For most people, a boring old office job is far from a passion. For this reason, they may look at other industries in order to find unique career paths that offer a little more excitement. Airport jobs are a very popular choice, as they involve world travel, exciting technology, and hundreds of thousands of unique and diverse people.
If you are thinking about going into the airport industry, there are a number of important factors I think you need to consider. For example, you will need to think about exactly which job you want, where you want to work, and how you are going to achieve these goals. I cover all of this below.
What Are the Biggest Airports Around the World?
There are thousands of international airports for you to consider working at. If you enjoy travel, you could opt for an airport on the other side of the world. A few of the busiest destinations include the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport.
However, the biggest airports can be found in Dubai, California, Tokyo, and London. If you would prefer to work in a quieter airport, you could always look for work in less populated or less traveled-through cities. You could also opt to find work in national airports instead.
Arguably the best and most well-run airport in the world has to be Singapore Changi International. This airport connects customers to 200 destinations worldwide and works alongside 80 different international airlines.
What Airport Positions Are Often Available?
There are a number of airport positions for you to choose from. For example, you could opt to find a job in the human resource, legal, or IT department. More so, airports rely heavily on financing, public relations, and communications.
It is essential to note that all these fields require special training and qualifications. You will also be able to find jobs within these fields at different levels. Some employees settle for entry-level positions, such as a customer service agent. However, you could also choose to become a cabin crew member, air traffic controller, or aviation security officer.
Some of the most specialized positions include the pilots, maintenance officers, and airport directors. You will need to study for a specific number of years and gain enough valuable experience before you will be able to start with these jobs.
Decide Exactly What You Want to Do
The first step that you will need to complete on your journey to becoming an airport worker is to decide exactly what field you want to go into. As we mentioned above, there are plenty of options for you to choose from.
It is best that you look for a job that matches your skills and abilities. For example, if you are shy and introverted, looking for a position in the customer relations industry would not be the best choice.
Instead, you may find that working as a ground service agent or air traffic controller would be more up your alley. There are plenty of websites that you can look through in order to discover exactly which options there are available to you.
Do the Appropriate Research
Once you have decided exactly which job you want to go into, you can start putting in some serious research. Like any job, there are a lot of small pieces of information that you will need to find out before dedicating your life to that particular field.
Most people think that the pay is the most important factor. However, it would be best if you first researched what the job entails, how many hours you will need to work a week, what skills and characteristics you will need to develop, who you will be working with, and where you will be working.
After putting in the research, many people may change their minds about a job. However, if you have found out everything that you need to know and still wish to go into that field, you could also consider talking to a career specialist in order to find out what to do next.
If Possible, Look for Internships or Learnerships
A great way in which to gain experience in the field is by part-taking in various internships or learnerships. In this way, you will get to know precisely what you will be doing and what a typical day in the job looks like beforehand.
Many people jump into their studies before truly understanding what it is that they are trying to achieve. By completing an internship and learnership before studying, you will also find it much easier to cope with the work.
On top of this, it will earn you valuable experience. In this way, you are more likely to be accepted for a job once you start applying.
Do the Necessary Courses
After finishing an internship or learnership, you can begin studying or completing the relevant courses. The course that you will need to do ultimately depends on which field you want to go into. Some of these courses may be offered at regular colleges or universities, while others can only be taken at aviation schools.
The length of time that it will take you to complete these courses also varies. For example, if you decide to study a BBA in airport management, you will need to study for at least 3 years. Aircraft maintenance engineers also study for 3 years and require an additional 6 months of training.
It takes most pilots around 4 years to complete all the necessary training. However, it is necessary to note that there are different types of pilots, ranging from entry-level student pilots to commercial pilots. The higher up the rank you wish to be, the longer your course will take.
Gain Valuable Experience
There are other ways in which you can gain experience in order to work in the aviation industry. While internships and learnerships are great for getting an idea of the job, it does not fully prepare you for what you will have to do.
After studying or completing the relevant courses, you can look at other ways in which to gain experience. For example, there are a few additional courses in each field that will expand your knowledge and skills even more. So if you wish to become a pilot, you could increase your number of flying hours.
Again, this is done in order to increase your chances of being hired by the airport of your choice. Since most aviation jobs are incredibly specialized, you will need to prove your worth by bettering your skills and resume as much as possible.
Prepare Your Resume, CV, and Letter of Application
Once you have completed all the training and have gained valuable experience, you can start writing up your resume. Again, it is crucial that you describe any skills and vital qualities you have, which will help the employer see exactly how you will help.
More so, be sure to mention any prior leadership roles that you may have had, as this is a great skill to have in the world of aviation. Along with your resume, you can attach any letters of recommendation from past employers, teachers, or professors.
The purpose of your resume is to show the potential employer exactly what you can bring to the table. For this reason, mention any jobs that you have previously had and be sure to show your professionalism.
Search for Available Jobs on Websites and Portals
You can now start looking for any available jobs. Most people simply use the internet in order to search for openings. For example, there are various job portals that provide you with a list of wanted positions from around the world.
You could also simply visit the airport in which you wish to work. However, if you want to work internationally, this may not be the most convenient option.
Luckily, it is very easy to contact the right people in order to search for work. However, if you have any connections in the aviation industry, make sure to use them wisely. Specific fields in this industry are difficult to get into, meaning that you will need to find a way to make your application stand out.
Apply for the Job of Your Choice
Once you have found the perfect available position, you will need to apply as quickly as possible. It is important to remember that the aviation industry is a very popular one. For this reason, most openings will not stay available for too long.
More so, most of these jobs (if not all of them) will require you to have an in-person interview. With that being said, if you have applied for an international position, you will need to travel to the chosen destination in order to complete this.
It is also important to note that just because you have been called in for an interview, it does not mean that the job is yours. You will still need to impress the potential employer and prove to them exactly why you will benefit the airport. If you have a successful interview, they could ask you to work for a short ‘test run’ period.
Summary
There are a number of factors to consider before you can begin working in the airport or travel industry. For starters, you will need to select exactly which position you want and work to gain all the necessary qualifications.
You will also need to think about where you want to work, as there are thousands of airports all over the world. I hope this article has helped you get well on your way to working in your dream job!
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