Interview experience:

The emails Emirates send you pretty much spells everything out for you but they are still nice to look at and comforting to know what to expect. I would have appreciated seeing them in advance and already having all my crap together before I finally got the call, so I'll go ahead and share it here as well:

The selection program is conducted over a period of four days. We will provide candidates with a round trip ticket from an Emirates network destination to Dubai. We will also provide accommodation and meals during the selection program. If you are able to attend, please send me a scanned copy of your passport. (If you're a US citizen I don't think this is a big deal because I didn't do it.)

Should you wish to arrive in Dubai early or stay on after the conclusion of the selection program, please advise me of this at the same time. Accommodation for extended stays will be at your own expense.

If successful in the program, you may be placed on any of the following aircraft fleets: Airbus A330 or Boeing 777, dependent upon the company's operational requirements. (Although right now they're strictly hiring for 777).

In addition to details of your availability, we also require confirmation of the following information:

· Your current employer;

· Your current aircraft type;

· EK Network Port to book your ticket

· Whether you are currently flying and if not current, the date last flown;

· Confirmation of notice period (contractual notice period + any additional time you will need prior to joining Emirates, if successful)

If you are unable to attend on the dates given, please advise your availability to attend a selection program over the next two months. (If you put immediately don't be surprised if you get a call to come immediately last minute plans come up for guys all the time)

This email outlines important information regarding the program, including administrative arrangements and details of the preparation required. Please review this information carefully.

Cancellation / Withdrawal
If, for any reason, you are unable to attend the selection program, you must advise us in writing at the earliest opportunity, detailing the reasons. If you withdraw, we cannot guarantee that you will be offered another place on a future selection program. The company may close your application permanently as a result of late notice for withdrawal, as this significantly affects our planning and is unfair to other available candidates. If you fail to attend your assigned selection program and have not notified us, your application will be closed, with no opportunity to re-apply.

Format of the Selection Program
Our Selection Program consists of three stages, details of which will be outlined in the Welcome Pack provided to you upon check in at the hotel in Dubai; however, an overview of the process is detailed below: (when they give you the packet there is information inside which needs to be completed before your first day!!!!)

Stage I - Day 1
The first day of the selection program will include a Welcome brief, Simulator brief & Assessment, and Advanced Compass testing (comprehensive skills and aptitude test).

Interim Assessment Advice (IAA)
Candidates will be contacted in their hotel room at the end of Day 1 and advised if they are continuing or not to the next stage of the selection program. Candidates who are successful at this interim stage will continue in the selection program but must be aware that this is an interim assessment advice and, as such, does not constitute overall success within the selection program. Candidates not successful after Stage I will not proceed further in the Selection Program. We regret that we are unable to provide feedback on your performance no matter what the outcome.

Travel Arrangement for unsuccessful candidates after Stage I

Candidates unsuccessful after Stage I are required to rebook the return flight tickets. Please contact the Emirates ticket reservation call centre or directly approach the ticketing desk at Airport Terminal 3 to change the bookings. Depending on availability, candidates will need to rebook their ticket to depart no later than Day 3, as the hotel room is only covered for a maximum of 3 nights. If you experience any difficulties changing your Emirates flights or have problems due to your connecting flights, please contact your Recruitment Coordinator on the morning of Day 2. Candidates not proceeding to Stage II, who wish to remain at the hotel may do so at your own expense. You can avail of the corporate room rate of Dhs  inclusive of breakfast.

Stage II - Day 2
For candidates who have been successful at the interim stage, Day 2 starts at 7am, where you will undergo an Assessment Centre workshop, Psychometric testing (where English is not your first language, you may bring a dictionary for this element), followed by a Human Resources brief and tour of the Emirates facilities.

Spouses/partners (if present) will join candidates for the HR brief and tour, which will include a visit to our company medical clinic and the opportunity to view samples of accommodation. We regret that we are unable to accommodate children on the tour.

Stage II - Day 3
The third day of the program will begin at 7am and will consist of further Psychometric testing (where English is not your first language, dictionaries are permitted), and a Panel interview. After the interview, you will receive feedback with the company psychologist on your psychometric profile.

Interim Assessment Advice (IAA)
Again, you will receive a phone call at your hotel at the end of Day 3, advising if you are successful in continuing to Stage III of the program. We regret that we are unable to provide feedback if you are unsuccessful.

Candidates not successful after Stage II will not proceed further in the Selection Program but are welcome to remain in the hotel for the remainder of the company's booking.

Stage III - Day 4
Candidates continuing in the program will be required to undergo a pre-arranged medical appointment at the Emirates Clinic and City Hospital.

Travel Arrangements
We will provide candidates with a confirmed round trip ticket from an Emirates network destination. Any additional travel arrangements will be at your own expense. We do not reimburse any costs associated with travel where unplanned cancellations or changes to the selection program dates occur.

Flight arrangements will be made so that you enter the United Arab Emirates through Dubai airport only, as we are not able to offer visa or services through any other airport within the UAE.

Due to high load factors, we regret that no changes to confirmed flight bookings can be accommodated prior to your arrival in Dubai.

