My SAUDIA exhilarating experience....
Let me share my exhilarating although extremely exhausting experience in Saudia Airlines… I recently had my interview with them in the nearby hotel in manila. I wasn’t even on an official leave that day (am currently working in a hotel too) when I decided to drop by and see how the assessment day goes. I was advised by a friend that on the same day they will select right there and then who would pass for the interview of their Arab Senior Flight Officers. Thus, I was truly in a cramming mode as I had no preparation at all. I went early to be able to submit my CV and a copy of my passport and to have my name listed. Good thing I was able to phone up the venue the previous day to check if they are accepting walk-ins and how many interviewers there will be. When I arrived there, there were lots of applicants already but glad that the saudia crew are nice and very friendly. They assisted us, though they made us wait for more than an hour. We stayed in a boardroom then we were divided into batches. (16candidates per batch). We were asked to take off our shoes then walk approaching the interviewers then we were asked to state our name and age. Then they will get your weight and measure your height. They will even chat with you to see how you smile and somewhat conduct yourself. Afterwards, we were told again to go back to the boardroom and wait for the final call for the fortunate applicants who passed for the interview. happily I was chosen among 50 applicants, actually only eight of us made it for the interview. Then the interview phase now comes, I was the 3rd applicant, the 1st one went out the door with a not so pleasant look in her face then proceed to the waiting area then the 2nd girl was called, it was somewhat quick interview then she went out with a long face… I was a lil anxious for my name to be called.. when it was already my turn the 2 interviewers walked out for a break.. gee.. that made me quite nervous as they mite already be in a bad mood.. after a 15min break they came back and pass through near where I was exactly seating then they smiled and say okay you may come in… to make the story short, the interview went well and then out of 8 applicants… only 4 of us fortunately passed the interview. We were called secretly in the other room to fill out loads of form for the pre-employment medical exams. Then we were requested to bring out 12pcs of 2x2 photo to be attached to the said forms. Here comes the nerve racking stage… Medical.. never thought it’s gonna be a rigorous one. We were asked to do fasting for 12hours for the blood works.. I actually spent my whole day in the clinic.. from 7am to 6pm. It was tiring and exhausting… we had physical examination, xray, psychological test, blood test, height and weight, tono test to check if we have glaucoma. then audiometry and spirometry and the worst part for me… the visual test!!! Haayy.. as I have impaired vision.. as in truly poor eye sight… I was asked to read the snellen’s chart sorry to say, I was asked to take off my contact lenses.. here comes the dilemma… I couldn’t read a single thing hence I ended up having my medical in pending status.. I was asked to come back the next Monday for my eye clearance. I felt so down thinking that I mite get eliminated because of my poor eyesight.. My mom and my family were so good and very supportive. Mom accompanied me in the clinic to have my eye check and then I asked the optal if possible to have a 20/20vision and I was informed that with my high astigmatism it mite be impossible but they will see what they can do.. fortunately a toric contact lense is available. Went back to the clinic on the scheduled date then had my eye check… prescription were given to the attending physician.. gladly I was able to attain 20/20 vision with my new toric contact lenses. However, the dilemma hasn’t ended there as the attending physician informed me that from my blood works there was a finding that indicates that I have slightly elevated liver enzyme… I was really shocked… and so disappointed as it shows in their faces that they seem to be a bit alarm… never thought its something serious as it says that it was slight elevated. Then I left the clinic and went back to office.. I made some research to find out the caused.. it says other common causes of elevated liver enzymes are inflammation in the liver due to medications and hepatitis. I was so alarm that made me feel tormented.. Never thought I was stricken by such problem… all I thought was I am physically and medically fit.. the next day I got a call from the clinic and I was advised that my medical is still pending thus, they require me to take another blood laboratory exams and an xray of the chest. I went there and blood were drawn again from me.. late the afternoon I got the result.. that was Friday.. they advised me that it is still elevated… it was heartrending.. it felt like the whole world crashed and there was nothing I can do… shed some tears and felt so bad… but realized I have my loving family still and our Heavenly Father I know will always bless our every effort.. guess.. I have to accept the fact.. now process to go through is to move on.. but one day.. my sis at home got another call from the clinic and were informed of last chance to check my liver and that is through ultrasound.. immediately mom and I with my sis went to a hospital for an ultrasound.. waited for the result the next day.. then found out that im already out of the woods and my result is normal.. whew!! What a huge relief.. though thought this is the end of the predicament.. I was hundred percent wrong as this is the beginning of the arena.. Saudia Office procedure is to send the applicants medical results to Jeddah for evaluation and approval and that’s the time you would know if you are FIT or UNFIT to work.. then I wasn’t even advised by Saudia HR to submit all my requirements to process my visa, instead they told me to call after a week… haaayy… I am very disappointed and somewhat losing hope..
we were supposed to be 3-batch to be sent to Jeddah for training.. 1st batch was deployed last 18 February then the 2nd batch 27 of Feb 2009. and unfortunately my name was not included on the list and having said that.. 3rd batch schedule is still unknown…. Hayyy… I don’t want to expect anymore.. guess I have to let it go…im already 27.. and I am not sure if I shall pursue this dream of becoming an FA…. 