Feb SWA Interview - March DB

[Happy Hooligan]

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to interview at SWA in Feb. Just curious how long it normally takes to start contacting references, etc... Does anyone have an idea of when the March DB meets?



I had a great time, regardless of the outcome. Just curious as to the average timeline.

Thanks.

 

[CaptUnderpants]

HH,

My references were contacted exactly 1 week after I interviewed earlier this month. Haven't seen a date for DB but I would guess the middle to end of March.

Good luck my brother.

CU

 

[Varmint]

Any ex-ASA guys on at Southwest PM me please.

 

[SWA/FO]

March 9th...is what the Chief told me today

 

[Quagmire11]

Application Question

I was curious, does anyone know if the box that asks if they can contact my current employer a red flag if I check "NO"? I don't have anything to hide, but if my corp finds out I am looking, I will be on the short list for sure... I was wondering if anyone had any experience with this one or any contact with the People Department that may have some idea. Thanks....

 

[chase]

It is not viewed negatively if you check the box that says "don't contact my present employer". The PD folks understand the nature of this business & what the implications can be if an employer wishes to take out their anger on a current employee who is applying somewhere else. However, hopefully have left them with some point of contact at that company (doesn't have to be management) that can (1) vouch that you work there (2) confirm you're a good pilot & (3) are of good character & will speak on your behalf in a highly positive way. Hope that helps.

As for letters of recommendations & how many....the debate will go on ...folks have been hired with just 3, not hired with just 3...hired with 10+, not hired with 10+....my personal recommendation is to not exceed 10 but make sure each of them are written in a way that makes you look like a 10 & that each of these individuals, if called by the background checkers, can tell a "story" about you that illustrate why you're a good match for SWA....you're references should be able to tell that story to you...if they can't & are only spewing adjectives about you versus ancedotal stories/personal experiences then I would re-consider their use. Familiarity with you, your habits, your career aspirations are important I believe......good luck to all & most importantly after the process is all over with, regardless of the outcome, do the classy thing & write them a note saying a personal thanks for helping out...staying in touch with someone even after getting turned down says alot about a person's character....calling them up a year later & asking for another reference after not sharing with them what happened the last time or keeping them appraised of what you've been doing sense doesn't I believe demonstrate a sense of loyalty & connection you should be working toward if this is truly someone you are asking for help....again only the thoughts of a rambling FO on the road...good night gladys!

 

[crjdude]

Are your references ONLY contacted if your interview was successful?

Can anyone elaborate on how the whole post-interview pre-DB process works.
If my references ARE called then can I start to get excited?......


crjdude

 

[Resume Writer]

I was curious, does anyone know if the box that asks if they can contact my current employer a red flag if I check "NO"? I don't have anything to hide, but if my corp finds out I am looking, I will be on the short list for sure... I was wondering if anyone had any experience with this one or any contact with the People Department that may have some idea. Thanks....

I had a client that this happened to with SWA a few years ago. SWA did call his company, and he had put down the CEO. The CEO had NO idea he was looking and he almost got fired over the whole thing. Further, he did not get the job at SWA. Hopefully you put down HR as the contact.

Maybe Chase can tell you where to go from here. Perhaps a call to the People Department, giving them the name of another pilot at the company would be in your best interest. Not sure how to tell you to proceed, as SWA does have to check that you actually work there.

Kathy

 

[jetalc]

Hopefully you put down HR as the contact.
Kathy

I don't believe that is correct - they want a contact of someone (a supervisor) with whom you've flown. If you haven't flown with the Chief Pilot, for example, the application instructs to put down a Check Airman, Captain, Regional/Asst Chief, etc. with whom you HAVE flown. HR is definitely not the contact to put down...

 

[Resume Writer]

I don't believe that is correct - they want a contact of someone (a supervisor) with whom you've flown. If you haven't flown with the Chief Pilot, for example, the application instructs to put down a Check Airman, Captain, Regional/Asst Chief, etc. with whom you HAVE flown. HR is definitely not the contact to put down...

