Timbuff10
Well-Known Member
My turn!
Submitted my app back in the beginning of April and was informed that I would be applying for the July 21st class. Had a few JC Xjetters attach their name to mine and write in to HR for me (thanks guys!). Finally got the famous Email on July 5th to interview on July 17th.
In the week leading up to the interview I tried to get as much of the paperwork together as possible and also hit the books for an hour or so each day. I also picked up the King DVD on "Jepp Chart Review" since I had never touched a Jepp approach plate before, much less any Jepp charts. The course was typical King stuff, but by the end I felt like I knew the charts about as good as anyone. I spent the entire day before the interview just going over stuff from aviationinterviews.com and also reading up on those subjects in the Jeppesen IFR/Commercial textbook and "Everything Explained for the Professional Pilot". My wife briefed me on the company of ExpressJet, gave me her notes from reading their 10K/annual report, and just general company info. By this time I felt I had a pretty good chance with the interview assuming I could get there.
The morning of, I was up at 0400 and off to KSNA for my CO flight to IAH. We were late pushing and then waited around for a while after that being about #15 for takeoff. Anyway, my flight was supposed to arrive in Houston at 12:30 for a 1PM interview. Being late would really suck but I think the tight timing may be part of the interview. During my flight I reviewed over my notes I had been taking the past week on everything and by the time we landed I was off and running for the bus to the Xjet offices. Turns out, their GO is only about a 5 min van ride from the airport so that made it all work out. I made it with about 5 min to spare.
After walking in the door there were about 12 of us I think. The HR lady came out and escorted us back into the building and sat us down in the room where we began filling out all the paperwork and they collected logbooks. A short time later my first interview began, the technical portion. I was basically asked about the gear system, a few what would you do situations. Bad tire, the day before x-mas at an outstation. I said no-go no matter what. As long as I don't get on the plane the Captain can't go. There were a few more random questions, nothing a current CFI or even commercially rated pilot couldn't answer off the top of their head. We talked about my logbook for a minute, thought it was cool that I have experience all over the place and even thought it was interesting (maybe not impressive?) that I logged my G1000 time. I told him that I figured why not, it is interesting and if I need to get a CFI job at a school that has all glass planes it would be easy to show the experience. In summary, he seemed like a great guy that I would love to fly with and could get along with really well... Back to the holding tank where the crowd seemed to have shrunk by a couple bodies.
After an hour or so I was called to the next room by another interviewer. This was the Jepp room and the one I was a bit worried about since I had never seen a Jepp chart/plate before. It was all up to the King DVD here
Anyway he went into it and I was jumping on the answers nearly instantly. Actually to the point where I thought I better slow down before I answer something incorrectly. I got pretty much everthing right except when he asked what the black symbol was that looked like a ticket ripped in half. I said "that means you won't get reliable signals in that area, it's called MEA BREAK". It wasn't until I got back in the holding room that I realized I created a new term. It's called a GAP, not a BREAK, duh, at least I got the definition right. He also asked about how to calculate VDP, I did it both ways, using groundspeed and the 300 method. The VOR at the end of the RW threw me off for a sec but I think I got it right. Then he asked what this grey/black dotted line was on the mexican chart. I didn't know, then he turned the chart over and just as I was about to say "ohh" he says it was the border between the US/mexico. Didn't recognize it upside down... The other thing I missed was the line of blue telephones on the chart... And honestly I still forget what those are. I think their goal is to take you right the point where you see some things that you haven't seen before. This interviewer held his cards a little closer and didn't really give any feedback, just went right into the next question. Anyway, back to the holding tank we went again.
So after that, one by one, we were called out to the final HR interview. I waited and waited, I think because my flight was one of the later ones to go back. Anyway I was called toward the very end of the day and the last interview is where they try and get to know you a bit as a person. This time it was the very first woman that greeted us and a Captain. They start out very serious but after you get them to chuckle once or twice they kinda sit back a bit and open up a tad. Very professional throughout though. They ask how you feel about flying for them, what you can bring to the company, and some stuff like that. I talked about how I felt it was the perfect fit and how I really liked the airline culture and missed it. Talked about some of my past airline experience and how it is more than a job, it's really a lifestyle and your family has to know that and so on. After that I was out to wait by the photo where I was offered the job. I then collected my books and honestly I can't really tell what else she said after that. It kinda went in one ear and right out the other. I know I need to study though!
On my way out I met up with a few JCers as I was waiting for the bus and then I noticed everywhere you go wearing a suit and carrying those manuals around, every pilot you walk by gives you a thumbs up sort of thing. That was a pretty cool feeling for sure!
This is where I almost bombed it though. I had to go over and take the final test, the pee test. Well, right before my final interview I had to hit the bathroom. Bad move. Didn't eat or drink much all day and I was pretty much empty. On top of that my flight was to leave in an hour! I chugged water like never before and finally with about 30 min to spare I produced! Never been under that much pressure to take a leak before but from what the paperwork says, the job offer is conditional on being able to do the urine test that day.
This is where my long day got even longer. Made to the gate just in time but the flight was delayed... Finally after about an hour we got on to wait for 2 hrs on the ramp. Then we taxiied back to the gate to refuel and were off, not to SNA but to LAX where we got bussed down the 405 to SNA. Finally made it back home around 4AM but man what a day!
In all, I would say that they need good candidates badly. I really don't think it matters if you have 600/100 or 1200/1000. I think they are looking for people with good attitudes who want to be at ExpressJet and not just at an airline. If they think you are trainable and willing to dedicate yourself, meet the mins, are able to not drive people nuts on a 4 day trip, and have a fairly good idea of what flying is all about you can get your shot.
Sorry about the length of the post but I hope this helps people on what to expect!
