Oh, sure, it’s a buyer’s market for job seekers. With the demand for pilots at a robust pace, there may be some temptation to consider the job interview a slam dunk. Some may think that simply showing up for the company interrogation with a pocket full of FAA certificates, time in a logbook, and an ability to fog a mirror will result in a job offer. Anyone planning to interview for an airline or corporate flying job should take note of these essentials.
Look good. It may be time to purchase that black or navy blue power suit. There is an expectation that pilot applicants will adhere to the “clone dress code,” in which one applicant pretty much dresses like another: Include the white shirt, tasteful red tie (for men), and shined black shoes.
Records. You likely will be asked to provide clean, sharp copies of your FAA pilot and medical certificates; birth certificate or passport; college transcripts; and diploma. Be sure to bring these, unwrinkled, in a briefcase or portfolio. If your logbook is a mess, start taking exceptional care in making written entries. Most airlines will accept printouts of computerized logbook entries.
Know the company. Whether applying to the Walmart corporate flight department or Delta Air Lines, learn some history; profitability; corporate structure; key executives; growth plans; base and hub locations; union affiliations, if any; and fleet type and size. Be prepared for these questions: “Why do you want to work for us? Have you applied elsewhere?”
Get the scoop. Interviews can be daunting, particularly if the content and scope are unknown. Some companies subject the applicant to a battery of psychological and aptitude tests, as well as multiple interviews with human resources professionals, captains’ panels, and even a visit with the company doctor. Other companies require a written or oral exam on the type of airplane most recently flown, or ATP and IFR subject matter. Some employers require the applicant to review weather packages and instrument charts. Others may request a pilot to fly a profile in something as simple as a Frasca simulator right up to a Boeing 737.
Enlightened companies seem to give credit to experience, but some legacy airlines will interview highly experienced military and regional airline pilots—jumping them through multiple hoops—to see if they are cut out to be a pilot. Other companies like JetBlue simply want to get to know the pilot, and the interview is more of a chat. Expect questions such as, “Tell me about a time when you took command of a challenging situation.” Current airline pilots may asked to talk about a recent divert, or a time when they questioned a dispatch release.
There is certainly a lot of gouge, or inside knowledge, out there. One of the most enduring websites is www.willflyforfood.com. Of course, the best resource for interview intelligence is a recent new hire.
Bottom line: Don’t go in cold. Have an idea of what to expect. Above all else are you “likeable?” Are you the kind of person with whom company pilots would want to spend time in a cramped flight deck?
Be prepared. Recent experience is a must. There are many stories of pilots who had built a substantial amount of time but then throttled back for an extended period. It does an applicant no good to show 5,000 hours and two type ratings in a logbook, but not one hour of flight time in the previous 12 months. That will certainly cause the interviewer’s brow to furrow. “If flying is what you want to do, how come you are not doing it?”
Make sure that you are healthy and fit for professional flying. Get that first class medical every six months.
Pilots often ask, “Should I get a type rating before an interview?” At this moment, Southwest Airlines seems to be the only company that places value on a type rating (B737). Otherwise, investing in a type rating may be a waste. Imagine spending $15,000 for an EMB-170/190 rating only to be sent to A320 training when hired at JetBlue.
Go for it. There are tales of qualified pilots who long for a flying gig, but are reluctant to even apply. Perhaps it’s the fear of the unknown; a lifestyle change; family repercussions; et cetera. Those airmen will never know if the fantasy can become a reality. Even if the company offers the job, it can be turned down. So why not go for it?
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