How to start a career in aviation?
Uwa Odefa Obasi and her team are responsible for talent acquisition management at the Nordic Aviation Group, Xfly and Nordica. Her 15 years of experience in strategic HR management are a good platform for guiding talents towards the stairway of an aviation career.
Uwa, passionate about employer branding, employee engagement and wellbeing, as well as about “HR as business partner”, she is often the first impression of the company for newcomers. If you want to span your wings in aviation, here is some of her advice to you.
"Did you know that careers in aviation come in all forms from flight crew to data analysts? If you’ve ever wondered if a career in aviation is for you, I’m here to tell you it could be. And if you haven’t considered it, you should; it’s an inspiring sector to build a lifelong rewarding career in. If you’re not sure how to begin, perhaps these tips might help," - Uwa Odefa Obasi, Talent Acquisition Management
First off, if you do not have aviation-specific qualifications or education, that is not a problem as careers in aviation come in different forms, including traditional professional roles such as Human Resources, Finance, Marketing, IT, Legal and data analytics.
And some of the roles like Crew Control just require you to be solution-oriented and have a positive can-do attitude, and we’ll equip you with the skills you need to succeed through training.
- Determine your passion. If you play into your passion, which are usually your strengths, your chances of success increase exponentially. Are you a people person, do you like numbers and statistics, do you like to get your hands dirty, do you like to pull things apart and put them back together, do you find yourself always making pitches and advocating for something or someone? All of these can help you pinpoint where you can start your career. There are several free online professional and self-assessment tools you can use. If you have any non-industry experience, then list out the skills and qualifications you have and determine which of these are transferable or related to aviation jobs.
- Do your research. Find out what kinds of jobs exist in the aviation industry, what qualifications, skills and experiences are required and determine which of them are a match for your passion, skills, and experience.
- Start small. Internships or part-time opportunities are a great way to kickstart your journey and gain the hands-on experience that will speed up your journey in aviation.
- Build a professional network. The aviation community has several professional groups and networks on LinkedIn that you can join. You can also follow the LinkedIn pages of your favourite aviation companies. Be sure to engage as part of these communities, that’s how you learn from experienced professionals and develop relationships.
- Get qualified. If you can afford the resources, including time, then find an academic course or program that will give you the start you need. The Estonian Aviation Academy, the Xfly Aviation Academy and similar educational institutions around Europe offer courses for a variety of aviation professions, including short foundation courses.
