Does a happy employee increase the bottom line for an airline?

Does a happy employee increase the bottom line for an airline?

With greater pressures being placed on the current aviation market, high fuel prices, privatized airports demanding a great return for landing slots and passenger handling, as well as the travelling public wanting to fly for less than the cost of a taxi fare to the airport, airlines have been cutting costs to the bone in an attempt to make a profit.

But with this drive to cut costs, is it necessary to have the employees of the airline squeezed and pressured in the process?

Low cost airlines work on minimal margins and high passenger numbers to generate a profit, and with this comes low numbers of staff trying to cope with the high numbers of passengers, aircraft and those associated problems. Does morale for the employees actually cost the company money?

In my humble opinion I don’t believe that morale needs to be sacrificed in order to reduce costs.

The typical airline employee wants to be treated fairly, know where they stand with regards to promotional opportunities, have a sense of security in their job, (not living in fear of being outsourced to a cheaper which in some cases can result in a reduced output for the airline), and feel that their contribution in both their physical work output, but with their suggestions for improvement. Amazingly most of these areas actually don’t cost a thing.

But with the current thought process in a large number of publically listed companies, those people at the top seem to have forgotten about this untapped way to increase profitability of their organization. Most of these employees wish to stay employed on a long-term basis (which actually reduces training costs for the company), and most workers actually want to see the company succeed and be profitable. If the company wins, the aviaiton employees win.

It is hard to work out what changes need to be made in the current management thought process, but it seems at the moment that unless the cost of low morale of staff can be placed in a spread sheet and put on a graph, the move to change the trend showing towards employees may continue down this disappointing path.

Conducting Yourself in an Airline Job Interview

Conducting yourself in a job interview:

So you finally get the airline job interview you have been hoping for. The number of people that turn up for their interview under prepared and not dressed in an appropriate manner is quite amazing.

Some key points that people should be aware of before attending an interview.

Firstly, dress in an appropriate manner for the position you are applying for. If you are going for a position as a Pilot, Cabin Crew member and even an Aviation Engineer, ensure you are wearing business attire. Dress to impress.

Secondly, shake the hands of the people interviewing you. It shows character. And don't forget to look them in the eyes while you are talking. Direct eye contact shows you are not trying to hide anything and that you aren't lying to them when you answer their questions.

Thirdly, don't slouch forward or backwards. Sit upright and look at least if you want to be there.

Fourthly, watch the way in which you speak to the interviewer. Don't swear, or use slang language.

Finally, ensure you ask a few questions at the end of the interview, and make sure you do not bad mouth your current or previous employers. They don't want the impression that you will do the same to them later in your working life.

Good luck with the aviation job interview, and remember the worst thing they can say to you is "No". So relax and enjoy the moment.