'I really enjoy working for Cathay Pacific,' said Ms So. 'It is a large company with a good reputation, and I loved my work as a flight attendant. However, I knew I had other skills and wanted to find new ways of using them.'

To explore her options, Ms So began to identify her interests and the skills she enjoyed using. She also talked to her friends and made use of some of the career management materials designed by Cathay Pacific that encourage staff to develop their careers within the organisation. Her reflections revealed an interest in marketing.

Ms So knew that she had some of the right qualities to succeed in the field. 'When I first started looking at marketing I knew I could apply my experience from being a flight attendant. My personality was suitable for the job and I have good language skills and an ability to work well with people,' said Ms So.

But she added: 'Marketing is a big field - I wanted to find a specific area to specialise in.'

With this goal in mind, Ms So thought about the functions Cathay Pacific would need in the future and the opportunities that might exist within the organisation.

'The more I explored, the more I realised that public relations is very important to a big organisation like Cathay Pacific and that there would be lots of opportunities. That's how I decided on which area to focus on.'

Even though she had no fixed plans for her future at that stage, Ms So began to study for a postgraduate diploma in public relations with the University of Hong Kong's School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPACE). She also completed a certificate programme on marketing management and a distance learning certificate programme on effective business writing for executives, both with the Hong Kong Management Association.

The nature of her work as a flight attendant enabled Ms So to commit to a demanding study schedule. With a flexible work roster and the opportunity to exchange some of her scheduled flights with other crew, Ms So was able to manage her postgraduate PR studies efficiently. 'I am so proud that my attendance was more than 90 per cent - better than many of the students who are permanently based in Hong Kong,' she said. Not content with just studying, Ms So looked for ways to gain some practical experience and participated in voluntary programmes in the company. For a year, she participated as a member of the Cabin Crew Consultation Group (CCG), a staff body designed to improve the transparency of communication between cabin crew and management.

As part of the CCG, Ms So met in-flight services department managers on a monthly basis to share feedback from the cabin crew. The role allowed her to develop contacts within the communications department and she hoped this would allow her to learn of new vacancies as they became available. However, no vacancies emerged.

Ms So did not give up. She joined the CCG for a second year and this time it paid off.

'Through the CCG, I heard that a cabin crew communications executive was about to leave,' she said. 'I was very excited - it was the chance I had been waiting and preparing for.'

While Ms So had heard about the position from her contacts, the decision to offer her the job was based entirely on her skills and aptitude. She had to apply through the regular channels and compete with other applicants by submitting a resume, taking a written test, and taking in a group discussion and an interview.

However, she did not have to try too hard to convince the managers of her suitability for the job: an important aspect of the role was the ability to maintain good relationships with cabin crew and she had already built these relationships through her job as a flight attendant.

In addition, Ms So possessed good communication and people skills, combined with relevant qualifications, and she had demonstrated commitment to the business through voluntary work. Her experiences with the CCG also helped.

'The managers knew that I was dependable because, when I was working with the CCG, I was given an award for being the most reliable member,' she said.

While most career-changers face some obstacles along the way, Ms So experienced very few.

'Everyone has been very supportive,' she explained. 'Even my old manager was happy to have one more of her cabin crew join the communications team. Actually, my room is next to hers now.'

She never felt particularly scared about changing jobs. 'I decided that I would just try my very best. Of course, I knew I could ask for help if I found any aspect of the job difficult. After all, this is Cathay Pacific, so I know that everyone is very nice and helpful.'

Now that Ms So is on the job, her studies are also paying off and she is putting her new skills into practice.

'I contribute to, and edit the weekly publication Cabin Crew News, so I am using my writing skills. I also continue to sit on the CCG, facilitating the communication with cabin crew,' said she said. 'I love my job - the prospects are very good.'

Building the path to a new future

Be proactive Take responsibility for your future and identify where opportunities might arise within your organisation.

Never give up Creating a new career can take many years. But if you give up, you will never know what you can achieve.

Do some volunteer work You might think a certain direction is a good choice, but it helps to see it in reality before you make the commitment. With volunteer work there is no risk and you can contribute positively to the business and help others.

Be prepared You don't know when an opportunity will arise. You must develop the right skills and experience so that when the opportunity comes, you are ready.

Share with others Share your ideas to help other career-changers.