CFI Interview Help

[MEW04]

I'm going for my first CFI job and am worried about the interview....anyone have any good ways to prepare and answer tricky questions??

I'd appreciate any help!!! Thanks!

 

[bobbysamd]

CFI Interviews

We had a similar discussion about instructor interviews about three weeks ago. Here's a link to that thread.

Hope this helps a little. State where and/or what kind of operation for which you're interviewing and maybe we can provide more specific assistance.

 

[350DRIVER]

I'm going for my first CFI job and am worried about the interview....anyone have any good ways to prepare and answer tricky questions??

I would tend to think the interview will be based more on your "attitude" than anything else. Obviously since you have obtained the CFI they will/should already know that you can safely fly the aircraft and that you should have the required knowledge. (in most cases) I thought that my CFI interview was probably easier than any other interview that I have ever had to date. I personally thought that my interview with Delta for a gate agent/ops position was much more detailed and involved. I would assume that the chief instructor or asst. will sit down with you and drill you on some scenario type questions, far's, systems, go through your logs, certificates, etc, etc, .. You may also be asked basic human resource type questions as well so they get the chance to get to know you and what type of employee they can expect should they hire you. I found the oral portion of my interview quite easy and there were no surprises that I did not expect. At this point of the game there should be very little if anything that one could view as "tricky" or as a "surprise". More or less they just want to get a feel for you and make sure that you have the chemistry to fit in with the other CFI's and employees there. After the ground portion they may or may not do a quick evaluation flight with you or in a simulator depending on how there interview is set up. I personally had the flight eval. since that was/is the norm at the flight school which hired me. The flight was easy, take off from the right seat, do a soft field landing, then instruct the chief/owner to do a soft field and that was pretty much it. Painless, short, and sweet. I think the entire flight was like .4 or something along those lines.


Let us know how it goes...

good luck,

3 5 0

 

[pavelump]

I too have my first interview on Wednesday (well, second if you count being on the waiting list at FSI) and I'm pretty nervous.

Some good advice that I read somewhere was to make sure that you COMPLETELY listen to the question asked and make sure that you answer what was asked and not just some sort of canned response. Take a moment before you answer.

Don't B.S. about a subject. If you don't know, say so and tell the student (interviewer) that you'd have to get back to them with an answer to be 100% sure.

Good luck!

Dave

 

[bobbysamd]

Interviewing

It's always important to exhibit a positive attitude. For example, you might be asked about your long-term goals and might be afraid that if you state them you will be rejected because you didn't tell them what you thought they wanted to hear. You must answer all questions candidly, but positively. E.g., your long-term goals might be the majors or corporate. Say so, but add that while you are a flight instructor you will be dedicated solely to providing the best training possible. In so doing, you would hope you could contribute to the company by building its customer base, and when you leave you would hope that your contributions added value to the operation, etc. It would help if you can state some personal achievements that would document your your abilities and work them into your response, i.e. earning an Outstanding on your stage checks, Flight Fellowships at your school, Employee of the Month at another job, etc.

I would not give an answer that you eventually hope to instruct in their twins, etc. Just say you are commited to providing the best service possible in whichever aircraft you are assigned. In other words, answer in terms of the present.

Hope that helps some more. Good luck with your interview.