Another Swa Question

[learjetguy]

Besides my logbook (and wonderfull personality ),what other items will Southwest request be brought to the big D for interviews?

Thanks,
Learguy

 

[llowwelll]

Can't wait to get my app in!! Just the fact that we are talking about this is great news for all of us SWA wannabes out there!

 

[Snoopy58]

They'll tell you

LearJetGuy,

My recollection is that I brought a copy of my app, my letters of recommendation (at the time you could bring them TO the interview; now I think they must be in ahead of time), and my logbook. If there's anything else, I don't recall. I think everybody brought a briefcase, and they had you leave them in a room with your logbook on the table for the logbook checkers to look at while you talk to the interviewers. You don't need anything at the interviews themselves (except your wonderful personality & positive attitude, of course).

I think they may also have sent an "update application" with that letter, where you updated all your latest qualifications & hours, everything since the original app. If they do that with the new system, you'll bring that too, unless they have you mail it in.

They'll send you a letter before the interview; read what it says carefully & bring what they tell you to bring. They're generally very clear about such things. All interviews in the future will be under a different system than before, so things may change a bit. Just read what they tell you, and you'll do fine.

all the best,

Snoopy

 

[737tanker]

With the new applications everything will be done on-line, including the updates. The letters of recommendation will be scanned by the People Dept & will be added to your application. There will be no limit to the amount of letters you have in your application. So all you will have to bring to the interview will be your logbook, your personality, & your brain. The brain will be needed since SWA is going to a scenario interview similar to what FedEx has.

 

[avoidingmyboss]

Re: They'll tell you

LearJetGuy,

I think everybody brought a briefcase, and they had you leave them in a room with your logbook on the table for the logbook checkers to look at while you talk to the interviewers.




all the best,

Snoopy

Snoopy58,


What are the log book checkers looking for? Are they going to brake out the calculators to add up all the numbers from years gone past? I know that I have caught mistakes in my log and I know if I dig there are errors. I know the errors are a tenth off here and there. If I correct them my logs will look like crap. I have tried to be as accurate and as neat as possible. Is this something to be concerned with?

 

[InHot]

I saw no calculators.

I believe they're perusing for authenticity.

I think it is reasonable to assume that any log book may have errors. Just do your resonable best to scrub 'em.

Are your logbooks realtistic? Do they jive with your resume? if so, then don't sweat the review.

I submitted a computer generated logbook that I compiled and provided my military logbooks, and my red Part 121 logbooks as the source documents.

They dug the computer logbook printout.

Good luck

 

[avoidingmyboss]

Inhot,

Thanks for the info. What program do you have for your logbook?

 

[InHot]

I've been using Aerolog - since about 1993. Works for me. They have preformatted logbook formats you can print out, or you can modify them to suit your needs.

There have been numerous threads on Flightinfo regarding the various logbook formats. There may be new, better, faster programs out there.

You'll have to do your own research and then the hard part is in-putting all your flights - takes beaucoup time.

It may not be worth it - has to be your call - but it does look great when you print it out!

 

[avoidingmyboss]

Inhot,

That answered the next question that I had. It will take a while to input all my time. On a interveiw would you still bring the logs if you had input all your history into a program and printed it off? I can't reproduce sign-offs.

 

[InHot]

On a interveiw would you still bring the logs if you had input all your history into a program and printed it off? I can't reproduce sign-offs.

Yeah, I did, I brought my logbooks to show where the time actually came from. I'm not sure if it was necessary, just wanted to be sure.

 

[SmackYourPappy]

Inhot,

On a interveiw would you still bring the logs if you had input all your history into a program and printed it off? I can't reproduce sign-offs.

ABSOLUTELY!!!! When I did interviews, the first thing we looked for in the logs was the sign-offs, more specifically if there was anything to the effect of "recieving additional/remedial training for". We caught more people mis-representing themselves this way than you'd believe.

I too have computer logs, but nothing beats a neat original with some good comments/details about certain flights that make for good interview stories.

Let get this SWA party started

 

[avoidingmyboss]

Thanks for the info. I have worked for a variety of 135,121,and 91 places and only one place wanted to see my logs during an interveiw. In the 135 world I would think they would want to make sure that you had the min time. Thanks again the info was great.

 

[ivauir]

My advice is to bring the originals of everything (logs and any paperwork you submit to SWA) but present them with only what is requested. The logbook checker is not going to be want to go through a stack of books. I did everything possible to make the checker's job easy.

 

[firstthird]

You mentioned earlier about errors from a while back in your log book. The only one that I'd even think about fixing would be a total time error that is carrying thru. I think there was a thread a year or so ago about it and the consensus was that if you want to do it, definitely don't erase or alter after the fact. rather, put in a log entry in the current month (i.e. nov 03) that says something along the lines of "error correction for May 97." I think I did that for .3 or something that got screwed up along the way, didn't find it till I put all my time on a spreadsheet and then it kept bugging me, so I fixed it. Right thing to do? don't know, but it made my type A-ness feel better.

I agree about definitely bring the original log books. I did the same thing with a print out of one page that showed just what they asked, which back then was a 5 year history broken down into PIC and SIC for each year.

I also think it is a good idea to sticky tab important events, like original natops check (or maybe your ATP ck ride) and aircraft commader check ride. Makes it easier for the logbook checker to find the career milestones in your books.

 

[canyonblue]

They dug the computer logbook printout.

I agree!
The DAL Asst CP who reviewed my Computer logbook which I made myself on Excel LUVed it. He even put a smiley face on them. I did have a question about my time on the sheet they give you to bring to the interview, which adds time differently than I did in my log. They laughed and said "yea we couldn't get this .2 + .7 to add up". It's SWA, DON"T sweat the small stuff.

 

[InHot]

I also think it is a good idea to sticky tab important events, like original natops check (or maybe your ATP ck ride) and aircraft commader check ride. Makes it easier for the logbook checker to find the career milestones in your books.

Ditto! ...What he said.

I got the same advice from someone (probably on FlightInfo) and placed nice markers on pages for check rides. Made it easy for the reviewers to go right to the good stuff.

Good Luck!

 

[AJWick]

I had placed "post-it" notes for important stuff...such as capt upgrade, changing airlines etc etc.

Good Luck

aj

 

[CoopDog]

OK, I'll "Post-It"

AJ,

That must explain why you forgot to pick up that carton of milk and more diapers when you got home that evening.

 

[Lear70]

Hey Smack Pappy... love the avatar man, that's a riot!

 

[avoidingmyboss]

Thanks Guys,

I have done the sticky tab thing in the past for interviews. I didn’t want to get all the way to an interview and get gigged for being off by .3 somewhere. I have filled up my current logbook and this seems like a good time to switch to the computer logbook. It will take a while to update from the previous years. That will catch all small errors and I will be able to neatly make the corrections. I know that SWA doesn’t sweat the small stuff but at that level why take the chance. Thanks again. Avoidingmyboss

 

[XXXPILOT]

Can any one tell me SWA's feelings on not being current. Does it make a big difference in the application process........

 

[SWAnnabee]

Currency

Check their website. They currently are

 

[SWAnnabee]

Currency

Sorry, I hit the enter key too soon. Go and check their website. I believe the current requirement is at least 200 hours in the past 36 months. This is a new addition they put on in the last couple of weeks. Hope this helps.