First Airline Interview (Great lakes). Tips?
- Thread starter JFlighttt
- Start date
Dan208B
Well-Known Member
I would say not commuting would help a lot. I understand not everyone's life works out that way, mine certainly doesn't but if he can avoid that it would sure help. On another note, not sure how much time you have but have you considered Ameriflight? You could end up being a Brasilia captain by the time you're 24 with lots of TPIC.
Dan208B
Well-Known Member
Also true. Are you a multi and instrument instructor? It would be good to get the multi time up during this time period.
I think the fly in the ointment is that the online degree system had expanded so much in the last decade, that a lot of companies look at it like a GED, unless you were enrolled in a real something-you-don't-see-on-a-commercial-break-during-the-Jerry-Springer-Show distance learning program.
Seconds careers, older students, professional students, online education is a good thing. More education is a good thing, always, no matter what that cable news networks followers want you to believe.
However, if you're single, post high school, below the age of say, 25, an online education isn't going to measure up to the experience compared to a "brick and mortar" institution. It isn't. And especially with the increased level of scrutiny because there are some bad apples in the game, I can't see the advantage.
Yes, there are exceptions like traveling the world coupled with distance learning or some other "can only do it while you're young" example.
I'd have edited my previous post for more, but I'll just add a couple of thoughts.
If I had a child or young relative that was going to forego an education in order to go fly for a regional, I would slap him silly.
You can barge into a room without running into high seniority regional FOs and captains that are "land locked" because they either have no degree to move up the food chain or are years and years into a distance learning program which they didn't finish. My inbox is absolutely full with people in this situation that made a similar decision and a lot are pinning their hopes on some sort of eventual shortage at the major level that will hopefully ameliorate the minimum qualification required at their chosen carrier.
Will it happen? Maybe. But how many lateral moves do you want to make as regionals dissolve and re-spawn until you get your chance at the bigs? I'd love to bring over a former Comair pilot and have him talk to us about promises, hopes and expectations in the airline business.
As always, do what you want. Heed the caution or not.
If I had a child or young relative that was going to forego an education in order to go fly for a regional, I would slap him silly.
You can barge into a room without running into high seniority regional FOs and captains that are "land locked" because they either have no degree to move up the food chain or are years and years into a distance learning program which they didn't finish. My inbox is absolutely full with people in this situation that made a similar decision and a lot are pinning their hopes on some sort of eventual shortage at the major level that will hopefully ameliorate the minimum qualification required at their chosen carrier.
Will it happen? Maybe. But how many lateral moves do you want to make as regionals dissolve and re-spawn until you get your chance at the bigs? I'd love to bring over a former Comair pilot and have him talk to us about promises, hopes and expectations in the airline business.
As always, do what you want. Heed the caution or not.
SmitteyB
Well-Known Member
I don't share the same sentiments for getting a degree at a brick and mortar school, but the bottom line is get it done.
I was 19 and left college to pursue flying full-time. While in hindsight I wish I had stayed, I do not regret it. Does my online degree make me less marketable than someone who when to Riddle Daytona? Possibly, but I made the decision and I will live with the consequences.
I didn't need college to grow. I was mature enough after high school. I didn't need to bang skanks and get hammered. I grew in flight school. I moved 1500 miles away from home, didn't know anyone and completed a flight training program at Ari-Ben (Aviator College now). Guys said the same thing to me that they have said above.
I turned out alright. I got to Colgan at 21, upgraded at 24. No one can judge you but yourself. Do what you think is best, but to not get a degree at all is utter nonsense.
I was 19 and left college to pursue flying full-time. While in hindsight I wish I had stayed, I do not regret it. Does my online degree make me less marketable than someone who when to Riddle Daytona? Possibly, but I made the decision and I will live with the consequences.
I didn't need college to grow. I was mature enough after high school. I didn't need to bang skanks and get hammered. I grew in flight school. I moved 1500 miles away from home, didn't know anyone and completed a flight training program at Ari-Ben (Aviator College now). Guys said the same thing to me that they have said above.
I turned out alright. I got to Colgan at 21, upgraded at 24. No one can judge you but yourself. Do what you think is best, but to not get a degree at all is utter nonsense.
Last edited:
FloridaLarry
Well-Known Member
The diploma from a bricks-and-mortar school that also has an on-line program is usually no different than if you took classes on campus. Transcript may reveal on-line, or may not. But if you go to a school that's only on-line, the jig's up.
HR folks read these things for a living. It's not nice to fool either Mother Nature or an HR recruiter. Both can freeze you out.
HR folks read these things for a living. It's not nice to fool either Mother Nature or an HR recruiter. Both can freeze you out.
Dan208B
Well-Known Member
What I was told by the interviewer from a major was that they have "tier levels" for schools and that if it was from a high-tier school online didn't make a difference in terms of actual scoring. (most airlines use scoring for interviews these days.) Beyond that he said it depends whether or not it specifically says online on the transcript and at that point the individual folks on the panel can look at that the way they feel. He said he understood online school from a well respected university while working full time still looks good to him, provided you didn't take more than 4 years to complete it.
