Looking for advice

[bandit317]

I need advice regarding an upcoming interview at a major. I already have secured an interview, however still need to fill out their application. The application asks if I have ever been terminated, or received a letter of investigation or warning from the FAA. Here's my situation:

I received a warning letter a while back for something another crewmember did. Being the PIC, I got a warning letter from the FAA, and terminated from my company. I was hired back by my company after the investigation, and was expunged from any wrong-doings. My personnel file shows the gap in my employment as a voluntary furlough, no mention of the termination, and the FAA has expunged my letter. I paid a company to do a background check on me, and none of what happened shows up. What should I say on the application? Don't want to lie, but on the other hand, nothing shows up on my background check.
Thanks to all.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Be straightforward, don't omit it and chances are, it will come up as one of the first things as they go through your app and ask you questions about it. Tell them the truth, take responsibility for anything that you could have possibly done differently to avoid the outcome of the situation, state what you learned from the situation and give an example of how this has made you a better pilot now.
You've hit a home run and you are only 3 minutes into the interview.

 

[bobbysamd]

The chance of a lifetime . . . . .

. . . . where it is important that you follow the directions on the app, because an employment application is another form of written exam. The important thing is you were exonerated and, even better, rehired. Read the question carefully and answer only what is asked while not volunteering information. Bring any supporting documentation to your interview.

Good luck with your interview.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Read the question carefully and answer only what is asked while not volunteering information.

Any ommission of information will be regarded as an attempt at deception and will result in non-hire. Bandits' first paragraph clearly shows the question asks about this situation. Don't give them half the info. Turn this into a positive by being honest, not by being a sky-lawyer.

 

[oonieto]

yeah just let them know your situation that shows integrity

 

[grog_sit_reserv]

DO NOT OMIT ANYTHING, ADMIT EVERYTHING and you'll be fine. Good luck.

 

[bandit317]

Thanks for everyone's reply. Still nervous about disclosing it, since the situation only exists if I bring it up.

 

[bobbysamd]

Any ommission of information will be regarded as an attempt at deception and will result in non-hire. Bandits' first paragraph clearly shows the question asks about this situation. Don't give them half the info. Turn this into a positive by being honest, not by being a sky-lawyer.

Who said anything about omitting information?

He has to answer "yes" to being terminated and receiving a letter of warning. He needs to explain the situation, which turned out positive for him. He has nothing to hide, or omit. He needs to explain it fully - but not volunteer extraneous information. Without fail, he has to follow the directions on the app.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Thanks for everyone's reply. Still nervous about disclosing it, since the situation only exists if I bring it up.

Interviewer: Bandit, tell us about this voluntary furlough back in 19xx.
Bandit: (Scared deer in headlights look) "uh..."

If the "voluntary" furlough shows up in the PRIA check, you may just have to explain it. Now, since you've not answered all questions honestly, you are doomed. Also, you don't know that those who did your investigating used the same method as your prospective employer.

 

[LearLove]

As long as what your saying is true, the way I see it is that you were wrongfully terminated and after an investigation you were hired back. Should be no problem, if this is the case maybe have your CP or DO write a letter to back it up and have that at the interview.


Were you hired back with seniority and backpay?

 

[bandit317]

I was wrongfully terminated, apologized to by the CP, and hired back with back pay, seniority, and records cleared of any wrong doing.

 

[bobbysamd]

I was wrongfully terminated, apologized to by the CP, and hired back with back pay, seniority, and records cleared of any wrong doing.

While unfair at the beginning, your experience had a good end. Explain it fully on the app and bring supporting documents to the interview.

Your company did the right thing by apologizing. Not too many companies apologize to wronged employees.

 

[Flechas]

Being honest here is your best option, like Hugh said, this may score some points for you. The most important thing here is that you learned from it and it made you a better pilot.

What airline is it? Maybe someone here from the same airline can have better info from the inside.

 

[KC-10 Driver]

Absolutely, positively DO NOT LIE, CONCEAL OR TRY TO DECEIVE your prospective employer. Be straightforward, and even show that you learned something from the episode. Any company worth working for would not fail to hire you solely because of the situation as you describe it.

Don't blow this. This job is an opportunity of a lifetime. You will kick yourself until the day you die if you are less than straightforward, you get the job, they find out at some point in the future, and you get fired. In that case, you will NEVER get another chance at a major airline job.

Trust me, I know very well someone who was less than truthful on a major airline application, was hired, and then terminated months later when the employer discovered his onfuscation.

