Does SW hire management from legacy airlines?

[spacecadet1]

Why is it that you always see a shuffling of the clowns running the legacy carriers between different legacies and other inept start-ups? But for some reason, SW doesn't hire these people? Go figure?

 

[ALSF 2]

They typically promote from within. Also, lots of flexibility to try things before finding where you excel. I'll typically hear someone explain their bio like, " I started in Res 15 yrs ago, moved to corp security, then IT, now I'm VP of IT."

With a few exceptions, they always hire from in.

Cheers!

 

[Mach 80]

Good observation. Unlike other airlines, SWA doesn't have a revolving door of upper management coming and going. Most of them "grew up" within SWA and fully understand the culture and how SWA works. An example -- CEO Gary Kelly. They feel tied to the company and it's success rather than looking for the next golden parachute and quick buck. Some of these people could go to work at other airlines for more money, stock, etc but they simply don't. There are some VP's who started out working on the ramp and there is a sense of loyalty. They offer "Management in Training" programs to encourage upward movement and like to promote from within. The "GQ" or headquarters is unlike any other airline HQ...happy employees and the all the walls are covered in framed photographs of employees and their families. The training center's walls are covered in pictures of pilots working at their former jobs and also include photos of their families.

 

[spacecadet1]

I think this is generally true of most companies in the USA. No loyalty toward their employees. Upper management a revolving door. Sad, but true. But alas, there is hope. There are a few businesses out there that are different.

 

[ERfly]

They typically promote from within. Also, lots of flexibility to try things before finding where you excel. I'll typically hear someone explain their bio like, " I started in Res 15 yrs ago, moved to corp security, then IT, now I'm VP of IT."

With a few exceptions, they always hire from in.

Cheers!

Colleen was the finest example of that, wasn't she? Didn't she start as Herb's secretary?

 

[Full of LUV]

Wow

Good observation. Unlike other airlines, SWA doesn't have a revolving door of upper management coming and going. Most of them "grew up" within SWA and fully understand the culture and how SWA works. An example -- CEO Gary Kelly. They feel tied to the company and it's success rather than looking for the next golden parachute and quick buck. Some of these people could go to work at other airlines for more money, stock, etc but they simply don't. There are some VP's who started out working on the ramp and there is a sense of loyalty. They offer "Management in Training" programs to encourage upward movement and like to promote from within. The "GQ" or headquarters is unlike any other airline HQ...happy employees and the all the walls are covered in framed photographs of employees and their families. The training center's walls are covered in pictures of pilots working at their former jobs and also include photos of their families.

I've heard that applejuice flows from the drinking fountains and there is ice cream for every meal, even breakfeast.
Also, is it true that the sun always shines at the GQ building, it has never rained in 25+ years. Last thing I heard that the restrooms in GQ always smell like lilacs......

 

[kj6991]

A good friend of mine teaches new hire and is a sim instr. over a SWA. He has been there about 2 years and was a former Delta Captain/Check Airman.

 

[Coool Hand Luke]

My wife was recently hired as head of pilot recruitment at SWA after 16 years over at AA, so it does happen.

 

[Tejas-Jet]

I think that the only time SWA hired from outside was when they brought in Howard Putnam to be the CEO. He had formerly been the VP of MArketing at UAL.

Howard only stayed for a year or so...then left in 1982 to be the CEO of Braniff...see, he was gonna turn them around....

Herb became the CEO/Chairman/President after Howard left.

thanks, Howard !!!

 

[Mach 80]

>>>I've heard that applejuice flows from the drinking fountains and there is ice cream for every meal, even breakfeast.
Also, is it true that the sun always shines at the GQ building, it has never rained in 25+ years. Last thing I heard that the restrooms in GQ always smell like lilacs......<<<

Just about. Friend of mine left USAirways (East) after 20 years there and could hardly belive what he saw. Training center is state of the art with a huge lounge area and has ping pong and foosball tables. Very nice emplyee cafeteria next door with great food on 5th floor with huge plate glass windows overlooking the runways and a nice employee gift shop, all clean as a whistle. He said at USAirways you were lucky to get a filthy picnic table under some shaded porch with vending machines that might work.

 

[dispatchguy]

Colleen was the finest example of that, wasn't she? Didn't she start as Herb's secretary?

Yep, she was Herb's legal secretary in his outside SWA office, but she came when he did, and now she be running the place.

One of the many reasons that SWA makes coin - the people there want SWA to succeed for SWA's sake, not for their own golden parachutes...

 

[mdf]

I think that the only time SWA hired from outside was when they brought in Howard Putnam to be the CEO. He had formerly been the VP of MArketing at UAL.

Howard only stayed for a year or so...then left in 1982 to be the CEO of Braniff...see, he was gonna turn them around....

Herb became the CEO/Chairman/President after Howard left.

thanks, Howard !!!

Did you have to say Braniff?

Here comes Flopgut in 3...2...1...

 

[Captzaahlie]

Good observation. Unlike other airlines, SWA doesn't have a revolving door of upper management coming and going. Most of them "grew up" within SWA and fully understand the culture and how SWA works. An example -- CEO Gary Kelly. They feel tied to the company and it's success rather than looking for the next golden parachute and quick buck. Some of these people could go to work at other airlines for more money, stock, etc but they simply don't. There are some VP's who started out working on the ramp and there is a sense of loyalty. They offer "Management in Training" programs to encourage upward movement and like to promote from within. The "GQ" or headquarters is unlike any other airline HQ...happy employees and the all the walls are covered in framed photographs of employees and their families. The training center's walls are covered in pictures of pilots working at their former jobs and also include photos of their families.

I saw those pictures myself during an interview years ago and decided to get on that wall one day too.....! The whole place just rocked and still does even after getting a rejection letter a few years ago.

Thank God SWA promotes from within and is not making a practice of taking top level management from other airlines! ( no disrespect intended Luke)