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I was just responding to "I don't know what Cathay are looking for...even though I have 300 hours.....my mate has 2000...and we didn't get past stage 1".
Perhaps it was that attitude that meant Clinty and his mate didn't get further than Stage 1 yet the guy with less than 2 hours did.
The guy asked the question - I merely answered it in my opinion. Could you tell me exactly why I should pull my head in? I fail to see any malice in my post to Clinty83.
Perhaps it was that attitude that meant Clinty and his mate didn't get further than Stage 1 yet the guy with less than 2 hours did.
The guy asked the question - I merely answered it in my opinion. Could you tell me exactly why I should pull my head in? I fail to see any malice in my post to Clinty83.
what kind of 2000 hrs your mate has (your mate? or form somewhere else, too many posts, didnt read it all)? I would not apply CPP if I already got that many if it's form regional or similiar. a year or two will be enough to bring your mate onboard the D/E.
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Mizzy,
Why bother replying when you admittedly have not followed the post trail?
I think in this case you should read ALL the posts.
Why bother replying when you admittedly have not followed the post trail?
I think in this case you should read ALL the posts.
Last edited by Triplespool123; 4th Nov 2009 at 09:13.
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All of this jibber jabber means nothing until you actually get called for something or the other. Applied in June, still waiting. I would also like to add that the CX CPP is a very rare opportunity for aspiring pilots and should not be neglected. People who expected to buy a Merc straight out of school should stay away. Its a lot of hard work and we will have to make sacrifices. I for one, have no doubt that the CPP is a much better way to go than going self-sponsored. Not the least because very few people can even afford to go this way. Some accountants may find it cheaper but you cannot put a price on a well paid job as a pilot especially during those tough times. Housing allowance or not, getting selected for that program is the opportunity of a life-time and should not be neglected. It will take a couple of years before things get better but at first you have to make sacrifices. Anyways you start as an SO and I dont think you can expect much with that title. You have to work your way up. This kind of program will really distinguish between those who are there for the love of flying and those who are there for the glory and feel the need to get paid bucketloads as soon as they start working as if the world owed it to them.
Edit: Ive come across the CX payscales and even if housing is expensive in HK I doubt you will get that kind of salary as an SO anywhere else in the world.
Edit: Ive come across the CX payscales and even if housing is expensive in HK I doubt you will get that kind of salary as an SO anywhere else in the world.
FL999
Just imagine you are at stage 1 interview in Johannesburg (I’m assuming here you are from Mauritius) and the interviewer asks you:
Q: So FL999 imagine you have been with CX five years, you’re now married with a new born on the way. Your wife has had enough of the 500 ft² apartment you both have been living in for the last five years and is demanding that you find a bigger apartment or she is leaving. The only problem is you can’t afford it. What are you going to do?
These are the type of questions you will get so you had better have a good answer.
Just imagine you are at stage 1 interview in Johannesburg (I’m assuming here you are from Mauritius) and the interviewer asks you:
Q: So FL999 imagine you have been with CX five years, you’re now married with a new born on the way. Your wife has had enough of the 500 ft² apartment you both have been living in for the last five years and is demanding that you find a bigger apartment or she is leaving. The only problem is you can’t afford it. What are you going to do?
These are the type of questions you will get so you had better have a good answer.
Last edited by 404 Titan; 4th Nov 2009 at 15:04.
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Slightly overdramatic Titan but throughout my 3 interviews, you were asked about the fact that you had no housing allowance.
The ones that got through to CP were those that were realistic about Hong Kong, who were aware of average rent prices and also the areas where one may live. Being realistic about Hong Kong was a consistant subject in all 3 interviews so don't answer with some "I get to fly a 747 for free so I don't care" reply.
Titan, I saw the pay scales and I thought they were pretty darn good. 5th Year salary (assume you completed 4 years at SO) then got promoted is just over 55 thousand. If you are used to paying 50% of your salary per month, are you really saying there is no 3/4 bedroom place for HKG25'000? Because according to my reseach, a 5th year salary is more than enough to go around.
