Southwest Exam

WannaBeDX said:
I just returned from the WN dispatch interview test and wanted to say a few things while it was fresh in my mind. Compared to my experience taking the interview tests for United and American, which focused a bit more on the Regs and WX side of things, this test focused considerably more on the "Equipment, Navigation, and Facilities" and "Flight Operations" knowledge areas . Anyone taking this test in the future should familiarize themselves with Jeppesen charts (SIDS, Enroute, STARs, Approach), and navigation and approaches (RNAV, ILS, DME, etc and the requirements thereof). Like Deltabobo said, know about NOTAMS ( such as the difference between a D NOTAM and FDC NOTAM). Know what a few of the acronyms stand for (for the life of me I could not remember what TCAS or GNSS stood for. Stupid, I know). There were a few non-obscure regs questions thrown in there as well as a few weather questions, particularly if such and such flight requires and alternate based on a TAF (Dispatch 101).

I don't think I passed despite my time spent studying. It was quite a humbling experience coming from the flight following world that is 121 Supplemental. It is certainly a tough test, but a good test of dispatch knowledge. I have a ton of respect for Southwest and the dispatchers who work there.
Click to expand...

I've felt the same way about bombing interviews before and ended up with the job. Don't count yourself out! The guys at WN would far rather have someone who can learn over someone who is perfect in his technical knowledge.

And thank you for the compliment! :)
 
WannaBeDX said:
I just returned from the WN dispatch interview test and wanted to say a few things while it was fresh in my mind. Compared to my experience taking the interview tests for United and American, which focused a bit more on the Regs and WX side of things, this test focused considerably more on the "Equipment, Navigation, and Facilities" and "Flight Operations" knowledge areas . Anyone taking this test in the future should familiarize themselves with Jeppesen charts (SIDS, Enroute, STARs, Approach), and navigation and approaches (RNAV, ILS, DME, etc and the requirements thereof). Like Deltabobo said, know about NOTAMS ( such as the difference between a D NOTAM and FDC NOTAM). Know what a few of the acronyms stand for (for the life of me I could not remember what TCAS or GNSS stood for. Stupid, I know). There were a few non-obscure regs questions thrown in there as well as a few weather questions, particularly if such and such flight requires and alternate based on a TAF (Dispatch 101).

I don't think I passed despite my time spent studying. It was quite a humbling experience coming from the flight following world that is 121 Supplemental. It is certainly a tough test, but a good test of dispatch knowledge. I have a ton of respect for Southwest and the dispatchers who work there.
Click to expand...
Agreed. I was there as well. It's amazing how complacent one can get doing the same old same old day after day. I feel fortunate enough to be there, and more so mad at myself for not doing better on the test. WN doesn't take dummies.
 
PHL_Approach said:
Told ya it's not easy... :cool:
Click to expand...

It's definitely not hard... I mean, a lot of it is pretty basic stuff. Sure some of it you might not look at every day, but if you think about it for 10 seconds, you can probably figure it out. I guess if you (not you personally) don't pass it you can make yourself feel better by making it seem really hard? Idk. I know plenty of people with limited to no experience who had no problem passing it.
 
Last edited:
I didn't think the test was that bad, but I was not very impressed by the panel interview - seemed kind of rushed. Of course, they didn't seem all that impressed by me either. 8-) That being said, I really feel that they should at least let you see the dispatch office if you get called back for a face to face interview. It's their show though!
 
The test was stupid easy for me. Granted I had an advantage in that I was actively teaching the Part 65 material that the exam covered. Like manniax however, the face to face interview was rushed and did not seem welcoming. I had a gut feeling afterwards that I wasn't luved and I was right.
 
CPZ9900 said:
It's definitely not hard... I mean, a lot of it is pretty basic stuff. Sure some of it you might not look at every day, but if you think about it for 10 seconds, you can probably figure it out. I guess if you (not you personally) don't pass it you can make yourself feel better by making it seem really hard? Idk. I know plenty of people with limited to no experience who had no problem passing it.
Click to expand...

It was such a ridiculously wide range of stuff that I don't think most people (well except for "Super Dispatchers") can honestly know what to expect and what to touch on when studying. I'd like to hear the percentage on the pass/fail of that test in the past 5 years. And people that took it a 2nd time don't count cause they knew what to expect.
 
