#emirates crew

[redwingedreverie-blog]

Journey to a Dream - First FI Experience

Hello everyone! I hope that those reading this has had a good weekend/week so far. I took a small break from writing these because things got a little busy on my end & I wanted to wait until I could properly sit down to write this. 

Now, if you’ve made it to this point & you’re reading this before your FI, I want to congratulate you! Truly, you’ve come such a long way & you should pat yourself on the back for making it this far.

Obviously, this is a major hurdle that you need to get through, so let’s get started!

One of the most important things you need to remember about this FI is that this is about you. Every answer you give has to be something you’ve experienced or something you’ve pulled from the imagination box. Why do I say that? Well, this isn’t about you reciting my or anyone else’s answers. The FI is about your experiences. To quote Burn from Hamilton, “You, you, you…” 

I had to okay? This show is amazing. 

I digress. 

My FI was actually two days after my AD which honestly wasn’t a good thing because I was leaving that day as well. So this meant that the interview had a bit of a time constraint just because I had to catch the bus. I also didn’t have my education certificate with me because I didn’t know I needed it.

Anyway, several things to remember:

- Show up early. Even if you know there’s someone ahead of you, show up early to prepare yourself. 

- Have some water with you & make sure to use the restroom before you go in for the interview. 

When you go in, you’ll be asked to hand everything that you needed to bring in. If you are missing anything, you have 7 days from the FI to send them into the email address they provide. I took this opportunity to ask her about the casual photos which ended up being unusable because there were several things wrong with a few of them so I sent those in once I got back to NYC. I don’t recommend doing this because it does delay things. Bring a ton of photos for the recruiter to pick from. 

After that, she went on to look through my pre-joiners’ form which asked about gaps in employment and education and so on. You need to include everything you did, because they will ask. 

I had taken a long gap between work and school and school again so there were a lot of questions asking me about what I did & if I traveled, where did I go and for how long? and also she asked if I did any work on the side that I didn’t include in my resume. 

She made notes of everything so make sure to be helpful and just write out clear but concise details of what you were doing. 

They also ask again about tattoos and scars, and also about where your home ticket would be issued if you join and about fluency in languages

From there, we went onto the interview questions. Now, she will ask additional questions depending on your answers so even if you read through these and prepare answers beforehand, there’s a chance that she’ll ask for more details

Talk about a time you went above and beyond for a customer. 

Was there a time you disagreed with a coworker and how did you handle the situation

Was there a time you suggested something to management?

Talk about a time you struggled with something at work and how did you get through it. How about a time you had to think on your feet?

Was there a time you had to bend the rules to get something done?

Working at Emirates means to interact with different cultures. THink of a time you had to be sensitive with other cultures.

Have you ever left the country before?

Alrighty, so I admit that I don’t really remember the questions too well, but these are generally what they ask and what I sort of remember. Circumstances will change the questions they ask, so be prepared. 

I had extra questions about my schooling and my plans for it. This is honestly where I screwed up I believe so right now I’m legit trying to come up with better answers for it.

Basically, I haven’t finished my undergrad degree yet because of gaps & changes in majors. I won’t be finished for a while so the recruiter asked what my plans were and did I intend to finish school and what I planned to do with the degree once I do. 

I fucked up on this & my honest to god advice is please be mindful about your answer if you get asked this too. Your answer may actually block you from getting the position & moving on with the company.

Not to scare you of course! (I’m scaring myself a little maybe, but it’s a good reminder) Just remember you need to watch how you answer questions & what you say for this. 

& with that, I’ll be leaving you! I have my interview in a few days so I gotta prepare myself. I wish you the best of luck & hope to see you in my next entires !!!

[redwingedreverie-blog]

Journey to a Dream - First AD Experience Part Four

If you’ve made it to this point, then CONGRATULATIONS !!!!!!!!

The fact you made it this far means you are doing well. Pat yourself on the back.

So, not going to lie, this is honestly where my memory is the most iffy which is weird because this was the part that I sort of enjoyed the most?

