Greetings all... Thought I would kick in a few thoughts..
Regarding the crews hanging/going out, I find it to be totally hit or miss.. I am single, relatively young, and live in one of the crew dorms (apartments) so they tend to be social around me.. Like with any airline, we have some pilots here that compensate for personal issues/inabilities by mis-treating the crews or acting like asses and that can scare many off.. I have had a 9 day BKK-SYD-BKK trip inwhich I never saw one crew out, and other times I taken years off my life by trying to keep up with them. Certain cultures do lead us to stereotype, and you can often have a good sense 15 seconds after you walk into the brief.. 5 days in SIN lately, and havent seen any of my crew, but you do see other crews at the local hangouts. Still sunburnt from white water rafting with the crew in Uganda two weeks ago, so it can go either way!!
Regarding hiring, I agree with most of what is being said on here.. It took me forever to get an interview and then a friend of mine was hired, and magically I was emailed and then things went fast.. So if you have anyone on the "inside" it never hurts.. I also agree about attending one of these "meet and greets".. Not to say you will leave with anything, but the face time is bueno.. I know EK were at the Aeroservice job fair a couple of weeks ago in MIA, so keep tabs on that stuff.. climbto350.com tends to have all the Aeroservice info...
Regarding the 747-8, here is what I know..
(preface, CAUTION info mostly comes from other pilots)
From an Atlas friend of mine: "EK will fly the new planes, and Atlas is not sure about the future of the SkyCargo contract."
Remember our crews already fly the 310s and will fly the 777-200LR Cargo planes as well-as the 380Fs.
From a TRE here, "Our guys (or our gal) will fly the -8s.." He went on to say that "they might be offered to guys as an incentive to stay if they are thinking about leaving.." Oh man, I will leave that statement alone because when I threatened to quit, they offered me a dc-9!! Should I read into this??? joking of course...

cheers all