Hundreds reach for the sky, but first have to show they can reach 2.08m
Confidence, good looks and fluency in English and Cantonese were only the start for hundreds of Hong Kong men and women keen to join Virgin Atlantic yesterday.
They also had to pass the 'reach test' and raise their arms to 2.08 metres to indicate their ability to access overhead lockers.
And all this for a HK$14,000 monthly salary for flight staff - including spending allowances - although they can earn more on extra flights.
Some job seekers arrived at the Tsim Sha Tsui hotel as early as 6am to secure one of 840 interview slots, which will eventually winnow out 100 workers to service additional flights planned between Hong Kong and London.
The doors opened at 8.30am, and each candidate was given a time to return for an interview.
Virgin Atlantic plans to increase the number of flights between Hong Kong and London's Heathrow Airport to twice daily in December.
The airline currently flies once daily between London, Hong Kong and Sydney.
The recruitment drive drew many former employees of failed Oasis Hong Kong Airlines and former employees of Cathay Pacific.
About 700 people lost their jobs when Oasis collapsed in April.
Many job seekers were hoping that a foreign airline would pay higher salaries and better benefits than locally based ones.
A Mr Cheung, 29, worked at Cathay Pacific for eight years before taking a pay cut to join Hong Kong Express. About 20 people from Hong Kong Express sought jobs with Virgin Atlantic.
'Cathay Pacific believes that you have to give the customer what they want,' Mr Cheung said. 'I didn't like the company culture. It was very focused on cutting costs and was not receptive to suggestions from staff. It made me depressed to be there.'
Ms Mak, 25, a former flight attendant with Oasis, said being a flight attendant allowed her to go to school part-time. She wanted to be a stewardess, but would consider returning to her previous job at Hong Kong Disneyland if Virgin Atlantic did not hire her. Job seekers also sat an English written test and were interviewed.
