If your goal is Emirates/Cathay then I would suggest that being a 2nd Officer is only really marking time. Don't forgot that when you play on the international market you are competing with countries such as those in Europe where there is no GA and people's first job is as a FO on a 737. Whilst Autralians look at Emirates requirements and gasp in Europe those requirements wouldn't be very hard to get. So if you want to go overseas try and get into a Jet job as a FO and leave the 2nd officer jobs for those guys who want careers in local airlines.