The ones that got through to CP were those that were realistic about Hong Kong, who were aware of average rent prices and also the areas where one may live. Being realistic about Hong Kong was a consistant subject in all 3 interviews so don't answer with some "I get to fly a 747 for free so I don't care" reply.
Titan, I saw the pay scales and I thought they were pretty darn good. 5th Year salary (assume you completed 4 years at SO) then got promoted is just over 55 thousand. If you are used to paying 50% of your salary per month, are you really saying there is no 3/4 bedroom place for HKG25'000? Because according to my reseach, a 5th year salary is more than enough to go around.
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ummm
Edit: Ive come across the CX payscales and even if housing is expensive in HK I doubt you will get that kind of salary as an SO anywhere else in the world.
U think? But you have left out the bit where u're not working at home. There is hardly any airline that adopt SO positions with housing allowance.
If you say Qantas for example...yeah they do have SOs...but u dont have housing. However, that's ok...because you are at home. If you are away from home...there is alot more things to consider other than MONEY AND LOVE FOR FLYING.
Lets take a look at why i think CX is 1 of the best EXPAT company in the world...
1. it is located in Hong Kong (an ex-Britsh colony) where Hong Kong residents still pay high respect to westerners because we have lived together for 100 years plus HK and the people that lives in here are still alittle more westernise than our fellow mainland compatriot. [However, If you live and work anywhere else in the world..e.g. Australia...UK or US...you are just another ordinary person. And when it comes to China, Singapore, Middle east, Korea, Japan (u name it)...being a westerner is not as respectful because the local rules, plus u r gonna have a hard time getting use to their strong cultural sense and trying to adopt their lack of english signage (unlike HK)...speak to those Expats that works in Mainland China...then u will know what im talking about.
2. There aren’t too many airlines in the asian region that are own by a western company . The benefits for that? I guess u can raise ur voice louder than usual and speak more freely (Then I dont have to mention why there are so many complains about HK Airlines in Fragrant Harbour). N u can look down to local employees and not worry about it.
3. You get a massive housing allowance working in a western company outside home and together, u still own respect from people that works with you. [Because in Mainland China...no local respects an Expat earning 3 times as much n do exactly the same work]
So what's this all about? I guess once you come out as a cadet...the 3rd point no longer applies (but yeah yeah...everyone has said it over and over again, anyone would take this golden opportunity to achieve their flying dream, because u wont have to pay a cent on training fee)...but just have this in mind....when it comes to the time where u r going to quit CX and find a better flying job...then you wont find anything too much better than what CX has for Expats (i.e. Point 1 + 2 + 3) Without point 3...CX is not much better than a company at home.
But of course....some people would go to the middle east...just because of their great pay. Culture-wise? ummm not so sure.
Last edited by EPASZ; 5th Nov 2009 at 05:35.
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CPP2009,
Property in HK is very expensive, I'm sure we have all figured that out.
I think 404Titan is arguing that it maybe sweet when you're young in the career.
But as soon as you have a family to support, your costs skyrocket.
Its all dependent on the standard of living you're trying to maintain.
My experience tells me that ordering steaks will become a "sometimes" food..unlike the pub steaks you can score in any city pub in Aus.
It also depends where you're renting.......
By the way, CPP2009 I PMed you.
Chaz
EDIT: EPASZ i just PMed you
Property in HK is very expensive, I'm sure we have all figured that out.
I think 404Titan is arguing that it maybe sweet when you're young in the career.
But as soon as you have a family to support, your costs skyrocket.
Its all dependent on the standard of living you're trying to maintain.
My experience tells me that ordering steaks will become a "sometimes" food..unlike the pub steaks you can score in any city pub in Aus.
It also depends where you're renting.......
By the way, CPP2009 I PMed you.
