737 Type, Career ender?

['72Gremlin]

If you're that concerned about it, tell them you won the type by attending an airinc job fair or something like that.

Viper, I don't think this is the best advice.

For every few stories I've heard about people getting hired at different majors (other than SWA) "with" the type, I've heard 1 or 2 stories about those who didn't get hired, maybe because of it. Bottom line: be prepared to answer the question at an interview. It may or may not come up. But it would be interview suicide to walk into an interview without having a well-thought out, truthfull answer prepared. As far as to get the type, or not get the type? If SWA is among the top 3 airlines you want to work for, which it sounds like it is, get it. Otherwise, that door shall remained closed to you.

Besides, I'm sure the $7000 is somehow tax deductible.

 

[pkober]

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

What the ......

Why all the hate toward WIA people? We just happened to be lucky enough to get furloughed.

CLAMBAKE

 

[Deuce130]

If you're that concerned about it, tell them you won the type by attending an airinc job fair or something like that.

Could be the worst interview advice I have ever heard. Never lie during the interview. I've never heard of the 737 type hurting anyone. I think the only major out there that people have been talking about this problem is with Fedex. It's not a problem with Fedex. Either way, tell the truth and you'll come out a whole lot better than by making up some BS.

 

[Juvat]

Good grief! Don't lie!

I wouldn't say it is anything close to a "career ender", especially if you are halfway decent at explaing yourself out of things.

I got my 737 type in June, and was turned down by SWA. However, after getting the type, I got interview calls from AirTran and Continental. I went to the Continental interview first and was successful, so I didn't get to "test" the AirTran process.

But at CAL, they did ask me "So you have a 737 type raiting?" (I went to the interview with my temp, so it was pretty obvious that I got it recently too). You can explain it away without too much trouble. "Yes sir, I have a 737 type. I was furloughed at the time so the Illinois WIA program paid for most of it and I viewed it simply as a "sim prep" for upcoming interviews, to keep me current, and keep my head in the aviation game, etc"

If you were military only, you can throw that out there too as an explanation. "Coming from a military background, I got a 737 type to familiarize myself with civilian transport category aircraft, and since the 737 is the USA's most popular fleet type, I figured that was the one to get. etc.."

In other words, you can explain pretty much anything away, as long as you can tell a story with a straight face and w/o looking nervous. If you can't do that, you aren't going to get hired anyway.

Oh this is classic. You're giving advice on how to bull$hit the interviewer, rather than just tell the truth. Have you ever heard the saying: "you can't shine a turd"? The best interview "technique" is to be yourself, answer the question straight, and don't give jack-off answers like the one's you're espousing here. My guess is that if an airline heard this kind of baloney, they would check the box next to "this guy is a tool" on the interviewer form.

 

[Juvat]

To continue with your flawed logic...

Wouldn't it be interesting if people stopped buying their type's and SWA only had a pool of non typed applicant's to choose from.

I know this scenario will never play out, but it seems regretfully too many good people are buying their type merely to get the interview and are summarily rejected-a shame, a lot of great guys lately getting the letter instead of the call.

...and wouldn't it be interesting if people stopped going to FBOs to "buy" their private pilot licenses. After a few years there would be no new pilots in the world, and SWA would have to start hiring shoe clerks from Payless Shoes.

Give me a break.

 

[Juvat]

I know that to get an interview at SWA, you really need to have the type these days. So you go out and spend the 7 g's on the type rating and then like the majority of others that have tried it, you dont make it through the DB. So now you want to interview at some other airlines. Is having the trype really going to hurt your chances? Does anyone out there have any experience with trying to get hired at an airline, other than SW, with the 737 type?

As you may have gussed, I'm trying to decide if I want to take the chance. I would really like to work for SWA, and paying for the type is worth it for me (yes, I know, PFT...big risk, etc.). However, if like the other 70-80%, I dont get hired, I would still like to have some other options.

To answer your question bluntly: if you want to fly for SWA, you have to get the type rating. If you don't want to fly for SWA, then don't bother. This ain't rocket science.

If you don't get hired by SWA on the first try, then sure, you're going to go interview with other airlines. Just be honest with them. Tell your own individual story and don't make up some pack of lies to try to put lipstick and rouge on your life story.

At the end of the day, extra training and qualifications can never hurt you. The only thing that will hurt you in an interview is your mouth. If you pop off with some of the stupidity that's been offered in this thread, then you'll reap what you sow.

 

[KC-10 Driver]

Don't lie about anything in an airline interview -- don't obfuscate, don't slant the truth, DO NOT IN ANY WAY TRY TO DECEIVE YOUR INTERVIEWER! It almost never works. Just be truthful.

There is no shame in applying to or interviewing with more than one airline -- everyone should understand that. Just explain truthfully that you were interested in working for SWA -- they are one of the very few airlines that have been hiring fairly consistently over the past few years. Any reasonable person in this industry would surely understand that.

I had a type, and was already in the pool at SWA when I interviewed at JetBlue. Not only was it not an issue, it did not even come up in the interview.

So, based on my story -- and those of many other respondents in this thread -- obviously having a 737 type without experience in type does not necessarily hurt your employability with other carriers. In fact, it never would have entered my mind had you not asked the question.

On another note, FN FAL, what exactly do I deserve for using WIA money to get my 737 type?

Originally posted by FN FAL:
I hope all you "free money" people get what you deserve.

 

[mdanno808]

What the ......

Why all the hate toward WIA people? We just happened to be lucky enough to get furloughed.

CLAMBAKE

Yeah, WTF?

 

[SWA/FO]

This is what you say in an interview... It kinda like going to college, you apply and shoot for Harvard (SWA) and hope to be accepted but if you don't get accepted, you're still planning to go to college somewhere.

 

[:-)]

Howz about this for an explanation?

"I obtained a 737 type rating in the middle 90's. At the time, I wasn't qualified, (no degree, low jet time, etc) to get an interview with any of our Flag carriers, so I got the 737 rating hoping to better my chances to get a job that I could use as a stepping stone for one of the said Flag carriers. In other words, at the time, SWA was my best chance for a job flying anthing other than RJ's, so I did what I could to get qualified for a SWA interview.

That was then this is now, today I'm finally qualified to interview at an airline that was unobtainable when I got the 737 rating. Mr. interviewer, I sit before you today asking you for a position with your carrier, I trust that you understand career progression and timing. My 737 rating is nothing more than the remainder of a ten year old, now obselete, career plan."

Now, if I could only afford to work for Continental first year wages, I might apply;-0

 

[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?