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Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a crew member. Feel free to use our crew member job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a crew member.

 

Who is a Crew Member?

A crew member is a member of a group that performs certain functions and responsibilities in a variety of sectors. On a seasonal or year-round basis, their work generally includes customer service and physical labor. Crew members work for airplanes, restaurants, resorts, and ships, among other places.

 

Types of Crew Members

Film crew: A film crew is a group of workers engaged by a production firm to make a movie or television show. The crew is distinguished from the cast, which is defined as the actors who appear in front of the camera or provide voices for characters in the movie.

Rowing Crew: Rowing, often known as crew in the United States, is an oar-powered boat racing sport. The difference between rowing and paddling sports is that rowing oars are joined to the boat via oarlocks, whereas paddles are not. Sculling and sweep rowing are two different types of rowing.

Stage crew: Stagehands and/or Stage Technicians are terms used to describe members of the backstage crew. Backstage at theatre productions, they assist in the preparation of props, staging, lighting, and sound, among other things. The Designers and Performers rely on the backstage crew to keep the event operating smoothly. Stagehands, sometimes known as stage technicians, are members of the crew who assist on sets. They assist with lighting, sound, props, and general scenery in television, cinema, and theatre. Stagehands also help performers get into costume and put up equipment. Depending on the amount and nature of production, duties may differ.

Television crew: Positions on the television crew are similar to those on the film crew, however, there are a few changes. The casting director, costume designer, director, location manager, make-up artist, researcher, scriptwriter, set designer, and television producer are among the team members at this stage.

Ground crew: Ground crew, often known as ground workers, work in the aviation business in a variety of tasks at airports. Passengers’ safety and comfort are ensured by the ground crew, who check baggage, provide information, help disabled passengers, confirm reservations, and sell tickets.

Aircrew: Aircrew, also called flight crew, are personnel who operate an aircraft while in flight. The crew makeup of a flight is determined by the kind of aircraft, as well as the duration and purpose of the flight

Tank crew: The M1 Armor Crewman is a member of the United States Army who operates armored vehicles and fires weapons to destroy enemy positions as part of a team. They operate tanks and amphibious assault vehicles to confront and destroy the enemy during warfare. As a Tank Crewman, you’ll be part of a four-person crew that will drive and operate this incredible machine. You’ll have the opportunity to work in a variety of positions, including driver, gunner, and loader. You can eventually earn the right to command your tank. But first, you’ll receive high-rate training on how to properly care for your tank.

Boat crew: Once a charter yacht has been hired, the crew is responsible for navigation and safety on board. A charter boat (sometimes known as a charter yacht) is a vessel that can be rented for private transportation and leisure. It is possible to charter the boat with or without a crew (“crewed” or “bareboat”).

From the above, we can see that they are many types of crew members depending on the organization they work for. However, in this article, we are going to do our best to stick to the aircrew members.

 

Crew Member Job Description

Below are the crew member job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a crew member job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.

The duties and responsibilities of a crew member include all of the following:

• Perform pre-flight safety inspections and make sure the plane is clean before taking off.
• Show how to use oxygen masks, seat belts, and escape doors as well as other safety and emergency procedures.
• Give information and assistance to passengers to ensure their safety and comfort.
• Greet, check tickets, and direct passengers to their seats.
• Prepare and serve food and beverages to passengers.
• Answer queries from guests about flights, travel routes, and arrival times.
• Attend preflight briefings and learn all about the flight.
• Lead passengers and administer first aid if necessary in the event of an emergency.
• Assist passengers with particular requirements, such as children, disabled people, or the elderly.
• Prepare analytic reports on flight-related problems.
• Direct any issues or complaints to the appropriate supervisor or management.
• Prioritize key chores and properly manage his or her time.
• Maintain a professional demeanor and an optimistic outlook.
• Assist with the onboarding of new crew members.
• Follow company-provided safety and security procedures.

 

Qualifications

A crew member requires the following qualifications:

• A high school diploma or a comparable qualification is required.
• Certification and training for aircrew are essential.
• A minimum of two years of crew member experience is required.
• Fluency in English is required, as well as outstanding interpersonal communication abilities.
• Outstanding problem-solving abilities and the ability to handle challenging situations.
• It’s a plus if you can communicate in more than one language.
• Physical fitness and the ability to work on your feet for long periods.
• Flexibility in working hours (day and night shifts).

