American Airlines job fair

[jtrain609]

I hope they do and read this and how throwing a job fair and not taking resumes, which is basically the definition of what a job fair is, was ridiculous and pissed off a lot of good people.

That's the thing, legacy carriers have been able to piss off candidates for 16 years without any consequences, and they don't know how to adjust to the new normal.

My wife does hiring for her department, and says that if she treated interviewees the way airlines do and word got out, she'd never be able to hire anyone again.

 

[learhawkerbe400]

I have a suspicion that one reason they prefer mil is because of reduced health benefit costs and pensions. They'll hire on at an older age, not use company medical saving tens of thousands a year, and typically bail out early because they have a nice supplemental pension to boot.

I'm thinking that is partly why SWA favored them as well but of course I can't prove anything.

Of course knowing most large corps this kind of thinking doesn't have one hand talking to the other lol.

Keep in mind half of AA hires are civ, they just come via flow right now.

The only mil guys who keep their medical are retirees and active guard guys. Only the retirees get pensions (edit: guard guys do as well but only if they do 20 years and they can’t draw until 60). The guard guys go on lots of mil leave, sometimes while still on probation, which irks the company. So i don’t think your theory works.

It would be like if AA said we are going to hire every spirit pilot that applies to try and put pressure on spirit. Sounds good talking about it but no way HR would ever implement anything like that. Too dumb lol

 

[wheelsup]

The only mil guys who keep their medical are retirees and active guard guys. Only the retirees get pensions (edit: guard guys do as well but only if they do 20 years and they can’t draw until 60). The guard guys go on lots of mil leave, sometimes while still on probation, which irks the company. So i don’t think your theory works.

It would be like if AA said we are going to hire every spirit pilot that applies to try and put pressure on spirit. Sounds good talking about it but no way HR would ever implement anything like that. Too dumb lol

Ah good point about going out on mil leave.

I wonder why the bias/priority. They must have some sorta of data.

 

[learhawkerbe400]

Ah good point about going out on mil leave.

I wonder why the bias/priority. They must have some sorta of data.

It’s simple. It’s hard to even get selected to be a mil pilot and hard to make it through training. You’re a known quantity. Pretty much guarantees you can make it through training at the airlines.

It’s like a college degree but more relevant.

 

[AAPalmTree]

I know the head of recruiting said he goes onto APC, but doesn't post.

 

[wheelsup]

That's the thing, legacy carriers have been able to piss off candidates for 16 years without any consequences, and they don't know how to adjust to the new normal.

My wife does hiring for her department, and says that if she treated interviewees the way airlines do and word got out, she'd never be able to hire anyone again.

The actual interview experience I think is pretty good I've heard. In fact I have talked to several who chose AA over DL because of their interview experiences. My interview at US was by far the most organized, professional, and positive experience I have ever been associated with as far as aviation interviews go.

Depending on the position not all applicants are qualified to interview and prior to that I'm not sure what people really expect to be treated like - just because the company isn't getting back to you doesn't mean they are treating someone badly. Despite what you read there are tens of thousands of candidates for just a few hundred slots a year. Because AA is flowing so many guys I'm guessing the people getting the calls are relatively new applications from guys retiring from the military.

 

[wheelsup]

It’s simple. It’s hard to even get selected to be a mil pilot and hard to make it through training. You’re a known quantity. Pretty much guarantees you can make it through training at the airlines.

It’s like a college degree but more relevant.

Maybe. But so does hiring commuter guys from reputable companies, their training is way harder than anything at mainline.

When I was in initial I overheard the sim instructors bitching about the lack of trainability of their current CAs. One stated he would take new hires over experienced guys any day as we actually care and try to pass.

 

[Screaming_Emu]

Some of the worst, most incompetent pilots I've flown with were former fighter jocks.

We had 5 guys struggle in training at my current place, not a single one was civilian trained.

Though at the same time some of the really good people I’ve flown with were military that ended up having to work some crappier jobs in the mean time because their timing wasn’t great.

 

[Screaming_Emu]

I have a suspicion that one reason they prefer mil is because of reduced health benefit costs and pensions. They'll hire on at an older age, not use company medical saving tens of thousands a year, and typically bail out early because they have a nice supplemental pension to boot.

I'm thinking that is partly why SWA favored them as well but of course I can't prove anything.

Of course knowing most large corps this kind of thinking doesn't have one hand talking to the other lol.

Keep in mind half of AA hires are civ, they just come via flow right now.

Ugh.

“I’m not to worried about our contract because I’m pulling down retirement too.”

 

[poser765]

It’s simple. It’s hard to even get selected to be a mil pilot and hard to make it through training. You’re a known quantity. Pretty much guarantees you can make it through training at the airlines.

It’s like a college degree but more relevant.

But is that more relevant than demonstrating years of successfully passing 121 training events? One would think a good indicator of making it through 121 training would be, I don't know, showing that we've made it through 121 training.