Arrival in Dubai
Upon arrival at Dubai International Airport, an entry visa will be stamped in your passport at the Immigration Counter. Nationals of some countries will require a pre-arranged entry visa. The determination of this will be based on nationality information provided on your application form. We will arrange the visa (if applicable). If you require any clarification on this aspect, please contact us.

Accommodation and Meals
Hotel accommodation will be booked according to the dates of the selection program and your travel details.


During your stay at the hotel, breakfast is included, lunch is provided during the selection program and you may obtain your evening meal at any of the hotels restaurants, up to a limit of 100/- 375 Dirhamas. Any other additional charges or incidentals (laundry, telephone, refreshments, etc.) will be at your own expense.

We recognise that career decisions are important ones and that you may wish to bring your spouse with you (if applicable). This is encouraged. Emirates will meet the cost of the visa (if required) and additional accommodation charges only. Meal expenses for your spouse will be at your own expense. Unfortunately, we do not meet any costs for children.

Reporting Time
Please refer to the detailed schedule provided in the information pack upon arrival at hotel. You must arrive at our office at the New Emirates Group Headquarters Building (opposite the Airport, Terminal 3), no later than 0645 hrs on the first day (travel to our Group Headquarters will be at your own expense but there is a free shuttle service operating from the hotel every 30 minutes, this takes approximately 5 minutes to reach the office).

Dress Code
Business attire must be worn for the entire selection program.

Preparation for the Selection Program
Some documents are attached for your information (Pilot Briefing Document, List of Schools in Dubai and Summary of Medical Standards).

Please review the Medical Standards Summary to ensure you would be eligible for a GCAA licence should you be successful and offered a position with Emirates.

To maximize your chances of success, it is essential that you adequately prepare for the program. Please note the following requirements carefully: Paperwork to prepare prior to attending the program:

1) Entry Permit Form
If applicable, please complete this form and email it along with a copy of your passport as soon as possible in order to arrange for your visit visa to Dubai.

2) Referees
Please fill the attached reference form and send it back as soon as possible. You are required to provide names, contact telephone numbers and email addresses of at least three referees from Management (a minimum of two from your current employer, including one who has flown with you. If you have been with your current employer for more than five years, please provide three referees from this employer). A colleague or peer is not acceptable as a referee. As we contact referees early in the process, it is essential that you provide us with referees you are comfortable for us to contact immediately following the selection program.

3) Licenses and Logbooks

All original logbooks (stamped and certified by either your regulatory authority or employer) and original licences (+ photocopies) must be brought to Dubai for inspection as part of the selection program. Failure to supply logbooks will jeopardize your continued participation in the program. (US carriers typically don't have stamps so just have your CP write you a letter that says they've reviewed your logbook and all flight time logged in your company's aircraft is accurate). You must be able to present original logbooks for all hours stated on your application. Hours without logbook evidence will be discounted. Electronic logbooks can be accepted, provided they are stamped and certified by your employer or a regulatory authority. Your ICAO ATPL and Class 1 Medical must both be issued by the same country, and the medical must be valid for at least 3 months from date of joining. Both must be issued by the same State authority where you have flown with the carrier last shown in your logbook.

4) Other Documentation
Please also bring:

· Your original and one photocopy of your latest Pilot Proficiency Simulator Check, Instrument Rating and Class 1 Medical Certificate

· The original and three photocopies of the passport you wish to use (please note that if you hold either a US or Australian passport, you must use this)

· Eight coloured passport photographs, taken with a white background. No headwear or glasses should be worn for the photograph

· Confirmation of ICAO language rating and validity period, if you have been tested

· Finally, please scan and email a passport size photograph with a physical dimension of approximately 4.3cm x 5.5cm, if you have not already done so.

All paperwork requirements are to be submitted upon arrival at our office; therefore, it is essential that you complete these prior to travelling to Dubai.

Failure to prepare and supply the required documents (including licences, current PPC/IR and logbook evidence of your hours) will severely affect the progress of your application and selection. Should you have any questions relating to these requirements, please contact us PRIOR to the commencement of the selection program.

My perspective:

Day 1

Everyone meets down in the lobby to take the 6:30 am van over to headquarters. Ask the driver to take you to the SOUTH side of the building because you'll need an access ID to get to the Employee Career Centre if you go in any other entrances. Right off the bat you gather in the pilot lounge and the head recruiter Katherine comes in to greet you. Everyone drops off their log books and ALL paper work and original documents with the interview panel pilots and then you head to a classroom for a quick introduction from HR and introduction of yourselves.

After the hour long schpeel you are divided up into groups of 4 for all the activities over the next couple of days and sim eval.

Next everyone comes back in the classroom to meet with sim instructor for a quick brief. They tell you everything you need to know they're not trying to trick you. From there, some guys head right to the sim, some start the tests.

In the box everything is ready for you to engines have been started and all buses powered. You're sitting on the end of runway 12L. They want to see you:

     Get the ATC clearance,

     Brief the crew emergency procedures, radios, clearance

     Complete the before take off checklist

The crew brief is whatever you do now at your current airline. Use your SOPs they don't give any. You start with a normal take off in VMC and just bring the airplane back around for a visual pattern. There will most likely be a crosswind from your left on T/O so take this into account when you fly your pattern as well simple I know, but you'd be surprised.

