$50 application fee. What!!??

[pilotyip]

Now back in 1994 I believe there was a supposed airline starting up in CLT. They had $100 application fee, no airplanes, no certificate and only one guy in the office collecting applications. Remember in 1994 jobs were harder to get than right now and pay for training was in it hay day. However this guy was guilty of fraud and went to jail after collecting over $25,000 in application fees.

 

[WhiteCloud]

While I think application fees are wrong and set a bad tone for a good employer/employee relationship you have to play the game. Look at it for what it is.....a petty cash grab. Says a lot about a company.

 

[ReverseSensing]

Just to be clear: Mesa doesn't charge an application fee, they charge a $50 interview fee, so the argument about controlling the flood of apps from unqualified candidates doesn't apply to Mesa.

 

[b757driver]

Application fees keep the un-qualified applicants from flooding HR with resumes. I don't know anything about HR, but I suspect that the law probably requires a company to start some sort of file on any applicant. That is a lot of work to waste on someone the company knows they are not going to hire. It's a way to cut down on the workload, weed out the un-qualified applicants, see how badly someone wants to work at the company, and make a little money too.

Not exactly correct. If that were REALLY true then how come they still get thousands of applications? That's what they'd like you to believe, so they can justify it. Of course, it's bullshit! In some states, it's even illegal. From my own experiences, I would say about 50% of US airlines "charge" anything between $35 to $100 a pop. Makes for a great Christmas party in HR or a nice little bonus. It's merely another hoop to jump through.
Funny how this "rule" does not apply to other industries or indeed, to carriers outside of the US. Most places it would be ILLEGAL to have to pay for an interview and/or job.

 

[b757driver]

Now back in 1994 I believe there was a supposed airline starting up in CLT. They had $100 application fee, no airplanes, no certificate and only one guy in the office collecting applications. Remember in 1994 jobs were harder to get than right now and pay for training was in it hay day. However this guy was guilty of fraud and went to jail after collecting over $25,000 in application fees.

Hey Yip, are you serious, man?
Chiselling in the airline industry? How can that be? I was under the distinct impression that most airlines valued their employees and did not discriminate any group!! Must have been another profession.......

 

[FL420]

Not just regionals

When I was furloughed a few years ago, Frontier was charging $35 for interviews. It strains the budget when you're on UIC with a family.

 

[Resocha]

Is it common with regionals or even major airlines to charge a $50 application fee? This would never fly in any other industry. Does anyone else find this absolutely appauling that you would be required to pay $50 just to be able to interview. What is it even for anyway? Can I at least expect a nice lunch?

Would this be a sign of things to come if I ended up working for this company?

Meanwhile, as this thread has continued, 300 people have applied to and interviewed for the job you want.

 

[hoover]

Not exactly correct. If that were REALLY true then how come they still get thousands of applications? That's what they'd like you to believe, so they can justify it. Of course, it's bullshoot! In some states, it's even illegal. From my own experiences, I would say about 50% of US airlines "charge" anything between $35 to $100 a pop. Makes for a great Christmas party in HR or a nice little bonus. It's merely another hoop to jump through.
Funny how this "rule" does not apply to other industries or indeed, to carriers outside of the US. Most places it would be ILLEGAL to have to pay for an interview and/or job.

They get thousands of applications because there are thousands of eager young space cadets with a commercial license and a few hundred hours who want to fly a regional jet. You've seen the hiring requirements. It doesn't take much to meet the minimum qualifications. After you have spent tens of thousands of dollars on your ratings, what's another $35?

As has been said many times, pilots are their own worst enemies. You'll stand in line behind 50 other guys for a shot at the crappy paying regional job, then complain that the other guys are "lowering the bar" by doing the same thing.

Low wages, PFT, and applications fees will only go away when airlines cannot fill their new hire classes. They may be filling them with 250 hour wonderkids, but as long as they can fill them, things will not change.

 

[pilotyip]

Hoover that is exactly how it works, PFT is gone, look at Pinnacle is now offering a hiring bonus, rooms and a stipend while in training. Wages will have too raise, because they can not lower the hiring minimums any more. Economics is working on the lower end raising the bar, because the those airlines can not fill their classes

 

[Going2Baja]

In some states it's actually against the law to ask for a payment to apply. I'm in Cali and when I put in my spplication it said since I was a Cali resident I didn't have to pay. Most airlines will also waive the fee if you explain hardship - go figure - isn't all regional pay "hardship?"

Baja.

 

[WhiteCloud]

Pinnacle is now offering a hiring bonus, rooms and a stipend while in training.

All of which are very reasonable expectations of an employee who is going to work for a company. What's the hiring bonus?.....couple hundred bucks?....$35/night room?.....$50/day stipend?.......sad.

 

[El-Rushbo]

We are very pleased that you have expressed an interest in a pilot position with FedEx Express.
This profile form will be your initial step in the process of being considered for a pilot position. You must complete this form in its entirety. We will then evaluate your profile, and, if you are selected as a candidate for interview, more information will be sent to you, including an application for your signature.
An initial $50.00 fee will be required to process this profile. You will be prompted to submit this payment via credit card (American Express, MasterCard, Visa) after entering data in the profile.

N'uff said.

 

[pilotyip]

White cloud, Yes it is not much, but it is better than is was a year ago at Pinnacle, that is how the market works, if they still can not fill their classes the hiring bonus may go up. I have seen the bonus posted at between $1000 and $500 depending upon how bad they need pilots.

 

[John2375]

You mo-fo's need to quit whining about giving up a few bucks to get ahead in this industry.. You have to pay for some training at some time, and you have to pay for some applications - suck it up and deal yo!
Every college I applied to required application fees - if I were still sitting on my high horse about it I'd be in year 13 of waiting to be accepted by a place that didn't require an application fee.
Pay the $50. Get the job. End of story. Oh yeah, and STFU.

PS yes I'm cranky today

 

[WhiteCloud]

White cloud, Yes it is not much, but it is better than is was a year ago at Pinnacle, that is how the market works, if they still can not fill their classes the hiring bonus may go up. I have seen the bonus posted at between $1000 and $500 depending upon how bad they need pilots.

Well at least it's working the way it should. An application/interview fee from a potential employer says a lot about how the company looks at their employees. We're sure in a dysfunctional industry.