How to dress for your cabin crew assessment day is a critical factor to consider. Your appearance will dictate the quality of the first impression, which is a significant element on the path to success at your cabin crew interview.
You aim to get a job in an industry that highly values appearance.
The airlines want their flight attendants to be smiling and spotless, with shiny shoes, neatly ironed clothes and a charming look.
When meeting someone new, we humans take 30 seconds to form an opinion. We base our judgment on body language and appearance. This first impression cannot be altered at a later stage, regardless of what you say or how well-prepared you are for all the questions that you have to answer. You may think it is superficial, but this is how human beings function. We have no control over it.
Consider one study in which untrained subjects were shown 20 to 32-second videotaped segments of job applicants greeting interviewers. They then rated the applicants on attributes such as self-assurance and likability. Surprisingly, their assessments were very close to those of trained interviewers who spent at least 20 minutes with each applicant.
It has been shown that 55% of a person's opinion is driven by physical appearance.
You want the interviewers to think the highest of you and offer you the job. This article will focus on polishing your appearance, dressing for success on your cabin crew interview day, and creating a positive first impression.
Ladies
1. Suit
On the assessment day, you should ideally wear a skirt and suit. A skirt is, in most cases, a compulsory part of the uniform. The length of the skirt is another critical aspect to consider. Aim for the middle of your knee. You may want to test how the skirt looks when you sit down – you don't want it to slide too high or wrinkle. Also, remember that the group activities might require you to do some physical work: create a puzzle on the floor, build a Lego, or arrange objects in categories. If you must bend down, you must ensure that your outfit remains proper.
Your jacket should be fitted and elegant.
If you prefer, you can wear a business dress and a jacket.
Go for dark colors such as black, grey, navy, or brown, and stay away from bright colors or patterned models such as bright green or pink, flowers, or animal prints.
2. Shoes
Go for a comfortable shoe in a classic style, with a bit of heel, that you can walk in, stand on and spend many hours wearing.
Pumps are ideal, kitten heels are the minimum height, and 6-7 cm should be your maximum height. Avoid strappy sandals, open-toes, bright colors such as gold or silver, decorative stones, platforms, and shoes that are too high or flats. If you would consider going out to a bar or club with the shoes you have, they are not the best choice for your interview.
Wear black, brown, tan, dark grey, or navy for the safest choices.
Do not forget that you will be required to remove your shoes for the arm-reach test, so your pantyhose should be intact and your pedicure spotless.
Choose an outfit that is elegant and classy.
3. Decency
For a buttoned shirt, only one button should be open.
The skirt should not be so tight as to give you difficulty sitting down, and the blouse should be fitted but not too tight.
4. Hair
A flight attendant always keeps a neat hairstyle. A wanna-be flight attendant should do the same thing.
If you have long hair, tie it in a neat bun at the back of your head and secure it with some pins and a bit of hairspray.
If you have a pixie crop, style it neatly.
As a rule, if your hair can reach your shoulders, it should be tied back.
5. Makeup
Search for pictures of the airline's flight attendants and copy their makeup. Natural colors such as grey and brown work the best.
Start your makeup session with a concealer or foundation to even out your skin – if you need it. Follow by applying eyeshadow on your upper eyelid and a coat or two of black or brown mascara. A bit of blush following the natural contour of your cheeks and, as a final touch, a nude or red shade of lipstick. Avoid lip gloss, as you will probably eat it during the first hours of the day. A good lipstick looks much more professional.
Avoid smoky eyes and metallic shades, as well as too much blush or too much mascara. You want to look like yourself after an excellent night's sleep.
It would be best if you also took care of your manicure and pedicure, nails clean and of medium length, with a transparent coating or a neutral color. Avoid pointy nails, nail design, and fluorescent or too-dark colors.
When it comes to makeup, less is more.
6. Accessories
Have a minimalist approach to accessories. Please keep it simple and tasteful: stud diamond or pearl earrings, a delicate necklace, and a small watch.
Avoid artisan earrings, plastic or wooden beads, necklaces, bangles, or many rings with big stones or complicated designs.
7. The Most Important Ingredient: The Smile
A warm and confident smile will ease you and the other person. A cheerful, smiley face will make the person you talk to perceive you as friendly, helpful, pleasant immediately, and a person easy to work with.
When dealing with something unpleasant, smile, and immediately, you will feel a dose of optimism. And so will everybody else around you.
We search for one sign on a new face: a smile. "We can pick up a smile from 30 meters away," says Paul Ekman, professor of psychology at the University of California Medical School in San Francisco and a pioneer of research on facial expressions. "A smile lets us know that we're likely to get a positive reception, and it" 's hard not to reciprocate."
Smile, and the world will smile too.
Gentlemen
1. Suit
Your best choice is to go for a dark-colored suit, with pants and a jacket in the same color and design. Go for black, grey, navy, tan, or dark brown, with or without stripes. Stay away from light colors or pastel combinations.
2. Shirt
Go for a color complementing the rest of the ensemble. Safe choices are white, beige, light pink, light blue, blue, green, red, grey, and black.
3. Tie
The tie is a must-have accessory for the male business attire for a cabin crew interview. Go for a simple design and pattern that matches your suit and shirt. Learn how to do a double knot (Windsor knot) here.
Avoid cartoon-themed leather ties, bow ties, or scarves.
4. Shoes
Dark shoes (black, brown, navy, or grey), perfectly polished. No light colors, sports shoes, sandals, boots, high heels, or fashion pieces.
Classic is best.
5. Hair
Your hair needs to be short and neatly styled.
Completely shaved heads are not accepted unless you have a medical reason, so keep your hair at least 2mm long. If your hair is longer, use gel to style it.
Before the big day, it might be a good idea to visit your barber for a haircut and a proper shave. No form of facial hair is appreciated.
Also, you can't wear makeup during the interview.
6. Accessories
Men's accessories are few and very simple.
You will need a watch in a classic design to match the rest of your attire. If you are married or prefer to wear rings, keep them to your middle or ring finger only, with no more than one ring per hand.
Remove earrings, facial piercings, bracelets, and other visible jewelry you usually wear.
7. The Smile
Some think a man is more appealing if he keeps his mystery by not smiling. While this may be true for cowboy movies, you should appear warm, polite, and open during the cabin crew interview. This is done by smiling from the heart. Let us see your friendly and approachable self!
Now that you have all this valuable information, go out to your closet and create your perfect interview day outfit. Try it on, take your picture while wearing it, and picture yourself entering the interview room confident and looking fabulous with a dashing smile! This is the winning formula!
Do you want to see a photo of a perfect candidate for Assessment Day? Get it here.