Any advice on corporate interviews?

[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

 

[AbOvo]

This is a great thread! I have been in contact with a department for the last three years that I'd love to work for and I'm hoping something will come to fruition in the next year. The interview process echoes everything said here so far, HR interview to get in the door, hangar tour with the department manager, meet & greet with the pilots/techs/dispatchers, and finally a sim ride. Each of these steps has quite a bit of time between them and I'm sure at least part of it is to gauge genuine interest. On top of that every person in the department weighs in on the decision to hire a pilot.

Well known flight departments must get a 100 random resumes a month just from the aircraft registration database. Without this process who's to say which people would be a good fit?

 

[WestSide]

If you are lucky enough to get the nod, how long does it usually take from getting invited for an interview until your start date?

 

[AbOvo]

I think most of these companies won't go into the actual interview stage until they are actually ready to hire someone. In my case I am in a holding pattern after my hangar tour until they are ready to hire, then I will be among the people who come in to meet the rest of the employee group in the department which is the actual interview. Maybe a month if everything is successful and training slots are available?

 

[Gulfstream 200]

If you are lucky enough to get the nod, how long does it usually take from getting invited for an interview until your start date?

Getting a handful of people interviewed (2X) and sim rides for a final few candidates can take many weeks, sometimes a few months....schedules have to mesh, etc. Keep in mind even manager/pilots still fly when needed.

Doing interviews is a real PITA, as you still have NO IDEA what you got until 1-2 years later...but most would agree you have to take the time to try and match someone as best you can, because every department is different. Its a painful process.

So from first interview to start date could easily be 3-4 months (?) in a large department that's staffing for planned vacancies.

 

[WestSide]

When interviewing for a large company that flies 3-4 planes, how many interviews can you expect with how many different people? i.e. HR, Director of Aviation, meeting members of the flight department, etc.... Do most places also do personality tests or something similar?

 

[Gulfstream 200]

When interviewing for a large company that flies 3-4 planes, how many interviews can you expect with how many different people? i.e. HR, Director of Aviation, meeting members of the flight department, etc.... Do most places also do personality tests or something similar?

1-3? Plan on meeting everyone? Maybe?

I think the theme here is that it really varies from department to department?

You have now officially used up all your questions.

 

[rondo]

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

There not gonna ask you any of that crap. They just want to see if they can stomach you for a 5 day trip. You also need to read situations with owner/execs very fast. 10% of the job is flying (you have that down) you need to focus on the other 90% (personality, politics etc.

 

[LJ45]

There not gonna ask you any of that crap. They just want to see if they can stomach you for a 5 day trip. You also need to read situations with owner/execs very fast. 10% of the job is flying (you have that down) you need to focus on the other 90% (personality, politics etc.

My personal experience (interview with a major fortune 50 flight department) they did ask "technical stuff".

 

[superfreight208]

Not Hired.

I didn't get it. Didn't get past the phone interview. Mostly hr questions and backround experience. No international time, type rating, or corporate experience a big negative. It's a great company and I'll keep trying! Might go back to cargo to get international time, maybe get a type on the way!

 

[LJ45]

I didn't get it. Didn't get past the phone interview. Mostly hr questions and backround experience. No international time, type rating, or corporate experience a big negative. It's a great company and I'll keep trying! Might go back to cargo to get international time, maybe get a type on the way!

good attitude, better luck next time.