Anyway, again, please bear with me as I try to recall details. If you have any specific questions, please message me & let me know. It will be easier that way I think.

REACH TEST & QUICK BODY CHECK

Once the other group was finished & those people found out who made it to the FI, my group & I went into the room. I don’t remember how many there were at this point, but once again, she had us sit in numerical order. She also handed us a sheet so we could figure out if our tattoo (if we had one) & any scar was visible in uniform. 

One by one, she called us up to do the reach test as well as speak to her about any visible scars & all the tattoos we had. 

Like I said in the requirements post, you need to be able to reach 212 cm on tiptoes. No heels allowed. Guys I think are allowed to keep their shoes on, but ladies, we need to take off our heels. So make sure to practice! Exercise those muscles & stretch them out. This is the EASIEST part of the day & you will not feel good if you make it this far, only to fail.

There was a girl in my group who I was chill with & I was really hoping she would get into FI & she couldn’t reach the tape. She was a little shorter than me but she just couldn’t stretch up there so she couldn’t continue & had to leave.

When I went up, I barely skimmed the line the first time but the recruiter let me try again & again until my hand was solid on the wall. Again, practice helps.

After this, she asked me if I had any scars or tattoos in the white areas (aka the visible areas). I cannot stress this enough, but you MUST declare your tattoos. They will ask you multiple times during the whole process, so just tell the truth.

& no, you cannot hide it from them because if they find out, you basically screw yourself over.

Anyway, I also declared scars on my legs that were sort of visible even with stockings on. These are childhood scars (I tripped a lot when I was a kid) so not a huge deal. They just want to know, so make sure to tell them as before the FI, you’ll get a sheet asking you once again, to declare your tattoos/scars.

Also !!! Just a word of warning because this happened to one of the girls in my group.

She has a tattoo on her back that sort of goes up the back of her neck. She declared this to the recruiter who asked her to remove her jacket & allow her to make sure that it isn’t visible in the uniform. Yes, they will check, especially if it’s close to those white areas on that photo I linked. 

Again, I am telling you right now: DO NOT LIE TO THEM ABOUT TATTOOS.

Duabi is not the US. Dubai is not a European nation. They operate on different beliefs & standards. 

Anyway.

Onto the next part which is RESTAURANT ROLEPLAY. 

So this is legit where my memory is iffy as fuck so I’ll save myself the embarrassment & just give like a super brief summary.

We are managers at a 5 star restaurant & we are given different scenarios to deal with that we needed to solve together as a group. 

For example:

A group of friends made reservations online where it explicitly states that the dress code is formal. They show up in jeans & shorts. Do you honor their reservations? What do you do in the situation?

So you need to talk this through with your fellow group mates. There is no right or wrong answer, but this answer needs to be discussed with your group. It needs to be something all of you agree on. If you disagree with something, be respectful as you talk about it & why you disagree. 

Like if one of the group members said something I disagreed with, I would go something like: “Although you make a good point, I respectfully have to disagree with you...”

Of course, you need to wait until they finish what they say. Do not interrupt them. Wait until they finish their point before you disagree with them.

You have to weigh the pros & cons of the decisions. You also need to be able to come to a conclusion that everyone agrees with. Find ways to compromise. Remember that everyone has their own view of how a situation should work out, but this is about finding an answer/solution under pressure with a group of strangers.

For our example, we eventually came to the conclusion that we would have to tell the group of friends that we could not seat them because while they did have reservations, the fact that they were not in dress code (which was listed on the website) prevents us from seating them. I actually pointed out that it would be a good idea to offer them a coupon sort of thing where they are guaranteed a seat in the VIP section on another day when they are in formal attire as compensation. 

Another example we had was what would we do if a customer came in with their dog & was already seated, but another customer appears who is allergic to dogs. 

You’ll get something like this where you’ll have to solve a problem under pressure. If you have customer service experience, then you’re pretty set imo. Just draw on those. If you have no experience, just think logically. Listen to other people & contribute to the conversation.

