Hi All,
PLEASE READ ALL BEFORE REPLYING
Ive been reading through all the posts and there are obviouly those of you that enjoy QR and those of you who carry a big grudge.
I think Chevy SS wrote a very good bit a few posts back. It's about time everybody looks at the bright side of things about the airline. Work as a team, get things done and try to enjoy working for the airline. There are a lot worse jobs out there than working for QR and those crews work with what they have and go into work with a smile on their face.
I understand that a lot of you guys may have had some bad experiences at the airline. But by talking about them all the time and thinking "my god the conditions we work in are so crap" isnt going to get anyone anywhere. Working as a team and sticking it out through thick and thin will get you through and things WILL change.
EK is a very prestigeous airline to work for. You hear the odd story about things not going all rosy over there, but in most cases everything is good. They have a sound managment team, great staff who work together and who walk into their positions smiling. However, it was not always like that. EK was a new airline once too. They had a small number of aircraft, crew and facilities and everyone had to work their butts off to get the airline to where it is now. Dubai was not anywhere near where it is now aswell. It was the type of place where very ambitious staff went to have a go at something new. Life was very very different to what it is now, with nowhere near the same "familiar" amenities for expats to relate to their home countries. Life was tough for these staff members. Many of them didnt last. They just couldnt handle the change. However, many stayed and put in 100% with what they had to bring the airline to what it is today.
The QR story is very similar. Although the airline is growing rapidly, there is still a very long way to go. I first moved to Dubai back in 94. Dubai was a very different place. I last visited Doha one year ago and I saw Dubai as it was in '94. I saw an airline similar to EK in '94. Both the place and the airline are growing rapidly, however it is impossible to compare the QR and EK of 2002 as they are nothing alike.
The most important thing for the staff members at QR to do now to stick together and build the airline. It is YOU guys that will make QR great. There is a high staff turnover at QR because many of the staff dont give the airline a chance. Many of you think you will go to QR and Doha and expect to be working for EK and living in Dubai. Well your won't. You have to stick it out and make the airline great.
AAB doesnt want to lose the staff he has. Contrary to what many of you think, he is considered a good business man, and he knows finding a team that will stick together is the team that will make the airline great. However he is having a tough time at the moment finding the right team to work for him. You guys can be that team. Stick it out, and you will be rewarded. Management doesnt want to look after a team of people who are miserable in working for the company. They would rather find the team who will go through thick and thin with them, keep a smile on their face and WANT to help build the airline.
If you want to work for a great airline, then make it great. Many of the staff who worked for EK all those years ago were working under the same conditions as you are. But they said "hey, lets stick it out" and look at where they are now. They did the math, and knew that things would get better. Many of you QR guys should think along those same lines.
About what Gulf-Crew wrote a couple of posts back. I dont know how true that is, but if it is I can see what AAB is thinking. How can you expect QR to attract the right staff if so many of you think of everything that is negative about the airline and tell all? ALOT of people DO read these forums, especially those looking for jobs. There is an abundance of negative comments on the airline and hardly anything on how GOOD an airline it is to work for. QR needs the right staff to enter the airline with the RIGHT attitude in order for the airline to be great. What is happenning is people are joining the airline with a bad picture in their minds. That does not help when joining a new team. These new team members go about their duties, picking out everything that is negative and feeding off every bad comment that other team members say. What happens? These new staffers become miserable and at the first chance they get they are out of there.
Now turn that around. Write posts about the future of QR. Write posts about what life is like in Doha and the prospects for the City.
- MAKE IT CLEAR THAT DOHA IS NOT DUBAI
- MAKE IT CLEAR THAT QR IS NOT EK
- MAKE IT CLEAR THAT QR IS A NEW AIRLINE
New staffers will then join QR with the right frame of mind. Help these new guys. Let them know that the future is bright. It is YOU, the current staff members that make the first impression of the airline to the newbes. If you guys welcome the new guys with smiles and stick with it, the airline will get the chance to grow and improve. Qatar is new to running an airline. It is an airline owned by the Qatari's and they have a lot to learn, but it is YOU guys that are the main cog to make it great. QR is going nowhere with the current staff turnover. It needs to keep the staff it has and everyone can learn together and keep on the same level. The staff in the highest postions at EK are the guys who stuck it out when they were in the same position as you guys. Put in the hard work, and in a few years you will move up the ladder.
If you leave the airline now, you will regret it. Once you leave, they will not take you back. In 10 years time (probably less), those people who worked with you through the tough times will be enjoying the high life in a fantastic airline in the thriving city of Doha. The only place the country and the airline is going is up, and for all of you who decide to stay, that is where you will be going too.
Now that I have had my little banter, I must explain I am not an employee of QR, but would LOVE to get the chance one day. I am just a young pilot in training who is itching to get the chance to work for a young, thriving airline. For all of you who are currently employed, I am very, very jealous. You have joined an airline in its early years. This is the best place you could be to work on your careers. The prospects for you are enourmous, and please take advantage of this. Many of you have moved from good jobs in other WELL ESTABLISHED airlines. You have got to understand that QR is not. However, how long would it take to get anywhere in you careers at these other airlines. Ten, twelve years? At QR you can move up a hell of a lot faster, but you have to work for it. In a few years time, you will be highly respected by those in charge and you will be greatly rewarded. It just takes time.
I know some of you will disagree with what I have said, but I dont think you really understand the middle east. I have lived in the middle east a looooooooooong time. The guys in charge want things done, and they want them done NOW. Sometimes it takes the staff working for them a while to catch up. But once everything is looking good from the boss' chair, he will be very greatful for your hard work and team effort and then the cushy positions and great rewards start rolling in. Just PLEASE, give it time and stick it out. DONT THROW AWAY THIS CHANCE!
Some of you have the right idea. Chevy SS and I think maha but I cant read the posts that far back LOL. You know you have a great oppertunity here and are willing to do the work for your company. For those of you with other views, please look on the bright side. You are all lucky folks, some of us dont have the same chance to get there when the airline is young. Dont mess up your chance. One day, I hope I can get the chance to join the team and fly your aircraft, however that chance will probably be a few years yet.
Take it easy guys, you do GOOD WORK. Just stick it out. Things will get better.
Cheers
BYB
