Emirates Cabin Crew Open Day vs Assessment Day: 5 Key Differences
An Emirates cabin crew open day and an assessment day are not the same thing. If you are preparing for Emirates cabin crew recruitment, understanding the difference can help you arrive prepared and know what to expect.
They are not.
Although both can be important steps towards becoming Emirates cabin crew, the experience can be quite different, particularly when it comes to how you should approach the event.
And there is something many aspiring cabin crew candidates overlook.
You are being observed before you think the assessment has even started.
What Is an Emirates Cabin Crew Open Day?
An Emirates cabin crew Open Day is a recruitment event where candidates can walk in and meet the recruitment team at a designated location.
Emirates currently advertises Cabin Crew Open Days around the world and states that candidates can walk into its Open Days. The airline also has invitation only recruitment events where candidates are required to apply online and be selected before attending.
This means an Emirates Cabin Crew Open Day can attract a large number of aspiring cabin crew candidates from that particular location.
You may walk into a hotel or recruitment venue and find yourself surrounded by dozens, sometimes hundreds, of people who have exactly the same dream as you.
Everyone wants to stand out.
Everyone has dressed professionally.
Everyone has prepared their CV.
Everyone has practised answering questions such as:
“Why do you want to work for Emirates?”
“Tell me about yourself.”
“Why should we hire you?”
But here is where many candidates misunderstand the Open Day.
The assessment does not begin when someone officially tells you that the assessment has started.
An Emirates Cabin Crew Open Day Is Also About Your First Impression
Imagine walking into the venue.
There are people you have never met.
You do not know the candidates sitting beside you.
You do not know who will eventually become your colleague.
You do not know who the recruiters are watching.
What do you do?
Do you walk in confidently?
Do you greet people?
Do you smile?
Do you acknowledge the people around you?
Do you sit quietly with your phone glued to your hand?
Do you look nervous and withdrawn?
Do you start complaining about how long you have been waiting?
Do you speak respectfully to the reception staff?
Do you treat other candidates with kindness?
These little moments matter because cabin crew is fundamentally a people facing profession.
And this is one of the biggest reasons I believe candidates should take an Open Day seriously.
The Emirates Cabin Crew Open Day Is Open to People in That Location
One of the key differences is accessibility.
An Emirates Cabin Crew Open Day is designed to allow candidates in that location to attend without necessarily receiving an individual invitation beforehand. Emirates describes its Cabin Crew Open Days as events candidates can walk into, while its invitation only recruitment events require candidates to apply online and be selected to attend.
So if Emirates announces an Open Day in your city, you should not assume that the recruitment team already knows anything about you.
You are walking into that room as a stranger.
And that is exactly what makes your behaviour so important.
What Are They Looking At?
Of course, Emirates has formal requirements for cabin crew. Candidates must meet requirements including being at least 21 years old, having at least one year of hospitality or customer service experience, meeting the height and reach requirements, being fluent in English and having a minimum of Grade 12 education.
But beyond ticking boxes, the airline is looking for people who can function effectively in a customer facing, multicultural environment.
Emirates itself describes its ideal cabin crew candidate as a natural team player with a personality that shines.
That is why your presence matters.
Your body language matters.
Your communication matters.
Your attitude matters.
And your interaction with people matters.
Think About the Passengers You Will Meet
Here is something I want every aspiring cabin crew candidate to think about.
When you become cabin crew, the majority of your passengers will be complete strangers.
You do not know who they are before they board your aircraft.
You do not know whether they are travelling for business.
You do not know whether they are going on holiday.
You do not know whether they are travelling to attend a wedding.
You do not know whether someone is travelling because they have just received terrible news.
You do not know their personality.
You do not know their expectations.
But they have paid for a flight and they expect to receive professional service.
That is the reality of cabin crew.
You have to walk into an aircraft filled with people you have never met and create a professional, welcoming environment.
So ask yourself:
If the recruitment room were an aircraft and everyone inside were your passengers, what kind of cabin crew would they experience?
That question can completely change the way you approach an Emirates Cabin Crew Open Day.
Your Open Day Aura Matters
I often tell aspiring cabin crew candidates that the aura you bring into the Emirates Cabin Crew Open Day is the aura you may eventually bring into the aircraft.
This does not mean you need to be the loudest person in the room.
You do not need to walk around trying to impress everyone.
You do not need to force a huge smile every second.
And you certainly should not pretend to be someone you are not.
What you need is a professional presence.
Be approachable.
Be warm.
Be confident.
Be respectful.
Be aware of your surroundings.
Communicate naturally.
If someone is struggling to find a seat, help them.
If someone speaks to you, respond politely.
If you are standing in a queue, be patient.
If you are interacting with staff, remember that they are people too.
Because customer service is not something you suddenly switch on when the recruiter says, “Good morning, everyone.”
Customer service is a behaviour.
So What Happens at the Emirates Cabin Crew Assessment Stage?
The assessment stage is more structured.
According to Emirates, its recruitment day process includes an introduction to the cabin crew role and life in Dubai, assessment activities such as group activities and an online test, followed by a final interview for candidates who progress.
Emirates also explains that candidates can expect group discussions and activities designed to demonstrate qualities such as teamwork, communication and problem solving, alongside individual interviews covering areas such as motivation and customer service experience.
