaded "loading" sign at the top of the page. 
After the person came on the phone, and hold was over, the person on the other end of the phone was unfailingly courteous, thoughtful, and asked and answered questions with a pleasantness that is not often seen in todays' version of customer service on the phone. 
A screening involved answering several questions, and giving many facts over the phone. The  process was easy and painless. 
For a lucky few, they were informed that they were cleared of this portion of screening, and that they would have their resumes reviewed and that follow up contact would be made between 2-3 days from now all the way up to 3 weeks from now. 
From then, another phone interview, and then, successful applicants will be informed that they will be flown to Atlanta for the final interview. 
For all of the applicants out there, I wish you all the best of luck, and to Delta Airlines, congratulations on a profitable last quarter, and to opening the floodgates to thousands who would love to be a part of your fine organization.