Start your base right outside the shore line or right at it and you'll be fine.

After you land, they put you back at the end of the runway and they want to see the same thing with an emphasis on the emergency procedures and plan to return to the field because you're going to get a V1 cut.

Fly it like you fly any other engine failure and you'll do fine. After you have the FO declare the emergency, follow the procedures, secure the engine and call everyone you need to, they'll have you track direct to the Sarjha VOR raw data and then assign you a radial to track outbound on. From there it's a single engine ILS no autopilot/auto throttles.

They're not looking for Chuck Yeager or Muhammad Yeager for that matter,  just use good CRM  communicate, delegate, get confirmation, be humble, relax and you'll do fine.

Advanced Compass Testing

Consisted of 24 math problems and you get 20 mins to solve them or as many as you can. Some of it is simple addition, simple algebra, simple trig, actually only had one trig question. Find the hypotenuse of triangle if one side is 6 and the other is 8. 10 is the answer.

Then there is a coordination exercise with a joystick, rudders, and airspeed, fly the bars, keep it coordinated and on airspeed. It's a little squirrelly but about like playing a video game.

There was an aviation test of 30 questions over regs and general aerodynamics. There was also a memorization segment where they would flash you alt, as, heading and radio instrumentation. 2 or 3 of them would have numbers assigned. After about 3 secs the instrumentation would go away. You would then have to recall the numbers and enter them. While at the same time in the upper 2 corners of the screen you would get a red alert and you had 3 sec to cancel the alert using the numbers pad on the keyboard. The 2 alert panels in the upper corners of your monitors were broken up into 9 segments. For instance if an alert was in the middle of the box you would push key number 5 to excel. If it was in the northeast corner you would push the number 3 key to excel. It takes about 1.5 to 2 hours to complete all your tests.

Day 2

Psychometric Testing, no way to study for this one - just record what you feel. One is a 187 question test taken manually. IE, "If you had a choice you would rather create an art project than build a house" YOU agree , sometimes agree or disagree. The second test is on the computer on how you think at the work place - about the same number of questions I think. IE "Sometimes I think I am superior to others" or "I try to please my boss" again its 3 choice yes , no or sometimes. YOU are instructed by the Psyc. to stay out of the middle as much as possible.

Then we met with The COO, refer to first part of my post.

Panel interview time, no technical questions so relax. Supposedly the questions they ask you are based on your test results. One guy told me that they said, based on your test results you are a little timid. Tell me about a time you had to make a tough decision.

Other questions were:

1. Why do you want to work here?
2. How does your family feel about moving to Dxb?
3. What did you do to prepare for this interview?
4. Tell me a time you had to make a decision where you didn't have the full picture.
5. Tell me a time where you had to make a stand and stuck to it when others tried to influence you in another direction.
6. Tell me a time when you had to say no.
7. Tell me about a time when someone over stepped your command.

At the very end they ask where your annual positive space ticket will be to if you get selected and what your start date is. Regardless of how well you did, they give you a form to give to the Dr. for your medical tests later that evening and the following day.

After that its back to the pshyc, to see if you need a small, medium or large straight jacket. This actually is an extension to the interview so take it seriously. They tell you what the test results indicate what weaknesses it indicated. They ask you several questions about the results  why do you think you're different from most people your age, why do you think you're a good leader, etc. Some people were like wow it's so amazing how they can tell that about you. Honestly if you ask me 100 times if I think I'm a good leader and I answer it the same all 100 times, I'm not going to be impressed that you know I think I'm a good leader. My two cents

At the end of the day you get a call in your room to tell you if you're going to the medical facility that night (they give you a ride) or if you're done. The evening medical tests are just a chest x-ray nothing big. The next day is the big text day. Some guys didn't eat that night because they thought you couldn't because of the blood tests the next day, but that's a myth.

The last day is super chill and you don't even have to wear a tie. You just head over to medical for:
Urine analysis
weight and height
ekg
blood pressure
color vision, same cards you see every six months
near and far vision , reading sentences and the standard eye chart with different letters than we are used to.

Ear test in the booth
and finally a blood draw to just check for HIV and other diseases.

They will get back to you in 2 to 4 weeks.

 




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Emirates Study Guide Questions:

1. What is the Long and Lat of Dubai?
2. In relation to CG the center of pressure is?
The C of P is aft of the C of G.
3. They put us in a point in-between the US and Europe and told us there was smoke in the back and gave us three options on where to land.
4. What type of Engine is on our 777-200?
rolls royce
ge
5. Where in Africa do we fly?
Casablanca, Tunis, Tripoli, Johannesburg, Dar Es Salaam, Nairobi, Entebbe, Lagos, Cairo, Alexandria, Accra, Abidjan, Khartoum, Addis Ababa, Seychelles, Mauritius.
south Africa
6. Have you ever had an emergency in an airplane?
no
Yes
7. Why did you get involved in flying?
8. What do you know about Islam?
9. How do you think your life will change by living here?
10. Why you didn’t you bring your wife to the interview?

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