HRDiva
Well-Known Member
I can't comment on the job specific issues. But I can clarify others.
Most schools don't report degrees as online or not. They just confirm the degree awarded, date and major. Most in the military get advanced degrees online. Unless your degree is years ago from one of the only online providers, no one will know.
Going for interview experience is also beneficial. It's never too early to learn the process.
Most schools don't report degrees as online or not. They just confirm the degree awarded, date and major. Most in the military get advanced degrees online. Unless your degree is years ago from one of the only online providers, no one will know.
Going for interview experience is also beneficial. It's never too early to learn the process.
jgheggie
Well-Known Member
I agree with both of these.
Did you know that most state universities offer online programs? And guess what...a degree from the university of California Berkeley does NOT say "online" or "in person" on the degree. Same with riddle...UND...all of them. The degree simply says the name of the school and program. So what does it matter if its online or in class? It doesn't. Lets be honest.
On a side note...there are some really shady online programs to stay away from. I will not name names. But I would highly recommend enrolling in an online program from a traditional well know university. Riddle and UND are both decent online programs.
🦈💜
Well-Known Member
If degrees were primarily about knowledge, experience or anything other than paying large sums of money, why wouldn't they be awarded for free* to someone who could demonstrate the equivalent learning, knowledge, abilities and skills that would be developed in an accredited course of study?
Until profit motive is removed from education, I'll continue to view it as a system of reinforced extortion and an instrument of class warfare. "I went, so you should, too." "You don't understand, man, college opens your mind to new ways of thinking." "Go to a school where you can drink beer and chase women." "Get a degree. It doesn't matter what it's in." "You need to have that box checked." "If I have to explain, you wouldn't understand."
Horse apples. This little pony knows that his chances of "succeeding" in an airline job are minuscule without a degree ... but thinks that college-educated people don't spend nearly enough time using that well-trained mind to examine the 'facts' they've been taught are absolute.
I say neigh.
-Fox
* - A small administrative fee is understood to be reasonable here.
PS. I'm always especially offended when people refer to "socialization", "culture", "drinking" and "chasing women" as the most important part of college then go on to insist that a degree is a critical measure of a man.
Until profit motive is removed from education, I'll continue to view it as a system of reinforced extortion and an instrument of class warfare. "I went, so you should, too." "You don't understand, man, college opens your mind to new ways of thinking." "Go to a school where you can drink beer and chase women." "Get a degree. It doesn't matter what it's in." "You need to have that box checked." "If I have to explain, you wouldn't understand."
Horse apples. This little pony knows that his chances of "succeeding" in an airline job are minuscule without a degree ... but thinks that college-educated people don't spend nearly enough time using that well-trained mind to examine the 'facts' they've been taught are absolute.
I say neigh.
-Fox
* - A small administrative fee is understood to be reasonable here.
PS. I'm always especially offended when people refer to "socialization", "culture", "drinking" and "chasing women" as the most important part of college then go on to insist that a degree is a critical measure of a man.
SeanD
Well-Known Member
Some of my best memories and times where the years I was in college. Sure it was tough at times and I nearly dropped out sophomore year to take a job working at the CIA but knew there would be a time where any career there would eventually stall due to not having that damned degree. I'm glad I stayed in school instead of rushing into a career I would have probably come to have hated. Some of my closest friendships, that continue today, where made at college and many of them have been great networking opportunities for me.
🦈💜
Well-Known Member
Some of my best memories and times were the years I wasn't in college. Sure, it was tough at times... in the downturn after y2k I had to work some jobs that weren't well aligned with my skillset, and cut back a bit on discretionary expenses... and I watched people all around me in tech go back to school for business/management degrees, sometimes second degrees, sometimes firsts. I'm glad I stayed in the industry instead of allowing society to force me into an education I would have probably come to have hated. Some of my closest friendships, that continue today, were made in the years I didn't go to college, and many of them have been great networking opportunities for me. I also had the time, resources and ability to do things I wouldn't have been able to afford had I shelled out tens of thousands of dollars on an education—I built systems, wrote awesome programs, got to work without a safety net on live production infrastructures supporting tens of millions of users real-time (maybe even you!), in environments where downtime was measured in the millions of dollars of revenue lost per hour. I got to race sailboats, write/play music, learn to dive, get my amateur radio license, fly aerobatics, buy a couple shiny red motorcycles to replace the $300-$400 beater bikes I'd had before, buy a shiny red sports car and a blue 1968 Mustang Fastback... I got to learn to play hockey, ski, explore the hills, forests and coastline of California, and to be passionately, madly in absolute love with someone whose merest touch could bring me to tears; I was able to go to science fiction and furry conventions, play with electronics, ride a sportbike across the country in the middle of winter, play on the beach and read all manners of books, watch plays and film and opera. I was able to stay on the back end of the forefront of technology, one of small number of people who contributed to Linux and the free software community in its formative years, lived to be an internet engineer, and then watched as the system I had a hand in was taken on by other people, like passing a torch.
