CX has such low standards for cadets now.
I know few people only got ICAO 4 but still get into the program.

i can't see any problems. Don't you know the new CE has only finished secondary school and his master winnie the pooh only has primary school level.

At least the new CE and his master both get a translator! Airline Pilots? Nope. Sorry.

Does age matter? Will CX take a cadet at age 30-40s?

I have seen mid 30s cadet. :) dont worry

Anyone would like to form a study gp pls add me at tg ~@JPAMANN im still a student but would really like to get started on trying for cadet pilot.

no-reply Email address?
 

Was invited in an email by Cathay 2 weeks ago to take the ICAO. The email also contained instructions to "reply to this email within one week" if you are currently living overseas, which I am. Seems simple enough, right?

However, the email address from which they sent the email displays "careers_no_reply@cathaypacific.com". Was a bit skeptical about whether or not Cathay would be able to receive my reply, so I sent a copy of my reply to "[email protected]" as well.

Radio silence thus far. I know the ICAO is just the very first step of the recruitment process and thus I'm a small fish, but you'd think that a company as big as Cathay would at least send an acknowledgement receipt, provided that they were able to receive my reply with the "careers_no_reply" email address in the first place lol.

Do you think Cathay has received my reply? Has anyone else replied to "careers_no_reply" and gotten a response? Is it normal to wait so long?

Just worried that Cathay may think I am no longer interested in continuing my application, when I very much am.

Out of curiosity, how long after your application were you invited to take the ICAO?

I was invited roughly 9 weeks after I sent my application, a week after the 8 week communication deadline. Did you apply as well?

They used to include a contact person and a phone number in the invitation, regardless of which stage you are at, and this person would normally be the point of contact. Seems those folks no longer with the company anymore. Maybe they are short of staffs?
Just so you know my cousin wrote them two months ago to enquire about the program, and he is still waiting for a reply. Says it all.

From South China Morning Post:

“HongKong transport companies: CityBus and First Bus report they are not worried about Cathay’s Cadet hiring targets. An unnamed employee in talent management went off the record to say; ‘from what we hear the contract and working conditions at CX are so bad our drivers are in no hurry to earn less, take on debt, or spend weeks locked up for a virus with 0.008% mortality rate. Our drivers can move swiftly up the ranks and upgrade to double decker is running at 6 months, not 6 years’.

Both companies confirmed they will will be warding off any poaching attempts by CX recruiters, if any of them still exist.”

hey Osprey, I applied years ago but thinking of giving it another shot.

I’m also overseas in Canada and got a few questions
- do they still hold assessments, at least the initial ones, in Vancouver?
- I just read that from you that it seems like they do the ICAO testing first. Has the assessment steps changed from a few years ago?
- I keep reading negative responses from people saying not to join the cadet program. I’m pretty set on getting in myself but is there any truth in what’s out there or is it a case of just eye on the prize and ignoring the noise?
- lastly a comment .. wow this forum thread is pretty dead compared to years ago

thanks

​​​​​​honggil, did you know they have just signed a three years deal with Polytechnic University on Monday on delivering ground school training for the cadets? Did you also know flight planning and group activities have been taken out from the process as well?
Now, if you are smart enough, you would have asked yourself, why is it necessary to split the program into two different locations given that they have had really good work relationship with FTA since 1994?? If the Program still as glamorous as it used to be, why Kelly Crawford, Nicola Bean, Monica Chang have all left the company? Mike Evans has left as well did you know that? Also, did you know the seniority system has gone as well? Did you also know the company can now change all the terms and conditions on the contract at their own discretion at anytime they want? Meaning, if they decide NOT to promote you, or they decide to FIRE you, (like Cathay Dragon), or they decide to CHANGE anything on the contract, they can!
I think you better do a heaps of research before you make your own decision. The cadet program is NOT the same as it was before. The company is NOT the same as it was. Hong Kong is NOT the same as it was before.
If you think you still want to get in AFTER you have all your facts straighten up, GO FOR IT. It's YOUR LIFE, YOUR DECISION.
Good luck.

Cathay Pacific Cadet Program
 

Hi all,

I have just been invited to take an aptitude test for the Cathay Cadet Program and am wondering if anyone has any suggestions on how to study for these. I have seen many online aptitude test packages, I’m assuming this is the best way to go… thoughts?

Also, if anyone has been inducted into the cadet ship and there are some nuances that the do not disclose please feel free to add them on. I’d like to know what I’m potentially getting myself into.

Cheers

There is a thread title Cadet Pilot Program and it fills with all the good stuff, both past and present, so there isn’t really a need to open another one.

If you want to know what potentially you are getting yourself into, go read other threads under section “Fragrant Harbour” It should give you some good insight about the current climate of the company.

