In this article, we will explore both Open Days and Assessment Days, with a detailed description of how to present yourself for these events and what to expect to happen.
Open Days
Open Days are information sessions to give you an idea of how it is to work for the airline. The recruiters will present the base city, airline destinations, and expansion plans. You will also hear their cabin crew on how it is to live and work there.
Who can participate
Anybody can go to an Open Day without a prior invitation from the airline. The airlines recommend you register online before the event. If you want to do that, by all means, you should. However, it is not a must. It will not give you an advantage nor put you in an inferior position. Once your CV is shortlisted, you will be asked to register online if you haven’t done it before.
How to present yourself
Go to the Open Day as you would go for the interview. That means business attire. Ladies should wear a skirt suit, skin-colored pantyhose, and closed high heels shoes. Put on some light makeup and neatly arrange your hair. Gentlemen, opt for a business suit with a collared shirt and tie, polished shoes, with short and neatly groomed hair.
How long will it take
The time will be advertised on the airline’s careers website. 9:00 a.m. means that at 09:00 a.m. sharp, the presentation is set to begin. The etiquette requires you to be there at least 30 minutes before the set time, find your way to the conference room, and get acquainted with the rest of the candidates. If you are late, they will tell you to go home. If you can't show up in time for your job interview, what are the chances you will show up for your flights?
The process
You will see some informative videos about the airline and its city, followed by a Questions and Answers session. Taking notes is a great technique to show your interest. Try to make yourself noticed by asking a relevant question that might benefit more than one person. Make sure that the topic is not covered in the videos.
If you like what you see in the videos and consider the airline a suitable employer for you, you can stay for the next step, which is handing over your documents.
Documents to bring
The standard documents required are your CV and photos. For the exact requirements, refer to the official careers website of the airline you wish to apply for.
After the informative session, you will be asked to hand over your documents and application forms. While the recruiter goes through your CV, they might ask you to do the reach and height tests (212 cm vertical arm reach and minimum 160 cm height for Emirates and Etihad; 212 cm arm reach for Qatar Airways). They will then ask some questions regarding your resume (experience, education, etc.), and you will be given a reference number.
The recruiter will inform you of when and how they will contact you if successful.
Advantages
This is your chance to shine if you are confident in making excellent first impressions. Even if you have less experience than the other candidates, the airline might choose you to participate in the assessment day because of your charisma.
Disadvantages
Some locations have over 1000 candidates participating in the Open Day. Some candidates do not even know they must wear business attire or bring photographs; however, they show up. All of them will be given a chance to drop their CV.
If the airline did not select your CV during the Open Day, you could only participate in another Open Day after six months, regardless of the location.
Assessment Days
The assessment is the actual cabin crew hiring method, though it is not just the classic 1-on-1 interview where you sit down and answer questions from the airline representative. The assessment day is an “assessment center. It has different stages, each of them followed by an elimination round. Successful candidates will get through to the next level. Similar to the show “American Idol” or “Survivor.”
Who can participate
You can participate in an assessment day if you applied online on the airline’s career website and your application was shortlisted. That means that your profile (experience and education, language skills, and interpersonal skills) matches the ideal profile of a potential flight attendant. Now, you only have to prove that your personality will match the job description and the airline.
How to present yourself
Whenever you go for an interview, you have to look spotless: professional, clean-cut, elegant, and fitting the job description. Read on the blog How to Dress for the Assessment Day.
How long will it take
The assessment day usually starts at 9 AM and finishes around 6 PM. Be on time, bring water and food, and try to be yourself. Don’t worry too much about being and showing that you are nervous. It is a common indicator that getting this job is important to you. You will forget all about the nerves once the day starts.
The process
The assessment day usually begins with an introduction, followed by a group exercise, an English Test, and sometimes a personality profile test. Successful candidates will get the invitation to the next stage. Unsuccessful candidates will be asked to leave the assessment day after the stage they did not pass.
At the end of the assessment day, the successful candidates will be asked to come back the next day for a Final Interview. This can be 1-on-1 (1 interviewer and one candidate) or 2-on-1 (2 interviewers and one candidate). Before the big day, go through the 25 Questions and Answers for the Cabin Crew Final Interview.
Documents to bring
Bring a copy of your CV, application photos, and other documents the airline asked you to provide.
Advantages
Participating in an assessment day means that your CV meets the minimum requirements for the job and that you are already considered a desirable candidate for this position. During the assessment day, you will only have to show your personality – there is no waiting in line wondering if your CV looks good enough or if your photos are acceptable.
Also, if you are not successful through one of the stages, you will know precisely what to focus on improving for the next time.
Disadvantages
As the assessment day is organized into different stages, you must show that you are competent in every single one. It is not enough to be fluent in English and very confident you will pass the English test; if you cannot show that you can work well in a team during the group exercise, the assessment will end there.
If you fail at any stage of the Assessment Day, you can reapply after six months. If you fail the Final Interview, you can reapply after 12 months.
Check out the recruitment events for Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways
Regardless of which recruitment event is organized in your country, you must remember that the key to success is PREPARATION. Read, get information, know what is expected of you during the day, and you will become a cabin crew!