I was able to referee games at all levels, and participate in some of the best and worst moments of hockey players who are now pro, or who might have been. I was able to learn to roast and make amazing coffee, the likes of which most people have never had and likely will never experience. I have brought the religion of proper, third-wave, specialty coffee to many and opened their eyes to a whole different world. I have written books and stories. I have danced, have become inebriated, and done things that few mortals are able to do, all during the time I never went to college.
What does this have to do with college...?
Nothing.
-Fox
ClarkGriswold
Non Nutritive Cereal Varnish Engineer
People can argue that degrees don't help with being a pilot and how the extra curriculars associated with being a young college student don't mean anything BUT the fact remains that a degree does matter and you will be hard pressed to get a decent paying 121 gig without one. This site is set up with the intent of helping people, telling him to go down this path is not helping him. Jeez we're talking about great lakes here, the great lakes that is on the verge of going out of business...Go to school, instruct and then go to the regionals, you're young and you only live once.
GO CHASE SOME GIRLS AND NOT IN WILLISTON, ND!
GO CHASE SOME GIRLS AND NOT IN WILLISTON, ND!
🦈💜
Well-Known Member
Yes, better to "chase girls" than to pursue your dreams.
Good advice! We need more children in this country. More children whose parents always tell the other parents in their little subdivison how they always wanted to be an airline pilot, and almost did. More children whose parents who talk about how their life just kinda slipped on by.
Sorry if I'm being a bit dickishly sarcastic, but I couldn't disagree more with that mentality. If love is to find you, it will find you.
I don't have any basis to recommend Great Lakes, but I don't know anything about them aside what I've heard. The OP was asking for interview advice, not career advice; presumably if Great Lakes makes him an offer, he'll review it at that time to determine whether he's willing to accept its terms.
Follow your dreams, @JFlighttt — My advice is to put aside all of your preconceived notions of what is or should be, put aside what anyone has told you, put aside any and all ego, and any consideration for age—you're over 18 and under 65. Congratulations, you're employable. Otherwise it's completely meaningless—and then carefully re-read all the advice you have received. It's all excellent advice, and it's all given in good faith with your well-being as primary motivation.
Do not feel that you are in any way different than those offering advice, or that you're of a different generation. Most especially don't carry the conceit of thinking that they don't know how it feels to be in your position. There is no difference between you and the 40-year-old single guy looking at moving from flight instruction into an airline job.
Once you've put any and all ego aside and listened to their advice, and taken it to heart, and once you've done your research on the company, and considered their terms, and your future, and where you'd hope to be, and so on, and so on ... only then should you make your decision...and never look back. If you decide to run with it, get the bit between your teeth and run with it, and don't ever let go. It's your legs that will carry you to whatever dreams may come, and its your heart that will keep you strong along your path.
-Fox
🦈💜
Well-Known Member
Yes, better to "chase girls" than to pursue your dreams.
Good advice! We need more children in this country. More children whose parents always tell the other parents in their little subdivison how they always wanted to be an airline pilot, and almost did. More children whose parents who talk about how their life just kinda slipped on by.
Sorry if I'm being a bit dickishly sarcastic, but I couldn't disagree more with that mentality. If love is to find you, it will find you.
I don't have any basis to recommend Great Lakes, but I don't know anything about them aside what I've heard. The OP was asking for interview advice, not career advice; presumably if Great Lakes makes him an offer, he'll review it at that time to determine whether he's willing to accept its terms.
Follow your dreams, @JFlighttt — My advice is to put aside all of your preconceived notions of what is or should be, put aside what anyone has told you, put aside any and all ego, and any consideration for age—you're over 18 and under 65. Congratulations, you're employable. Otherwise it's completely meaningless—and then carefully re-read all the advice you have received. It's all excellent advice, and it's all given in good faith with your well-being as primary motivation.
Do not feel that you are in any way different than those offering advice, or that you're of a different generation. Most especially don't carry the conceit of thinking that they don't know how it feels to be in your position. There is no difference between you and the 40-year-old single guy looking at moving from flight instruction into an airline job.
Once you've put any and all ego aside and listened to their advice, and taken it to heart, and once you've done your research on the company, and considered their terms, and your future, and where you'd hope to be, and so on, and so on ... only then should you make your decision...and never look back. If you decide to run with it, get the bit between your teeth and run with it, and don't ever let go. It's your legs that will carry you to whatever dreams may come, and its your heart that will keep you strong along your path.
-Fox
ClarkGriswold
Non Nutritive Cereal Varnish Engineer
Well it looks like you missed the big picture and latched onto the part that was semi-serious and meant for entertainment.