 

Essential Skills

The following is a list of the top skills required in the industry, they are:

1. Communication: The ability to communicate effectively is probably the most critical talent for a crew member to have. A large part of the work entails relaying directions to passengers or understanding their wants so that they can be met. Great communication skills are also useful while coordinating with your crew members to complete chores promptly for takeoff and landing.
2. Teamwork: As an aircrew member, you’ll normally be part of a group of four or more people. It is impossible to do everything by yourself due to the large number of jobs that the crew must complete. As a result, knowing how to work as a team with others and communicate well with them is crucial.
3. Customer service: A crew member’s responsibilities generally include supplying food and beverages to passengers as well as assisting them with any questions they may have about the journey. Your goal would be to assist the passenger and make them feel as relaxed as possible in a situation that many people find frightening. Your customer service abilities will come in handy here.
4. Amiability: Being accessible is a crucial aspect of customer service. If you don’t appear scary, people will feel more at ease asking for what they require. This is especially crucial if the buyer has a question about safety. Simple actions such as welcoming people as they board or smiling at them as you walk down the aisles can make you appear kind and go a long way with your guests.
5. Cultural awareness: One of the most crucial crew member skills is being knowledgeable of different cultures and their habits. This is because passengers come from all over the world to board a flight. They have established different habits and customs as a result of their upbringing. More importantly, some behaviors may be considered acceptable in one culture but insulting in another. As a result, having a thorough understanding of all of the world’s cultures will guarantee that you don’t walk on any toes (or hurt feelings) when serving. Furthermore, some people would be grateful if you were familiar with their customs. This level of excellence will elevate your customer service game.
6. Assertiveness: Traveling a dozen kilometers above ground in a pressurized metal tube sounds just as scary as it is. There are various safety checks and safeguards that must be implemented. However, there will always be a few rowdy passengers who believe they know more than the specialists. To get around this, you may need to be firm when explaining the regulations. It’s crucial to understand that assertiveness and aggression are two very different things.
7. Self-control: Following on from the previous point, some rowdy passengers will put your patience to the test with their disregard for the rules and excessive demands. As a result, understanding the distinction between assertion and aggression is critical. In these cases, you’d have to keep your cool and politely explain the problem to them. You might always refer them to the air marshals if nothing else works.
8. Flexibility: Aircrew members face a lot of uncertainty in their jobs. You may be flying to several nations, each with its own culture, cuisine, and, most significantly, time zones. You’ll need to be adaptable with your schedules and prepared to deal with jet lag.
9. Adaptability: Continuing from the previous point, you will need to be able to adjust to the many lifestyles that each country has to offer because you will be going from one to the other at any time. Furthermore, your crew may vary from flight to flight. As a result, you’ll have to adjust to a new set of teammates every few flights, if not every flight, thus adaptability is another important trait for crew members.
10. Physical stamina: The work of a crew member is a highly tough one. Work schedules that are unpredictable and dealing with obnoxious passengers are just the beginning. Aircrew members spend the majority of their time on their feet, either serving passengers or assisting with flight operations. Even when they are not in the air, they have a long list of responsibilities on the ground. Before applying for the job, you’ll need to build up your physical stamina to complete all of these duties.
11. Stress management: You can see how physically taxing the job may be from the point above. Aside from that, dealing with unpleasant passengers while still smiling at them, as well as dealing with unsettling conditions like turbulence, it’s evident that this job can cause a lot of stress. It’s critical to understand how to manage your stress.
12. Attention to detail: Crew members must have an acute sense of detail. It can be highly helpful in identifying any potential safety hazards. Furthermore, this skill can assist you in identifying any errors you’ve made that may have an impact on your customer care. As an added advantage, this skill can assist you in picking up cultural cues that you can use to guarantee the passenger receives the best possible service.
13. Leadership: The capacity to lead others is another crucial crew member talent. It would be your responsibility as an air staff member to lead and guide the passengers in the event of an emergency. Furthermore, if you work in the industry long enough, you will be promoted to a position of leadership. Chief purser or in-flight service manager are common titles for this position. It would then be your responsibility to direct the other crew members and monitor their progress.
14. Organization: Any crew member must be organized since they must handle everything in the space they operate in and maintain the plane looking neat and tidy. This skill will also come in handy while serving your customers, as a large number of people may have various orders, and it’s critical not to provide them with the wrong stuff.
15. Time management: Many airlines nowadays take pride in always being on time. To do this, the entire crew works as quickly as possible to prepare the planes ready for the next trip (after landing) or ready for take-off after all safety checks have been completed. Because there are various things to do during each of these hours, including in-flight service, being able to manage time well is critical.
16. Discretion: Occasionally, passengers may have sensitive in-flight issues. It is critical that you act discreetly to remedy the problem during these periods. It could have a significant impact on your reputation as a friendly crew member and the airline as a whole.
17. Sales: Selling food, beverages, and other things on board is one of the ways airlines make money. Sales experience is always a plus because it shows you know how to advertise these items to customers and persuade them to buy. Having some sales experience among your credentials may provide you with an advantage over the competition.
18. Problem-solving: While crewmember training is extensive, you may be thrust into unexpected situations from time to time. This is when you must remain calm and use your problem-solving talents to come up with a solution that is best for all parties concerned.
19. Numerical competence: While conducting in-flight services and selling the airline’s products, you’ll be handling a lot of money as a crew member. Basic math skills are essential since you must guarantee that you have accurately tallied the totals (in the relevant currency) and returned the correct change.
20. Basic swimming: Another important aircrew qualification is the ability to swim. Fortunately, this ability will only come in handy if you crash land on a body of water in the worst-case scenario. While life vests are provided to keep you afloat, this skill can come in if you need to swim to the nearest boat or assist a passenger in need.

