Applying to the "career destination" airlines

[Avgirl]

I think the key is not to "outthink" the question and just answer.

Like if you fail an 141 stage check, it doesn't mean you've been issued an FAA pink slip, but it's an opportunity to talk about it. It's not that you've fallen, it's an opportunity to speak about how you got up.

Don't overthink it. So many people think "OMG, I'm flawed!" and spiral into self loathing whereas the evaluator is really looking for something qualitative to talk to you about because, at the end of the day, we're both complete strangers, right?

But, that is where the problem is. Applicants seem to think that if they are flawed in any way, that none of those airlines or Air Lines will accept them. When they don't hear back especially, or see friends with identical qualifications get calls back, and they don't, you can't fault them for wondering why. Now, if someone gets a job that is less qualified, then cue overreaction. I am new to all of this and never thought I would date a pilot, but I honestly thought that my BF was exaggerating the process, and making things so much more difficult than they needed to be. But, then I started to help, thinking it couldn't possibly be that difficult, I ended up taking a huge bite of humble pie because I have to admire anyone that can put up with this process. It is seriously like a game of "Whack a Mole." I think landing that job in a destination airline should include a two week vacation at a spa.

 

[rausda27]

My last interview was a meeting with the DO and CP over a nice steak and Malbec. Seemed to work out pretty well for all parties involved. Perhaps go that route?

 

[gotWXdagain]

Cake...yes or no?

Just don't keep saying perhaps, perhaps, perhaps.

 

[JetDoc]

My last interview was a meeting with the DO and CP over a nice steak and Malbec. Seemed to work out pretty well for all parties involved. Perhaps go that route?

This^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Perhaps pilots should go back to hiring pilots instead of HR departments hiring pilots. The process as it exists now stinks to high heaven.

 

[Maximilian_Jenius]

But, that is where the problem is. Applicants seem to think that if they are flawed in any way, that none of those airlines or Air Lines will accept them. When they don't hear back especially, or see friends with identical qualifications get calls back, and they don't, you can't fault them for wondering why. Now, if someone gets a job that is less qualified, then cue overreaction. I am new to all of this and never thought I would date a pilot, but I honestly thought that my BF was exaggerating the process, and making things so much more difficult than they needed to be. But, then I started to help, thinking it couldn't possibly be that difficult, I ended up taking a huge bite of humble pie because I have to admire anyone that can put up with this process. It is seriously like a game of "Whack a Mole." I think landing that job in a destination airline should include a two week vacation at a spa.

Is your bf, a member here?

 

[ian]

But, that is where the problem is. Applicants seem to think that if they are flawed in any way, that none of those airlines or Air Lines will accept them. When they don't hear back especially, or see friends with identical qualifications get calls back, and they don't, you can't fault them for wondering why. Now, if someone gets a job that is less qualified, then cue overreaction. I am new to all of this and never thought I would date a pilot, but I honestly thought that my BF was exaggerating the process, and making things so much more difficult than they needed to be. But, then I started to help, thinking it couldn't possibly be that difficult, I ended up taking a huge bite of humble pie because I have to admire anyone that can put up with this process. It is seriously like a game of "Whack a Mole." I think landing that job in a destination airline should include a two week vacation at a spa.

Can't really use flight qualifications as a discriminator. They are looking at a lot more than just flight time

 

[Avgirl]

Can't really use flight qualifications as a discriminator. They are looking at a lot more than just flight time

I meant as an entire application, not just flight time. It isn't just one thing, there is this paranoia of all the mistakes that can get your application thrown out, or qualifications will not be taken seriously, what you need to add to it to stand out, etc. Of course, I am new to this, so I have no idea what is valid or what is not with those. That would be another thread...and probably a really fun one, too!

Is your bf, a member here?

Nope. This isn't his thing. I joined for my own career path, and found the discussions from pilots to be very useful in better understanding him. After all, I do want him to be happy and achieve the dream of being at a mainline and leaving the regional life behind.

 

[derg]

Cake...yes or no?

No.

 

[derg]

But, that is where the problem is. Applicants seem to think that if they are flawed in any way, that none of those airlines or Air Lines will accept them.

Huge misconception. In fact, there's a good post on the Delta Pilot Recruitment page that talked about that.

Q: "Have you had a traffic ticket?"
A: "Yes, I have a ticket for speeding which was expunged by enrolling in traffic school"

Perfect! Next question.

Q: "Have you had a traffic ticket?"
A: "Nope"

...Meanwhile the background check shows one on your national driving record

Not so perfect.

 

[Maurus]

I think we know how I feel.

