Interview Tips

[PA31Ho]

I couldn't find a thread for something like this, so I figured I would start one. I think it would be great to have the more senior guys/gals out there help the potential junior folks to be better prepared for an interview. Everybody could always use a few helpful tips for an interview, I think.

I am looking for a suit to wear to an interview. I'm guessing about 99% of the interviewee's go wearing a suit??? I've even heard of somebody not getting a job because he was the only one not wearing a suit to the interview. Does this sound right?

 

[Superpilot92]

Wear a suit. You would have to be stupid not to. Good Luck interviewing. Who are you interviewing for?

 

[Q400 Gear Bitch]

Wear a suit!!! Shine your shoes! Get a haircut! and read Checklist for Success.

Here's a link
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0964283905/qid=1117729093/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/102-6924142-6948145?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

This book is a must for any interview (IMHO). Good luck!

 

[PA31Ho]

I've heard a lot about that book. Thanks... yea, I was out at Dillards today looking at them... not cheap I tell ya. Nope, I'm guilty, I don't own a suit. I'm interviewing for Piedmont. However, I'm hoping ASA calls me back as well. They received my application packet in the mail today so it's another waiting game.... welcome to aviation.

 

[Superpilot92]

Well Good luck at either interview. Let us know how it goes.

 

[ArcticFlier]

Don't throw up on the interviewer.

Wear a suit.

Get a haircut.

Shine your shoes.

Read up on the company you are interviewing for.

Know the aircraft you are currently flying.

There's more, but I've been playing with the varnish too much this morning.


AF

 

[Comin-In-Hot]

PA31ho,

Ron McElroy's "airline pilot technical interviews" is a must.

If you haven't signed up already, go to www.aviationinterviews.com Sign up for free. There are tons of experiences posted there from peoples interview experiences at all airlines. From what I gather, ASA will probably call you for an interview. I originally applied there (emailed resume)on 4/19, called by RL the next day, interviewed 5/9&10, got the conditional job offer 1 week later. Fast process. Still waiting for the class date. Hope this helps.

 

[Steveair]

I am looking for a suit to wear to an interview. I'm guessing about 99% of the interviewee's go wearing a suit??? I've even heard of somebody not getting a job because he was the only one not wearing a suit to the interview. Does this sound right?

Didn't a couple of guys show up to Southwest in boxer shorts and T-Shirts and get the job? I guess that accounts for the other 1%


Tips:

Remember that they're not just looking to see that you know your stuff. They want to see if they'd like spending time in a cockpit with you. Be personable.

Carry yourself well - sit up straight!

Bring a mini bottle of scope incase your breathe goes south.

Be nice to everyone.

If you don't know something; don't guess. Give an honest answer; "I don't know."

Good luck!

 

[Guitar Guy]

If you don't know something; don't guess. Give an honest answer; "I don't know."

I completely agree with that. During my first-ever airline interview, I got asked a series of increasingly more obscure AIM-related questions. I knew the first several but they finally found one I didn't know the answer to. So I smiled and told them that I didn't know the answer but I knew where to find it. That seemed to please them and I really believe that they were looking for a question that I didn't know the answer to in order to see how I'd handle it. Honesty is the best policy.

By the way, if you're curious about the question, it was, "What is the accuracy of a DME signal?" I'll leave it to you find that one in the AIM.

Good luck with your interview and get yourself a nice, conservative tie to go with your new suit.

 

[rumpletumbler]

If they ask you when the last time you smoked pot was don't say "on the way here." Someone actually did that who interviewed ahead of me once. We laughed about that through about 1/3 of my interview.

 

[PA31Ho]

Well, ASA gave me the call a little bit ago. Interview on the 14th-15th of June!

 

[rumpletumbler]

It's a two day interview?

 

[srjorion]

Yes, two days.

ASA has a sim ride on day one. If you pass that then you move on to day two where you take a test and they ask you questions.

 

[ArcticFlier]

Well, ASA gave me the call a little bit ago. Interview on the 14th-15th of June!

Most excellent, dude.......................................


AF

 

[Old Crow]

Don't forget in the interview that you have a life outside of aviation. Yea it's great if you are Johnny on the spot, know the regs, and can fly the RJ sim like a bandit. But... If you haven't taken time to read a good novel, become involved in your community, Go horseback riding, etc..., then your just another boring dude. Be yourself, know your stuff, and leave your cape at home.

Look at a Jepp 10-9 page front and back and know it cold.

Get your hands on a Jepp approach plate and know how to brief an approach, if you don't know how PM me.

Since you could throw a rock from the ASA building and hit the Delta building (feel free to) you'd better wear a suit. However, Friday is Hawaiian shirt day once you're in training.

Good luck.

 

[rumpletumbler]

I'd be interested to hear your 'how to brief a plate' along with a link to a plate if possible since I use govt charts.