 

How to Become a Crew Member

Follow the following steps to become a crew member:

1. Become a Good Hiring Candidate for Airlines: To become an aircrew member, you must first apply for a job with an airline. You must meet the airline’s educational and experience standards. Applicants for airline jobs must have a high school diploma or a GED equivalent. Many employers, on the other hand, will only hire those who have attended college coursework or have a bachelor’s or associate’s degree. Hospitality, communication, tourism, and public relations are among the degrees that will best prepare you.

In addition, aircrew members must meet certain physical criteria. Minimum and maximum heights are usually set by airlines. They also require attendants to be able to sit on a jumpseat and do a variety of physical duties with reasonable accommodations, such as pushing, pulling, bending, and lifting.

You’ll also have to pass a background check and a drug test before being hired. Visible tattoos are usually not allowed unless they can be covered up with cosmetics.

Prepare to participate in many interviews. For example, before going to a one-on-one interview, the airline may do a phone screening or a group interview. Prepare to convey why you would be an outstanding fit to represent the airline by dressing professionally.

The technical components of your job as an aircrew member will be prepared by what you learn during your training, but your soft skills are just as vital. Because you’ll be communicating with passengers and other members of your flight crew a lot, you’ll need great communication skills.

Strong customer service and problem-solving skills are required in stressful situations. You’ll be able to comprehend and address the wants of your customers if you have good listening abilities.

2. Complete the Airline-Provided Aircrew member Training Program: Once you’ve been hired by an airline, you’ll receive formal training at the company’s flight training center. Expect to receive classroom education on flight laws, employment requirements, and corporate operations during your three to six weeks there.

The airline will usually arrange for lodging and transportation to the training site, but meals may be on your own. Depending on the airline’s demands, training may be compensated or unpaid.

You’ll learn how to manage emergencies alongside the other recruits, including how to evacuate an airplane and use emergency equipment like evacuation slides, oxygen masks, and flotation devices. You will take practice flights as you near the completion of your classroom training and will be graded on your abilities.

3. Get a Certificate of Demonstrated Proficiency: After you finish the employer-sponsored training, the director of operations at the airline will apply for your Certificate of Demonstrated Proficiency from the FAA.

The Vision 100-Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act, which entered into force in December 2004, outlined the process for aircrew members. This certificate, however, is only given to aircrew members who meet the Act’s requirements.

Because all regional and major airlines in the United States are part 121 carriers, the majority of aircrew members will fall under this category.

The FAA will verify your record when you apply for the certificate. After that, you’ll be able to work on a flight.

Aircrew members must take annual training to maintain their qualifications.

4. Start Your Career as an Aircrew member: You may believe that once you’ve completed your training and received your certificate, you’ll be able to travel the world while earning a living.

Not so fast, my friend. While you will have some job changes, you will not have a regular schedule and it will be some time before you can fly some of the more coveted routes. The length of time depends on the airline and the hub where you work, so it might be anywhere from a few months to a few years.

New aircrew members normally spend at least one year on reserve status, while some airlines or cities may demand up to five years of reserve status, or “on-call,” for new aircrew members. You’ll need to keep your overnight bag packed since you’ll have to report to work at a moment’s notice to cover extra flights or replace absent crew members.

The airline usually assigns you specified days to be on call, and you are compensated for the time you are on reserve. You won’t be on call at all times.

 

Where to work as a Crew Member

Crew members are generally employed by:

• Airlines
• Restaurants
• Cafes and so forth depending on the type of crew they belong to.

 

Crew Member Salary Scale

In the United States, the average annual compensation for aircrew is $32,931. However, the national average wage for aircrew in the United Kingdom is £45,707.

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