Just so you know the CEO threw out some big numbers recently in terms of headcount, which means it’s much easier to get in the program nowadays than before. Recruiters need to keep up with their KPI as well.

All the best.

So I didn't get a contact listed in the email, but I did receive a call about 10 weeks after I applied. It was from someone who worked for Cathay. They encouraged me to return to HK (I was overseas then) to perform the ICAO, which I did. I got a name and email after that call, but it took a lot of time!

Contacts
 

In case if anyone needs to reach out to the HR ladies, here you go.

Elene Cheng
Talent Acquisition Manager Operations
Tel: 2747 8246
[email protected]

Candy Tse
Assistant Manager Talent Acquisition
Tel: 2747 8248
[email protected]

Stephanie Lawton
Head of Flight Crew People Services
[email protected]

Flight Crew Recruitment
[email protected]

Can any recent DESOs shed light on the application and interview process?

Hey mate! Also got invitaed for Aptitude tests, would u like to give me a feedback?
feel free to send me a message on Whatsapp! :)
+33 (0) 6 46 25 13 70

Hey bud. I'm Alex!! Keen on joining the study group. My whatsapp is +852 54464450.

Thank you for the info.
Actually I sent the email to the Flight Crew Recruitment to ask about DESO hiring schedule last week, but haven't been replied yet.
You seem to know many things about the company and hiring process.
Have you heard any piece of information about DESO recruitment like when they start inviting the applicants?
Recently HK has removed the quarantine so I think the company can take some actions for hire eventually.
It would be highly appreciated if you can shed the light.
Thanks.

Just inboxed you!

What were the aptitude tests like, cut-e style?

Yes Cut-e style

Did anyone have a final interview recently, do they send a rejection email🤔? or after how long did they send an email(i.e. Medical) for the next stage?

Hello mateys, think I can help shed some light on both your questions.

Jayberg, I applied in May and was first contacted by Cathay in August, 3 months later; perhaps due to the huge influx of applications?

Zendezyre, I was invited to have my medical roughly a week after I had my final interview.

Here's my personal timeline for reference:

> Initial application: End of May
> ICAO (Invitation): End of August

> Initial Online (Cut-E) Assessment (Invitation): Middle of September
> Initial Online (Cut-E) Assessment (Actual): End of September

> Final Interview (Invitation): End of September
> Final Interview (Actual): Mid October

> Final Medical (Invitation): End of October

Thank you for shedding some light on the recruitment process. ​​​​​​I don't know if you are allowed but if possible, could you also share briefly about the format and your experience of the interview?

For sure mate. Put simply, the interview format was 3 parts:

1:
I was interviewed by one lady from HR and another from FlightOps. HR lady started out with the standard questions i.e. introduce yourself, why do you want to be a pilot, name me one example you showed leadership etc etc. After that was out of the way, HR lady also asked a few more personal questions that they conceived from reading my cover letter, so be prepared to elaborate on things you may have said in yours.
> Questions that they may ask:

1. What would be the biggest challenge to you personally throughout the programme?
2. ​​​​What ties to aviation do you have?

2:
Then FlightOps lady came in and posed some non-routine scenarios, to which I had to just simply tell them what I would do. I don't think they were trying to test my technical knowledge, but rather sort of get a grasp of what my character is and how I would react in certain situations. I think the only advice I can give here is don't hesitate, and just say what you think is right once you've settled on how you wanna respond. Of course, there were also some basic technical questions that you should be able to answer if you're seriously considering the job.
> Questions that they may ask:

1. If you were a co-pilot, and the Captain wants to attempt a crosswind landing above the rated limit of an aircraft, what would you do?
2. What is the standard flight level?

3:
After FlightOps was finished, HR lady came in again and asked some final housekeeping questions like when can you start, do you need financial assistance, etc etc. wrapped up with a Q & A at the end.

The whole interview took around 50 minutes. For me, what helped immensely was just spending a whole weekend preparing for the interview by drafting a list of questions that I thought Cathay would ask, and then developed my corresponding answers so that I could speak from the heart and not from memory. I also slipped in tidbits of relevant information/facts that highlighted certain things about me that I thought would set me apart, which I also reckon helped.

Overall, it was a painless experience because I approached it like a coupla mates talking about something we all share a passion about, rather than a very formal "me" vs. "you". Of course, you should still answer questions seriously, but just be yourself and anyone can do great

Of course it was a painless experience. It has to be. They had to go easy on you and everybody else just to make up the number. That is recruiting 101. Try to read some of the past posts on this thread, you will be AMAZED how easy it is now than before. Talking about standard? Standard has left the building years ago. #Racingtothebottom

Then thank god for recruiting 101, eh? ;)

Thank you for your input! Good luck 🤞

So true!

