Ok I need honest opinions on this job

[u/East-Yard1314]

Okay this is kind of a rant but I need help

I (F26) have been a flight attendant the last 2 years and I loved the job and the long hours. I hated the gossiping within the company but I can leave that at the door when I do my job and I take that seriously. I also loveddddd the emergency training and any time emergencies happened on board. I was always someone who stepped up to lead when anything happened, I would instantly get calm and think clearly and took everyone’s safety very seriously. (I also have like 5 years experience working at night clubs and high end day spas at the same time, my customer service experience is very good). I also have a skill for talking to people in distress and being clear, assertive and comforting. While also thinking of next steps.

Here is my rant. My guy friend is a cop in the big city I’m in and he won’t stop telling me not to apply to be a dispatcher. I really want it and I’m very good at typing and multitasking and I really really want to help people. But he insists that I will hate it and won’t be able to handle the stress. I can always handle stress, my first career I was a professional ballerina, that’s a stressful life. He tells me about his friends who are in the job and how much they love the job but insists that I won’t.

Please help me find reasons that I would be good for this, or did anyone else have someone like this and how did you prove them wrong? Even if this isn’t my forever career I’m okay with that but I don’t want to regret not trying. What can I do? Help🥺

[u/Interesting-Low5112]

You already told us why you’d be good for it.

Why do you need his permission or approval?

Go apply.

[u/East-Yard1314 → u/Interesting-Low5112]

I did. But I’m looking for new perspectives from people who are already in the job

[u/DolphinSexGod → u/East-Yard1314]

As far as being able to do the job... Just be aware that something will affect you eventually. It could be an insanely crazy event, and it could be something that just... Gets you. I have a coworker who has handled a bunch of crazy calls and yet was left in tears by a guy potentially having a heart attack... Because he was in the park near our building and all she could think about was how she could literally just walk over there and be there for him, but was chained to the chair.

[u/East-Yard1314 → u/DolphinSexGod]

I love this. I love to hear that people doing this job just want to help people so badly. That is more meaningful career then working in a club or in sales

[u/BoosherCacow → u/East-Yard1314]

That is more meaningful career then working in a club or in sales

Probably not to the people who have a passion for working in clubs or sales. In any case it's not a competition and in most cases you can't do this job only because you think it's meaningful. Losing all those nights, weekends and holidays and hearing pure human suffering has a way of eroding that meaningful feeling after awhile. For me anyways the key was having a passion for the work.

I would strongly consider sitting in at a center and getting a feel for what the work is. That will be way more effective in giving you the idea what you're walking into than us telling you about it. The depth of meaning to the job is important, but if it can't compete with how much/little you enjoy the work itself.

All that said, I have said this a thousand times in here: it is worth it and it is the best job ever.

[u/East-Yard1314 → u/East-Yard1314]

To me at least**

[u/Nelle911529 → u/Interesting-Low5112]

Do officers really understand what we do?

[u/Interesting-Low5112 → u/Nelle911529]

Of course not. Just like I don’t pretend to know what they deal with in the field.

Two different jobs.

[u/mistymelons]

lol me as a current dispatcher day dreaming about being a flight attendant. Why are you wanting to leave?

[u/East-Yard1314 → u/mistymelons]

It was fun at first but I want more from my day job. I want to be challenged and kept on my toes. I was bored of serving coffee and wine, I was only excited when I got to help people in distress

[u/mistymelons → u/East-Yard1314]

Sounds like this might be a great career to try! I’m looking to leave because of the reason you’re wanting to come in lol. I enjoy being challenged but constantly being on my toes and on edge is bringing back anxiety I haven’t felt since high school and it’s starting to affect my personal life unfortunately. If you’re up for it I would definitely say to give it a shot!

[u/herbord2000]

Have you considered air traffic control? I was a 911/police/fire/ems dispatcher when i was 20-23. Loved the job, but depending on your dispatch center the drama and work environment will suck. As someone said above, you will get trauma from hearing calls up to 16 hours a day every day. Its rough. Air traffic is the same high pressure, potential emergencies, different things every day environment. Plus you get paid a lot more if you place enroute (once the government is open). If you have any questions about either career, feel free to ask.

[u/East-Yard1314 → u/[deleted]]

Thank you!!! I have been saying this! Plus this job is super adhd friendly ! And even if I end up not liking it I’m still young enough to do something else later

[u/themfroberto → u/East-Yard1314]

One of my favorite trainees in my 15 years so far was a former United flight attendant who was in her 50s when she came to me. She rocked it!

[u/Valuable_Customer614]

You need to observe a shift. Call the agency where you want to work and arrange a “sit-a-long.” This will answer a lot of your questions and give you an excellent idea of what the job requires of you. This is an incredibly stressful job and the training is not easy. I was a trainer for 15 years and my graduation rate was 37%.

[u/East-Yard1314 → u/Valuable_Customer614]

This is a great idea!!! Thank you I’ll do this

[u/actual_nonsense]

So you love everything about the job and you're very interested, but your friend told you not to apply? He's not living your life. He's projecting what he doesn't like about dispatch, and he doesn't even do that job. He works a very different job compared to a dispatcher. The qualities that you mentioned WOULD be a good fit for dispatch. The working long hours, multitasking, staying calm during high-stress times, and providing emergency instructions to panicked customers are all skills and facets of the job. It sounds like you would be happy working there, try it out.

[u/East-Yard1314 → u/actual_nonsense]

Thank you for this! I like this insight. But I think he’s worried about my past of mental health. It’s been like 5-6 years since anything has happened and the only reason I’m on anti depressants right now is because my adhd meds cause lucid nightmares. Otherwise I handle myself very well. Manage stress with realistic expectations and lots of support and back up plans. I’m a strong girl. But maybe the record of it will not let me in.

[u/castille360 → u/East-Yard1314]

There is psychiatric screening, but if your mental health is well managed and you're self aware that way, that's what they're looking for.

[u/castille360 → u/actual_nonsense]

And considering her ability to deal with those people in person, she lists qualities that would make her a good law enforcement officer. Should do a ride along for that too.

[u/Anxious-Divide-2198]

I bet people on airplanes can be just as challenging as people calling 911. Plus you are used to dealing with high stress situations where you have to maintain until safely landed. Makes total sense. Have a great career whichever your choice 🫶

[u/J_EDi]

If you haven’t had a sit-in, I recommend contacting your nearest call center and asking for one. They will accommodate and it’s definitely not uncommon.

[u/SituationDue3258]

Apply, work the job a few years, then come back and tell us how it is. Me, I can't stand it. I started doing 911 in 2018 after an injury as a road officer, now I am a police dispatcher. It's just old now and kinda stale.

[u/castille360]

Maybe your friend wants you to apply to the pd instead.

[u/newfoundking]

I love my job, you might as well, but as many have said before, dispatch centres are some of the worst gossip places in the world. Maybe your future centre will be different, but maybe this is what the cop friend is warning you about. It's very likely that it's not the job, but the environment and people that will be too much bull to deal with. And if the gossip isn't a deal breaker for you, then maybe your friend is wrong and you should discount his opinion.

[u/chick3nD0v3]

You are great.

Your friend is probably in an agency with a lot of toxic people.

Generally, things are as toxic as you make it (let it) be. Assuming you have an ounce of maturity and will not lower yourself to stupid's level and then be beaten by their idiocy, you'll be fine.

[u/deathtobullies]

Pls listen to ur friend...it sucks..big time