Meghan arrives with ten minutes to spare. Good thing she allowed plenty of time to get ready, she thinks to herself.

Meghan is shown to a conference room, where the competition will wait with her for their interviews. Meghan notices that most of the women were around her age, a couple of them looked closer to 30, and one didn’t even look old enough to apply, the minimum age is 21, but she barely looked 18. They were all well dressed like Meghan, and all wore light makeup like her, too. Too much makeup looks unprofessional, her aunt had warned her. Apparently the others got the memo as well.

Meghan was the fourth woman called back for her interview. It was in a very plush office, more like a suite with a couch and some comfortable looking chairs, and a nice leather chair situated directly in front of the hiring manager’s desk. The manager introduced herself as Beth Lane. She appeared to be around 50, but looked to be very fit judging by how her black skirt suit fit her curves. She instructs Meghan to have a seat on the chair in front of her desk. Meghan unbuttons her blazer and sits down, crossing her legs as she does so.

Beth asks Meghan many questions, and Meghan feels she has given thoughtful, intelligent answers. Beth mentions that she started her career with the airline as a flight attendant, and worked her way up to the hiring manager for flight attendants and customer service representatives. She notes Meghan’s bachelor’s degree and says that gives her a good advantage over less educated applicants, and would be also an advantage as an employee when it comes time to bid for promotions. She tells Meghan her final decision will be after all applicants are interviewed. Meghan and Beth stand and shake hands, and Beth walks Meghan to the door.

Meghan waits for what feels like an eternity. She felt the interview went well, better than she had imagined it would. But there are no guarantees, not knowing her competition’s background, who knows who will be chosen?

Finally every applicant had an interview. About 15 minutes later Beth comes into the conference room and says she will be taking one applicant back to her office at a time, in no particular order, to inform them of her decision. She emphasizes that just because someone is last doesn’t mean bad news! After the applicants chuckle nervously, Beth calls back the youngest looking woman first. One by one Beth returns by herself, the previous applicant having been informed and sent either somewhere else to wait for the others that will join her, or unfortunately sent home with no job offer. Meghan is the seventh (lucky 7 maybe?) woman called back. Beth has her sit down again and says I have good news, I want to offer you a flight attendant’s position with our company! Meghan quickly says yes, and with a big smile shakes Beth’s hand as she tells Meghan congratulations and welcome aboard! Beth has a seat and tells Meghan now for the formalities. First as you are aware, you will be brought to a medical center that does all of our drug screening and flight physicals, for all employees from pilots to flight attendants, plus drug screening and physicals for customer service representatives, and baggage handlers. As long as you pass the drug screen and flight physical, you will be officially hired at that point. You have already passed the background check or you wouldn’t have made it this far.

Beth briefly goes over the pay and benefits package, and tells Meghan that she will receive an employee handbook in the mail if she passes everything this afternoon. The employee handbook goes into more detail on the wage system and benefits package, and has all the information she will need to start her training, scheduled to begin in a month or two. Meghan says thank you again, and Beth says my pleasure, you can take a right from my door, go down the hall and wait in conference room 2 on the left. I will come to get everyone shortly.

Meghan notices that the youngest looking new hire made the cut. Meghan introduces herself, the young woman’s name is Amanda, Mandy for short. Soon the rest of the women show up one by one. Meghan notices only one of the women that looked to be around 30 made the cut.

Beth arrives and tells the women that the physicals are next......