How to Mess Up a Job Interview

[Flat Spot]

We were having lunch at the IAD marriott on Tuesday and there was a gentleman getting interviewed at the table next to us ( not aviation related, sounded like a drug rep sort of thing ). Not 5 minutes after he sat down his cell phone rings ( Not only does he answer it, he stays on the phone for probably 2 minutes.) then after he hangs up, he apologises and explaines that the call was his wife and that his rule was to always answer family calls.

Wonder if he got the job.

 

[Publishers]

No she did not. She made the mistake a number of people make. I have experience, I do not need to make the same effort as someone else. You know, "I have 10,000 hours with TWA, you should be glad to have me" Those young kids need to wear a tie, but I have 10,000 hours."
The fact you forgot to zip up your slacks, well that did not help.

 

[pilot error]

on a side note, if at some point during the interview it is obvious that you don't want the job, just ask them, "do you terminate or prosecute for employee theft?"

 

[Publishers]

The best interview is the one that does not happen. I have observed a pilot out here flying for a piston twin 135 based here. I was impressed with his professional appearance, being out here early, weighing everything that went on the aircraft, and generally looking after the owners interests when the owner was gone.
We are sending him to school and giving him a jet SIC position. He asked me when we approached him about an interview. I told him he had one for the last 12 months, he just did not know it.

 

[flyinlow67]

The best interview is the one that does not happen. I have observed a pilot out here flying for a piston twin 135 based here. I was impressed with his professional appearance, being out here early, weighing everything that went on the aircraft, and generally looking after the owners interests when the owner was gone.
We are sending him to school and giving him a jet SIC position. He asked me when we approached him about an interview. I told him he had one for the last 12 months, he just did not know it.

Good for you. It's nice to see someone who works hard and does a good job gets rewarded and not shafted.

 

[MUST FLY!]

The best interview is the one that does not happen. I have observed a pilot out here flying for a piston twin 135 based here. I was impressed with his professional appearance, being out here early, weighing everything that went on the aircraft, and generally looking after the owners interests when the owner was gone.
We are sending him to school and giving him a jet SIC position. He asked me when we approached him about an interview. I told him he had one for the last 12 months, he just did not know it.

I could not agree more!! Every once in a great while we have full-time openings in our ANG unit, and invariably the Guardsmen line up with applications thinking that they're all shoo-ins...little do they realize that they interviewed every day that they've been with the unit. The ones who show up on time, looking sharp, acting sharp, being sharp are the ones that get hired...the ones who miss drill, show up late or looking like a laundry bag get passed by. Remember that old adage they use in CFI training: What you do speaks so loudly I cannot hear what you say!

Bottom line: Do your best, give a dang, and do it the right way regardless if anyone is looking.

 

[leardawg]

All too often the clueless ones who show up late, dress inappropriately, and do the most unbelievably dumb things while interviewing for a job are the ones who think the world owes them a living (and a good one at that!). They're the ones who "blame the Government" and "blame the rich SOBs who don't pay enough taxes" for their shortcomings in life, pointing the finger at everyone but themselves. The country is chock full of people like that, and it's often the hard working, dedicated and talented of our society who wind up being forced to carrry their water.