Student Flying High with One of UK’s Leading Airlines

A cabin crew student from Sussex Coast College has been offered the chance to start her career with Monarch Airlines.

Amy Birks, who has just completed her Level 2 Diploma in Air Cabin Crew at the college, recently travelled to Brighton for a recruitment day with the low-cost airline. The recruitment day took place at the Hilton Hotel and put the budding flight attendants through their paces with a number of physical and mental tests which included taking their height, a half an hour exam, and a 2on1 interview.

Amy was one of only a few people to pass the assessment with flying colours and to be offered a place on their 5 week training the same evening.

Amy said: “I was ecstatic to find out that I got a job with Monarch. It was all a bit of a whirlwind to be honest. I saw their recruitment day pop up on Facebook and a couple of days later I was travelling to Brighton.”

The former St Leonards Academy student, joined the college two years ago to study Sport, but an injury meant that it was time for a change of direction.

“My injury meant that I couldn’t carry on with my running, and I have always loved travelling, so I decided to ask Alexandra (Curriculum Area Manager) during the summer if I could join the cabin crew course, and she said yes.”

“From the moment I started, I absolutely loved it. The tutors are the nicest tutors you can ever meet. The work they put in to make sure their students do the best that they can is second to none. They always make sure that they are around to help if you need it.

“Everything I learned during the course, and the fact that we had to wear a cabin crew uniform and make sure that our make-up is immaculate, really paid off during my assessment. In fact, to help us even more, representatives from British Airways came into college a few months ago to put us through our paces during mock interviews.”

The assessment day lasted for 6 hours and required the group to undertake height tests, a short written exam with general knowledge questions, complete an application form and answer a series of scenario based questions during an interview.

“The course taught me lots about flight procedures, safety procedures, airport codes, currency, and what to do in an emergency. With all of that under my belt, it meant I could be confident and make a really good impression.”

“My training begins on 10th July and I’ll be moving to Three Bridges for 5 weeks so that I don’t have to commute from Hastings. It’s all very exciting and I can’t wait for the next chapter of my life to start with Monarch. I hope that this is the start of a long and successful flying career and one day, I’d love to come back to the college and pass on my knowledge to the cabin crews of the future.”