CJ Systems interview

[storm31]

I have an interview CJ Systems for an EMS job next week. I have not had a job interview since I joined the Army 20 years ago. Can anyone tell me what to expect?

Thanks

 

[TundraT]

1. First I'd recommend you leave your rank in the past. It has no weight in the civilian world.
2. Since you are going to EMS, be prepared for many questions on how you would handle a flight nurse or hospital staff as they question your every decision making.
3. Be prepared to fly night unaided. I remember interviewing a guy years back and when I told him the contract he wanted did not have NVG's. I actually saw the blood rush from his face.

EMS flying will challenge your people skills. I did not fly for CJ but have several other operators. How you will get along with the medical staff will be the deciding factor. Good luck.

 

[storm31]

Thanks

That is exactly the sort of thing I wanted to know. I am ready for some new challenges.

Now, I have a few more interviews coming up. If I am fortunate enough to get more than one offer do you have any advice as to which companies have the best employee relations and QOL?

 

[JB Bus Drvr]

I used to work for them and was involved in another professional effort with them. Good company. Just follow the rules and you'll do OK. They had a safety guy who had a set of rules called "Lynch's Rules for Success". They are:
1) Keep your mouth shut.
2) Don't get involed.
3) Don't get killed.

Most EMS pilots don't get fired because of flight problems. They get fired for getting into the customer's business. If it's between you or saving the contract, guess who's gone.

Example. You're sitting around with the Medical Flight Crew and they're bitching about their schedule. You say that you think it sucks too (trying to empathize with them). Next thing you know you're getting called in because you're trying to cause desention between the nurses and the hospital. You get the blame because it was your idea, if they get caught. ( Rule #1 ).

Next one. You see one of the nurse's supervisor who flys with you on a regular basis. You think you're on good terms with them, maybe even friends. As a friendly gesture, you casually mention about the bitching in hopes that you give your "friend" a heads up. The "friend" goes to the nurses and asks about their bitching. They say it wasn't them. Next thing you know, you're screwed. ( Rule #2 ).

Final one. It's 3 am and you've just finished your third flight since coming on shift at 7 pm. You know the wx is going down hill, at or just below your flight minimums. You get paged by the Program Director to take a flight in the local area of a gunshot wound from one hospital to the other. You say, you have to check weather. He says the guy will die if you don't get him. You stand your ground, check wx, see it's below mins. and don't go. But you feel like crap because of the info given you. In the five minutes from when you're notified to when you turn down the flight, you look out side and see it's 0/0. ( Rule 3 ).

In that final case, it happened to me. Still kept the job with no problems. This was while I was working for CJ. The PD was wrong for telling about the patient and trying to pressure me. He got jacked up over it. But don't succumb to pressure. When you interview, mention Safety and Efficency. You're being hired for your JUDGEMENT, not eight zillion hours of flight time. Back to the beginning. Follow the rules. Learn about the OPSPECS and local SOPs. You'll have a long, safe and Rewarding career.

And before you ask, I left CJ because I was recruited by another operator to a base site three miles from my house, better pay, new equipment and benefit package. Where I'm at now, well that's a story for another time and place.

 

[ghostrider64]

Back in the day before I realized it was time to go to the dark side (fixed wing) where life is relatively easy and I get to sleep nights, a wise person told me a couple of things that I lived by.

Number one: Not everyone is psychologically capable of handling the human stress (blood and guts of kids etc...) on a daily basis. Be honest with yourself. Qut if you aren't. There is always PHI.

Number two: It's not you in the back screaming and crying. IE never make a descision based on the pressure of the job. Tune it out. Hell I was able to eat my PBnJ's while all of the crap was going on.

Now after 10 years of this in a very busy SPIFR program I can tell you it takes a toll to do this job and you pay for it far beyond the day you quit. You will never be able to leave this behind you. PTSD is a fact of the job. Anyone that tells you otherwise is one lying to themselves and you or a sociopath. We all have our ghosts and they come up at the strangest of times.

Word of advise. Especially if this is your first real flying job out of the Army. Go extra slow. Flying single pilot takes some getting use to. Has nothing to do with your skills but it's all on you to see and avoid and control and make decisions that might just kill you and others. It is the most challenging flying I've ever had the pleasure of doing. But for the grace of god or whoever I am still here to reflect and there were many, many very close calls in my career. Fortunately fewer as the years went on but those first 2 were a real eye opener.

If you have never flown single pilot at night "be careful" know your safe altitudes etc...

Good luck and I hope you enjoy the pay cut

 

[storm31]

Thanks for all the great advice. The pay cut would be hard to take except I have a sugar Mama who will continue to make more than I do.

 

[340drvr]

I worked for them a few years back, but only fixed-wing. I think it's a pretty straight forward outfit, I seem to recall that all the rotor-head management were ex-jarheads, for what it's worth.

 

[storm31]

The interview went well.

Thanks for the great advice, especially JB bus driver who went way out of his way to fill me in.

OK, here is the gouge.

Three applicants showed up for the interview. They had at least 4 positions open. The people at CJ systems were great and treated us well. When we arrived at the corporate headquarters in Pittsburg they were having a pre Super Bowl Lunch and invited us to join in. The interview panel was made up of the Chief Pilot, Director of Training, VP of Operations, and Safety Officer. First reviewed resume and made sure that experience meets the contract requirements for the position sought. Tell me about your aviation career so far. Why do you want to be an Air Ambulance Pilot at CJ Systems? If you were the Chief Pilot at CJ Systems and had to make the weather minimums for night operations what would they be? What would you do if you were going off shift and the replacement pilot showed up under the influence? Tell me about LTE. I see on your resume you have a degree in management, what do you think that brings to the job. What would you do if you were on a mission in marginal but legal weather if the nurse tells you she is not comfortable with the weather? What do you think is the number one cause of accidents in EMS? How do you avoid it? What is the best thing about your current job? If hired will you commute? Who do you think the best pilot in this room is? What do you think the job of an Air Ambulance Pilot is? Would you have a problem with a two year training contract? Would you be willing to travel at CJ expense to the base to meet with the program director prier to a formal job offer? What questions do you have for us?

Regardless of if I end up at CJ Systems or not it was a great experience.

 

[Kuma]

Best pilot in the room?

How did you answer the question about the "best pilot in the room"? That's a very fine line to walk. Either you come across as overly confindent in your own skills or you appear to doubt yourself. I guess a third option is to tell the chief pilot that he is and risk appearing to be an AK.

Please tell me how you handled that question...

The rest of the interview sounded straight forward.

Kuma

 

[storm31]

I laughed when I said I was then I told them I would have to get to know them a little better to make that call. They seemed to like that answer. They called with an offer today.