 

[TIS]

I think it would be great to have the more senior guys/gals out there help the potential junior folks to be better prepared for an interview.

Yeah, that's what I thought too when I first started posting here. I used to post typical interview questions, let folks try them and then post my thoughts. But people soon began to complain about the length and detail of my posts, or how arrogant I was for posting my "corrections" so I stopped.

With this in mind, I'll be brief.

Let me get this straight. You have an interview scheduled in less than two weeks and you're asking NOW how you should prepare for it?

It's a little late at this point to be asking this question but I'll offer this to start: See that you preapre yourself for your interviews A LOT sooner than this. There is a lot to get ready for - technical questions, personnel questions, situational questions, written tests (similar to the ATP written), flying tests, etc. Simply put, you can't properly prepare for a serious aviation interview in the time you have to do so.

But wear the suit. You'll definitely need it.

TIS

 

[PA31Ho]

First off, they told me June 14... what else was I supposed to do? say "No that's too so I can't prepare in time for that, can you put me down for a later date?" I don't think so, I'll take the date they want to give me and not be picky. I've been studying that ATP book for the past 2 weeks. I am going to take the written test before the interview. I've been reading on aviationinterviews.com as well. So, I have been preparing. But I'll definately get that suit.

 

[TIS]

First off, they told me June 14... what else was I supposed to do?

Uhh, how about being ready for an interview BEFORE it's an emergency? Truth be told, you really should have been ready for whatever might come BEFORE you sent out your first resume.

I know, I know, it's too late for that. But I'm afraid you've put yourself in a difficult position by not doing that. So the message is, to anyone else in a similar position out there reading this, GET STARTED WITH PREP AS SOON AS YOU TURN PROFESSIONAL!!!!!!! There are things you can do that will help you be more comfortable with a serious aviation interview all the way through whatever lower-echelon stint you have to do before you can be considered for another rung up on the ladder.

The time to prepare is not right before you go to an interview. You’ll come off stiff and robotic rather than comfortable with yourself and the answers you will offer in the interview. Part of the process is taking the time to get some information about yourself together, deciding what information you want them to know about you, organizing it in to coherent pieces that can be used to answer the questions they will have for you, and practicing answering questions using YOUR selling points as derived from this process.

Here are some questions. Some are straightforward and some are not. Be careful with the situational ones – they’re never what they seem to be. Situational questions are, by their very nature, incomplete. They’re purpose in an interview is to see how you think about difficult situations where time is of the essence and safety must be considered.

Situational questions are incomplete and ALWAYS require more information to answer. You don’t have to ask fifty questions but you do have to ask a few to get a better idea of what’s going on in the scenario they’ve posed. As I said, things are not always what they appear to be on the surface. Ask intelligent questions that show you can consider the use of resources like flight attendants or medical professionals, as well as ATC and airline station personnel and you’ll show them you can think like one of their captains. That’s part of what they want to see.

Anyway, here are the questions. If you like you can try a few answers out here. I'll tell you what I think.



Personnel Questions:
• Tell us (me) about yourself.

• Tell us (me) how you got here today.

• How did you get into flying?

• This job will require you to relocate. Do you foresee any problems with that?

• Is your family prepared for relocation with this job?

• Describe how you see yourself.

• Describe how others see you.

• What is your greatest strength? What would others say?

• What is your biggest weakness? What would others say?

• Tell us (me) about your leadership style.

• How would others describe your leadership style?

• Describe the most stressful situation you’ve ever been in.

• Where do you see yourself personally/professionally in five years?

• Where do you see yourself personally/professionally in ten years?

• This airline operates only turboprops and we do not see jets anywhere on the horizon. Do you have a problem with that?

• Why do you want to work for this company?

• How did you hear about us?

• What interests you about working for us?

• How did you come to the decision to send us your resumé?

• We have five openings and fifteen applicants. Why should you be one of those selected to join us?

• Why should we hire you?

• If you were me, why would you hire you?

• Why do you want to leave your current job?

• Why did you leave your last job?

• What did you like most about your last job?

• What did you like least about your last job?

• This job does not pay very well. Will this present a problem for you?

• What types of people annoy you?

• If we check with your previous employers will they give you a good reference?

• Besides flying skills, what would you bring to this company?

• What does this company have to offer you?

• Do you know the latest stock price of the company?

• Do you have other resumes out?

• Have you interviewed with other carriers?

• How did your other interviews go?

• Have you been offered other jobs?

• If we offer you a position and another company also offers you a position would you come to work for us?

• Have you ever had your driver's license revoked?

• What makes a good Captain?

• What makes a good First Officer?

• How do you view the role of the pilot as a liason between the public and an airline?

• What makes a good airline?

• How do you feel about unions?

• Is there anything else we should know?

