Open Day EK: how does it work?

Dear X:

There is no problem in replying your inquires regarding  EK Cabin Crew Recruitment process. There are 3 basic instances for EK and in each one of them generally speaking only a 25 % goes through:

 

Open Day: this day it may be organized or not (depending in the country) by a third party agency or directly by EK staff. They are in charge of the pre selection of candidates for the second instance, Assessment Day.

What do they want in the Open Day? To start with there are certain criteria that are a must, so pay attention to them so you don´t waste your time during the event. The first thing is that you must reach 2 meters 12 centimeters standing in your tip toes with your arm fully extended, this is done because that´s the height to reach safety equipment inside the aircraft. Second, don´t have any visible tattoos even if you “paint” them for the event and you lie about it then in the medical revision in the clinic at Headquarters they will find out and you will get automatically fired, so don´t lie about it. Third, hepatitis C or HIV + are a mayor “no” to get the job, they simply don´t hire people that are carriers. Forth point, your body mass index must be a healthy one, flying is all about physical work and you must have a healthy one to do so. Fifth, you must be a minimum of 20 years and 9 months to apply for the company, when entering the country by law you must be 21 to work.

 

When you walk into this event usually they are very crowded and if it´s a “walk in at anytime” I really recommend you to go as early as you can. It is very simple, you just stay in your place in the queue and this different scenarios may happen:

 

 

      a. CV drop off, height test and a quick fire interview with the interviewer (they are usually ex cabin crew). The questions might be from “why would you like to work for EK?” “why do you want to change your current job?” “Tell me about this experience that you had as customer service in this company, what did you there?”. Answers should be simple, coherent and you must reflect a natural sense of peace and security when you develop your answer. Smile naturally, don´t fake it, don´t be hyper and always remember to say “good morning” “thank you” “have a nice day”. They don´t want “hyper” people, if you are calm and somehow introverted it´s better than to be hyper and super social. Talk to the people that are around you while you wait in the queue and be patient, if you hear someone saying a nasty comment about “it´s bad organized this event, the wait is too long” don´t listen to them, play stupid. Recruiters do see everything and take everything into consideration, even if you think that they are not seeing you or that you are far away from them. Results might be provided by e-mail to candidates or they could arrange a “get together” after the interview process is concluded giving a small personal envelope to each candidate of “you made it” or “you didn´t”.

      

      b. CV drop off, height test and written English exam. The exam consists in performing an essay in which you may choose 2 topics, you´ll have 15 minutes to do it. The subjects may be, “if you were to be a super hero which powers would you have, how you would use them and in how would you help with that” or “explain a traumatic situation in your life and what did you learn from it”. I always encourage choosing the first option but never write about have x-ray powers or to be invisible, those are bad choices. Results might be provided by e-mail to candidates or they could arrange a “get together” after the while interview process is concluded giving a small envelope to each candidate of “you made it” or “you didn´t”.

 

The other option is a programmed Open Day with a starting hour and it´s not a “walk in at anytime”. There you must be punctual so arrive 30 minutes earlier. Talk with candidates and just try to fit into the scene very calmly and smoothly, remember don´t by hyper. Then they will present you a 20 minutes video of EK (that you´ll find in youtube) and after it they will ask questions about the video, don´t participate in that and don´t raise your hand. Don´t ask questions about the video and don´t respond questions made by the recruiter, less interaction it's better; if you keep a low the profile higher are the chances. Then you have the CV drop off and a quick fire interview with the same dynamic that I explained before. Following that you´ll be joined in a group with 10 others and you´ll sit in a circle. There they will tell you to speak with the group about a random subject that may be “explain an odd experience and why was it odd”. While you share your experience with the group recruiters will hear you and will analyze your overall performance (including your CV information).

 

The important thing in this stage is to hear carefully what the other is saying and participate with others, remember that you´ll have to smile and don´t by hyper during this stage, try to use candidates names (you´ll have your name in a tag) when you direct to someone. Then you´ll be given a house organ about EK in which you will have to read out loud in front of the group, 4 to 8 lines of the text are read by each candidate. When all of that finishes recruiters will start saying names, those names that are said are: unfortunately you didn´t make it through. Also they could just thank everyone and send the results one by one through e-mail.

 

Your style during the event: it´s a must if you have long hair to pull it back and have a bun, if you have bob cut it´s okay don´t worry. Make up must be simple and fresh, try not to apply too much powder or base or too much blush. If you maintain your make up simple and formal it´s perfect but remember to apply the distinctive red lipstick. White shirt with a black or dark navy blue suit with skin color opaque stockings and don´t wear high hill shoes, they are unnecessary and will be uncomfortable as you might be standing for a long while. With medium height, thick heel shoes you´ll do just fine. Perfume must be simple and not too sweet or too strong. Nails must be cleaned and properly polished with a white neutral color. All of your information (CV and pictures) must be placed properly in a folder and take black pens with you. In your full body and face pictures this is a must, smile – show your teeth. It doesn´t matter if you think you´ll have them yellow or crooked, just smile and show them. It is very important in your CV to state that you have customer service experience and that you know how to be responsive and respectful to Management orders. Try to keep your CV as simple as possible and don´t over through too much information about absolutely all the tasks that you developed during your current or past experiences. Think that they must read and analyze hundreds of CV in each event, they search for key words, if you have your presentation as simple as possible those key words are easily read by them. Recruiters like to simplify their search and be as fast and responsive to criteria.

 

Extra information: take into consideration if you are going with a male friend that EK priority is currently given to male candidates that know how to speak / understand in an intermediate level or up German, Mandarin or Cantonese Chinese and Arabic – this is only applies to male candidates. Also, during some seasons certain Passport holders from certain countries don´t have as much of priority as other candidates with a different Passport from a different country. If you didn´t make the cut you´ll have to wait 6 or 3 months to re apply, this diverse from the country in which the Open Day is taking place and please don´t insist to know why you didn´t make it. Recruiters have a very strict “law” about not providing personal feedback about why you didn´t make it and if you insist it will take you nowhere – in the Open Day don´t insist specially if it is your first time / if you are reapplying because you didn´t make it through the Open Day in the last event don't insist eiter.

 

Last, if you have brackets or braces you will not get hired, first finish the treatment and then apply. The final issue is “I’m married, if I get hired may my husband move to Dubai with me?”. To tell you the truth that almost never happens, why? EK will only sponsor you in Dubai and will pay you your accommodation with your training and many other things, but only you. If you are legally married UAE will obviously recognize your marriage but for you to live with your husband you will have to do it outside EK accommodations and that is really expensive. Not only that, if you have children you’ll be totally responsible for them and your family and EK will not be their sponsor (this point is for cabin crew – pilots and first officers is completely another subject), so that is why priority is mostly given to single candidates.

Only ask if you made it through a Final Interview and didn´t make it in that instance but even sometimes you will not get an accurate answer, Assessment is another thing.

 

If you made it through the Open Day (OD) let me know that I´ll inform you in details with Assessment key points, procedures and guidelines.

 

All the best in the world and remember to keep it simple, elegant and calm. Best advice: even if it's a very important life decision don't take it too seriously.

 

Xoxo,

L

(I don´t own the above picture)