From Cabin Crew to Corporate Office - My journey

When I was landing in Dubai I knew I will love it here. I can’t explain it but perhaps I already felt the magic of this place, the vibe that anything is possible.?

I can't really pinpoint from where this aura comes from: maybe it’s the vision of the leaders or all the things we are surrounded with: the biggest, the best, the most unusual. Maybe, this is what gives you the confidence that your dreams can become a reality.?

When I joined Emirates as a Cabin Crew I already had a goal in mind and it wasn't to see the world. I wanted to work in the Emirates Group Headquarters. I thought joining as a Cabin Crew and moving internally will be easier than applying externally.

Little did I know.???

As with any job being a cabin crew had its pros and cons. I didn’t travel much before coming to Dubai, therefore that job gave me a chance to see a big part of the world for free, which I am extremely grateful for. I always made an effort to go sightseeing during the layover. Even if it meant going alone.?

The lifestyle that comes with this job is an advantage too - you feel like you are constantly on holiday. Most of the time you fly with a different set of crew, so if you don't get along with somebody it's fine because you won't see them anytime soon or ever.

Once you punch out after your duty, you are done. No deadlines, no need to prepare any presentations, reports etc. And in between the flights, you can enjoy your life: go to the beach, pool, gym, meet with friends etc. You feel that your days off are truly off.

Pretty good life!

After around 8 or 9 months the excitement of going to new places wore off and I started to feel tired due to different time zones, various flight schedules (day/night flights), not eating at regular times. I am the kind of person that needs to sleep 7-8 hours and eat regularly to function at my peak. Thankfully, I was in the group for the business upgrade which I knew will keep me going for a bit longer. The upgrade went well and I moved to business class.?

Not long after I started to have problems with the ulnar nerve. I was still flying while the initial tests were being done but soon I was put on the ground due to the pain I was experiencing. Whatever I was carrying felt as if it was twice or thrice heavier than it usually was. To describe it best: do you know the pain that you feel when you hit yourself in a "funny bone"? That was the pain I experienced for a prolonged time before I was put on strong painkillers.?

Even though it was a challenging time in my life I knew right away this was my opportunity to turn my goal into a reality!

Nerves regenerate slowly so when I started my physiotherapy I emailed my manager asking for a ground job. I got the confirmation and was ready to start.

I began with simple tasks (e.g. filtering in excel) but that was alright. I was aware no one knew me and I needed to show what my skills are and what I am capable of. I was completing my tasks promptly and was proactively asking for more tasks. Over time that led to bigger responsibilities. At the same time, I was getting to know people and build new relationships. I started to participate in the events to expose myself to the company culture and to know what is happening.?

I was sharing my story with people, asking for advice and acting on the one I got. I was regularly checking any open vacancies and applying for the ones that fitted my experience. I even reached out to HR and asked for help in preparation for assessment and interviews.?

I was going through the recruitment process, participating in assessments or making it all the way to the interview but in the end, I was always informed there was a better candidate. With all that effort and energy I was putting in without any visible results I was getting more and more discouraged. I had moments when I wanted to give up and was starting to think about going back home.?

Going back flying wasn’t an option for me therefore I could go back to Poland or stay longer and hope for the best. I was literally convincing myself to hang on. Every day I would tell myself:?Barbara, just hold on a little bit longer. Usually, the breakthrough happens when you feel like giving up but you don't. Just hold on.

It was tough to have faith that something will finally happen.?

But it did.???

I can’t remember how long it took but one day the executive that was leading the team I joined as grounded cabin crew told me about an opening in the department he was moving to. I didn't interact with him much but he heard about the quality of my work. Soon after the job was advertised, I went through the recruitment process and got the job. That was the time when I finally felt relief because I ACHIEVED MY GOAL! ??

This job wasn't given to me on a silver platter. I was grounded for around 5 to 6 months and all that time I dedicated to hard work on making it a reality. I remember during my last physio my physiotherapist told me that when during the first session I told him I want to get a ground job, he thought I am one of those crew who say it but do little to make it a reality. I was surprised by his comment because I know how determined I can be. After some time, when I was already working in the office I met with a few cabin crew that had the same aspirations and were looking for advice. It was the moment when I remembered his words and understood why he made that comment.?

Most of us, if not all, want to accomplish great things, but not all of us want to pay the price of achieving it, especially if the price tag is high.?

Is this the end of my story??

Not at all.???

Achieving my goal: working in the Emirates Group Headquarters was just the beginning as I already had my next goal written down...?

To be continued...