PHL_Approach said:
It was such a ridiculously wide range of stuff that I don't think most people (well except for "Super Dispatchers") can honestly know what to expect and what to touch on when studying. I'd like to hear the percentage on the pass/fail of that test in the past 5 years. And people that took it a 2nd time don't count cause they knew what to expect.
Click to expand...

I'd say 70% was pretty basic stuff. Enroute charts, approach plates, 10-9(A), RVR, abbreviations, alt mins, textual wx, wx theory, etc... Most will fly through a majority of the questions. However, about 30% was a wide range of random stuff, some that I simply didn't know or had not seen before (I have limited domestic experience). Some questions I felt that I misinterpreted and/or overthought.

There is such a wide range of information to study and not knowing exactly what areas to hit before hand, you're likely to miss some. There's no way to know it all.
 
I tell people that it's "hard but fair" and not hard in the sense of being difficult but moreso in the sense of you either have to a) have learned it, b) have studied it, or c) have the good sense to be able to deduce it. I do think the test will weed out 50% of people who try to take it on the spot and of the remaining 50% if you haven't studied, haven't learned, and aren't good at test taking/deductive reasoning it's likely that you won't pass it.

All that being said you have to miss a good number of the questions to not pass it so that's where the "fair" portion comes in.
 
BoilerOps said:
I tell people that it's "hard but fair" and not hard in the sense of being difficult but moreso in the sense of you either have to a) have learned it, b) have studied it, or c) have the good sense to be able to deduce it. I do think the test will weed out 50% of people who try to take it on the spot and of the remaining 50% if you haven't studied, haven't learned, and aren't good at test taking/deductive reasoning it's likely that you won't pass it.

All that being said you have to miss a good number of the questions to not pass it so that's where the "fair" portion comes in.
Click to expand...
That's a good assessment of the test
 
In 2012 I was working at a dead end job, spinning my wheels in college trying to figure out what career path interested me. Fast forward three years and I just accepted an offer with Southwest Airlines! Truly grateful and look forward to working for such an awesome company!
 
Hotel Sierra Bravo said:
I haven't received TBNT -- should I remain optimistic about getting one of these new test dates? I applied for both postings back in December and an invitation to test with the first post. Anyone know the dates of the new testing?
Click to expand...

Same here. I applied to the first opening and received an invitation to test the next day. Then they re-posted the job, and I never heard another thing out of them. Finally receive a TBNT a few days ago. I have no idea what happened.
 
Bradpmp said:
In 2012 I was working at a dead end job, spinning my wheels in college trying to figure out what career path interested me. Fast forward three years and I just accepted an offer with Southwest Airlines! Truly grateful and look forward to working for such an awesome company!
Click to expand...

Welcome to the Blue Room, Bradpmp! Just an fyi I like my scotch well aged! ;)
 
Hotel Sierra Bravo said:
Congrats to Bradpmp! Let us know when upgrades start, so we can be on the lookout for the next time to apply.
Click to expand...
There will most likely be another posting by the end of this month/early next month. Anyone who has tested within the past year will be able to reapply. This next class should be starting in June and the class after should be starting in August (subject to change, so don't quote me on that) but there will be two classes after the current one. One class will be filled from the current round of applications, tests, and interviews and the second class will be filled from another round of applications, testing, and interviews.

I repeat: those who have tested in the past year will be able to reapply.
 
BoilerOps said:
There will most likely be another posting by the end of this month/early next month. Anyone who has tested within the past year will be able to reapply. This next class should be starting in June and the class after should be starting in August (subject to change, so don't quote me on that) but there will be two classes after the current one. One class will be filled from the current round of applications, tests, and interviews and the second class will be filled from another round of applications, testing, and interviews.

I repeat: those who have tested in the past year will be able to reapply.
Click to expand...
Awesome!
 
Bradpmp said:
In 2012 I was working at a dead end job, spinning my wheels in college trying to figure out what career path interested me. Fast forward three years and I just accepted an offer with Southwest Airlines! Truly grateful and look forward to working for such an awesome company!
Click to expand...

Yay! Congrats!!! Dispatch is a great and exciting career :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top