One of the most frequent questions we receive about the Emirates cabin crew recruitment process is whether to apply online or to attend an Open Day in person. Do you have a better chance if you apply one way compared to the other? And are you allowed to attend an Open Day if you’ve already applied online?
The situation is made even more complicated by conflicting information on the official Emirates recruitment website and different rules apply to different nationalities. For example, Emirates’ own website says candidates have to submit an online application – but we know this is no longer the case.
As a brief reminder, Emirates rolled-out a new recruitment process whereby candidates were required to create an online application and then complete a pre-recorded video interview. If you were shortlisted then you would be invited to take part in an invitation-only Assessment Day.
Unfortunately, the process was plagued with technical problems so Emirates quickly started organising Open Day’s that anyone could attend. At the same time, however, you can still create an online application – so what’s better? Does one application method give you a better chance than the other?
Online application or Open Day – What gives you a better chance?
There’s no way to know whether one application method will give you a better chance of success than the other. The recruitment process is highly subjective and there are a lot of variables that might affect your chance of success. Recruiters will be briefed before an Open Day on the profile of candidate that they are looking to shortlist – nationality, language skills, age, gender, etc.
If you submit your application online you avoid some of this subjectivity and instead put your CV into the hands of an automated computer system which will screen your application. If you pass this process, your application will then be “parked” until a human recruiter reviews your application.
An online application may not be reviewed for quite some time. This will depend again on a list of variables as detailed above. If you’re shortlisted, you’ll then have to wait to be invited to an Assessment Day in a location near you.
Can I apply online and attend an Open Day?
In most circumstances, you can submit an online application and still attend an Open Day if you haven’t heard back from the Emirates recruitment team.
However, if you’ve received a so-called ‘regret’ email after submitting an online application, you should wait 6-months before attending an Open Day. The same rule applies if your submission status reads “Not shortlisted”.
When do I need to apply online?
In most circumstances, you can attend an Open Day in whatever country you see one advertised. However, Emirates has been pre-screening some nationalities and only inviting applicants who have applied online to an invitation-only Assessment Day.
If you live in one of the following countries, we would strongly recommend submitting an online application:
- South Africa
- Thailand
- South Korea
At this time, Emirates has only held invitation-only Assessment Day’s in these three countries. While that doesn’t mean the recruiters won’t hold an Open Day at some point in the future, we would still suggest creating an online application.
In the past, from our experience, citizens from these three countries who travelled overseas to an Open Day would typically struggle to be shortlisted.
Do I need to apply through a ‘third party’ recruiter?
In some countries, Emirates uses an intermediary to conduct the initial shortlisting exercise and holds Assessment Day’s in conjunction with these third-party recruiters. If you live in one of the following countries, you will need to apply for the position through the intermediary:
- Russia – Global Vision
- Morrocco – CFPNC
- Ukraine – Studentland
- Brazil – Flyright International
- Japan – Airlige
The only exception to this at the moment is Brazil where Emirates is holding both Assessment Day’s in conjunction with Flyright, as well as its own Open Day.
Do I have to wait 6-months between Open Day’s
The official rule is that you have to wait at least 6-months between unsuccessful application when:
- You attended an Assessment Day
- Or, you reached Final Interview
- Or, you received an official ‘Regret’ email
- Or, your online application status is “Not shortlisted”
So, if you’ve attended an Open Day and weren’t shortlisted at the initial stage then technically you can attend another Open Day whenever you wish. However, recruiters do stress that you should build your experience and skills – and that only comes with time.
Of course, there is an element of luck involved in getting shortlisted so there is still a chance you could attend an Open Day the very next week and get shortlisted by a different recruiter. It’s certainly a risk but it sometimes pays off.
