Any advice on corporate interviews?

[superfreight208]

How about technical stuff? I've been reviewing far/aim, atp studyguides and anything else I can find.

 

[BoilerUP]

How about technical stuff? I've been reviewing far/aim, atp studyguides and anything else I can find.

If you're being considered for a corporate job with multiple years flying at a 121 regional, it should kinda be assumed you know how to brief a Jepp plate or explain a hydraulic system.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

How about technical stuff? I've been reviewing far/aim, atp studyguides and anything else I can find.

BoilerUp is right.

You are thinking along the airline interview scenario again....I never asked someone a technical question on an interview. I know I can learn a lot more about your stated experience by asking you about trips you ran and where you went, problems encountered, etc. To many of those "tell me about your airplanes fuel system" (with a smirk) type questions would scare me during an interview as my impression would be that the guy interviewing me is the far too common passive-aggressive no life aviation manager......as next thing he is dying to say is "well in the GULFSTREAM we do it this way"....:erm:

A sim ride (expect one) brings out everything about you and your cockpit/interpersonal skills. I could care less if you can draw an electrical system, hell I know I can't....but 4 mins into a sim ride I can tell if your skills and experience match what you claim. You would be surprised how meek and underconfident someone who CLAIMS to have a lot of Captain time can be, right from the initial departure briefing.

anyhow....FWIW the trend in corporate has gone somewhat away from memorized system knowledge, as was common in the past. Of course its best to get some background on the specific company you are interviewing with, as who knows what their process is?

 

[WestSide]

Great thread everyone, thanks. I do have a few other questions on this subject. Who else can you expect to interview with besides the Director of Aviation. Is it usually the case that during the interview they are 99% trying to get to know you as a person and whether or not you'll fit in with the department?

"A sim ride (expect one) brings out everything about you and your cockpit/interpersonal skills."

Are we talking about a Frasca at the local FBO or a level D sim at FSI or something similar?

If you do not meet every single job requirement listed in the job descriptio, do they waive some if they really want to hire you?

 

[Gulfstream 200]

Great thread everyone, thanks. I do have a few other questions on this subject. Who else can you expect to interview with besides the Director of Aviation. Is it usually the case that during the interview they are 99% trying to get to know you as a person and whether or not you'll fit in with the department?

"A sim ride (expect one) brings out everything about you and your cockpit/interpersonal skills."

Are we talking about a Frasca at the local FBO or a level D sim at FSI or something similar?

If you do not meet every single job requirement listed in the job description, do they waive some if they really want to hire you?

I guess the sim thing may depend on the job and location. We always use a FSI sim at the closest training center. You are not expected to know the airplane, one of our guys will sit in the right seat and handle all that...you just have to show that your experience matches what you claim. Can you run a cockpit in a confident, efficient, and personable way or are you weak or a Napoleon type pilot d-bag?...very easy to tell. Unless I flew with someone in the past, I'd never hire anyone without seeing a quick sim ride (or a flight?) We just happen to have 2 sim centers within an hour or so.

As far as the published job requirements? - FWIW I don't think I have ever met all of them at any job I looked at. Everyone would like to find a highly experienced, type rated, current, local, great guy but that does not happen most of the time. If you want the job and are qualified, apply.

Believe it or not, it's VERY hard to find good, qualified people who are available, even over the last few years.

 

[LJ45]

HR can get involved, esp. with the larger companies.

 

[CorpCaptain]

Believe it or not, it's VERY hard to find good, qualified people who are available, even over the last few years.

Had a company I interviewed with that flew GIV/GV and Challenger 300s. They had 20-25 pilots who were typed and current in all 3 aircraft. Over 750 resumes came in. Hired a guy out of a citation 500 and zero international experience. But he was a great fit, so it worked out perfectly for the dept. G, you guys have a instructor do the run through @ FSI or do you have a company check airman that has been signed off to run it? Our company is flirting with sending one of our company instructors down to DFW to get checked out in the sim to give 293/297's. Thanks-

 

[WestSide]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but when it comes to corporate jobs, 99% of the interview is whether or not you'll fit in with the pilot group and their culture, and it doesn't matter so much whether or not your typed in their planes and hove tons of PIC time?

 

[Gulfstream 200]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but when it comes to corporate jobs, 99% of the interview is whether or not you'll fit in with the pilot group and their culture, and it doesn't matter so much whether or not your typed in their planes and hove tons of PIC time?

I guess its really not that simple?.....you need a certain level of experience...but the type rating is not a real concern. For example, if you have 5 years of PIC time in Globals you will adapt just fine to a G550 etc. When looking for a more entry level SIC then its all about attitude as one may not expect or care about your Intl experience if you are coming from a Citation or a Hawker etc...the flying part (any airplane) is easy and is learned quick in a fast moving department, but attitude can't be taught.

CorpCaptain - we have done it both ways...run the sim ourselves or have an instructor do it. Depends who was avail on our end the day of the sim ride. I suppose the situation varies with your relationship w your center. I know nothing about the sim with the airplane I currently fly (and have no desire to learn) so would be happy just to ride right seat.

 

[CorpCaptain]

Thanks for the info.

I know nothing about the sim with the airplane I currently fly (and have no desire to learn) so would be happy just to ride right seat.

Right seat? What do you know about right seats? I didn't even know they built right seats in SAV