When i first applied Cathay Pacific, I have had an engineering degree from a university and 2000 hours on the type of B737NG. They used to have an opening for fast track first officers.
I received no replies for about 1 year. Then after sent an email to the recruitment team. The reply was pretty simple;
We haven't considered you as a fast track fo program but as a second officer. In addition to that you are not eligible for the position of second officer.
That was one of my weirdest moments ever. I wonder if they would consider me as a second officer if i was a captain on the type of 777 for the last 5 years.
I am really not sure what their selection criterias are.