UAL CEO said he uses this hiring tactic to vibe check job candidates

This “vibe checking” thing is not new in airline interviews. Everyone has been doing it, one way or another, forever. Hell, isn’t that part of ANY interview?

My first “major” airline interview (20+ years ago), we spent most of the day just hanging out in a breakroom with a handful of “hosts”. At the end of the day, those “hosts” had a vote on you. Shocker…
 
Toobdrvr said:
This “vibe checking” thing is not new in airline interviews. Everyone has been doing it, one way or another, forever. Hell, isn’t that part of ANY interview?

My first “major” airline interview (20+ years ago), we spent most of the day just hanging out in a breakroom with a handful of “hosts”. At the end of the day, those “hosts” had a vote on you. Shocker…
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Yeah, I've been on both ends of the "let's see if you're a decent human" interview in the finance world before. Pretty much every company I've ever worked for has done this in some form or fashion. I didn't think this was anything new or novel.
 
FlyingAccountant said:
Yeah, I've been on both ends of the "let's see if you're a decent human" interview in the finance world before. Pretty much every company I've ever worked for has done this in some form or fashion. I didn't think this was anything new or novel.
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Agreed. Sounds like you are and I was in/on similar career fields/track. By the time the candidate got us, the discussion was more about "fit" than technical ability. However, my colleague and I didn't always agree, so there is the "it" factor...some people "click" and some don't. Apparently, to be accepted to the Blue Angels, one has to have a unanimous vote from the continuing team members. And, it's not about being a good stick (that's presumed), it's about "can we hang with this person for the entire show season".
 
derg said:
View attachment 89233

Jetcareers Magazine: "So Paul, about your role as Miles from "Sideways" -- who did you use to base your character off of while filming?"

Paul Giamatti: "I was on this internet website and thought about when this user Knot4U goes off his meds. The self-hatred, the rage, the anger, the weird pith that materializes out of thin air like a surprise. Yeah, that guy. He both, almost symmetrically begs for help and, at the same time, repulses those around him. Like, you want that candy, but then you know that van's super suspicious"
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That movie put Pinot Noir on the map, and darn near killed Merlot.
 
derg said:
View attachment 89233

Jetcareers Magazine: "So Paul, about your role as Miles from "Sideways" -- who did you use to base your character off of while filming?"

Paul Giamatti: "I was on this internet website and thought about when this user Knot4U goes off his meds. The self-hatred, the rage, the anger, the weird pith that materializes out of thin air like a surprise. Yeah, that guy. He both, almost symmetrically begs for help and, at the same time, repulses those around him. Like, you want that candy, but then you know that van's super suspicious"
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If anything, thanks to him I’ve been reminded I need to rewatch this…
 
knot4u said:
If I was an interviewer and you walked in I'd excuse myself. I don't want to be sued. I'm not saying you wouldn't get the job, I'm just saying I've seen the rodeo and I'm not going to be a clown. You think the world is tilted against you but you never consider the opposite, perhaps you're tilted against the world. You're not heavy enough to reset the world on your preferred axis. And that's why you hate your job. You're an alpha in a beta disguise.
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Idk, I'd imagine with everything our resident shark/fox has overcome and a background in Acro/Alaska flying/tech that this would be exactly who I'd want flying my family around, but you do you. Especially in 2026, this isn't 1953.
 
ChasenSFO said:
Idk, I'd imagine with everything our resident shark/fox has overcome and a background in Acro/Alaska flying/tech that this would be exactly who I'd want flying my family around, but you do you. Especially in 2026, this isn't 1953.
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I mean I think part of the problem fox has run into is that to a lot of the senior Captainry, this really still is 1953......or what they think 1953 was, decades before they were born.
 
///AMG said:
I mean I think part of the problem fox has run into is that to a lot of the senior Captainry, this really still is 1953......or what they think 1953 was, decades before they were born.
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Meanwhile I’m still not convinced a single member of my interview panel was hetero-normative, and that includes the retired white male captain who sat dead center across the table from me.

With a few notable exceptions, the majority of the pushback against gender non-conformity for me has come from the under 30 crowd. I get nervous at times jumpseating to work and genuinely have had more positive interactions when it gets brought up with the stereotype of the crotchety old white guy pilots and more negative ones with the “damned I could be your parent” crowd. Go figure.
 
Karnage said:
Meanwhile I’m still not convinced a single member of my interview panel was hetero-normative, and that includes the retired white male captain who sat dead center across the table from me.

With a few notable exceptions, the majority of the pushback against gender non-conformity for me has come from the under 30 crowd. I get nervous at times jumpseating to work and genuinely have had more positive interactions when it gets brought up with the stereotype of the crotchety old white guy pilots and more negative ones with the “damned I could be your parent” crowd. Go figure.
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Sadly doesn’t really surprise me anymore. I’m guessing the people dumping right wing propaganda into social media platforms got their money’s worth on Gen Z.
 
///AMG said:
I mean I think part of the problem fox has run into is that to a lot of the senior Captainry, this really still is 1953......or what they think 1953 was, decades before they were born.
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I honestly have no idea. I really don't. Oddly enough, I've been well treated by all the people at my current airline. But I've also had a recent negative experience with a couple of the younger set, during OC operations of all places.

There're some really weird, toxic attitudes out there among that group, so I could believe it. The bigotry is still out there, and it's strong, and I'd be willing to say it seems like it's getting worse. I would have thought everybody would have laughed the "manosphere," "alpha male," andrew tate incel crap out of the building, but that's just not where we are.

People I fly with seem surprised, though. Maybe it's just west-coast base, but I fly with great folks.

No idea, boss. My brand ain't sellin'. And there are a whole lot of VERY good transwomen out of the job market right now. Some of the best coders, engineers, data scientists and architects in the world can't find a job.

-Fox
 
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