What can I do in college to prepare for a job in the airline industry?
I'd like to work in the corporate office of an airline one day, I'm just not sure what specific job yet! Are there certain classes I should take, clubs on campus I should join, extra curricular activities you recommend I do on my spare time, or internships I should apply for? How do students right out of college set themselves apart for jobs where you work?
3 answers
nancy’s Answer
Any degree is a great start as there are so many different levels working for a international airline. In sales you just have to love working with people. I work with large corporate clients like GE and Intel. Math is great for working in our contracting department in SFO. We need aggressive hard working young people!
Wayne’s Answer
Look for Colleges that have Aviation Management Degrees, or you can get a Business Degree and go from there. Any type of Management skill will help you get started. Also you can go to the various airline employment sites and review their job openings and if there is one you like, they will also have the minimum qualifications for the job.
Aftab’s Answer
Airline has many departments, Flight Operations and Engineering and maintenance are at the heart of the airline. But working in Sales and Traffic can be rewarding as well.
While Traffic is about dealing with the passengers on every day basis and you become face of the airline but Sales jobs can be exciting as well. Ultimately making money for the airline is why the airline is there in the first place. Working out sales contracts with big customers and being competitive and strategic with the fares, can bring profits to the airlines bottom line.
While flying pilots, aircaft engineers play important roles but Sales people normally rise to become the CEOs and higher management people.
For sales jobs you perhaps need to be a MBA graduate with a creative mind and convincing in conversation.