mar
Remember this one?
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2001
- Posts
- 1,929
I had an initial interview in Vancouver on Feb 13 for an SO position. I elected not to post anything about it until now because I didn't want there to be any effect on my application (call me a little paranoid) but I've since learned that I didn't make the cut. Hence, I'm posting this here in the hopes of helping someone else get this job.
My background:
Age: 34 (relevant due to max age for SO application)
Total pilot time: 6800 + 800 flight engineer
Total multi: 3500
Multi turbine PIC: 1900 (Metroliner)
Heaviest airplane flown: DC6, 103,800#MGTOW (relevant believe it or not)
No jet time
ERAU grad: BS Aero. Studies/Area of Conc: Management
Had a recommendation from an FO on the freighter fleet
Initial application: April 2001 updated every six months
I was notified via email on Dec 26 that I was invited to the initial interview in Vancouver on Feb 13. Even though I had been following events at Cathay on pprune for almost two years I never got around to buying the recommended books ("Preparing for your Cathay Pacific Interview" (PFYCPI) and "Handling the Big Jets" by Davies *NOT* Stewart--caution--there is a similiar book by Stewart--don't buy that one!).
Anyway, I easily ordered both from a Canadian book store that I found on a Google search. They arrived within a week and then I started the cramming process.
As I said, I was already up to date on events at Cathay (through the internet and my friend so I didn't have much preparation there but I would highly recommend becoming familiar with the Cathay Pacific website, their history, their plans for the future and who owns them.
I also used the search function on the Tech Forum on pprune to help out with some of the more difficult (read: abstract, theoretical, almost impertinent) questions.
Cathay will not pay your way to the initial interview. For the second interview you must get yourself to an airport served by Cathay and then they'll transport you to Hong Kong.
My interview in Vancouver was at 1pm. I walked from my hotel a few blocks away at 12:15 and hung out in the lobby until 12:45 while I did some last minute prep. At 12:45 I took the elevator to the office and met the receptionist. She gave me an instruction sheet on how they would conduct the technical test (Leave your things; write your name, date, PRN# and time started on the sheet; when finished return to the desk to claim your things, etc...).
After I read the instructions I gave them back and was told to wait. At precisely 12:59 I met a Captain (but I didn't find out he was a pilot until later) and he took me into an office where I was to do the technical test. In the PFYCPI book it said the test is 50 questions to be completed in 30 minutes. My test was only 30 questions in 30 minutes.
On the desk was the laminated question sheet, the answer sheet, a blue pen, a red pen, a pencil and an eraser. (???)
I have no idea if your choice of writing utensil is another test or not but I chose the blue pen and made dam sure I didn't mark an answer until I was convinced it was the best.
I finished the test in 20 minutes (even after leaving a couple blank and then going back and trying them again).
Most of the questions are straight out of the PFYCPI book. Even though I completed the test in a short time I'm sure I missed a few because there were some questions about ICAO operations that I'm not familiar with as an American.
Anyway, I thought PFYCPI did a good job of preparing me for the test. If you can answer the questions from the book you should be able to do the test fine.
Continued on Part II
My background:
Age: 34 (relevant due to max age for SO application)
Total pilot time: 6800 + 800 flight engineer
Total multi: 3500
Multi turbine PIC: 1900 (Metroliner)
Heaviest airplane flown: DC6, 103,800#MGTOW (relevant believe it or not)
No jet time
ERAU grad: BS Aero. Studies/Area of Conc: Management
Had a recommendation from an FO on the freighter fleet
Initial application: April 2001 updated every six months
I was notified via email on Dec 26 that I was invited to the initial interview in Vancouver on Feb 13. Even though I had been following events at Cathay on pprune for almost two years I never got around to buying the recommended books ("Preparing for your Cathay Pacific Interview" (PFYCPI) and "Handling the Big Jets" by Davies *NOT* Stewart--caution--there is a similiar book by Stewart--don't buy that one!).
Anyway, I easily ordered both from a Canadian book store that I found on a Google search. They arrived within a week and then I started the cramming process.
As I said, I was already up to date on events at Cathay (through the internet and my friend so I didn't have much preparation there but I would highly recommend becoming familiar with the Cathay Pacific website, their history, their plans for the future and who owns them.
I also used the search function on the Tech Forum on pprune to help out with some of the more difficult (read: abstract, theoretical, almost impertinent) questions.
Cathay will not pay your way to the initial interview. For the second interview you must get yourself to an airport served by Cathay and then they'll transport you to Hong Kong.
My interview in Vancouver was at 1pm. I walked from my hotel a few blocks away at 12:15 and hung out in the lobby until 12:45 while I did some last minute prep. At 12:45 I took the elevator to the office and met the receptionist. She gave me an instruction sheet on how they would conduct the technical test (Leave your things; write your name, date, PRN# and time started on the sheet; when finished return to the desk to claim your things, etc...).
After I read the instructions I gave them back and was told to wait. At precisely 12:59 I met a Captain (but I didn't find out he was a pilot until later) and he took me into an office where I was to do the technical test. In the PFYCPI book it said the test is 50 questions to be completed in 30 minutes. My test was only 30 questions in 30 minutes.
On the desk was the laminated question sheet, the answer sheet, a blue pen, a red pen, a pencil and an eraser. (???)
I have no idea if your choice of writing utensil is another test or not but I chose the blue pen and made dam sure I didn't mark an answer until I was convinced it was the best.
I finished the test in 20 minutes (even after leaving a couple blank and then going back and trying them again).
Most of the questions are straight out of the PFYCPI book. Even though I completed the test in a short time I'm sure I missed a few because there were some questions about ICAO operations that I'm not familiar with as an American.
Anyway, I thought PFYCPI did a good job of preparing me for the test. If you can answer the questions from the book you should be able to do the test fine.
Continued on Part II
