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ATA interview I NEED HELP!

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cbeyw

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 18, 2003
Posts
82
I just received a call for interview with ATA and need some advice! Any help is greatly appreciated.
 
When did you send in your app and when did they call youand when is your interview? Try aviationinterviews.com.
 
I sent mine in November no call yet. I guess I screwed up somewhere on the app. Good luck.
 
Welcome to my world

:p
 
How long from the time you sent your resume in till you got the app?

Does anyone get an app without someone walking in the resume?
 
chprplt-


I know of a few that sent their resume in without any LOR and received an apllication in the mail. However this is the minority.

If you are able to send your resume in along with a LOR, then you should recieve an apllication within a few weeks. Getting the interview is the hard part. Good luck.


sayagain?
 
Iflewjets-

Did you receive any update material after 6 months? I sent mine in December, and I'm curious if they send out an update form.

thanks
 
sayagain? - I presume by your knowledge on the subject & your qualifications that you are a line pilot with ATA?

I know (from personal experience) that the interview is the hardest hurdle & also that ATA is interviewing/hiring in small numbers. I'm just curious as to how the decision-making process works & I know all about LORs etc.

Basically, I have sent in a resume & cover letter every month for the past 7 months requesting an application and an interview opportunity but, you guessed it, nadda. As someone who is ATP rated and is typed & experienced on two out of three types that ATA operate plus shows persistence etc., etc., one would think that the hiring committee might want to @ least take a look @ that kind of candidate.

Also, I do have a "friend" on the inside, an L-1011 Captain & here is what he said: "If it was up to me, I would interview & hire you in a heartbeat. You are exactly the type of person this company needs!" His words, not mine. However, he also went on to say that he could ONLY make a recommendation once I was in the selection process and NOT before. So.....what's the staff answer to that?

On another note, not totally unrelated, I'm sure everyone has come across the following @ the end of virtually every pilot job posting - " no calls, no faxes, no walk-ins etc." In other words, let us call the shots & you stay passive in your job hunt. I'm well aware of the fine dividing line between becoming a nuisance and the diligent job seeker. ALL the books on this subject state that in order to succeed in this, you have to be "aggressive" to a point to stand out from the crowd and one of the ways in achieving this is to religiously follow up every step of the way by CALLING the decison makers. In short, the general advice is to do the OPPOSITE of what your airline of choice asks you NOT to do. This appears to be the case even in aviation related books/advice columns. So....who do you believe & what do you believe? It is certainly not helpful having conflicting information when it's hard enough cracking the nut.

I'd be real interested on hearing others opinions/advice on these two subjects. Thanks in advance.

________________________________________________
It's Nice To Be Important, But It's More Important To Be Nice!:confused:
 
b757driver-

Yes, I work for ATA, but I've only been here since October 02.

I wish I had the answers for you. I was lucky to get hired on at ATA after being furloughed from AAA and ALG. There appears to be no rhyme or reason to any hiring process. I know of a handful of applicants that had their applications turned down, even though they may have been more "qualified" than myself.

You stated that you have been trying to receive an application without any luck. Have your "connection" at ATA write a LOR and then send that it along with your resume. You should then receive an application in the mail. I'm not saying that you won't get one just by sending a resume in on your own. But the chances of getting an application are greatly enhanced if it is receieved with a LOR. Good Luck.

sayagain?
 
sayagain,

Thanks for your response.
I know that LORs carry weight @ ATA and also that sometimes there is no rhyme or reason for getting on. That's what's so crazy about the whole system.
I did mention in my post that my friend, the L1011 Capt, said he "could not do anything for me until AFTER I had sent in an application". Kinda chicken or egg syndrome. So, once again, who do you believe and what do you believe? There is no doubt, there is a lot of misinformation out here and one has to tread carefully.
I also have plenty of other, generic reference letters from previous Capts I have actually flown with. My friend at ATA has not flown with me - he only knows my motivation and what I have done over the years to try and get on with ATA - so I don't know how much weight that would carry - even if he could do something which he says, he can't.
I'll ask one more Q:
Would it serve any useful purpose if I followed up with a phone call to the IND Regional CP, Capt. MG? Or do you think that would automatically and anonymously count me out for sure? I ask because I realize that most CPs do NOT want unsolicited calls. On the other hand, virtually every job hunting advice book, newsletter or forum mentions the aggressive approach as opposed to the passive one and advocates that you MUST follow up with a phone call & foster a relationship with the CP's office. The logic being that if you pester them enough, they will, eventually, send you an app. Perserverance and all that. Again, it's hard to know which is the "right" way to handle this delicate dance.
Just seems like a waste of 737 & 757 type ratings & experience. I would value your opinion and/or others.

Cheers,

b757driver
 
b757driver-

Having gone through the hiring process recently, here is what I would do. If your friend would write you a letter, have him/her do it! From my conversation with mgt pilots in IND and others, the LOR from an ATA will get you that application. Once you complete the application and send it in, then your application is graded by itself. If you score "high" enough, you go on to the next step, which is an invite for an interview. At the interview, ATA will then accept additional LOR's from employees or from others.

Good Luck.

sayagain?
 
b757driver,

Your L1011 friend is misinformed. I wrote two letters of rec, and mailed them along with the applicant's current resume to the Chief Pilot's office. Both received applications within a couple of weeks. As sayagain? stated, get your friend to write a letter, and provide him with a current resume to send in with the letter. You should receive an app soon after.

Good luck,
Brad
 

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