Letters of Rec for SWA

[LoveGun]

HoHo, I got the call for a february interview at Southwest!! I nearly fell over when I checked my messages and there was a message from Diane wondering if I was still interested in a pilot position at SWA.

Here's my question; how many letters of recommendation are most applicants bringing to the interview? Three is the minimum, but I've heard most people bring eight to ten. I am planning on bringing a letter a from captain I've flown with while I was FO, an FO I've flown with while I was captain, my simulator partner for Dornier, CRJ and 737 training, my chief pilot, and also a couple of my pilot friends that I've known and flown with on and off since college. Is that overkill or not enough? I could easily get some more letters if I had to. My domicile is a fairly small base and I am friends with just about everyone here so i could get a pile of letters if i needed to. Everyone has been very helpfull.

Also, what about letters from nonpilots? I could pull in some letters from people outside aviation. Are those letters helpfull?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[328dude]

I'm not friends with you. LOL

Serioulsy Gun, the more LOR, the better from what I was told.

Good luck buddy, I'm counting on ya.

 

[HarleyGuy]

To a point. I've heard of guys with 30 letters, and that's asking the PD to filter them and figure out who to call. They can't call all of them, so now you've made their job harder. I've heard 7-10 is good, I took eight. Chase is the best person to ask though. Send him a PM.

 

[saabcaptain]

yes, some people take unreal numbers of LORs in, and yes there issomehidden truth that you should try to have more than the 3 theyaskfor.however i agree with what others say that if you bringhugenumbersthey are NOT going to read them all.

i recommend this, (and i have ZERO inside knowledge of the system, but it worked for me...)

1. get as many LORs from SWA pilots as you can. 1, 2 or 30. the more the better.

2. get a few GOOD (well written, really focuses on flying skillANDyourpersonality) LORs from pilots outside SWA but don't gooverboardthenumber.

3. they don't suggest this at all but if you want 1 or 2lettersfrommanagement at your aviation companies, ie. a VP of Ops,ChiefPilotetc. even if they haven't flown with you i don't think itwillhurt.

i would think bringing in more than 10 LORs won't do anythingforyouUNLESS the reason why they are over 10 is that it isSWApilotsrecommending you, in that case go over. in your situation.

your mileage may vary.

(edit: i have NO idea why the forum is running my words together, it is a bug somewhere in the forum these last few days.)

 

[LoveGun]

Thanks for the advice guys. I think I will bring 8 letters. I called a good mix of people: chief pilot, check airman, FOs, and pilot friends.

Wish me luck.

 

[p3hawk]

Love Gun, I interviewed yesterday,brought 4 lor's with me 2 of them were from the program manager and checkairman. also had a couple of buds within the company that gave a lor as well. P3hawk

 

[Turbojet]

4 worked for me.

Good luck
TJ

 

[Shake A Leg]

I just got the interview call too. A great day...been waiting all my life. I plan to bring 5 to 10 LOR's. And have a bunch of SWA LOR's flooding the DB.

First post...been lurking for a while...hope I don't screw it up!!

 

[ivauir]

I just brought the three best (not just content but source) I could come up with ... so far they keep sending me checks.

 

[boeingdriver213]

What does a guy do when he doesn't know anyone at SWA? I know inside LORs are ideal, but for us guys who are not aware of anyone we know working there, does that put us at a disadvantage?

 

[King Air Evac]

So what should a guy do that is single pilot?

I have several letters from guys I flew with more than three years ago (when I first applied, WITH the type BTW), but everything I have flown since then has been single pilot and none of my check rides have even been with the same person. Any recommendations?

When they call your "references" is this from your letters of recommendation, or is this another form you fill out with the interview packet. Just curious.

Still waiting for the call.

 

[ivauir]

So what should a guy do that is single pilot?

I have several letters from guys I flew with more than three years ago (when I first applied, WITH the type BTW),
Use one fo these guys for sure! But be sure to get it updates and that you have current contact inofrmation for this person.
but everything I have flown since then has been single pilot and none of my check rides have even been with the same person. Any recommendations?
I would just try to get one from this time frame. Use a supervisor, a co worker, a nurse who works in back.

And for the third letter I would dig deeper into your past: a previous supervisor or coworker.
When they call your "references" is this from your letters of recommendation, or is this another form you fill out with the interview packet.
Both

 

[milflyboy]

What is the best way to present your LORs? Should they still be in a closed envelope or what?

 

[HarleyGuy]

Just have them ready. You pull the LORs and other required items out and put them in a stack.

 

[milflyboy]

Just have them ready. You pull the LORs and other required items out and put them in a stack.

So I take it they don't have to be in a sealed envelope from the issuer

 

[walden]

No sealed envelope! You'll find the whole process up front and easy going. No fancy folders, no sheet protectors, no blah blah blah. Just give them what they ask for in a nice, organized stack of paper. Period, dot. If you think you want to work for them now, wait until the end of your interview day....that desire doubles due to the ambience of the day.

 

[ivauir]

So I take it they don't have to be in a sealed envelope from the issuer

Not a requirment - expect them to call them tho.

 

[milflyboy]

Not a requirment - expect them to call them tho.

Of Course !!

 

[Skyflyin]

Choose your LORs very carefully. I've read on another post that the biggest reason most guys get turned down is from people that gave them a LOR not backing them up. Good luck.

 

[milflyboy]

Choose your LORs very carefully. I've read on another post that the biggest reason most guys get turned down is from people that gave them a LOR not backing them up. Good luck.

You mean chose the persons giving LORs very carefully - Right? I don't think it would look good if it somehow got out that you had asked a person for a LOR and then decided not to bring it. Also, if I had taken the time to give a LOR to a buddy of mine I sure wouldn't appreciate if he decided not to use it.

I am personnaly going to stick to 3-4 LORs. I really don't think they are going to take the time to read more than that.