Chaz
EDIT: EPASZ i just PMed you
CPP2009
No you were just lucky. It all depends on who you get. You were also an early interviewee for the International CPP so interviewers probably hadn’t refined their questions. I can assure you though variations of this question are common especially with DESO interviews mainly because of the high divorce rate of CX pilots. It is even more relevant now because of the investment Cathay is putting into international cadets that have absolutely no family ties here to HK and who can piss off back home at a whim if the going gets tough. In the past when locals were only eligible this wasn’t a problem and this type of question wasn’t asked.
You saw wrong. I have COS08 pay scales and JFO year one is less than that.
I never said that at all. I suggest you have a read of my posts a little closer.
Slightly overdramatic Titan
I saw the pay scales and I thought they were pretty darn good. 5th Year salary (assume you completed 4 years at SO) then got promoted is just over 55 thousand.
If you are used to paying 50% of your salary per month, are you really saying there is no 3/4 bedroom place for HKG25'000?
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EPASZ
what's the deal with your idea of "expats respect"? I find this idea very old fashioned and colonialist...are you implying that a person can get respect only because of image and money and skin color? I couldn't careless about the expact status or salary, and that's a pity if anyone is getting respect for these reasons and not who that person actually is.
Then you say:
I hope you are kidding?
About housing allowances: have you ever met cadets from Emirates? Well I met them in Adelaide, and no program can match theirs:
They get 3000$ a month while training in Adelaide.
They get directly to a First Officer position on the A330 with a starting salary of 8000$ a month + housing allowances.
Contract is only 4 years.
That's what I call an amazing program.
Last, you mentionned:
Can you elaborate on this please and let me know what is your experience with that region?
Then you say:
N u can look down to local employees and not worry about it.
I hope you are kidding? About housing allowances: have you ever met cadets from Emirates? Well I met them in Adelaide, and no program can match theirs:
They get 3000$ a month while training in Adelaide.
They get directly to a First Officer position on the A330 with a starting salary of 8000$ a month + housing allowances.
Contract is only 4 years.
That's what I call an amazing program.
Last, you mentionned:
"But of course....some people would go to the middle east...just because of their great pay. Culture-wise? ummm not so sure. "
Last edited by Jumbo744; 5th Nov 2009 at 06:52.
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Q: So FL999 imagine you have been with CX five years, you’re now married with a new born on the way. Your wife has had enough of the 500 ft² apartment you both have been living in for the last five years and is demanding that you find a bigger apartment or she is leaving. The only problem is you can’t afford it. What are you going to do?
Although this would be my response, it only fits my situation. young and single. i think that Cathay are probably looking for people in my situation. Judging by the cost of living in HK, they would not do that if they were gonna cater for older more experienced guys.
U think? But you have left out the bit where u're not working at home. There is hardly any airline that adopt SO positions with housing allowance.
If you say Qantas for example...yeah they do have SOs...but u dont have housing. However, that's ok...because you are at home. If you are away from home...there is alot more things to consider other than MONEY AND LOVE FOR FLYING.
If you say Qantas for example...yeah they do have SOs...but u dont have housing. However, that's ok...because you are at home. If you are away from home...there is alot more things to consider other than MONEY AND LOVE FOR FLYING.
Trust me, if people like me could just knock at the local airline's door and simply get in they would. Fact is, not everyone has that opportunity available to them locally so we have to take every opportunity we can get.
About housing allowances: have you ever met cadets from Emirates? Well I met them in Adelaide, and no program can match theirs:
They get 3000$ a month while training in Adelaide.
They get directly to a First Officer position on the A330 with a starting salary of 8000$ a month + housing allowances.
Contract is only 4 years.
They get 3000$ a month while training in Adelaide.
They get directly to a First Officer position on the A330 with a starting salary of 8000$ a month + housing allowances.
Contract is only 4 years.
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FL999
Fark, that is some contract. Sounds a bit too good to be true though dont you think? Ive never heard of the Emirates cadet pilot program. Can you link me please? Also im pretty sure its reserved for UAE nationals anyway.