 

[jtrain609]

The actual interview experience I think is pretty good I've heard. In fact I have talked to several who chose AA over DL because of their interview experiences. My interview at US was by far the most organized, professional, and positive experience I have ever been associated with as far as aviation interviews go.

Depending on the position not all applicants are qualified to interview and prior to that I'm not sure what people really expect to be treated like - just because the company isn't getting back to you doesn't mean they are treating someone badly. Despite what you read there are tens of thousands of candidates for just a few hundred slots a year. Because AA is flowing so many guys I'm guessing the people getting the calls are relatively new applications from guys retiring from the military.

I'm not referring to American specifically, but all legacy carriers generally.

Treating people poorly during any phase of the recruitment process, including at career fairs, is a mistake. Worse than that, it's unprofessional, and speaks volumes about the culture of that airline.

 

[wheelsup]

I'm not referring to American specifically, but all legacy carriers generally.

Treating people poorly during any phase of the recruitment process, including at career fairs, is a mistake. Worse than that, it's unprofessional, and speaks volumes about the culture of that airline.

Had an ex-jetBlue guy in my crashpad, said the same thing about jetBlue (they talk a lot about culture and being pro this and that, but do the opposite). He said it was really hypocritical.

Personally I would hesitate to judge an entire company with one event. We really don't know the circumstances of it. It would be like me judging jetBlue on their employee-gone-crazy moments.

I really don't see how someone can be treated poorly in a recruitment process that is mostly online.

 

[derg]

On another platform, there has been some "less than flattering" feedback.

I don't know, just eating popcorn on the sidelines and watching the big shewwww.

 

[derg]

@Derg does your friend know how many active/updated apps are on file at Airlineapps for Delta?

Yes.

 

[jtrain609]

Had an ex-jetBlue guy in my crashpad, said the same thing about jetBlue (they talk a lot about culture and being pro this and that, but do the opposite). He said it was really hypocritical.

Personally I would hesitate to judge an entire company with one event. We really don't know the circumstances of it. It would be like me judging jetBlue on their employee-gone-crazy moments.

I really don't see how someone can be treated poorly in a recruitment process that is mostly online.

Online?

Seriously?

How out of the loop are you with these career fairs?

 

[ian]

I have a suspicion that one reason they prefer mil is because of reduced health benefit costs and pensions. They'll hire on at an older age, not use company medical saving tens of thousands a year, and typically bail out early because they have a nice supplemental pension to boot.

I'm thinking that is partly why SWA favored them as well but of course I can't prove anything.

Of course knowing most large corps this kind of thinking doesn't have one hand talking to the other lol.

Keep in mind half of AA hires are civ, they just come via flow right now.

they prefer mil because as others have said the training is a known quantity

 

[AV80R16]

I give ya that, but what about the ones whose only experience has been in single-seat/pilot fighter jets? They have had 0 flight time (except training) working in the cockpit with someone else. AA has zero airplanes that are single pilot certificated. Plus, there's also the whole general familiarity thing with RJ guys when it comes to operating in/out of the busiest hubs and airspace in the US. There's something to say for that experience and familiarity, and Part 121 ops experience too.

Not saying they are unqualified or inexperienced. I have nothing but respect for our military aviators and I think they should all get a fair shot at any 121 major job. Just saying of all the apps I've filled out in the past, the AA one with the military slant was kinda ridiculous.

Isn’t your entire first paragraph telling everyone that you think military pilots, especially fighter pilots, are not qualified for the Airlines?

 

[ian]

The actual interview experience I think is pretty good I've heard. In fact I have talked to several who chose AA over DL because of their interview experiences. My interview at US was by far the most organized, professional, and positive experience I have ever been associated with as far as aviation interviews go.

Depending on the position not all applicants are qualified to interview and prior to that I'm not sure what people really expect to be treated like - just because the company isn't getting back to you doesn't mean they are treating someone badly. Despite what you read there are tens of thousands of candidates for just a few hundred slots a year. Because AA is flowing so many guys I'm guessing the people getting the calls are relatively new applications from guys retiring from the military.

i think it goes both ways. I've flown with guys that left AA to come to SJI and say it was terrible there and awesome here. I also have friends that have left SJI for UA and say its much better there. It's all about perspective and taking things with a grain of salt. What works for one person doesn't work for the other.

 

[poser765]

Isn’t your entire first paragraph telling everyone that you think military pilots, especially fighter pilots, are not qualified for the Airlines?

I can't answer for him, obviously, but my take away (and opinion) is that a military pilot isn't inherently MORE qualified. Not that they aren't qualified period.

 

[ian]

I'm not referring to American specifically, but all legacy carriers generally.

Treating people poorly during any phase of the recruitment process, including at career fairs, is a mistake. Worse than that, it's unprofessional, and speaks volumes about the culture of that airline.

you mean like UA calling people for a new hire class a few weeks ago ad then 3 days later calling them back saying just kidding that class in canceled?



i kid i kid, all of them put their foot in their mouth at some point.