Alchemy
Well-Known Member
I interviewed today with Expressjet at IAH and was offered conditional employment as FO on the ERJ!!!! (condition is me successfully passing the checkride at the end of training)
There were 20 of us in the interview session and only 4 of us made it through, although about 3 guys were still doing the last round of interviews when I left to go get fingerprinted and drug tested.
I'm extermely nervous about the training and plan to do everything within my power to make sure I survivce the training. I have no turine experience so the leap to the ERJ may be a big one, but I'm eager to take it on.
All in all it was a Loooooong day, had to show up at AUS at 4:05 AM for a 6:05 flight to IAH; got back home around 7:00 PM.
The technical interview was straightforward, questions about Jepps and systems of the twins I've flown. The HR interview was by far the most difficult: "you've only been flying pistons, what makes you think you can fly an ERJ?"
"Do you know anything at all about turbine aircraft systems? How does an FMS work? What about a pressurization system?"
etc. etc. Almost like they were trying to get me angry and see how I would react. I honestly thought that the interviewers were upset at me for some reason...but I kept a cool head and made some good arguments in my favor. As soon as we walked out of the HR interview room the interviewers turned to all smiles, told me I did a great job and offered me the position.
Great experience and I'm still in disbelief that I made it through! The competition was tough but I think XJT is looking for guys that will stay with the company long term, not someone trying to hop over to the majors in a year. For instance we had a 10,000 hour A320 Capt./Cheif Pilot for a pakistani airline interviewing with us, more than half had previous 121 experience and over 2000 hours, but the 4 of use that got hired were all CFI's under 1200 hrs. Wow. Moral of the story is send out resumes and apply, apply, apply. I never thought I'd be flying 121 after 6 months of instructing, but it happened.
Thanks to the JC crew for all the good advice and encouragement over the past 3 years!!!!!!
There were 20 of us in the interview session and only 4 of us made it through, although about 3 guys were still doing the last round of interviews when I left to go get fingerprinted and drug tested.
I'm extermely nervous about the training and plan to do everything within my power to make sure I survivce the training. I have no turine experience so the leap to the ERJ may be a big one, but I'm eager to take it on.
All in all it was a Loooooong day, had to show up at AUS at 4:05 AM for a 6:05 flight to IAH; got back home around 7:00 PM.
The technical interview was straightforward, questions about Jepps and systems of the twins I've flown. The HR interview was by far the most difficult: "you've only been flying pistons, what makes you think you can fly an ERJ?"
"Do you know anything at all about turbine aircraft systems? How does an FMS work? What about a pressurization system?"
etc. etc. Almost like they were trying to get me angry and see how I would react. I honestly thought that the interviewers were upset at me for some reason...but I kept a cool head and made some good arguments in my favor. As soon as we walked out of the HR interview room the interviewers turned to all smiles, told me I did a great job and offered me the position.
Great experience and I'm still in disbelief that I made it through! The competition was tough but I think XJT is looking for guys that will stay with the company long term, not someone trying to hop over to the majors in a year. For instance we had a 10,000 hour A320 Capt./Cheif Pilot for a pakistani airline interviewing with us, more than half had previous 121 experience and over 2000 hours, but the 4 of use that got hired were all CFI's under 1200 hrs. Wow. Moral of the story is send out resumes and apply, apply, apply. I never thought I'd be flying 121 after 6 months of instructing, but it happened.
Thanks to the JC crew for all the good advice and encouragement over the past 3 years!!!!!!
