The celebrated (and used in a hugely misleading way by the Greek government and the media) hiring process of an unknown number of employees for Ryanair that is setting up shop in Greece’s two major airports, began Thursday in Thessaloniki. Irish Crewlink, Ryanair’s recruiting company of choice that has been assigned to sift the candidates, conducted interviews regarding cabin crew positions. There ill also be a second round on March 25.Those shortlisted will then have to spend six weeks at the company’s training center near Hahn Airport, Frankfurt.
But, as per Ryanair’s/Crewlink’s hiring practices, candidates who succeed at the interviews, won’t just have to bring themselves and their dreams for a job to Germany.
Jobless Greeks who are flocking the interviews (link in Greek, pictures) for a job that will get them out of the country’s shocking 28 percent unemployed demographic are kindly informed by Crewlink’s site about “payment options”. A down-payment of 500 euros is common in both, just to confirm their place in the training course and so is another 700 for accommodation in Hahn. From there, regarding training costs, one can either choose between a “reduced fee” of 1,750 euros upfront, and a 2,350 euros deduction from salary, should they get hired.
Should the candidate fail in the repeated written exams and other tests while in Hahn (Crewlink promises that, because of its initial selection process, 96% of trainees land a job), the training fee is returned. This is not the case for the 500 euros worth of registration fees or the accommodation.
Earlier reports in the UK depicting a grim picture for trainees and employees alike, with contracts full of impossible terms, have either not reached or not discouraged young men and women from dressing up to Ryanair’s standards and going through the tests. It is unknown whether they had the cash to spare should they pass the tests. If they make it, the future is reassuring, as a Crewlink spokesperson had told the Observer in late 2013: “If people don't like our terms and conditions, they are free to leave at any time”.
