737 Type, Career ender?

[Creamer]

I started looking for civilian employment last fall and SWA was the best thing going at the time. I figured I'd just get my 737 type from HPA (great experience by the way) and wait for the interview. The interview call came a month later and five weeks after that so did the letter suitable for framing. It was a blessing in disguise since I was picked up with FedEx a couple of months later, which fits my lifestyle and family better. FedEx didn't ask me about the type at all. At least four guys in my class had one.

BOTTOM LINE: If you are truthful with interviewers they will see it as a positive trait and see you as a well rounded professional pilot. SWA is an awsome airline, but so is UPS, FedEx, Jet Blue, and others. Don't worry about having the type on your ticket. It is only positive.

 

[NEDude]

I know people recently hired by AirTran and Continental who had 737 types.

 

[floater_b2]

I had it and it didn't stop me from getting hired on at UPS. They didn't even ask about it at the interview. I think that they realize that the job market is tight and people are doing everything they can to make themselves competitive at the few remaining "good deal jobs" out there. Go for it if you really want to work for SWA. I don't think it will be a show stopper at any other airline that is hiring today.

 

[WhiteCloud]

Hired at 3 regionals and a minor "major" with a 737 type rating on the certificate. Not asked about it at two regionals. TSA and current job asked......"Sure, SW has my application. That's why I trained in the 737 in particular. The other reason was that I didn't have any experience in large transport category airplanes and I thought this would help me do better in the training process wherever I went". Hired all 4 times. No call from SW though.

 

[English]

I was hired at my former airline (another minor "major?") with a B737 type and it wasn't an issue. I think having it actually helped, since I was interviewing at an airline that only flew 737s.

 

[qxdash8]

Hey guys, thanks for all the great input! Planning on doing the type sometime this winter. Glad to hear from some of you with experience in this situation.

 

[ForgedBlade]

Don't take it personal, but I hope all you "free money" people get what you deserve.

Yeah, I DIDNT get hired by SWA, but I DID get hired by CAL. The Type WAS great sim prep! L8R

 

[frank rizzo]

If your tight on money and looking for a B737-200 check out Bond Aviation some of my students have told me they shopped around and it was the best price in the country.

 

[Godvek]

I didn't know Southwest required a 737 type before your class date. Why not interview, get hired, and then get the type. Then you are only spending your money if you need to. Any thoughts?

 

[UALjan15]

I didn't know Southwest required a 737 type before your class date. Why not interview, get hired, and then get the type. Then you are only spending your money if you need to. Any thoughts?

The current line of thinking is that you need the type to be "competitive" for an interview, at least that is the feeling that I get from this board. I don't have any statistics to back that up though.....anyone have any evidence of guys getting interviewed w/o type ratings?

 

[falcon20driver]

I think military pilots are getting the interview without the 737 type.

 

[ivauir]

I think military pilots are getting the interview without the 737 type.

Extremely qualified pilots of any background are getting the interview without the type.

 

[Falconjet]

I also had the 737 type (and was in the SW pool) when I interviewed at FedEx. It did not come up in any portion of the interview, however I was prepared to discuss both the type and the pool if they came up.

I also second the benefits of getting the type even if SW doesn't work out. For me it was my first time going through a civilian course of instruction and simulator checkride. My only other experience with the FAA was during my ATP ride in the aircraft.

I also had never flown a Boeing product and it was helpful to learn their method of doing things, which made going through the 727 FE ground school at FedEx that much easier. Simple things like the switches on the overhead turning on in the opposite direction from what I was used to took quite a bit of time to re-learn and accept (I'm still working on that by the way).

I also felt a great deal of personal satisfaction knowing that I had completed the course on my own, a good confidence boost during the trying to get a job phase of my life.

Not having the type before I interviewed probably kept me from working at SW. I had too much time invested at FedEx to jump ship when the call for a class date finally came. I would have saved myself at least a year in the pool (estimate) had I gotten the type before I interviewed.

I would strongly recommend getting the type if you have a serious interest (as either your primary or secondary career goal) in working for SW if you can do so without hurting your family financially. You'll feel more confident during the interview and you will save a lot of numbers on the seniority list or months in the pool after you get the conditional offer.

Best of luck.

FJ