They will find out if you try to deceive them. Even if it is years later, they will have grounds to terminate you.

I hope I have left no room for doubt as to how I think you should handle this situation. Everyone here is giving you good advice. Honesty really is the best policy.

Good luck, and be positive.

 

[pilotyip]

Go see Cage consulting and get some top notch interview prep. This is the best advice I was ever given that I was stupid enought to ignore.

 

[bobbysamd]

Go see Cage consulting and get some top notch interview prep. This is the best advice I was ever given that I was stupid enought to ignore.

Yip has a point. Our member, Resume Writer, is a great lady with many years of experience in airlines, H.R. and interview coaching. Get in touch with her.

 

[LearLove]

......

 

[ivauir]

Thanks for everyone's reply. Still nervous about disclosing it, since the situation only exists if I bring it up.

Not exactly, they ask a direct question. You gotta answer it - you are NOT bringing it up. All the advice here is great, but let me add one thing, if it is SWA, consider calling the PD and telling them your situation: i.e. "I want to be truthful, but this probaly isn't the situation you are asking about. I know you want me to put "everyting" but am I hurting myself here by reporting something you're not really interested in? What advise can you give me?" They're gonna tell you what you've heard here, but it might make you feel better to here it from them. This skeleton is NOT going to stay in the closet, better you bring it up then them.

Please don't sweat this, meet it head on and make sure the interviewers get to know you (your best you, but the genuine you). Best of luk you are on the right track.

 

[FedEx1]

Yes, tell all! Besides, since you said they apologized, and that you did nothing wrong, why would you want to skim over it in the first place? But regardless of that, tell it all....

Get the professional consulting advice. Cheryl Cage would be GREAT here. You might want to type up a one page letter, explaining the details, to be added to your application. Also, get a few people from that company that will verify the story and vouch for you. Have their names, numbers, and addresses on the same paper.

Don't gloss over a thing, or blame others, and hone up to anything you did. The important thing is what you LEARNED from it. (Even if it wasn't your fault as you state, there are still things to be learned here, small mistakes you may have made in the process, etc.)

If this is for a FedEx interview, they will probably figure it out anyway, and not hire you if you don't tell all. And, if they DO hire you, and figure it out YEARS later, they will FIRE you. ALPA won't be able to save you. You sign a paper at the interview that is very clear about this. (It isn't so much the incident, it would be the deception that would hurt you.)

 

[bandit317]

Thanks for everyone's help and advice. I will do exactly that. KC-10 Driver said it best, I would end up fired later down the road. Even though it doesn't exist on paper, there are plently of people in the know, and word of mouth may bring it up at some point. As for the company apologizing - YEAH RIGHT! No, it was the new CP who apologized for the old CP actions, who was fired himself. I wanted a written apology from the company, but got a "sorry we did this to you", come back if you like. Anyway, the day I get with a major and out of the regional airline treatment will be a GREAT day for celebration. Thanks to all!
B

 

[sleepy]

If you answer yes to the question, don't they give you an opportunity to explain what happened? Most applications have a space for an explaination. You should answer truthfully, then have a good concise explaination. If you have all of the documentation, it should be easy to explain during the interview. You want to tell them about it up-front, not have them ask you about it later.

 

[bobbysamd]

Typed explanation

I second the recommendation that you type up a page regarding your incident, with names and contact info of people who can speak for you. In the "Reason for Leaving" box, just put down, "See attachment."

In a way, this is a positive experience. You were exonerated, and were offered your old job, with back pay and everything. In other words, the company was wrong and realized it (or else, it was afraid of a wrongful termination lawsuit ). For that reason, I would have no hesitation about explaining your episode fully in writing on the app via an attachment.

Be sure you put full identifying information about yourself on the attachment in case it becomes separated from the app form, and bring a copy of your complete application with you to the interview.

 

[pilotyip]

That’s a first Bobby, agrees with my advice. Did we check to see if this guy has a four-year degree from an accredited institution? Other wise this whole advice thing could be waste of time.

 

[bobbysamd]

That’s a first Bobby, agrees with my advice. Did we check to see if this guy has a four-year degree from an accredited institution? Other wise this whole advice thing could be waste of time.

Irrelevant and immaterial to this discussion, Yip. If you want to start up another degree debate, start it on a new thread.

 

[pilotyip]

I knew you would bite, thanks for keeping the faith Bobby.