Seen sometimes in our communities with their pristine appearance, distinctive uniforms and giveaway carry-on bags, are flight attendants, or to be more politically correct, cabin crew. But less than 10 percent of those who apply for the much-envied positions actually make the grade.
Yesterday, 20 December, saw China Eastern Airlines Jiangsu hold the finals for its selection of flight attendants to enter service with the company and soon be taking to the skies out of the company’s bases in Nanjing, Wuxi and Changzhou in Jiangsu, and elsewhere.
The Ramada Hotel next to Nanjing Lukou International Airport was appropriately the venue for the finals, after some 3,500 people submitted applications online, beginning 2 days prior, in that which was China Eastern’s third batch of flight attendant recruitment for 2023.
Of those, over 2,800 people were given the opportunity for initial testing, that ultimately whittled them down to 300. As the Yangtze Evening News puts it, they were finally admitted in to the training program “on a merit-based footing”.
It is with noting that this latest batch of attendants for the Airline are a young bunch indeed. Fully eight out of the 300 who qualified were born after 2000.
China Eastern is also somewhat proud of the inclusive nature of its flight attendant program. Recruitment is open to all, regardless of household registration or higher-education major. Recent graduates, career elites, veterans and people from all walks of life may apply. Those with previous experience as flight attendants are also welcome.
Yang Haitao is Deputy Director of the Party Committee Work Department for China Eastern Airlines Jiangsu. He said that candidates are assessed and scored in terms of temperament, language ability, understanding, response and much more.
Appearance is also a factor, but not as much as one might think. The computer-based examination which faces applicants also includes an written English test and a psychological test. From an airline’s perspective, applicants with strong affinity, excellent service awareness and a good overall quality are more favoured.
And in addition to their relevant work experience, individual talents or skills, examiners will be paying particular attention during the interview process to each applicant’s personal political outlook. That makes CCP ideology just as important as emergency-slide procedures for the 2023 cohort of China Eastern Airlines cabin crew.
