04 Feb What is an Open Day?

When it comes to the recruiting process, the airlines – especially the Arabic ones – organize both Assessment Days and Open Days. Which are the differences between them and which ones should you attend in order to boost your chances of getting a job as a flight attendant? We will try to clear away the misunderstandings and make it easier for you to make your dream come true.

Open Days

These are informing sessions which you can attend in order to get acquainted with the background of the company, with the work environment and, also, with the specific expectations of the company. Not only will you learn more about the city where the company’s headquarter is, their destinations and their long-term development plans, but you will also find out what the flight attendant position implies, what staying in that city is all about, all these first-hand, from one of the company’s employees.

Who can attend the Open Day event?

Anyone can attend the Open Day event, with or without an official invitation from the airline. Registration before the event might be available, but this does not mean that you must register.

Dress-code: business attire

The ladies should be wearing a skirt suit, nude stockings, high heels and natural make-up. As for the haircut, if the hair is shoulder-length or longer, you should pull it in a bun. Otherwise, it should be as neat as possible. The gentleman should also wear a business suit, a shirt and a tie, a black, polished pair of shoes and short, neat hair.

How long will the Open Day event be?

The time the Open Day starts will be announced on the company’s website. If you want to be on the safe side, try to arrive at least 30 minutes earlier. Word is, if you are late you will be asked to leave, which is kind off understandable. If you are late for the interview, you will surely be late for the flights also.

What will happen at an Open Day, exactly?

First, you will watch some short movies which will help you familiarize yourself with the company’s atmosphere and with the city where you’re about to relocate to. There will also be a Q&A session, which will give you the opportunity to show yourself interested and motivated by asking questions – through which you will try to find out as many things as possible about the company/the position/the city etc. All these information can also help you in your final interview with the recruiters, when they may ask you what do you know about the company.

Documents

In most cases, you will have to prepare the resume, one passport-type photograph and a full-length one. Qatar Airways will also ask you to scan the first page of your passport and Etihad Airways will ask you to present your registration form, together with the other documents we have already mentioned.

You will be asked to hand in the resume, the photographs and the registration form. Afterwards, you will take the height test – you must reach 2.12 m (for Emirates and Qatar Airways) or 2.1 m (for Etihad Airways), barefoot, raising your hand. The employer might ask you some questions regarding the information written in your resume and you will be given a reference number.

What happens next?

After this, you might be asked to wait patiently until they call you in, or you might as well be sent home to wait for an invitation to the Assessment Day. Rest assured, both these options imply you having made the short list. Good job!

!Be aware of the fact that an Open Day might bring together as many as 1000 candidates. The ample perspective might not be that great, since there will always be candidates unaware of the dress code or the application requirements. Therefore, it will be difficult to stand out from the crowd – all of you will have the same amount of chances of getting the job. Your resume should, therefore, be outstanding!

Furthermore, you might find yourself waiting in line for 10 or more hours until you can file in your portfolio. So be pacient, stay positive and smile a lot! 🙂