I've spoken to 5-6 of them independantly while I was doing flight grading in Adelaide, and they all told me the same thing so it must be true. And it is reserved only for UAE nationals.
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what's the deal with your idea of "expats respect"? I find this idea very old fashioned and colonialist...are you implying that a person can get respect only because of image and money and skin color? I couldn't careless about the expact status or salary, and that's a pity if anyone is getting respect for these reasons and not who that person actually is.
N u can look down to local employees and not worry about it.
About housing allowances: have you ever met cadets from Emirates? Well I met them in Adelaide, and no program can match theirs:
Last edited by EPASZ; 5th Nov 2009 at 07:53.
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EPASZ
I don't mean to disrespect you or start an argument, but you didn't really answer to my message, and you kind of contradict yourself with your previous message.
About Emirates, why don't you believe it? as I said, 5-6 cadets told me the same thing and I don't find it surprising. Etihad did offer a 4 years contract, with a salary of 2000$ a month while training and about 6500$/month the first year as an FO on the A320 + housing, so I guess Emirates can do better.
About Emirates, why don't you believe it? as I said, 5-6 cadets told me the same thing and I don't find it surprising. Etihad did offer a 4 years contract, with a salary of 2000$ a month while training and about 6500$/month the first year as an FO on the A320 + housing, so I guess Emirates can do better.
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About Emirates, why don't you believe it? as I said, 5-6 cadets told me the same thing and I don't find it surprising. Etihad did offer a 4 years contract, with a salary of 2000$ a month while training and about 6500$/month the first year as an FO on the A320 + housing, so I guess Emirates can do better.
That is the best contract ive seen but if you have spoken to cadets then thats ok.
Emirates isnt better off than Etihad, from what I heard(from a very high up and reliable source) Etihad is actually helping Emirates out financially so those conditions you were mentioning seemed over the top for an airline going through a major crisis. Then again I dont know, you're the one who talked to those guys.
indeed that would be a problem if you're married. Honestly though, who in their right mind, would get married and have kids when living on a SO salary? If you get there already married and with children thats another story and I agree it would be very difficult to survive. To that question i would respond(thats me, in my current situation): Id say that considering the lack of housing allowance would most certainly be a burden if ever I plan to get a family but lets face it, i still have a lot of time to think about getting a family(again thats just me). So getting married and having kids during the 5 years after the CPP will be a non-issue. It would simply be suicide to carry such a burden without financial freedom. Once things get sorted out after the first couple of years Ill see what Im gonna do then. Anyway if I marry a girl who doesnt understand that im also going through the same thing she is and feels that I should do more to help her out when she darn knows the situation, then I think she wasnt worth marrying anyway.
Very nice to sit here and say well I wouldnt do this and I wouldnt do that but you would be very very naive not to acknowledge the possibility of that happening. As 404 titan has pointed out Im sure the CX interviewers would be clued up to this. Hong Kong is expensive thats a fact more so if your are an expat as you have different lifestyle choices. To say that you would instantly get rid of that lifestyle is absurd, much like the gent saying that he survives on 500 a month is Aus! Life is meant to be enjoyed not endured. What good is flying a shiny jet if you go home to a miserable existance?
I personally have experience of this as I was all set to be moving to CX llast year and put my life on hold and guess what, life still on hold waiting for the phone call, career moving on but not wanting to make roots where I am becuase in the back of the mind you always have to think what if!
Please heed 404 and others advice and dont blindly rush into this for the shiny jet. At the end of the day its a job and a poor paying one for an expat considering what you could make as a DESO
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I don't mean to disrespect you or start an argument, but you didn't really answer to my message, and you kind of contradict yourself with your previous message.
But i dont see we will get the same respect if we are to work in your country of origin, not to say...getting more money than locals...etc.
Little off topic...but i hope i answer your question regarding 'expat respect'
Last edited by EPASZ; 5th Nov 2009 at 18:35.