Job Overview Airport operations would require large number of airport service workers to assist travelers by cleaning and maintaining facilities. They also provide information and assist passengers with their baggage. Responsibilities and tasks are divided to workers. Airport parking attendants, airport drivers, baggage porters, airport concession workers, airport food concession attendants, airport food service workers, restaurant and food service managers, airport janitors or cleaners, grounds managers and airport information specialists are all considered to be airport service worker.
Education, Knowledge and Trainings Required
High school students can be employed as airport service workers, although opportunities are big for those who are high school graduate. Classes in Business, Mathematics and Computer Science will prepare applicants to ace the job this field. Speech and English classes will develop communication skills. This will help the individual interact with foreign passengers. On-the-job trainings are given to applicants by the company hirinng them, yet they can take separate postsecondary training programs to prepare more for their career. Licensing and certification depend on the type of career they will practice in the airport. Airport drivers are required to have commercial driver’s license. Food service workers, cooks and chefs are required to obtain health certificates to make sure the applicant is free from skin infections and communicable diseases.
Skills and Abilities
Communication skill is essential for airport service workers. They should know how to provide information clearly. Having a pleasant personality and appearance will help. All airport service workers are required to be patient, tact and friendly. They should enjoy working and interacting with different types of people. For those in sales, they should be fast and accurate in adding and subtracting.
They should also know how to operate different machines or equipment used in the business. For baggage porters, they should have the strength and good physical stamina to lift heavy baggages.
Duties
Duties and responsibilities of airport service worker depend on the type of job or career focus that they practice. For airport drivers, they operate vans, trolley cars, buses, trams and trains for passengers. Baggage porters help passengers with their luggage. Airport concession worker is responsible in assisting customers at bookstores, gift shops, newsstands and car rental agencies in the airport. Airport food concession attendants sell, prepare and serve snacks and beverages to travellers. Food establishments in the airport have airport food service worker who take food and drink orders, prepare and cook food and dispense and mix nonalcoholic and alcoholic beverages. Airport cleaners and janitors maintain and clean all areas in the airport which include washrooms, waiting areas, shops and terminals.
Earnings and Job Outlook
Factors that determine the income of airport service worker are the location and size of the airport, work experience and job description. Reduced passenger travel decreased the employment opportunities for airport service workers.There will still be a few jobs available for the aspiring ones as some experienced workers leave for better job opportunities and further advancement.
Paula Hiz is a researcher and a human resource specialist who helps newly graduates, job applicants and post graduate professionals be aware of their job opportunities and available trainings for skills and practice upgrading.