After a few more examples, the recruiter ended the group assessment & we just waited outside. 

Let me just say that when I saw my number on that paper, I almost wept. I honest to god had to sit down because my legs were shaking. I couldn’t believe it you know?

So when we finished our little celebration, the people who made it to the FI were invited into the room to discuss interview times as well as what we needed for the FI. She also handed out a sheet of paper which asks us to declare the tattoos & scars.

After that, anyone who did not go to school in the US or an English-speaking country had to stay behind to do the English test. I cannot help you on this part because I went to high school here in the US. 

With that, I’ll end the post & with the next one, I’ll talk about my FI! Veronica ❤

[redwingedreverie-blog]

Journey to a Dream - Essentials for the Application

Hello hello! It’s time to talk about the application itself. I’ll talk about the things you need to bring in for not only the ODs/ADs, but also the FI. I don’t know how it was for others, but for me the first time around, I only had a day between the AD & my FI. You do have a week to send these things in after your FI, but it’s a good idea to have these things ready just in case.

Preparing is your best weapon. When you have an idea of what to expect, then at least you can just worry about the good things.

Before we get into those things, here are the documents you need to bring for the OD/AD:

Copy of the invite letter (if applicable)

Updated CV (no cover letter)

A photograph (can be formal or casual, but remember this is how they will remember you by so make sure to pick a good photo)

& here are the documents you need to bring for the FI:

Complete online Psychometrics Test (this will be given to you before the FI & must be completed before FI. I don’t remember what the computer requirements are for this, but if you have a laptop and you’re going to another city for the interview, bring the laptop.) ***MANDATORY FOR THE FINAL INTERVIEW***

Pre-joining form (again, given to you before the FI) ***MANDATORY FOR THE FINAL INTERVIEW***

Two (2) colored copies of your passport. ***MANDATORY FOR THE FINAL INTERVIEW***

Photocopy of your highest education certificate

An updated CV

One (1) full length formal photo (you need to be in business attire. I’ll post the requirements for this photo below)

One (1) full length casual photo (again, requirements will be posted below)

One (1) half body casual photo 

Eight (8) passport size photos (again, requirements for this will be posted below)

Again, you have seven (7) days to submit these (except for the first three which are mandatory for FI), but it’s better if you have everything squared away beforehand.

Create your resume/CV. 

This shouldn’t be too long (1-2 pages) as it should be concise so that the recruiters can look through it and make notes of all the important things. If you don’t know how to create a CV, here are a few websites to help you:

http://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/how-to-write-a-resume 

Google

Concise is the key, but make sure this is complete. If you have gaps in work or education, they will ask you. If you haven’t worked in a long time, make sure to have an explanation ready. You don’t have to include it in the resume but they will ask during FI. Make sure to include everything you have done that is work related, whether it’s actual work or volunteering. You should also include education and any certificates you may have. Again, be concise, but also remember that this is one of the first things they see from you. Make sure you shine.

Apply online !!!

You’ve made your resume, awesome! Now apply online. If you make it into FI, you need to create an application anyway so you might as well make one. Even if you do not get the invite to the AD, from what I understand, you can still apply via the OD. Make your life easier and just apply online.

When you apply online, you will be asked the typical application questions, (like education + work) if you have your CV made, just upload it so you don’t have to type it out again. There might be some errors in the text box because they import the information, so make sure to review the application and correct any errors. 

They will ask for two photos! One full length and one passport size. You don’t need to make the full length a professional photo. I used photos from my vacation in Paris. As long as it’s a head to toe shot, you’re good. Next, your passport size photo. You need passport size photos anyway for the FI, so I suggest getting these done and just uploading the photo.

Photographs.

You need photos of yourself in general. First for the application online and then for the OD/ADs itself. Remember these photos can be anything as long as they are conservative (you shouldn’t have a drink in your hand). Here’s an example of the photo I sent in the first & second time around. 

