Don't answer the &*%$ phone!

[klhoard]

I don't get it. . .

So. . . . . . .

You guys are telling me that to be "Jet Blue" material you:

1) Never have a bad day
2) Are never tired
3) Never drink
4) Don't have ANY outside negative influences in their life at any time
5) Home life is calm, cool, and collected 24/7/365
6) Are always ready to engage in a life changing interview at all hours of the day, every day, with no advance warning to them or their family.
7) Everyone associated with the "Jet Blue" material person meets the attributes of 1-6 above.

Puh-leeeeezzzzeeeeee. . . .

I predict that this interview tactic will quickly disappear once the "buyer's market" for pilots swings the other way. . . .

 

[Falconjet]

Walk in interviews

I also have to agree with IB6 UB9.

Finally a realistic jetBlue pilot who hasn't drank himself stupid with the blue coolaid. Why don't the interviwers just stop by your house unannounced also, just to see how you dress on a day off? Perhaps they could stake out your place as well and see what you do and who you hang out with.

I liken this tactic to a pilot just walking into the beautiful Kew Gardens HQ and telling the fine folks there that they would like an interview on the spot. See how far that would get you, they would escort you to the street. Professional courtesy and respect demands an appointment and an opportunity for preparation for the prospective employee.

To imply that if you are flustered by an offhand phone call makes you beneath the proud folks at jetBlue is ridiculous. Wow, I answered the phone, I must be qualified to work at jetBlue. What's next, do the entire interview over the phone? That would save all the candidates having to tell their stories cattle car style in the big room.

If you are interested in a job at jetBlue you'd be foolish to not follow the advice and not answer the phone if you were unsure of who was calling - unless you were prepared for the phone interview at the time. Doing so should only prove that you have enough sense to give yourself your best shot at success, not that you are playing gamemanship with the interviewers.

Hide and seek is a game for children on the playground, it has no place being an issue in the hiring process of a future major airline.

Not a proud moment for jetBlue in my humble opinion.

Good luck to those who are lucky enough to get that call.

FJ

 

[AA717driver]

It may suck but that's the deal. They are making the rules, it's up to us if we want to play in their game.

I wish I didn't have to spend a couple of weeks getting my 737 rating but that's the deal if I want to work for SW.

For being a bunch of control freaks, we spend most of our lives along for the ride! TC

 

[firstthird]

Don't mean to throw darts (blue or otherwise) but has any major (or almost major in this case, was it 995 million last year?) ever done a phone interview as part of their process before. If I remember correctly from 4+ years ago, quite a few of the regional/commuter airilnes were doing phone interviews but no majors.

I guess back then I figured some of those commuters were so desparate for anyone with 1000 total and 100 multi that anyone who met them was competitive and using the phone was a way of determining something. But once you have major airline type quals, it seems sort of silly to not give the top of your list a shot at the interview.

I'm just surprised, like everyone else, that with the quality of applicants that must be in the jetBlue database they need to do a screen like this.

 

[dlredline]

Everybody has a bad day. The phone interview doesn't let you have a bad day.

With that being said, this is the way they have been doing it from day one and it should not come as a surprise.

G4G5,

Actually, this is NOT the way it's been done for the pilot applicants (F/A's, yes). This is a new procedure implemented this year, and a mistake in my humble opinion. The quality of applicants and newhires have been remarkable, so for the life of me I can't understand why the change. We are missing out on the vital face-to-face meeting with some wonderful individuals. In the case of this particular pilot, we've lost out on a future employee with unbelievable qualifications, and one who would've walked through fire for JetBlue. What a shame.

I love it here, but "If it ain't broke . . . "

Red

 

[ArchieF16]

My understanding was the biggest reason we've gone to the initial phone interview was because in the past, there were several people who looked great on paper, but that it was painfully obvious the second they sat down for the interview, that they were not, for whatever reason, meant to be hired at JB. Bringing them to the inteview was a waste of time (for both parties) and $$ for JB since they pay for transportation and lodging for all interviewees.

I think this will be a temporary problem, and, unfortunately, there were one, maybe two potential classes that were caught off-guard. Now that EVERYONE knows that this is how JB is operating, instead of being prepared the day before the face-to-face interview, those interested in being hired by JB should be ready to get the call the second they hit "enter" on their online application.

If someone is not in a position to answer the call....in the car, changing diapers, whatever, no one needs to feel they HAVE to take the call.....just explain the situation and set up for a mutually agreeable time in the near future. I have heard Dean talk about this and he is not out to burn anyone or illiminate potential pilots......good luck to all out there, it's worth it!!!!

 

[100LL... Again!]

Flying Freddie_


That may be true but only if someone is a complete TOOL.

HINT!

 

[Flying Freddie]

There is nothing to fear except fear itself. I would sure hate to miss a call and spend my whole day/life wondering whether I was going to get called again. When given an opportunity one must face up to the task, otherwise you are just one of the many followers in life. Sometimes you must dare to be great. I wonder what the world would have been like if Winston Churchill decided to not answer the phone when called to step up to the plate in WWII. Just my thoughts.

 

[Clownpilot]

Interesting

I wonder what the world would have been like if Winston Churchill decided to not answer the phone when called to step up to the plate in WWII. Just my thoughts. [/B]

LOL.

I certainly have heard of phone interviews to screen applicants.

I have never heard of surprise, cold call phone interviews.

I can't believe that JB doesn't 'SCHEDULE' the phone interview.

If they don't its a huge mistake.

Flying Freddies post is one of the most illogical misplaced analogies I have ever read.

Yeah Freddie, they cold called Winston Churchill, sprung an attack plan against Germany on him, then played the Jeopardy theme as loudly as possible during the 30 SECONDS they gave him to decide the fate of his role in World War 2. Great post!!

 

[Flying Freddie]

Dear Clown,

I bet you wouldn't answer the phone.

Love, Freddie