Submitted my app back in the beginning of April and was informed that I would be applying for the July 21st class. Had a few JC Xjetters attach their name to mine and write in to HR for me (thanks guys!). Finally got the famous Email on July 5th to interview on July 17th.
In the week leading up to the interview I tried to get as much of the paperwork together as possible and also hit the books for an hour or so each day. I also picked up the King DVD on "Jepp Chart Review" since I had never touched a Jepp approach plate before, much less any Jepp charts. The course was typical King stuff, but by the end I felt like I knew the charts about as good as anyone. I spent the entire day before the interview just going over stuff from aviationinterviews.com and also reading up on those subjects in the Jeppesen IFR/Commercial textbook and "Everything Explained for the Professional Pilot". My wife briefed me on the company of ExpressJet, gave me her notes from reading their 10K/annual report, and just general company info. By this time I felt I had a pretty good chance with the interview assuming I could get there.
The morning of, I was up at 0400 and off to KSNA for my CO flight to IAH. We were late pushing and then waited around for a while after that being about #15 for takeoff. Anyway, my flight was supposed to arrive in Houston at 12:30 for a 1PM interview. Being late would really suck but I think the tight timing may be part of the interview. During my flight I reviewed over my notes I had been taking the past week on everything and by the time we landed I was off and running for the bus to the Xjet offices. Turns out, their GO is only about a 5 min van ride from the airport so that made it all work out. I made it with about 5 min to spare.
After walking in the door there were about 12 of us I think. The HR lady came out and escorted us back into the building and sat us down in the room where we began filling out all the paperwork and they collected logbooks. A short time later my first interview began, the technical portion. I was basically asked about the gear system, a few what would you do situations. Bad tire, the day before x-mas at an outstation. I said no-go no matter what. As long as I don't get on the plane the Captain can't go. There were a few more random questions, nothing a current CFI or even commercially rated pilot couldn't answer off the top of their head. We talked about my logbook for a minute, thought it was cool that I have experience all over the place and even thought it was interesting (maybe not impressive?) that I logged my G1000 time. I told him that I figured why not, it is interesting and if I need to get a CFI job at a school that has all glass planes it would be easy to show the experience. In summary, he seemed like a great guy that I would love to fly with and could get along with really well... Back to the holding tank where the crowd seemed to have shrunk by a couple bodies.
After an hour or so I was called to the next room by another interviewer. This was the Jepp room and the one I was a bit worried about since I had never seen a Jepp chart/plate before. It was all up to the King DVD here
Anyway he went into it and I was jumping on the answers nearly instantly. Actually to the point where I thought I better slow down before I answer something incorrectly. I got pretty much everthing right except when he asked what the black symbol was that looked like a ticket ripped in half. I said "that means you won't get reliable signals in that area, it's called MEA BREAK". It wasn't until I got back in the holding room that I realized I created a new term. It's called a GAP, not a BREAK, duh, at least I got the definition right. He also asked about how to calculate VDP, I did it both ways, using groundspeed and the 300 method. The VOR at the end of the RW threw me off for a sec but I think I got it right. Then he asked what this grey/black dotted line was on the mexican chart. I didn't know, then he turned the chart over and just as I was about to say "ohh" he says it was the border between the US/mexico. Didn't recognize it upside down... The other thing I missed was the line of blue telephones on the chart... And honestly I still forget what those are. I think their goal is to take you right the point where you see some things that you haven't seen before. This interviewer held his cards a little closer and didn't really give any feedback, just went right into the next question. Anyway, back to the holding tank we went again. So after that, one by one, we were called out to the final HR interview. I waited and waited, I think because my flight was one of the later ones to go back. Anyway I was called toward the very end of the day and the last interview is where they try and get to know you a bit as a person. This time it was the very first woman that greeted us and a Captain. They start out very serious but after you get them to chuckle once or twice they kinda sit back a bit and open up a tad. Very professional throughout though. They ask how you feel about flying for them, what you can bring to the company, and some stuff like that. I talked about how I felt it was the perfect fit and how I really liked the airline culture and missed it. Talked about some of my past airline experience and how it is more than a job, it's really a lifestyle and your family has to know that and so on. After that I was out to wait by the photo where I was offered the job. I then collected my books and honestly I can't really tell what else she said after that. It kinda went in one ear and right out the other. I know I need to study though!
On my way out I met up with a few JCers as I was waiting for the bus and then I noticed everywhere you go wearing a suit and carrying those manuals around, every pilot you walk by gives you a thumbs up sort of thing. That was a pretty cool feeling for sure!
This is where I almost bombed it though. I had to go over and take the final test, the pee test. Well, right before my final interview I had to hit the bathroom. Bad move. Didn't eat or drink much all day and I was pretty much empty. On top of that my flight was to leave in an hour! I chugged water like never before and finally with about 30 min to spare I produced! Never been under that much pressure to take a leak before but from what the paperwork says, the job offer is conditional on being able to do the urine test that day.
This is where my long day got even longer. Made to the gate just in time but the flight was delayed... Finally after about an hour we got on to wait for 2 hrs on the ramp. Then we taxiied back to the gate to refuel and were off, not to SNA but to LAX where we got bussed down the 405 to SNA. Finally made it back home around 4AM but man what a day!
In all, I would say that they need good candidates badly. I really don't think it matters if you have 600/100 or 1200/1000. I think they are looking for people with good attitudes who want to be at ExpressJet and not just at an airline. If they think you are trainable and willing to dedicate yourself, meet the mins, are able to not drive people nuts on a 4 day trip, and have a fairly good idea of what flying is all about you can get your shot.
Sorry about the length of the post but I hope this helps people on what to expect!
