The surprising reason why hundreds of people are queuing on this small suburban street in the Philippines

Hundreds of people have been queuing from 1am to test their chances of landing the coveted flight attendant job at Emirates.

The queue stretched down a street in the Philippines where Emirates is the top choice for aspiring cabin crew due to the airline’s “exceptional” working conditions.

Emirates’ recruitment process is “selective, arduous and challenging” – applicants must meet a series of strict requirements and go through multiple interviews.

The Dubai-based airline holds open days in more than 460 cities around the world where people can submit their CVs and see if they have what it takes to be part of the airline’s team.

The requirements stipulate that to be part of the cabin crew, potential employees must be over 160 cm tall and reach 212 cm, speak and write English fluently, be at least 21 years old and be a “natural team player with a personality that shines”. ‘.

Potential staff must also have at least one year of hospitality or customer service experience, a minimum secondary education, have no visible tattoos, and be able to meet UAE work visa requirements.

Each recruiting event has a dress code that requires women to have carefully tied hair, “full makeup,” business attire, and heels.

Men should be well-presented and clean-shaven in a suit or smart business attire and formal work shoes.

During the open day, the Emirates team provides an overview of the role and applicants who impress recruiters are invited to return for the Cabin Crew Assessment Day.

During the day, attendees must complete a series of group activities (some of which will be eliminated in the process), in addition to going through interviews, written English, and personality tests.

Those who make it to the final stage have to go through another interview where they are asked questions about what they find challenging, how they deal with stress, the worst mistake they have made, and which nationalities they think are the most difficult to deal with. with.

Emirates receives more than 200,000 applications for cabin crew positions each year, but in August 2023, a team of just 20,000 flight attendants worldwide.

Air travel blogger Mond Ortiz from the Philippines saw people queuing in the early hours of Sunday morning and, by daylight, it had stretched hundreds of meters and beyond the large shopping center across the street. street.

Emirates receives more than 200,000 applications for cabin crew positions each year, but in August 2023, a team of just 20,000 flight attendants worldwide

“The queue is significantly longer than Qatar Airways’ hiring queue in 2022,” he said in a Facebook post.

“In addition, recruitment at Emirates is said to be more rigorous and challenging than that at Qatar Airways, as crew members are chosen very selectively and places are limited.”

Cabin crew positions are highly sought after due to the airline’s reputation for treating its staff with exceptional care, providing them with a generous tax-free salary and many benefits.

Benefits include travel and accommodation subsidies, travel discounts, health insurance, and laundry services.

Those who get the job after the rigorous hiring process will have to complete a seven-and-a-half-week training program before taking to the skies.

Students learn all about aircraft safety, receive medical and safety training, and are taught how to present themselves impeccably and how to provide top-notch hospitality and customer service.

Emirates open days will be held in Adelaide, Perth, Sydney, Melbourne and Gold Coast from April 11 to 26.

Hiring day is by invitation only, as attendees will be required to complete an online application form.