Latest SWA hiring rumor?

['LUVIN LIFE]

Found this post on another forum. Curious if current employees feel/heard the same. The beginning seems like what I've heard before, but the end through me for a loop. I've always heard civvie/military ratio is 50/50ish.

We have hired 250 pilots this year and are forecast to hire another 200 by year end.

2006 hiring is forecast to be 450 pilots total.

The most junior captains currently in class were hired 6 years and 2 months ago.

Here's some more miscellaneous stuff I recently heard from a pilot on the interview team:

Letters of recommendation from SWA pilots are not reviewed until you have passed the interview. Unfortunately these letters will not help you get an interview or help you pass it. However, once you pass the interview these letters carry a lot of weight. Obviously hiring is tight and they seem to be biased right now towards military pilots, especially fighter guys.

 

[SWA/FO]

nope....

 

[B6Busdriver]

[QUOTE='LUVIN LIFE]Found this post on another forum. Curious if current employees feel/heard the same. The beginning seems like what I've heard before, but the end through me for a loop. I've always heard civvie/military ratio is 50/50ish.

Obviously hiring is tight and they seem to be biased right now towards military pilots, especially fighter guys. [/QUOTE]

Flame alert!

 

[beytzim]

That's a lot of crock. I just started new hire class on Wednsday, here are the facts: Half the class is ex-military (but most of them have flown civilian since separation). The class mix couldn't be any more diverse, actually, we have flying experience of every kind imaginable.

One of my classmates, in fact the youngest guy in the class, didn't have a single SWA letter of recommendation!!

Hiring info per our instructor today: one class in july, one in aug, one in sept. Three classes in October. Also, SWA wants a pool of 100 pilots at all times. Here's another one for ya: expect 10 pilots per aricraft delivery and another 100 for retirement replacements (expecting 30 airplanes, so 400 total for 06).

Later.

 

['LUVIN LIFE]

B6,

I was worried that last part would come off as a jab. Once again, just something I found and was curious if it was legit info. Don't get your feathers in a ruffle!

 

[turn&pull]

My class in Nov 04 was 70/30 military/civilian. The class after ours was exactly the opposite. I really think they try to strike a balance.

 

[OffHot]

Beytzim, I doubt the youngest guy in your class had no SWA help, via letter or on line. And as a new hire I'm sure you got the scope seeing you believe his information is crap. The only thing that might be questioned is the fighter pilot desire. The rest looks correct.

 

[heywatchthis]

Letters of recommendation from SWA pilots are not reviewed until you have passed the interview. Unfortunately these letters will not help you get an interview or help you pass it. However, once you pass the interview these letters carry a lot of weight.

Ok, I don't get it. If you have already passed the interview, IE, you have a job offer, then how can the recommendation help.

So it doesn't help you get the interview and it doesn't help you pass the interview, so what weight does it have?

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

....I just started new hire class on Wednsday...

Hiring info per our instructor today: one class in july, one in aug, one in sept. Three classes in October. Also, SWA wants a pool of 100 pilots at all times. Here's another one for ya: expect 10 pilots per aricraft delivery and another 100 for retirement replacements (expecting 30 airplanes, so 400 total for 06).

Later.

Folks in training get the best info. I am not going thru training right now.

Aircraft orders/options from conference calls and SEC filings


Firm Options*
2005** 34 -
2006 33 1
2007 25 29
2008 6 45
2009-2012 - 177
Total 98 252

10 pilots per airplane is conservative. It is usually between 10-11.

SWA pilots union shows retirements > 140/year in 6 of the next 7 years. The low year is >100.

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

Ok, I don't get it. If you have already passed the interview, IE, you have a job offer, then how can the recommendation help.

So it doesn't help you get the interview and it doesn't help you pass the interview, so what weight does it have?

Here is what we mean. SWA pilots are not allowed to complete the on-line letter of recommendation until after an interview is scheduled. The interview results are passed to the hiring board, or whatever it is called. The hiring board considers the LOI, personal interview, recommendations, qualifications and who knows what else as they determine who should get the go ahead. The results of the board, with various cleanup items like background checks and drug testing, determine whether or not you are asked to attend a new hire class.

I don't know how they are weighted at the board.

 

[YellowLab]

Offhot,

I'm the youngest guy in the class and beytzim's info is spot on right out of the DO's mouth. I didn't know a soul at SWA and several others in the class didn't as well. Beytzim gave you the strait scoop but I'm sorry if you don't choose to believe him. There are very few military guys in our class who have been in the civilian world for awhile.

Class Stats

Average age 36, Youngest 29, Oldest 44.

 

[SWA/FO]

OK...
study those flows....youngest guy in the class. How young is the youngest guy in "the class"?

 

[jetsetr]

anyone know when the DB is suppose to meet for the June interviews???
heard RSW might be a new city.

 

[canyonblue737]

Beytzim, I doubt the youngest guy in your class had no SWA help, via letter or on line. And as a new hire I'm sure you got the scope seeing you believe his information is crap. The only thing that might be questioned is the fighter pilot desire. The rest looks correct.

I was the youngest in my class and I can guarentee I got the interview with NO aid... just a type, 2500+ pic turbine, being a check airman, and some luck. once i interviewed i did have several letters inside recommending me to the board.

SWA interviews based on some secret formula that does involve inside anything. they really do everything they can to strike a balance and only after all is said in done at the interview do they let inside comments come in to play, and they do.

my GUESS? no internal LORs means you have to hit a home run in the interview with everyone to get hired. great internal LORs means you have to do a good job in the interview although perhaps one of the many who interview you might have negative comments overlooked, if the majority side with you. negative LORs on the inside likely mean you have little chance even if you do well in the interview. again my GUESS.

 

[canyonblue]

OK...
study those flows....youngest guy in the class. How young is the youngest guy in "the class"?

Still junior to you, you young ba$tard!

 

[SWA/FO]

Will the real canyon blue please stand up!

Junior to my young a$$... and I was not even the youngest in my class!

Any guys out there that were the 4th youngest in the class? That was me dude..... awesome seniority, right off the bat I was senior to 3 guys!!! Now that is awesome.