Career fairs should be abolished unless free. Not everyone has the time, money, or flexibility to attend career fairs.

As you know we are a very type A group of people. We work in a very structured and predictable environment. Every step we take to getting to the regionals and such is very straight forward. Applying to the legacies then throws a curve-ball as no one knows the "secret sauce" ingredients. The frustration of not knowing if you are actually getting closer to your final destination is quite aggravating. The lack of feedback doesn't help.

 

[Richman]

Biggest complaint I've heard is "the jerk around".

It should be like getting a free credit report. They should have a simple form with maybe 10-15 questions on it. Hit submit, and you get a response of "ok, you have a shot", "meh" or "who you kidding?". If they like you, you get sent the long form app.

Saves everyone time and hassle.

Richman

 

[derg]

I think we know how I feel.

Career fairs should be abolished unless free. Not everyone has the time, money, or flexibility to attend career fairs.

As you know we are a very type A group of people. We work in a very structured and predictable environment. Every step we take to getting to the regionals and such is very straight forward. Applying to the legacies then throws a curve-ball as no one knows the "secret sauce" ingredients. The frustration of not knowing if you are actually getting closer to your final destination is quite aggravating. The lack of feedback doesn't help.

Before we run off the road here, career fairs are not required.

And there is no secret sauce, trust me.

 

[CFIscare]

Huge misconception. In fact, there's a good post on the Delta Pilot Recruitment page that talked about that.

Q: "Have you had a traffic ticket?"
A: "Yes, I have a ticket for speeding which was expunged by enrolling in traffic school"

Perfect! Next question.

Q: "Have you had a traffic ticket?"
A: "Nope"

...Meanwhile the background check shows one on your national driving record

Not so perfect.

I understand how this would play out in an interview (and I would answer it just like that), but what about on the application on airlineapps? It was my understanding that if it was dismissed, then you actually did not receive a violation and that is how I have it on my application (no violations). I went through two airline interviews like that with no issues, but now I am second guessing myself.

 

[Blackhawk]

I don't know if they have changed, but some of the written questions look ridiculous and have little to do with flying in the modern world. Akin to some of the old FAA instrument written questions but on steroids.
I get having a written and discriminators, but let's not go overboard. Determine the distance between two points using lat/long? Seriously? I had to learn that when I flew special ops, but I've never used it in the real world in 30 years of flying.

 

[CoffeeIcePapers]

This^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Perhaps pilots should go back to hiring pilots instead of HR departments hiring pilots. The process as it exists now stinks to high heaven.

That isn't realistic with 10k+ applicants.

 

[CoffeeIcePapers]

Before we run off the road here, career fairs are not required.

And there is no secret sauce, trust me.

What about the requirement to finish college in 4 years? Is that an automatic disqualifier? It took me 6 years due to financial issues, but I graduated with honors.

 

[Dan208B]

What are your challenges and frustrations?

I need some answers relatively swiftly for a project I'm helping someone with and it will be "run up" the food chain fairly quickly.

I think it's an issue they are probably very aware of but one of the clear problems I see is the inability to easily list "extra curricular" things. I know there are limitations to using third party application websites like airlineapps or pilotcredentials so it may not be an option but there seems to be a lot of confusion amongst applicants of how to list these things properly. With some inside info you can find out which boxes people typically put this stuff in so it gets looked at but I think there are lot of folks without resources that are just starting to network and might benefit from some boxes to fill in that have clearer expectations of what should go in them. I struggled a bit to word that properly, does that make sense?

 

[NovemberEcho]

I understand how this would play out in an interview (and I would answer it just like that), but what about on the application on airlineapps? It was my understanding that if it was dismissed, then you actually did not receive a violation and that is how I have it on my application (no violations). I went through two airline interviews like that with no issues, but now I am second guessing myself.

It's a question of how it's written. Normal jobs ask if you have been CONVICTED of a crime etc whereas aviation asks have you ever been CHARGED. If it asks if you've been charged, then you must list it whether or not it was expunged. You would put that it was expunged in your explanation.

 

[JetDoc]

That isn't realistic with 10k+ applicants.

Says you. That number is no higher than it was back in the day before computers and paper applications. We are constantly being told that if we want a shot at the brass ring we have to do the "hard work" to get noticed yet the airlines themselves don't want to do the "hard work" of actually finding quality applicants instead, relying on an algorithm or a couple of retired pilots that are stuck in the 1960's. The hiring hypocrisy in this industry is astounding.

 

[derg]

What about the requirement to finish college in 4 years?

That's not a requirement at my shop.