competitive at delta?

[a319stud]

im curious what competitive hiring is at big-d these days. anybody who recently inverviewed at delta? mil/civ? internal rec? tt? jet? turbine? PIC? job offer? any input would be nice.

 

[~~~^~~~]

Be sharp, conservative, honest & smart. They don't seem to be too focused on flying experience, but have a pretty difficult interview process. Expect a VERY detailed background check.

Professional associations appear to be important to getting the interview call. This includes internal personal references as well as involvement in some of Delta's scholarship training programs which were (I believe) only open to women applicants.

If Delta hires 400 this year (as some have suggested) then the call will come sooner rather than later. If they only hire half that number then they only will have about another 100 slots still open and the odds of getting called decrease correspondingly.

As far as competitive mins, it seems the number is all over the map from relatively low time (1,500 hour with nearly no PIC) to former STS Commanders. They go below what you would think would be competitive for some women, but, they have to pass the interview and the interview seems pretty evenly hard for everyone.

My guess is that Delta knows that no new hire is going to get a quick command. There is plenty of time to train and shape the pilot into what they want - so they seem to go for good solid, smart, people - good raw materials if you will....

This is the gouge I'm hearing. I'm still waiting for the e-mail myself....

 

[VxClimb]

but have a pretty difficult interview process

just wondering what makes this interview so much more difficult, if anyone has inside information.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

What he is saying is that even though there are a bunch of WIA women that have gotten an invite with low low time, they are still put through the same process as the Shuttle commander.
DAL makes everyone go through the same process of the interview, cog, medical and psyche. All the boxes have to be a yes, before you get the call.
Every lower time pilot (male or female) that they have hired has been top notch. I mean that. They really are picking the bright ones, and just because they do no have 6000 hrs does not mean that they do not deserve it. They just knew more people and the correct people to get them through the door at 25 vs 35. Good for them!

 

[learflyer]

I mean.......What the heck is a "top notch" pilot? Does he/she go left around a TS while someone else goes right? Fly a coupled approach better? Is this Top Gun? Eats thier crew meal while communicating with ATC?

 

[johnsonrod]

It helps if you have either F-22 or B2 Bomber time.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

My point was that they are hiring good people. Not just people to check boxes. That said they as well as I are no better than anyone else, just lucky. That is all that it is. We are all the same, some just get a call and some do not. It is the same everywhere.
Why am I one of the first hired at DAL, but I cannot get a call from FedEx and CAL?

 

[learflyer]

agreed. It really is just luck.

 

[tico]

My point was that they are hiring good people. Not just people to check boxes. That said they as well as I are no better than anyone else, just lucky. That is all that it is. We are all the same, some just get a call and some do not. It is the same everywhere.
Why am I one of the first hired at DAL, but I cannot get a call from FedEx and CAL?

I would venture a guess....You kept your eye on what you deemed to be the prize and......Fed Ex and Cal are competing for pilots in a different market

 

[ACL65PILOT]

How is that?

 

[PowerRanger]

To reiterate. What makes the interview so very difficult. I understand they are looking for the cream of the crop, but what specific makes the interview so hard?

Is it the technical aptitude portion, the 50-100 question test. The psyche portion, background check, the HR and pilot interview? What, and can you give specifics. Also, where can you get gouges from, what site?

 

[a319stud]

anybody who actually has been hired since Jan. of this year care to comment on what they had for time? Thanks in advance.

 

[puddlejumper101]

My point was that they are hiring good people. Not just people to check boxes. That said they as well as I are no better than anyone else, just lucky. That is all that it is. We are all the same, some just get a call and some do not. It is the same everywhere.
Why am I one of the first hired at DAL, but I cannot get a call from FedEx and CAL?

my guess is you will not be attending the SWA interview you keep talking about in the never ending thread.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

I intend to. If I get the actual letter for DAL then I will. I have my belief's and you have yours. I think that DAL will be a good place to be for my career.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

The interview itself was straight forward. It involved a bunch of tmaat q's as well as scenario based questions. There were a few others thrown in.
The cognitive portion of the testing seems to be the area giving people the most problems on day one. The aviation knowledge is generally what everyone studies, and therefore most pass this. The cog really cannot be prepped for, unless you can find a place to buy the program.
Day two, has the medical, mmpi, and psyche.
As of late the mmpi and psyche have been killing a lot of people. All I have to say is that you must answer as honestly as possible, because the catch the ones that do not, or people that have prepped too much. I really cannot give you a correct answer on this as everyone that I know cannot give me one. It all comes down to honesty. The medical is a by the books class one for people over 35. That is really it. There are no tricks. They are looking at hiring about half of the people that they call. Some days they can do this, some days they cannot. Once you get the call your odds are better than most places.
Hope this helps...

