I interviewed with SkyWest yesterday. I was offered a position as an FO on the ERJ with a September 17 class date.
I DO NOT have my ATP. I will be going to what they call a "CTP Class" on August 24 in Houston. It will run until approximately September 3 (10 days). It is done at the ExpressJet Campus. You will be paid. SkyWest pays for the hotel and airfare to and from the class. I am expected to take the ATP written prior to my class start date.
There is also a "Spin-Up" on-line course that they expect candidates with some time on their hands before class start to finish prior to starting ground school.
They paid for the flight, I paid for the hotel room using their discount. Got in early the day before to prepare.
The interview:
Be there early. 8am start time, we were all in our seats at 7:50 or so. The interview is in the same building as the hotel (or right down the street in some instances). The interviews are small. I had 6 in mine.
There were 4 facilitators. Three captains and one HR person. They were all amazing people. The atmosphere was light, friendly, but extremely professional. Wear a suit. Your best one. Shine your shoes. Pay attention to the details; all of them made comments on my cufflinks, for example.
First order of business was paperwork. It needs to be in this order:
• Current first-class medical
• Driver's license
• Social Security card
• Airman Certificates
• Passport
• FCC Restricted Radiotelephone Operator License
• Results of your ATP Written (unless you have an ATP certificate)
• DD-214 for military personnel (if applicable)
• Any "Right to Work" documents, e.g. visa or permanent resident alien card (if applicable)
After paperwork, we did a quick round of introductions and expectations of the interview.
You will be expected to draw a turbine engine (any of them), the electrical system of the most complex aircraft you have flown, and FAR 91.175. All of it.
After the introductions, we took a 30 question test. The questions can be found HERE. It is administered with questions on the screen and using the touch pads for the answers 1/A, 2/B, etc.
Once that was completed, we paired into groups of 2 for a CRM exercise. We were told where to sit, FO or CA. In front of a paper tiger layout, we were given a scenario where after pushing from the gate, and on the taxi to the runway, we were told by the FA of a foul smell emanating from the lav. We were put into Line Up and Wait, and then there were sounds of a loud ruckus coming from the back of the airplane with an unresponsive FA. We had to sort it out from there.
The scenario is 7 minutes and timed. We debrief after the scenario. What went well, what didn't etc. We left it feeling good, and with the instruction to think more on it for later.
Next, we alternated between an HR interview, a tech interview, and finally, a final debrief of the interview. There is no order. One can go HR, one can go tech. HR covered the basic HR questions. Be prepared. Be real, and authentic. Be you. For me, it went really well because the HR Rep is a former enlisted Naval aviation type like me, and we had a lot of reminiscing between questions. It lasted about an hour.
In the tech portion of the interview, we covered the following items:
After the Tech portion, I waited for them to confer notes. After a few minutes, I was called in by all 4 of the facilitators and debriefed. This was a light and friendly debrief. I was offered a position and asked to call my recruiter to firm up the details of class dates, and other loose items.
I had a great time. I am optimistic about the company and the culture of the company. My initial impressions are positive.
I DO NOT have my ATP. I will be going to what they call a "CTP Class" on August 24 in Houston. It will run until approximately September 3 (10 days). It is done at the ExpressJet Campus. You will be paid. SkyWest pays for the hotel and airfare to and from the class. I am expected to take the ATP written prior to my class start date.
There is also a "Spin-Up" on-line course that they expect candidates with some time on their hands before class start to finish prior to starting ground school.
They paid for the flight, I paid for the hotel room using their discount. Got in early the day before to prepare.
The interview:
Be there early. 8am start time, we were all in our seats at 7:50 or so. The interview is in the same building as the hotel (or right down the street in some instances). The interviews are small. I had 6 in mine.
There were 4 facilitators. Three captains and one HR person. They were all amazing people. The atmosphere was light, friendly, but extremely professional. Wear a suit. Your best one. Shine your shoes. Pay attention to the details; all of them made comments on my cufflinks, for example.
First order of business was paperwork. It needs to be in this order:
• Current first-class medical
• Driver's license
• Social Security card
• Airman Certificates
• Passport
• FCC Restricted Radiotelephone Operator License
• Results of your ATP Written (unless you have an ATP certificate)
• DD-214 for military personnel (if applicable)
• Any "Right to Work" documents, e.g. visa or permanent resident alien card (if applicable)
After paperwork, we did a quick round of introductions and expectations of the interview.
You will be expected to draw a turbine engine (any of them), the electrical system of the most complex aircraft you have flown, and FAR 91.175. All of it.
After the introductions, we took a 30 question test. The questions can be found HERE. It is administered with questions on the screen and using the touch pads for the answers 1/A, 2/B, etc.
Once that was completed, we paired into groups of 2 for a CRM exercise. We were told where to sit, FO or CA. In front of a paper tiger layout, we were given a scenario where after pushing from the gate, and on the taxi to the runway, we were told by the FA of a foul smell emanating from the lav. We were put into Line Up and Wait, and then there were sounds of a loud ruckus coming from the back of the airplane with an unresponsive FA. We had to sort it out from there.
The scenario is 7 minutes and timed. We debrief after the scenario. What went well, what didn't etc. We left it feeling good, and with the instruction to think more on it for later.
Next, we alternated between an HR interview, a tech interview, and finally, a final debrief of the interview. There is no order. One can go HR, one can go tech. HR covered the basic HR questions. Be prepared. Be real, and authentic. Be you. For me, it went really well because the HR Rep is a former enlisted Naval aviation type like me, and we had a lot of reminiscing between questions. It lasted about an hour.
In the tech portion of the interview, we covered the following items:
- Turbine Engine Drawing
- Electrical System Drawing
- Weather, Minimums, Go/No Go, Alternate Criteria
- Part 91.175
- Jeppesen charts; enroute, Arrival and Approach.
- Descent Planning
After the Tech portion, I waited for them to confer notes. After a few minutes, I was called in by all 4 of the facilitators and debriefed. This was a light and friendly debrief. I was offered a position and asked to call my recruiter to firm up the details of class dates, and other loose items.
I had a great time. I am optimistic about the company and the culture of the company. My initial impressions are positive.