I remember in my final interview, I was grilled by a Training Captain on B777. Why? Because I picked the 773ER, and he just started firing things at me. 45 minutes. non stop questioning. From basic aerodynamics such as lift weight drag thrust to fuel calculation, TOD calculation, to aviation weather like what is cold front warm front etc, to hydraulic system on B773 and some other things I didn't even know of. He asked me one question, I answered it, he then fired back right away, every time it gets harder and harder, 45 minutes, I chose my words very meticulously while sweating at my back. Few months preparation all out in 45 minutes. Keep in mind I was just a Zero hour guy! It was one hell experience.

Few months after I joined the company, met this chap again, told me he did it on purpose just to test out my limit! That, is what standard means people.

Good old days are gone.

Based on this thread and what other members have said about their own hiring process, people are right in saying that the hiring standard has gone down.

However, what Cathay wants right now is not what it wanted X years ago... so comparing the standards for two separate problems does nothing but make both teams on the same side upset... the veterans are understandably annoyed that kids these days have it easy... the kids feel disheartened that the veterans don't seem to wanna support their opportunity to become a pilot.

Cathay's desire to train (from scratch) 1,500 mostly local pilots in a place like Hong Kong whose Urban Population has little to no ties to aviation means dramatically widening their scope of acceptability. Of course I don't have the numbers or the data, but that's the feeling I get.

I'm just glad that I have the opportunity in the first place; is that what the veterans are upset about? That the wannabes only got this opportunity because the vets got shafted when covid hit? I'd love to hear your thoughts...

"Cathay wants right now is not what it wanted X years ago"

I tell you what Cathay wants right now. Cathay wants to recruit as many pilots as they can to replace the ones that have left, in the expanse of quality, because once the HK Government drops 0+3, they won't have the capacity to meet the demands, based on the current headcounts. If it wasn't those experienced pilots who have left the door, they WILL NOT relaunch the cadet scheme at this time. They could have easily called back the guys they fired years ago. Keep in mind, there are still loads of Second Officers sitting at home counting beans. SCMP/The Standard has even done a report on that.

So you are damn right. Before, they didn't have this problem, because those guys were still flying. No need to mess around their cadets. But now, they can't. Number 1, people are leaving at a historical rate. Number 2, foreigner pilots have no interest in coming to HK based on COS18/COS21. The only way to go around this is to lower the standard so that more people can get through the door in a short amount of time. And that's what we or the veterans have a problem with.

Just because you are giving someone opportunity does not mean you have to lower the standard. You can keep hiring people while maintaining the standard.
If not then everyone can get into Harvard or Oxford or Yales right?

Ridiculous.

Thank you for sharing mate. It's very interesting to hear what the vets have to say.

I just want to understand your position a bit more. In other words, the vets have hard feelings against both Cathay and the new guys because they feel like Cathay not only swept their legs out from underneath them with COS18/COS21, but also chopped their heads off while they were at it by electing to hire 1000 clowns to fly planes instead of rehiring from the currently existing pool of qualified pilots.

Furthermore, the vets also feel a sense of animosity towards the new guys, because not only are they willing to take a dog**** contract, thus proving to Cathay that they can away with cheap labour and 0 loyalty, but also that the new guys are diluting the skill/image/renown etc. etc. within the industry because they were not selected with the same rigour that they were.

Is this where you stand?

Some people think Liz Truss has done an amazing job even though her prime ministership only lasted for 45 days, while some people think that she was a disaster, that she is the only reason that brought so much trouble to British currency and the financial market. I would want to work with someone that is competent from day one, such as Tony Blair whose prime ministership lasted for 10 years. That is my stand.

FYI - I was born and bred in Hong Kong, went to an international school then a local university for college, so I completely understand the local culture and their mentality. Me and my friends in my batch went through a rigorous selection process which includes flight grading which is no longer part of the selection now, and were chosen to be placed on the program. None of us was ICAO level 4. That is the standard which we were so proud of. Comparing now, all I can say is, we are so glad we do not need to deal with such substandard pilots now.

Good luck with your ground school training at Poly Tech University, assuming if you made it.

Three years deal with Polytechic University, that says it all. Btw, if it was such a good idea, how come they have waited it for so long to push through? Hmmm....

One of my client’s son received an offer from Cathay. just few days ago. He told me the whole interviewing process was a joke. They did not even attempt to ask him a single question that is plane related. It was all about his work experiences, his personalities, and some basic HR type question. That’s it. And now he has an offer on the table. I was like, you’ve gotta be kidding me!

This, was what the final interview used to be. Anyone who does not have the time to read, check this out. You will amazed how low the bar is today. Enjoy.

Post quoted from user "holdmetight"

Standard is lower yes, but the EASA exam and flight training is still real and passing standard doesn't change. I see this as a chance for those with less privilage to have a go.

By the way can anyone share some experience of the video interview during cut-e test? I wonder is there any different with the old days?