7 Essential Skills to Fly High as a Cabin Crew 15/10/23 19.

26

7 Essential Skills to Fly High as a

Cabin Crew
Joining a tight-knit cabin crew can be a hugely rewarding career in
Singapore. You’ll get to commute around the globe to far-flung
destinations, interact with people from varied cultures and provide
outstanding customer service.

With the world’s best airlines offering their cabin crew members excellent
career opportunities – not to mention great travel discounts – being a part
of this industry can be the right decision for you. Check out these
essential skills to understand the role and potentially land a job.

Want to increase your chances of nailing the job interview? Learn

effective job search strategies, enhance your personal brand, and
more with Career GRIT. Register for our Virtual Seminars today!

1. Communication

Exceptional communication skills are vital to achieving success as a flight

attendant. Whether you’re relaying information to the pilot or other
members of the cabin crew, you need to do so clearly and effectively. This
way, your flight will depart on time and arrive safely.

Many passengers find flying a stressful experience, so you’re bound to

encounter some anxious people on board. If the weather turns south,
you’ll also need to keep these people calm to ensure the safety of the
crew and the surrounding passengers.

https://content.mycareersfuture.gov.sg/7-essential-skills-to-fly-high-as-a-cabin-crew/ Page 1 of 5
7 Essential Skills to Fly High as a Cabin Crew 15/10/23 19.26

2. Customer service

Whether people are flying for business or leisure, they typically expect a
high level of customer service. As part of the cabin crew, this means
warmly greeting passengers at the gate and providing an in-flight
experience that lives up to the cost of air travel.

With many airlines staking their reputation on the service of their cabin
crew, going above and beyond for passengers ensures management looks
favourably at your work. For example, the Singapore Airlines cabin crew is
rated as one of the best in the world for their service excellence.

3. Stress management

Considering you’re spending much of the working day at around 35,000

feet, having the ability to deal with stress is crucial for all cabin crew
members. Although encountering an emergency is unlikely, you must be
ready to spring into action immediately if the situation calls for it.

https://content.mycareersfuture.gov.sg/7-essential-skills-to-fly-high-as-a-cabin-crew/ Page 2 of 5
7 Essential Skills to Fly High as a Cabin Crew 15/10/23 19.26

For example, rough weather can cause nervous passengers to panic.

Keeping calm under stressful conditions ensures you know how to get
them through a bumpy flight. Additionally, composed communication with
your team ensures you can resolve a potentially dangerous issue.

Want to be in the know of the latest career tips, events and

workshops organised by Workforce Singapore? Sign up for our e-
newsletters now!

4. English proficiency

The ability to converse in multiple languages is a key skill for cabin crew
members. In fact, the Singapore Airlines website specifies new applicants
must speak fluent English and have received a GCE O-Level for the
subject (alongside four others).

As you’ll be speaking with passengers from around the globe each day,
this expertise only makes sense. However, being conversant in other
languages is advantageous in securing a cabin crew position, as you
would be able to better serve non-English speaking passengers.

5. Cultural sensitivity

Just as conversing in multiple languages is an impressive skill, so is an

appreciation for cultural sensitivity. With people from various walks of life
travelling on your airline, knowing how to deal with issues discreetly is
imperative.

For example, it helps to learn about inclusive language, everyday religious

practices and other sensitive topics that come up regularly. Plus, the
ability to escalate a situation at the right time is another useful skill for
airline workers.

Looking to switch to a new role in travel or hospitality? Explore over

100,000 job postings now available on MyCareersFuture!

https://content.mycareersfuture.gov.sg/7-essential-skills-to-fly-high-as-a-cabin-crew/ Page 3 of 5
7 Essential Skills to Fly High as a Cabin Crew 15/10/23 19.26

6. Confidence

Airlines expect cabin crew members to provide exemplary customer

service at every turn. When you’re responsible for potentially hundreds of
passengers hurtling through the sky, you can’t allow a rowdy person to
interrupt the flight for everyone.

This means cabin crew members must have a high degree of confidence
that enables them to deal with difficult passengers. Whether someone is
ignoring safety regulations or disrupting the experience of others around
them, taking an assertive position is sometimes crucial.

7. Swimming ability

You hopefully never have to use your swimming skills when working for an
airline, but you won’t be able to become a cabin crew member without it. If
your plane crash lands on water, it’s your job to enact emergency
procedures to keep passengers and crew as safe as possible.

During your training, you’ll undergo mock exercises that teach everything
from ditching procedures and slide-raft boarding to navigating open sea
conditions in varied weather. While this probably sounds daunting, being a
confident swimmer is imperative to success.

Become a cabin crew member today

Ready to join a world-class cabin crew? Building on these essential skills

ensures you’re fully prepared to apply and interview for a rewarding role. If
you’re looking for a different position in the aviation industry, check out
how you can establish a flourishing career with a sought-after job as part
of the ground crew.

https://content.mycareersfuture.gov.sg/7-essential-skills-to-fly-high-as-a-cabin-crew/ Page 4 of 5
7 Essential Skills to Fly High as a Cabin Crew 15/10/23 19.26

https://content.mycareersfuture.gov.sg/7-essential-skills-to-fly-high-as-a-cabin-crew/ Page 5 of 5