• Do you have any questions for us?


Flying Questions:
• Have you ever violated FARs?

• Why don’t you have your ATP?

• Do you have any accidents, incidents, or violations?

• Describe the most stressful flying situation you’ve ever been in.

• Tells us (me) about a decision you had to make while flying that turned out well.

• Tells us (me) about a decision you had to make while flying that did not turn out well. What would you have done differently?

• Would you have a problem flying with a female captain? (This would obviously be directed towards men.)

• How do you feel about using checklists?

• What is meant by the term Critical Engine?

• What multi-engine airplane are you most familiar with?
a. How much fuel does it hold?
b. What is Vle?
c. What is Vfe?
d. What is the horsepower of each engine?
e. Describe the manual gear extension procedure.
f. Can you transfer fuel in this airplane?

• Describe briefly how a turbine engine works.

• What is meant by the term "Free-Turbine?"

• How does a free-turbine work?

• Where is the highest temperature found in a turbine engine?

• Where is the highest pressure found in a turbine engine?

• What is a compressor stall.


135/121 Questions:
• When is an alternate required under FAR Part 135/121?

• When is a takeoff alternate required under FAR Part 135/121?

• Given this weather information (they will show you some METAR and TAF reports) can you launch for your destination?

• Given this weather information, can you execute the approach at your destination? (They will show you a METAR report and an approach plate.)

• You have begun the final approach segment of an approach. Given this weather information, can you execute the approach at your destination? (They will show you a METAR report and an approach plate.)


Judgment Questions:
• At 22:15, on the last leg of an eight leg day, you are set to return to the company’s maintenance base. You notice during your walkaround that the white navigation light is inoperative. What are your actions as the First Officer? As the Captain?

• At 22:15, on the last leg of an eight leg day, you are just arriving at the front of the takeoff line after a 25 minute taxi when the aircraft next to you advises you over the radio that you have a navigation light out. What are your actions as the First Officer? As the Captain?

• At 22:25 on the first day of a three day trip you notice that the captain you are flying with is in the bar drinking. You are scheduled to depart at 06:15 the next day. What would you do?

• On the first leg of a three day trip you climb into the cockpit and begin to notice that your partner smells of liquor. What are your actions as the First Officer? As the Captain?

• During a 30 minute turnaround you are in the cockpit and the flight attendant is in the rear of the aircraft at the galley station. You hear commotion coming from the back of the airplane and when you look you notice that your partner is in back with the flight attendant and she appears to be protesting. What would you do?

• As you greet passengers at the aircraft door one of them appears to be slightly intoxicated. What are your actions as the First Officer? As the Captain?

• As you greet passengers at the aircraft door one of them says, “Hey, I know you! You were just in the bar! I saw you there.” What are your actions as the First Officer? As the Captain?

• Shortly after a 600 RVR takeoff your flight attendant comes to the cockpit to tell you about a passenger who seems to be having heart trouble. What are your actions as the First Officer? As the Captain?

• You are the First Officer in the previous situation. The Captain has elected to declare an emergency and attempt to return to the departure airport. While on the approach you reach the ILS minimums and see nothing so you call, “Minimums, no runway.” The Captain continues the approach. What would you do?

• You arrive at your destination to find that it is below the 1800 RVR landing minimum. You have enough fuel to hold for ten minutes and then you must proceed to your alternate. What are your actions as the First Officer? As the Captain?

• Continuing with the previous situation. After holding for ten minutes you depart for your alternate. After five minutes ATC advises that the weather at your primary destination has come up to 18V20RVR. What would you do as the Captain? What would you do as the First Officer if the Captain wanted to turn back?

• Would you ever accept an approach clearance to a runway that was below minimums? Why or why not?


Your Questions to the Company

Relating to the Position:

• How many pilots does the airline have?

• When will a hiring decision be made?

• How long to an upgrade?

Relating to the Company:

• What are the growth plans of the company?

• What is the major challenge to the company in the short term? In the long term?

• What are the fleet diversification/standardization plans?

Employer's Expectations:

• What do you look for in an employee?




TIS

 

[Rook]

Didn't a couple of guys show up to Southwest in boxer shorts and T-Shirts and get the job? I guess that accounts for the other 1%


Tips:

Remember that they're not just looking to see that you know your stuff. They want to see if they'd like spending time in a cockpit with you. Be personable.

Carry yourself well - sit up straight!

Bring a mini bottle of scope incase your breathe goes south.

Be nice to everyone.

If you don't know something; don't guess. Give an honest answer; "I don't know."

Good luck!

Close,

Actually when the SWA interview team saw all the clones in their clone suits they offered them bermuda shorts to wear if it would make them more comfortable. From what I've heard those that rolled with it and put on the shorts were hired. Those that thought of it as a big joke may have been show the door.

Rook