I am a flight attendant (safety professional) with a major airline. I am passionate about travel and people so this career is a great fit for me.

EDUCATION | I have a B.A., but a degree is not necessary for this career. I went through seven weeks of training provided by this airline. I speak German and American Sign Language, which often means I earn more than others without a second or third language. It also opens more doors for flying internationally.

HOW TO GET STARTED | Go online and compare airlines. Contact those that interest you and find out if they are hiring and from there start the process of sending in a resume and/or questionnaire. They will then contact you if you seem like a good prospect. I wouldn't recommend taking flight attending classes, which are sometimes offered at a university. Each airline will train you as they see fit once you are hired. Also, be prepared to shell out some money before your first paycheck as you will have to pay for your needed uniform accessories: shoes, socks and even specific hairclips if you need them!

MUST HAVE TRAITS | To make it in this business you must be: flexible, willing to relocate, love to travel, possess good customer service skills, be able to defuse situations and troubleshoot. This career is not for you if you are claustrophobic or suffer from motion sickness when flying. A good sense of humor is also a definite necessity!

how I got started | I took my first international flight when I was nine years old. Even at such a young age, I was impressed by the care my family and I received on the flight. A seed was planted in me and I thought that when I grew up I might want to help people in that same way. My plans to work with the airlines, however, took a while to become a reality. My college degree ended up taking me 10 years to complete due to lack of finances, during which time I did various odd jobs, many involving interaction with people. When I finally finished college, I applied for a position at a major airline, and received an interview opportunity. It was a disaster! I blamed myself - I was not as prepared as I could have been. I then took a step back from pursuing a flight attendant career and ended up working in the health field and teaching sign language. Finally, I got tired of sitting at a desk for 12 hour days, and became ansy to pursue a career as a flight attendant again. This time: SUCCESS!

why this job?| I grew up in Germany and attended an international school there, then ended up returning to be on staff. I knew being a flight attendant would utilize my international upbringing and, as many of my flights take me to Europe, I would be able to keep up with my German. I also had many opportunities to work with various people of all ages ages and nationalities before starting, and felt I would be a good match for a flight attendant job.

why I love this job!| Working as a flight attendant puts me face to face with people. I love the diversity of those I interact with on each flight - the passengers as well as my fellow crew members. I learn something new each day, which enables me to become better both personally, and as an employee. Oh, yes, and there's another reason I love this job: the travel! Being able to travel on and off duty has been a wonderful perk.

my typical day| I don't have a typical day! I live with my suitcase packed, (I have two of everything - toiletries, make-up, sets of clothing), because I don't always know when I will be called on to fly. I am given a minimum of four hours to arrive at the airport once I am assigned to a flight. Once I arrive, I meet with the crew for the flight and we talk about who will work each position once on the airplane. Then I head to the airplane to greet the passengers. If I am on a domestic flight, I may fly to three different places that day. If it is an international flight, I will work one flight then go to a hotel, sleep and usually come back to the airport the following day. I work between 13 and 16 days a month.

what they are | Jet lag! Changing time zones frequently can really wear and tear on your body. A flight attendant's schedule also can put a wrench in your social life. When you first get started, you're at the bottom of the totem pole as far as pay and assignments. You have to have endurance, patience, and stamina to work your way up.

all about growth | The upside is, if you're good with people, you will have a wide variety of individuals to interact with each day.

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