At The Beginning...

@TheAirPro                                        BLOG                                                           3/3/2012

Welcome to @TheAirPro

INTRODUCTION:

This is the first blog written by someone (me) who has accumulated, during decades, a huge ballast of experiences in the air industry.

I am a pro.

An “air” pro.

From air to land.

You will understand this when you read my words as I shall, with the most exquisite pleasure, share my professional life with you. Hoping you will reciprocate, your wings fluttering beside mine!

As a matter of fact, I flew already as a child from Libreville in Gabon to Le Bourget airport in Paris at the age of four.

Although I do not recall this first flight or later, hearing my mother as she told everyone who would listen that I was pre-destined to work in the “air ”.

Much later on, I would contradict my mother without giving further details. Being an airline stewardess had been my second alternative.

My “air” adventure began with a TWA ad in the Boston Globe. TWA was in the process of hiring airline stewardesses.

I was living in Cambridge (Mass.) and my contract as a mother helper’s soon ending. For various reasons, the prospects of remaining in the USA were stronger in me than returning to the small village in central France where my parents were still living.

I felt I had matured so much that I was able to make own decisions about my future.

So I sent the standard application with a passport picture to TWA’s recruiting department.

Not too long after, I received a letter with the airline’s logo and with my heart stumping in my chest, I read their confirmation to present myself for the initial interview rounds set up at the Prudential Tower in Boston. I was in seventh heaven!

When the day finally came, I arrived at the interview location at the precise given time.

I had borrowed an elegant suit (skirt and jacket) from a friend and felt confident that my looks were engaging enough to attract the TWA recruiting team.

My hair was cut very short and my make-up applied naturally to enhance the green of my eyes and the reddish tan of my face. I knew how to present myself. My breeding was visible!

As I entered the waiting room, a group of thirty hopeful young women sat quietly, nervous and whispering almost to each other, exchanging thoughts. I took a seat as well and smiled carefully at them, without a word.

I was concentrating on what was happening on the other side of the door.

When my turn finally came, I was greeted by a man and two women.

Professional recruiters in TWA management team.

It all went well. I spoke English fluently of course, along with French and Spanish.

Although everything they needed to know about me was already given in the application I had filled in advance… I repeated it as each took their time to “quiz” me.

The usual probing with the whys the hows and the whens.

Each time I answered with calm and confidence (I had rehearsed imagining the kind of “tricky” issues I would have to answer)

The whole first interview event had lasted half an hour. And then and there, I was told how sorry they were but I was not accepted.  My hair was too short. Come back to us when it is below the ears!

That was it…!

(To be continued)