However, for the FI, there are guidelines for the photos you need to bring which are:

One (1) full length formal photo (you need to be in business attire. I’ll post the requirements for this photo below)

One (1) full length casual photo (again, requirements will be posted below)

One (1) half body casual photo

Eight (8) passport size photos (again, requirements for this will be posted below)

Here are the guidelines for the photos (click the link for a larger version): 

I cannot stress this enough, but they are VERY strict about the photos. If a part of your toe is cut off, they will reject the photo and ask for another. They are also very specific about the casual photos. Last time I went, I tried to give them this photo:

However, because I had sunglasses on the top of my head, the recruiter deemed it unacceptable. I also tried to give these photos:

But these were also unacceptable. 

However don’t stress! You can actually bring in several casual photos for the recruiter to pick from. I suggest bringing in at least 5-6 for them to pick from. 

As for the formal/business attire photos, you don’t need to hire a professional photographer for these. However, since you do need to get passport photos, you may as well ask for a full length shot as well in your business attire. Make sure that you follow these guidelines as again, they can reject the photos that don’t.

Again, you have 7 days to send these documents in to the email they’ll provide when they give you the document checklist & guidelines (which also gives you a starter pack list provided to cabin crew on arrival in Dubai which is here). But! Make your life easier & have everything prepared beforehand. This way, after the FI, you don’t have to worry about sending extra things in & only have to worry about the wait. Plus, by not having everything, you actually increase the wait time to hear back from HR. Believe me when I say that the wait is bad enough. Make it easier for yourself & your heart. 

Remember that sending positive vibes out into the world helps a lot. Nothing is guaranteed in this endeavor, but when you think positively, good things happen. 

If you have any feedback, questions or comments, feel free to let yourself known! I am always happy to hear what you guys have to say & to answer any questions you may have ;)

Until next time my loves! Veronica ❤

[redwingedreverie-blog]

Journey to a Dream - Research Resources

As I mentioned in the previous post, it’s important to do research so you are not only prepared for the interview, but also what comes afterwards. This will be edited whenever I find another link :D

Here are general links to check out.

First! There is, of course, the company website (Emirates Group Careers). It contains the general info that you should look through, such as the requirements, the job overview, benefits, FAQs, & an overview of the company. This is also where you can check out when they have ADs/ODs as well as where you apply.

Another great website to check out and join (especially if you have questions) if you have questions is the forum cabincrew.com. Here you can meet people who are also trying to become cabin crew as well as people who can answer your question if I can’t. 

Google !!! I mean this goes without saying. Google is a friend. Google is the person who helps you out in jams. 

YouTube!! Yes, watch YT vids. 

Pinterest. Emirates tells you what they expect you to wear for the ADs (Dress Code - Business Attire: Ladies - Knee length skirt /dress with skin colored stockings. Men - Suit & Tie). If you need ideas for the interview, Pinterest is such a fabulous place to look for fashion help but also makeup help. (also food but that’s another story)

Instagram!! I love looking through the tags on instagram. 

Facebook!! There’s this FB group (EmiratesAIPstatus) but this is really for the later stages. 

& now, more specifics! - blogs

thetarmactales

flyichifly 

lifeasabutterfly 

redrevivaldreams 

flygirllulu 

volarelearningtofly

thedubaidiaries

aviewfromthetopwithlove

flightattendantcentral

confessionsofatrolleydolly

flyhighdiary 

brittanyindubai

memoirsofatrolleydolly

strawberryemirates

dubaiandbeyondblog

other media

Maria Soldatova / skyflygirl 

Lisa Single 

Mahdiabeauty English

Absoulutely Anna

pages about Dubai and accommodations (because why not look into your future home)

Google maps/street view because why not look at the city. Do not forget to look outside downtown area because Emirates has housing all over Dubai, so be prepared by looking around.

This YT search for the emirates accommodation. There are several videos, including a video of the accommodation in Sarab which I implore you to look at because not everyone is going to get into those fancy buildings in downtown.