Alaska Wannabes - FYI

[EternalOptimist]

This is from the most recent Chief Pilot's Newsletter:

PILOT TRACKING SYSTEM
As you may know, we have been working to implement an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) this year.
This new system will permit us to collect more information on applicants, increase our ability to fill
positions faster, reduce hiring costs, drastically increase our reporting capabilities/response time, and
will improve the quality of our hires.
We will "go-live" with a basic version of the ATS for Pilots by noon on Monday 10/6/03. All Pilot
applicants will be required to use this system in the future at no cost to the applicant. Pilot candidates
will be able to attach letters of recommendation and other information to their applications.

 

[Ih8AFYesmen]

What's the website?

 

[EternalOptimist]

www.alaskaair.com or www.alaskasworld.com

 

[Kool]

Alaska has removed the hyper link to the pilot job listing page (that tehy used to have even though they said no resumes accepted). So I can't find the link to this tracking system being discussed. However, the flight attendant link doesrefer to an online system implemented in the last two weeks. Did I just miss the pilot one?

I really hope I don'e have to redo my app, but if it means finally getting called for an interview....well, you can't argue with that.

Let's hope pilot-management talks progress rapidly and well.

 

[EternalOptimist]

The pilot one doesn't get implemented until October 6th.

 

[AK737FO]

Stand by to stand by...

I would not get real excited just yet... The news letter said that the system would "go live" on Oct. 6. It didn't say that Alaska would be accepting applications. I think what Paul was trying to say is that the computer geeks will have the software working by then, not that we will be accepting apps. Paul will ask pilots for referrals and give us some lead time before they throw the flood gates open. There have been no rumors of hiring out on the line - at least none in the jets I've been flying.

The new system should be an improvement, but pilot referrals (silver bullets) will still be a large part of the process. The largest improvement will come from the fact that there are new HR faces with a desire to please flight ops rather than fight them.

I was told last week by somebody who knows that there are about 38 guys / gals doing the back stroke in the pool right now. These swimmers have been there a while - some got the nod on Christmas Eve last year... The company recently sent out a letter to them to see if they were still alive and swimming and asking for an update for their file.

My personal hunch is that we won't see any new faces until May or June 2004. The company has the whole "Vision" thing that we need to snuff before new hires come on board (don't worry - it will be a cold day in hot place before ALPA sells out the future and creates a permanent B scale - no A plan for new hires). The company also wants to dual qualify the ANC base to fly 200's and 400's, with training starting in Jan. Plus you have the very large shuffle bid from the LAX MD closure that becomes effective Jan 1. All of this makes it pretty unlikely that they will hire until Spring / Summer.
But then again, I could be wrong...

 

[EternalOptimist]

AK737FO - I think you're right about the hiring thing. I just posted the info so people can watch the web site and get their apps in as soon as they can. The online application has been something Alaska has been talking about for a year or more and now that it finally has a "go-live" date, I thought some of the people who have been watching diligently and who really want to be at Alaska could have an opportunity to get their information in ASAP. I think the idea is that even those with "Silver Bullets" will have to fill out the on-line application. Better to get your stuff in early.

My husband has a buddie floating in "the pool" and we are really hoping he'll be brought on sooner rather than later. But I think you are probably right about not seeing him or any of the "floaters" until Spring or Summer of next year. Certainly not until the early contract talks (happening as a result of the vision 2010 plan) have come to some kind of conclusion.

Anyway, all of you Alaska Wannabes just hang in there. Hiring is bound to begin again some day - especially with all of those retirements looming.

 

[English]

AK737FO,

You mentioned new HR faces in your post. Has there been a change in personnel? Are Jacque and Heidi still there?

 

[reepicheep]

The online app. is up and running - I just finished dutifully answering all the questions and met all the requirements only to be told at the end that I don't meet the requirements and try back some other time!

 

[Dignan]

Whewww! I'm glad someone else got that message. I'm hoping that message just means they're not hiring right now. I was worried that maybe they raised their minimums while I was filling the app out...

Take it easy,
D

 

[jbud]

i just got this email

Dear **********,

I have just reviewed the assessment you took for our future pilot positions and it appears that you received an incorrect score. You did, in fact, qualify for the next stage in our screening process. I apologize for the erroneous message you may have received to the contrary and would like to assure you that the bug in our system has been corrected and your score has been updated.

When we begin hiring for this position, you will certainly be considered a candidate and can expect to hear from one of our pilot recruiters.

Again, I apologize for any confusion our new system may have caused! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Thank you!

 

[English]

There was a bug in the new system that was scoring the answers incorrectly. Even those that qualified were given an erroneous score.

I've been told the bug has been fixed.

 

[Fox2]

When I select the "new pilot" hypertext, it says that the page has been moved or is no longer available. Anyone else getting this response?

 

[reepicheep]

I recieved the same email as jbud apologizing for the bug and saying that I meet the requirements and am in the system. Me and 10,000 other pilots of course.

 

[Orionpilot]

Applicant tracking system

Does anyone know if the new web based application system will allow LORs to be attached? Before this system was in use, there was talk that there would be some way to be able to attach LORs.