When applying to an airline or large flight department, a good first impression could help to give you the necessary leg up on other applicants. But the first impression is rarely a face-to-face encounter; it usually comes in the form of a digital résumé or application.
What may seem innocuous to you could be a major bone of contention to recruiters looking for the best candidate. You’d hate to have something as easily correctable as spelling errors, poor grammar, or slang on a cover letter disrupt a perfectly good document. Likewise, errors in background paperwork such as residential or employment histories can trigger a cascade of problems for the support staff trying to get your paperwork in order for potential employment. Creating extra work for the company to which you are applying doesn’t make a good first impression.
For this reason, it is highly recommended that you get your paperwork looked over by a friend, relative, or even a professional service, such as FLTops.com. In turn, you will appear sharp, well organized, and capable of following directions to the letter—all attributes that companies want in a pilot.
Once invited for an interview it’s important to arrive early and dressed for the occasion. Walking in wearing jeans and a T-shirt, a hanging bag over your shoulder and asking the receptionist where you can change, will certainly cause negative attention. Arrive ready to walk into the interview even though you may be sitting for quite some time.
When meeting interviewers it’s important to be yourself, be genuine, and not be too assertive. Let the interviewers set the tone and ask the questions. It should go without saying that gum chewing, poor posture, and arrogance will not get you any further than the exit. Other first impressions that have gone horribly wrong:
After taking a ride in a simulator as part of the interview process, a candidate returned to the room where the rest of the candidates were waiting for their turn in the box. The applicant proceeded to spell out details of what happened during the ride to prepare the others. In the heat of the discussion, one of the company interviewers walked in to get a cup of coffee behind the candidate’s back. Needless to say, that candidate didn’t get hired, nor did anyone else in the small group that had gathered around him. While he seemed like a nice guy to his fellow prospects, he was basically giving away information to his competition. Besides, sim profiles may change from one candidate to the other, so his info may have been wrong. Finally, the interviewers—who spend hours crafting simulator scenarios—don’t appreciate their work being broadcast for all to hear. Once the word is out, they have to create new scenarios to get the dogs off the scent.
In another case of losing the job before you’ve entered the building, an applicant was running late for his appointed time. Instead of wasting time looking for a regular parking spot, he parked his car in a handicap parking spot right at the entrance. The receptionist noticed this move, and word traveled through to the right people. He didn’t get hired.
Don’t think that because you’re the perfect candidate on paper that you will be a shoo-in to get hired. I’ve seen these “superstars” get turned away. You rarely know why these candidates are rejected, since interviews are private, but it’s safe to say that overconfidence is likely at fault. If you’re a pilot furloughed or retired from a major airline with tens of thousands of hours in heavy iron, don’t think that makes you the prime candidate for a corporate job at the local airport. In fact, your background could put you at a disadvantage since the jobs are incredibly different and the learning curve may be steep. After all, when was the last time you flew under Part 91 or 135 regulations? When was the last time you filed your own flight plan? The devil may lie in
the “innocent” details.
From the moment you set foot on the property, it’s imperative that you watch everything you do. Simply asking a random employee where the bathroom is in a curt manner could lead to a poor report. Consider yourself “on camera” all day. Like most offices, gossip travels fast. Don’t let a pilot candidate—you—be the subject of bad interoffice gossip. Pilot job competition is fierce and often the slightest indiscretion, like a bad attitude or sloppy paperwork, can give your competition the advantage.
Pete Bedell is a first officer for a major airline and co-owner of a Cessna 172 and Beech Baron.
