EK are hiring, not specifically because they are expanding, not to replace retirees, it is clearly to replace the large amount of pilots that are leaving the desert. Why would they have offered the BIG shiny jets to our propeller friends if it wasn't out of the necessity to get pilots in seats, no matter what the experience of those who join.
The bond went from 3 years to 5 years as new hires were coming and leaving sooner than expected. The bond is a pair of financial handcuffs to those who join and who will undoubtedly be out of pocket already with the move to the desert.
When you come with a family, the children will make friends, as will your wife and you will become miserable with many hours on the back of the clock turnarounds. When you decide the job is not for you, the heartache you will again cause your family by moving from one country to another will strain family relationships further.
Car loans gone? Living out allowance gone? Reduced hotel allowances. Hours increased. Lack of leave. 50C weather daily during the summer. Lack of school places. Forced staff economy travel with young children. Unhappy workforce. Huge delays to commands and many many more issues.
The consideration to come to the desert just now should not even be thought of as a consideration, more as a desperation. There are many who still come and pretty quickly the honeymoon is over and the BIG jet doesn't seem so shiny when it's viewed mainly at night.
Never come to EK and say you are unhappy. I am sure almost every new hire reads these pages and those who have been in the company a while are fed up with the moaning and will just reply with the likes of, "you were warned".
Happy 2017 fellow aviators.
J