Next stage ......FO seat lock!
As hiring gets tighter and non-typed DECs come in they will have no choice but to start seat locking senior FOs.....sadly it will back fire on them as it would be more beneficial for those FOs to leave rather than commit for extra years on lower pay and worse benefits. No upgrade after 1 year is just a waste.
I heard a couple of captains were called by EK but this is a breach of the poaching agreement, and I am sure that EK would be very diplomatic in this regard. To answer your questions if you solicit them is fine, I am sure they and Ethiad would be highly interested to take any FD pilot, though.
For the newbies wanting to join. As a whole the company is better than the likes of the European carrier Riyanair?