ABOUT AYA
Hi, I’m Aya.
I spent four and a half years as cabin crew with Qatar Airways. Today, I help aspiring cabin crew prepare for interviews with international airlines.
I moved from sales into cabin crew, then worked for international IT companies and financial media after leaving the airline. Drawing on those experiences, I help you develop the confidence to tell your own story in your own words.
MY STORY
A year to earn my offer.Starting with no airline experience.
My first job after university was in sales. With long hours and frequent overtime, I wanted to find work where I could make more of my abilities.
Then I learned that Japanese cabin crew could work overseas with Emirates. I decided to pursue a cabin crew role while continuing to work.
I knew nothing about the airline industry. I attended a cabin crew school twice a week after work and interviewed with more than 10 airlines.
I reached the final interview on my first attempt with Emirates and thought I might get an offer sooner than expected. But I was rejected. There were also periods when I wasn’t invited to interviews at all.
Even though I practised English and interview answers every day, my mind would go blank in the interview.
How could I feel at ease and let my strengths come through?
I began to focus on sharing my own experiences in my own words instead of searching for the “right answer” an interviewer wanted. I also worked on my delivery and expressions, so the conversation would feel enjoyable for the person across from me.
A year later, I received an offer from Qatar Airways on my third attempt. I enjoyed talking with the interviewers, and for the first time I felt, “This time, I’m going to make it.”
FROM CANDIDATE TO CABIN CREW
The crew life I dreamed of, flying around the world
I spent four and a half years as cabin crew with Qatar Airways, serving in both Business Class and First Class.
Travelling around the world meant meeting passengers and colleagues of many nationalities. Working with people whose cultures and values differed from mine taught me the importance of understanding others and expressing my own ideas.
The communication skills you develop for an interview stay with you after the offer. That is why I want us to build skills together that will also support your work and life beyond it.
Memories from around the world
PROFILE
Profile
- Cabin crew
- Four and a half years with Qatar AirwaysBusiness Class and First Class
- Career
- Sales → Qatar Airways cabin crew → international IT companies and financial media
- Languages
- Japanese, English and KoreanCurrently learning Dutch!
- Study abroad
- Vancouver, Canada · two months at a language schoolSeoul, South Korea · one-year exchange programme
- Education
- Toyo University · Department of English CommunicationIntercultural communication and multicultural understanding
- Now
- Running Cabin Chat from Amsterdam, the Netherlands
WHY CABIN CHAT?
Why I created Cabin Chat
At the cabin crew school I attended, I met a teacher who immediately made me think, “I want to learn from her.”
She gave honest, sometimes tough feedback, but always treated each student with warmth and care. When I felt discouraged, she invited me to a café. I still remember the feeling that she really saw me as a person.
I want to be someone you can feel just as comfortable turning to for advice.
“Aya, do you have a minute?”
I chose the name Cabin Chat because I wanted to create a place where you can simply reach out and talk.
The things that went well, the worries, and the concerns you haven’t quite found words for yet. I hope we can talk openly and find your next step together.
— Aya
WHAT I BELIEVE
What matters at Cabin Chat
Develop your own voice beyond memorised answers
We explore what each question is asking and reflect on your experiences to find answers that sound like you. Together, we refine your words, tone of voice, expressions and pace so your message comes across.
Build thinking skills that take you beyond the offer
Becoming cabin crew is the start of a new career. After leaving the airline, I went on to work for international IT companies and financial media. I want you to learn to think for yourself, understand others and communicate, so you can keep thriving internationally.
Start by getting to know each person
Everyone has different experiences, strengths, worries and target airlines. By listening to where you have been and where you want to go, we find your strengths and the steps to focus on together.