This is where you may be asked to actively participate in exercises.
You may have to work with other candidates.
You may have to communicate your ideas.
You may have to listen.
You may have to solve a problem as a group.
And this is where another common mistake happens.
Some candidates think that the person who talks the most automatically performs the best.
That is not necessarily true.
You Do Not Have to Dominate the Group
Imagine you are given a group task.
One candidate talks continuously.
Another candidate barely says anything.
A third candidate listens carefully, contributes useful ideas, encourages others and helps the group reach a decision.
Who demonstrates the strongest teamwork?
Probably the third candidate.
Cabin crew is not about being the person who always wants to be the centre of attention.
It is about knowing when to speak, when to listen, when to support someone and when to take responsibility.
That is why your behaviour during group activities matters.
You are not competing against the other candidates in the room.
You are demonstrating how you could potentially work with them.
Emirates Cabin Crew Open Day vs Assessment Day: The Simple Difference
Think about it this way.
Emirates Cabin Crew Open Day
You are entering the recruitment environment and making your first impression.
The event is generally accessible to candidates attending an advertised Open Day in that location.
You may be surrounded by many strangers.
Your professionalism, appearance, communication and general presence can all contribute to the impression you create.
Emirates Cabin Crew Assessment Stage
The process becomes more structured.
You may participate in group activities, complete an online test and potentially progress to an individual interview. Emirates specifically identifies teamwork, communication, problem solving, motivation and customer service experience as areas involved in its recruitment process.
The two stages therefore require different preparation.
But there is one thing they have in common.
Be yourself, but bring your professional self.
Stop Thinking Only About the Recruiter
This is probably one of the most important pieces of advice I can give you.
When you attend an Emirates cabin crew Open Day, stop thinking:
“The recruiter is watching me.”
Instead, think:
“I am already demonstrating how I interact with people.”
That shift in mindset can make a huge difference.
Because if you only behave professionally when you know the recruiter is watching, you are performing.
But if professionalism is naturally part of your behaviour, it becomes much easier for recruiters to see your potential.
Remember, Emirates cabin crew members work with people from different cultures and backgrounds, and the airline describes its cabin crew as part of a multicultural team.
Your ability to make people feel comfortable is therefore valuable.
What Should You Do When You Walk Into an Emirates Cabin Crew Open Day?
Walk in with confidence.
Greet people.
Smile naturally.
Maintain good posture.
Be polite to everyone.
Do not ignore other candidates because you see them as competition.
Do not complain about the recruitment process.
Do not spend the entire time looking at your phone.
Do not force yourself to become the loudest person in the room.
Do not try to copy another candidate’s personality.
And most importantly, do not underestimate the first impression you create.
You may think you are simply waiting for registration.
But you are already demonstrating how you carry yourself around strangers.
Your Cabin Crew Career Starts With People
Getting an Emirates cabin crew job is not simply about looking good in a uniform.
The uniform is only part of the picture.
Behind that uniform is a person who has to communicate with passengers, work with colleagues, handle difficult situations, follow safety procedures and provide service to people from different cultures and backgrounds.
That is why I want aspiring cabin crew candidates to look beyond the interview questions.
Ask yourself:
What experience do people have when they interact with me?
Because that is ultimately what cabin crew is about.
You are going to meet thousands of people you have never met before.
Some will be friendly.
Some will be demanding.
Some will be nervous.
Some will be tired.
Some will be celebrating.
Some will be difficult.
And you still have to remain professional.
So when you walk into that Emirates Open Day and find yourself surrounded by strangers, remember this:
The recruitment room may be the first cabin you enter.
The people around you may be your first passengers.
And the impression you create may tell the recruiters more about your potential than you realise.
A Final Boarding Call
If you are preparing for an Emirates cabin crew Open Day, do not only prepare your CV and interview answers.
Prepare your presence.
Prepare your communication.
Prepare your mindset.
Prepare yourself to interact with people.
Because cabin crew is a people business.
The recruiter may eventually ask you why you want to become cabin crew.
But before you answer that question, your behaviour may already be answering another one:
What kind of experience would passengers have if this person were their cabin crew?
Walk into the room like the cabin crew member you are working towards becoming.
Not fake.
Not forced.
Just professional, warm, confident and genuinely interested in people.
That is the kind of presence passengers remember.
And it is the kind of presence that can make you stand out.
If you are considering Emirates alongside other major international airlines, I have also compared Emirates, Delta and Riyadh Air, including what aspiring cabin crew should know about pursuing a career with each airline.
Read my posts on the topics;
How to Become a Flight Attendant for International Airlines: Emirates, Delta and Riyadh Air Compared How to Become a Flight Attendant for International Airlines: Emirates, Delta and Riyadh Air Compared
Age is another question many aspiring Emirates cabin crew candidates worry about, but being in your 30s does not automatically mean you should give up on the opportunity. I shared my thoughts on whether a 30 year old is too old to become Emirates cabin crew here. Can a 30 Year Old Become A Cabin Crew? Emirates Age Requirements Explained
Recruitment dates and requirements can change, so always check https://www.emiratesgroupcareers.com/cabin-crew/ for the latest recruitment events, eligibility requirements and application information.