opportunities, employment, Airport...
2020 is here! A new decade is the perfect time to pursue a brand-new career. If you’re thinking about a change of direction in your professional life in 2020, have you ever considered working in an airport? Working in the airline industry is an excellent career choice. It is a huge industry with diverse and exciting opportunities for development and progression. Here are five reasons why you should work in the airline industry.
A demanding but rewarding career
An airport is a fast-paced working environment. Departure and arrival schedules mean that there is a constant flux of people traveling through an airport at all times of the day and night. Whether you work in a customer facing role or behind the scenes in a more technical role, all airport workers must work together to ensure that the airport continues to function efficiently.
Airport workers report high levels of job satisfaction. Working collaboratively and on varied duties helps airline workers to feel valued and rarely get bored in their role. Long and sometimes unsociable hours are often required but you will be rewarded with great pay, excellent development opportunities and a lively and dynamic working environment.
The opportunity to meet different people every day
UK airports serve locations around the globe. Heathrow, in particular, is a global hub, where passengers take connecting flights to hundreds of different destinations. Wherever you work in an airport, you’re going to meet a variety of people on a daily basis. If you’re interested in different cultures around the world, an airport is the perfect location for you to work.
As an English speaker, you’ll be at a distinct advantage when applying for a job in the airline industry. English is the most widely spoken language in the world and is the official language of air travel. All pilots, flight crews and air traffic controllers must pass an English proficiency test before commencing work. If you work inside an airport terminal, you’ll also regularly get customer requests for help with their English.
Learn globally transferable skills
Whether you view working in the airline industry as a permanent career choice or as a more temporary employment solution, you’ll learn a lot of transferable skills. In a client facing role, you’ll learn essential skills about customer service, people management and a variety of other ‘soft’ skills. You’ll learn how each individual role combines with the airport as a whole to create a functioning system.
If you’re employed in a more technical, mechanical or electrical role, the skills you learn will be equally transferable. Maintaining an airport’s electrical and mechanical systems is no different to working in a similar role in a shopping centre, factory, leisure centre or commercial complex. If you’re involved in the manual handling side of an airport, then you can easily use the skills you learn in almost any factory environment.
A range of company and lifestyle benefits
Working in the airline industry has many perks and benefits. In terms of company incentives, you’re likely to be offered: above average pay, reductions on holiday airport parking, subsidised commuter rail travel, cycle to work schemes and a range of increasing in-work benefits such as pay rises and extra holiday entitlement for long-serving employees.
When it comes to lifestyle benefits, many airline employees enjoy a wealth of holiday focused discounts. Reductions on flights, rental cars and hotels are often available. An airline employer may also offer discounted offers on high street shops, restaurants and leisure facilities and provide discounted health care services and subsidised childcare.
A wide range of technical roles
From aircraft maintenance engineers to air traffic controllers, a flight dispatcher, cabin crew and computer systems technicians, an airport is a hub of technical data, appliances and machinery. All these components must be kept in exceptional condition to ensure both the smooth running of the airport and most importantly passenger and employee safety.
Whether you’re an experienced engineer who has specialised in aviation, you’re a mechanical engineer with experience in another sector or you’re just starting out on your career and you’re looking for an apprenticeship, training programme or work experience, an airport could be the perfect working environment for you.
If you’d like to find out more about working in the aviation industry, contact PPR today. Call us on 01895 80 81 88 or send us a message online.