 

[PowerRanger]

The interview itself was straight forward. It involved a bunch of tmaat q's as well as scenario based questions. There were a few others thrown in.
The cognitive portion of the testing seems to be the area giving people the most problems on day one. The aviation knowledge is generally what everyone studies, and therefore most pass this. The cog really cannot be prepped for, unless you can find a place to buy the program.
Day two, has the medical, mmpi, and psyche.
As of late the mmpi and psyche have been killing a lot of people. All I have to say is that you must answer as honestly as possible, because the catch the ones that do not, or people that have prepped too much. I really cannot give you a correct answer on this as everyone that I know cannot give me one. It all comes down to honesty. The medical is a by the books class one for people over 35. That is really it. There are no tricks. They are looking at hiring about half of the people that they call. Some days they can do this, some days they cannot. Once you get the call your odds are better than most places.
Hope this helps...

Thanks. Now some questions. What is tmaat what does it stand for and what is an example of a tmaat question?

What is in volved in the cognitive test as well as the mmpi (what is an mmpi) how and how wierd are the psyche questions?

And lastly, where can you get a gouge from, what sites?

 

[learflyer]

Tell
Me
About
A
Time
When............

 

[Goose Egg]

Of course if you have ever worked for Comair, the whole thing's pointless anyway, right?

-Goose

 

[F9 Driver]

M.M.P.I.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_Multiphasic_Personality_Inventory

 

[ACL65PILOT]

PM me your e-mail addy and I will give you the gouge that I used. It worked for me.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

They have actually hired comair guys.

 

[Vingus]

I mean.......What the heck is a "top notch" pilot? Does he/she go left around a TS while someone else goes right? Fly a coupled approach better? Is this Top Gun? Eats thier crew meal while communicating with ATC?

Funny cause it's the truth.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

As I stated it they are not dumb a$$es and we have all flown with those types of people. They are smart pilots that can think geometrically and on the fly. It has very little to do with stick and rudder skills. That is why they do not do a Sim eval. They know that you can fly. Plus, if you can't they have a year to kick you out.

 

[Goose Egg]

They have actually hired comair guys.

Just as I suspected.

 

[~~~^~~~]

Vingus: I think the definition is a matter of perception....
(1) Good past record - person who makes good judgement calls in both their aviation and their personal lives
(2) Ability to do well on the aptitude tests
(3) Leadership (type A personality)
(4) Ability to make friends that are willing to put their reputation on the line to get you in the door
(5) Meet the flight requirements and perferably has something extra to offer
.... and maybe
(6) Community involvement

I think that is what they mean. There is probably no equal in the industry where pilots percieve that they are the best and most qualified than at Delta. If you want to be a Delta pilot I think you have to impress them that you are worthy of membership in their group.

I know from the outside it may look like arrogance. From the inside it looks like pride. In any event, if you want to fly at Delta that is what they require. They don't want to be SouthWest, they want to be Delta.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

I second that FIN.

 

[mach zero]

I second that FIN.

Good, your decision is made. Please don't waste your time, our interviewers time, and our company's resources by showing up for your SWA interview. Good luck in your Delta career.

 

[GogglesPisano]

Good, your decision is made. Please don't waste your time, our interviewers time, and our company's resources by showing up for your SWA interview. Good luck in your Delta career.

A bit sensitive? The guy can do whatever he wants. If he's a good interviewer he'll get the SWA job as well. Then he'll have to make a choice.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

I will do what is in the best interest of my family. Nothing more nothing less.
When opportunities fall in to your lap you do not turn your back on them. I know it is something that I will not do.

 

[learflyer]

How's about someone that: Shows up on time, will grab a drink after a long, but fun day, get along in the cockpit, tell a joke or two (above 10,000' of course), and will involve the ENTIRE crew on the occasional tough decision? That's all there is to it.