Lining up my SWA ducks

[Torpid]

Hope to get an interview sometime in the near future but I have a couple questions for those who have recently interviewed (or even those already working at SWA):

1. Do I need to have a copy of my college transcript? Do I need a copy of my high school transcript? Will they ask ME for these documents?

2. Should I get my letters of rec updated now and put on paper so I can give it them in the interview or is done on the computer at some point after I interview?


Any other helpful tips on things you wish you would have taken care of before interviewing would be appreciated.

 

[2LT]

Some comments from Chase a while back...

I remembered Chase mentioning this a little while ago. I did a search for,"Southwest before interviewing," w/ "Chase" in the 'member's screen name' box and came up w/ this for you...



"Phone calls for interviews come usually only 2-3 weeks in advance of the actual interview dates. A sure tip though because I've heard of lot from folks who were scrambling at the last minute so do the following in advance so you can relax prior to the interview:
1. HS diploma (GED or transcripts if you don't have them)
2. College diploma if applicable (or transcripts)
3. Current phone numbers for all contacts
4. 3 LORs that are current

My apologies for repeating myself from several months back but these are still things that are stressing folks out, plan ahead..."



I'm not an SWA guru like some, but possibly this helps?

Take it easy...

 

[Torpid]

Thanks for the reply. To be a little more specific on the transcripts, do I need to have both HS AND college transcripts?

 

[Falconjet]

Short answer

Yes, you need both. Hard to believe, but they will require you to send in a copy of your HS diploma even if you have a college diploma. Took me several months to get mine from my HS in Hawaii from 1978, but I finally got it and sent it in with all the other paperwork. You will need both. Might want to start tracking them down now.

FJ

 

[Yahtzee]

Thanks for the reply. To be a little more specific on the transcripts, do I need to have both HS AND college transcripts?

You need to have either:

a copy of your transcripts or a copy of your diploma for both High School (or GED) and all colleges you've attended.

You can provide copies of transcripts, copies of diplomas or a combination.

I gave copies of the diplomas for high school and college and
transcripts for graduate work (as I never finished my master's).

Yahtz

 

[Torpid]

Yahtzee, thanks again for the info. I promise to make this my last question on this topic, but I'm a little cofussed about something. I have no idea where my hs diploma is. It would seem logical that if you have college transcripts, you must have went to and graduated high school. So my question is this...is it enough for me to ONLY have my college transcripts? Thanks for any and all replies.

 

[Yahtzee]

So my question is this...is it enough for me to ONLY have my college transcripts? Thanks for any and all replies.

Torpid,

I can't speak for SWA and won't try to do so. I would simply recommend you contact your high school and request a dupilcate copy of your diploma or copy of your transcripts.

If your high school can't provide a copy of the diploma or transcripts, see if they will provide an official letter stating they were unable to do so, and have them record your name and date of graduation on their official letterhead.

I'm sure you're not the first person to have trouble finding their high school diploma, nor will you be the last.

Yahtz

 

[1-tacan-rule]

Dude,

WTF about get your HS and college sh!t don't you get? If you want the job, or any other job for that matter...you'll go out now, early, and get EVERYTHING. All it takes is a couple of letters to a couple of schools.

Not meaning to be a tool here, but it just ain't as hard as your making it out to be......

1TR

 

[chase]

Torpid

I would recommend you obtain your HS diploma or transcript along with your college diploma or transcript. If you have a college transcript & can't locate your HS diploma the suggestions made above about tracking them down are valid. You need to make the "extra effort" to locate them both.

While I don't know for 100% sure that no HS diploma by someone who has a college degree would disqualify you from applying & showing up at the interview without it, the PD will obviously ask you what you have done to track it down. Are there extenuating circumstances that might keep the document from being reproduced those circumstances would have to be unique. I would expect the PD to ask you quite a few questions on what you have done to acquire, what the circumstances are behind the story, etc. are going to be asked. Merely saying it is too difficult or you haven't thought of this or that might not be the way to start your dealings with the company.

Don't take the easy way out & simply assume you'll be able to show up without it....good luck.

 

[crjdude]

Most of the LOR's that I have are 3-4 years old.
Do I need to get these updated or can I still use the old ones combined with some newer ones from different folks?

Thanks.

crjdude

 

[StarrBuck]

As I understand the process, by providing your transcripts there is some indication on it that you graduated from college.. If Southwest is concerned about this all they have to do is call the schools registrar and confirm it..

When I interviewed with SWA in Aug of 2001, I brought copies of my Highschool tscpts, College tscpts, and updated LOR's. I also had copies of my driver record from every state that I've lived in for the last ten years, and supplied them also.. I figured that a few minutes spent on the internet researching this stuff was well worth it!! Hey, I was spending 10 hours a day on flight info anyway!!

Good luck all...

SB

 

[Falconjet]

It can't be simpler

Torpid:

You WILL need a copy of your HS transcripts even if you have 3 college degrees! They are very clear about that. I lost most of my personal papers when my apartment was destroyed in a hurricane. I lost just about every piece of paper you could imagine that you might want to have saved in your life. I was 20 years removed from HS and had a certified copy of my college transcripts. The HS in Hawaii said my records were unavailable because they were at a contractor being converted to microfiche. I explained all of this to the People Department. They replied that I needed a copy of the HS transcripts anyway. I was eventually able to get the HS to send me a copy of the microfiche transcript just in time for my interview. Phew. I don't think I would have felt too comfortable going in there without a required document, even though it seems like an minor requirement in lieu of the fact that you have a college degree. Thankfully the interview went fine, and all was well.

You need the HS transcript. It can't be any simpler than that. Good luck.

FJ

 

[chase]

CRJDude

My recommendation on your LORs would be to update them. With the competition so stiff an LOR with a date outside of 6 months to 1 yr in my humble opinion is the oldest I would have.

Lots of things can change about you & the writer between that amount of time. Having a more current letter also shows you have some degree of contact with this individual other than merely 3 yrs ago when you obviously contacted them to ask "pls write an LOR for me". It shows attention to detail which when the competition is so keen, the little things MAY make the difference.

If they were good enough friends/peers to write you letters 3 yrs ago, they should have no hesitantcy in writing you another one much closer to your interview date. I wish you well, good luck,

 

['72Gremlin]

As you try and get updated LORs you should, as a minimum, have current contact information for the individuals who wrote you the LOR.

 

[LiveFreeorDie]

3 LOR's is the MINIMUM

Get as many as you can. From anyone who can attest to your abilities, but especially from people at Southwest and people who have know you for a long time.