I understand what you are saying. I also told him to maybe give the name of another pilot he has flown with. It really depends on the size of the corporate flight department where he works. That is why I suggested he talk to Chase about what his next move is.

 

[jetalc]

I also told him to maybe give the name of another pilot he has flown with.

I understand also what you are saying, however, the SWA paperwork is VERY specific about who to list as contacts. "Maybe" giving the name of another pilot he has flown with is certainly good advice, although the application doesn't say "maybe," - it says definitely. No worries - just trying to clarify, not start some sort of grenade tossing match.

So....back to one of the original questions - if they haven't called your contacts, can one consider oneself unsuccesful in the interview? After three weeks?

 

[HarleyGuy]

Quagmire: I had checked No, and put as a contact a captain I had flown with. They were perfectly fine with that. They told me that if you check no, they'll not contact your company until after you're already in the pool.

jetalc: I have heard (emphasis on heard- I don't claim to know) that if you don't get your references called, that means that you probably did not pass the interview. However, I have heard that you can get hired anyway if your references talk to their CP and tell them how you walk on water, and such. Chase has posted that people do in fact get hired without their ref's called. I really wish you the best!

 

[satpak77]

I had a buddy get his refs called and he did NOT get hired

he privately thinks his boss M-F'ed him but who knows

 

[chase]

Thoughts...

First of all, all persons who interview are reviewed & decided upon by the Decision Board according to what I have seen & heard in the past. I'm told every package is sent to the DB with comments & an evaluatiion of their performance during the interview & LOI.


In the past references not being called has generally been an indicator that the interview itself didn't go well but their package is still sent to the DB for the final call. Have folks been hired who didn't have their references called, yes but the odds aren't in your favor based upon observations from the past.

A reminder about the interview itself: My impression is the interviewee is judged by the interviewers and this "recommendation" is sent on to the Decision Board.....I don't know the "scale" or "methodology" nor care to know but I would presume there are various levels of evaluations.

Its my impression the Decision Board looks at all aspects of the candidate's background, flying experience, hours, letters of recommendations, support from the contacts you listed on your contact sheets and finally the LOR performance & the recommendations from the interviewers from their 1 on1 experience with you.


Getting references called while showing some level of success in the "process" is not to be taken as a done deal by any means based upon previous experiences....the final decision is left to the Decision Board.

While folks may question their final selection, there are many of us who believe their impartiality and adherance to the desire to hire what they "honestly" believe are the best folks is the heart & soul of the system. Their decisions are not to be taken lightly and will determine the course of the future of this airline. Next to Gary Kelly, all of the folks involved in this difficult process, interviewers, PD folks, Decision Board members have the most impact on the success or failure of our airline in the future in my opinion.

Over 6 years ago I use to read the comments of Libby Sartain, former PD VP comments about this same process on the old Compuserve forum days when I was trying to get on with SWA...the reverance she held toward this process was obvious but I have come to understand this is a core element of why I believe the system is as fair and equitable as on can have. The changes have only been cosmetic (added the LOI) but the core elements are still there and working (in my opinion) to give SWA some great folks. The burden rests with the judgement of these individuals and I believe they deserve a great deal of thanks for their efforts but like many folks who behind the scenes their work is unrecognized and unappreciated. There are many though who do recognize their efforts and what a great job they do, I being one of them.

There is no "science" or "holy grail" to this process. You've done what you can by interviewing...the rest is beyond one's control....good luck in the coming weeks as their decisions impact many of you. You are to be commended and thanked for applying and enduring this process. Cheers,

 

[jetalc]

Good info - thanks, all. I just heard about a buddy of mine (stellar, by all accounts - great guy, check airman, wanted nothing more than to work for SWA, no busted checkrides, lots of jet time, etc., etc.) who interviewed in January and just received his "thanks, but no thanks" letter. His contacts were called, but as Chase said, this isn't the end-all. Shot down in the DB, and it will remain a question mark in my mind for a long time.


Well, I'll just keep hoping for some miracle. Hopefully I'll get 'em next year. Good luck to all who have interviewed and are waiting on the March DB.