LUV ramp agent position

[Schwenner]

Has anyone on the board gone thru the process of getting a ramp agent position with Southwest? I'm looking for a position at BWI and see that they are having a couple Group Information/Screening Sessions later this month.

Any tips on what to expect? Also, what type of schedule would a new-hire have?

Thanks for the help!

 

[CFI'er]

I just finished a phone interview for a managerial position at SWA. It is straight forward and did not have any trick questions. I am expecting a personal interview next week. Go to SWA’s website and look at the positions available. They are listed under “Hot Jobs”, under the careers listing.

 

[EngineOut]

You sit in a semi circle. There are three SWA representatives. The PD person tells you about the company and two rampers do most of the interviewing.

Come armed with SWA trivia and a general idea of some answers to the standard HR questions. It really is one of the most fun interviews I've been to. As long as you're interested, fun, and not a dumba$$, you'll get invited to the second 1to1 interview. What is that like? We'll...let's just say I'm a dumba$$...

...for declining their offer in 2000.

What I'd give to have that back.

Good luck!

 

[Av8trxx]

You say this is just a "Group Information/Screening Session" and not an actual interview? It's been about 3 years since I was on the interview team (left to fly and came back after getting furloughed), but I can tell you all about it. Since SAN was not a 'hub' city with a People Dept, all of our candidates were called in for interviews- not screenings. Occasionally the PHX People Dept would hold Career Fairs to screen people at a local hotel, then invite good candidates for interviews later with station interviewers. Perhaps they will screen you and interview the same day if you have a good resume, as it's all run by the BWI People Dept.

Just remember to be friendly & outgoing. Dress nice too. I once had a guy show up in a Hawaiian shirt, shorts & flip flops. I know we are casual but get real! He was my LAST choice. Didn't get hired. Make the effrot to show you want it and have some professionalism. You can read about the company here: SWA History . This is also a good article about how we work:
www.business.utah.edu/~mgtwh/southwes.htm . If you have the time, you might also check out the book "Nuts".

As far as getting through the interview, you will have to anwser the standard HR type of questions like "Tell me about a time when you had a conflict with a co-worker.....about a time when you had to solve a problem as part of a team" ect. Just remember to anwser each one completely, like a story. The interviewer must take notes on all of your anwsers for legal reasons, so they are taught to ask until the get all parts of the anwser they need from you. Give them a "STAR" response. In other words, summarize and explain your response to the question in this format: the Situation or Task, the Action taken and the Result.

As far as schedules, junior people might get an AM or a PM shift (depends on the station), most likely with Wed/Th or Tues/Wed off. The Am shifts are generally 5-1:30, 6-2:30 or 7-3:00 and PMs are 1:30-10, 2-10:30, 2:30-11 and closing which may be a shift that goes well beyond midnight. You get full medical & dental, free flights for you & your family, plus one day every month off WITH pay (a "freeday")! You also get 2 round trip tickets to give to friends with every three months of perfect attendance.

If there is anything else I can help with, PM me.
Good Luck.