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Being a flight attendant is an occupation most people would dream of having as it essentially allows them to have a comfortable income and travel across multiple countries.
For 32-year-old Carl however, becoming a flight attendant himself wasn’t one born out of a childhood aspiration, but of necessity.
But for all the possibilities he prepared himself after being one, none could have prepared him for the unexpected turn life would take down the road.
Sought a stable income
While most kids would list flight attendant as their career of choice when they grow up, it held an entirely different meaning for Carl.
“I thought being a flight attendant looked really cool. It was something I admired, but I wouldn’t say it was my childhood dream.
“As I got older, my reason changed. My family wasn’t financially well off, so I wanted a career that could give me a more stable income and better opportunities,” he told WeirdKaya.
With this goal in mind, Carl went for multiple job interviews in hopes of becoming a Singapore Airlines cabin crew so that he could provide a better life and experience the world for himself at the same time.
It took me 12 interviews before I finally got the offer. I started attending interviews in April 2018 and there were so many rejections along the way that I started questioning myself.
“When I finally passed on my 12th interview in March 2019, I was completely speechless. I was happy, excited, and honestly quite emotional. It felt like all those months of hard work and persistence had finally paid off.
“One moment I’ll never forget was when one of the staff members smiled at me and said, ‘Finally! You made it. You’ve been coming back so many times.’ Hearing that made the moment even more special.
“It wasn’t just about getting the job anymore. It was a reminder that sometimes, all you need to do is keep showing up and not give up,” he said.
Upon securing the job, Carl began to see his perspective on being a flight attendant shift over time as well.
“At first, it was mainly for financial stability. But along the journey, I genuinely fell in love with the job and everything it represented.”
Unfortunately, that journey wouldn’t last long.
Down from the skies
At the start of 2020, the world was brought to its knees by the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw people being cooped up at home and thousands of flights being cancelled.
In light of the situation, it didn’t come as a surprise that Carl’s job would be in jeopardy.
“Since flights were grounded, Singapore Airlines had to carry out an early release for some cabin crew and I was constantly following the news, wondering if I would be among those being let go.
When it was confirmed that I had been let go in September, I was very sad because I had worked so hard to get this job and had been flying for about a year.
“But at the same time, I wasn’t angry or disappointed because I understood everything happened due to an event that was completely out of my control,” he recounted.
Upon returning to Malaysia, Carl decided to give it another shot at getting his old job back in 2025. Unfortunately, Lady Luck wasn’t on his side this time around.
“In March 2026, I received an email saying I had been shortlisted and was invited for the physical interview. But I wasn’t selected in the end.”
Despite the rejection, Carl said it didn’t weigh heavily on him as he went for the interview with little to no expectations.
“I told myself: ‘If I get it, that’s great. If I don’t, that’s okay too.’ I think the interview gave me the closure I had been looking for as it made me realise I had truly moved on and that it was time to embrace the new chapter of my life.”
Finding purpose in…noodles?
Upon closing the flight attendant chapter in his life, Carl went to establish his own direct selling business, which brought him little joy or satisfaction.
Deep down, I felt like I was missing something. Even though I was working, I didn’t feel genuinely happy.
“I think I was still trying to process everything that had happened after losing my cabin crew job. I was still trying to find myself again and figure out what I really wanted in life,” he explained.
In July 2025, a door was opened to Carl in the form of Little Bro Noodles, a restaurant set up by his mother in SS2. Initially, his plan was to help his mother out in running the place and being her co-chef temporarily.
But as always, life had its way of surprising him at every turn even though he admitted the transition was bumpy.
“I still hoped I would return to flying one day and always wondered whether I should keep chasing that dream or embrace this new chapter.
“As time went by, I started creating content to promote the shop. To my surprise, I genuinely enjoyed it. Seeing people come because of our videos and watching the business grow gave me a sense of purpose that I had been missing.
“That’s when I realised I wasn’t just helping my mum. I was also slowly finding myself again. Looking back now, I think the noodle shop didn’t change my life overnight. It simply gave me the space to heal, rediscover myself, and find happiness again.”
Today, Carl is working full-time at Little Bro Noodles and is much happier with what he’s doing, even if it means having a much lower pay.
“My monthly income as a cabin crew was usually around S$4,000 to S$6,000 (approx. RM12,700 to RM19,100) or sometimes even more, depending on my flight schedule and allowances.
“At the noodle shop, I started off by earning around RM3,000 a month, so financially it was definitely a big difference,” he admitted.
To supplement his income, Carl does freelance work on the side such as video editing, video shoots, content creation, and being an emcee assistant for events.
Although his income is no longer as comfortable as what it used to be, Carl said working at Little Bro Noodles has given him flexibility to do what he personally enjoys, spend more time with my family, and build something of his own.
All in
I asked Carl the age-old question: do you regret making the career switch?
After a brief thought, he replied, “If you asked me this question a year ago, my answer would probably have been different.
“Back then, I wouldn’t say I regretted it, but I definitely felt a sense of loss. I kept wondering what my life would have been like if I had continued flying. But today, I don’t feel that way anymore.
“Every chapter in my life has taught me something. I experienced my dream of becoming a Singapore Airlines cabin crew, and I’m grateful that I got to live that dream even if it was only for a short period.”
Carl added that working at the noodle shop and creating content to promote the business has become truly enjoyable and rewarding for him.
“When customers tell me they came because they saw our videos, or when they say my content made them smile or inspired them to visit, it’s such a rewarding moment. That feeling of connecting with people gives me a different kind of fulfilment.
“I don’t measure success only by income anymore. To me, happiness is waking up and enjoying what I do, spending time with my family, and knowing that the work I create brings joy to other people.”
As for becoming a flight attendant again in the future, Carl has firmly put it behind him and is determined to give his all at Little Bro Noodles, although he admits that life may take him on yet another unexpected journey.
Over the past few years, I’ve grown a lot as a person. My priorities have changed, and I see life differently now.
“At this stage, I want to continue helping my mum in making Little Bro Noodles grow. At the same time, I also want to keep creating content because I’ve discovered that I genuinely enjoy storytelling, filming, and connecting with people through social media.
“One thing I know for sure is that I’m excited about this new chapter and I’m looking forward instead of looking back.”
‘Embrace, not fear failures’
As one who had gone through the arduous and heartbreaking process of going through 12 job interviews before landing his flight attendant job and only to lose it a year later, Carl’s no stranger to setbacks.
As such, it’s no wonder his advice to others is to not run away from failures, but to face them head on.
“I’ve learned that life doesn’t always go the way we plan. Sometimes you can give your best, work really hard, and still face rejection or disappointment. But don’t let it define who you are.
“Also, don’t be afraid of failure. Looking back, I don’t think failure is a bad thing anymore as every setback taught me something, helped me grow, and shaped the person I am today.”
Carl also encouraged others to pursue what they’re passionate about wholeheartedly and not be fazed or swayed by the opinions of others.
“Believe in yourself, keep learning, and keep moving forward. You never know where life will take you.”
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