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Nov-Dec Interview Plans at SWA

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chase

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 27, 2001
Posts
1,217
Take this for what its worth (very little), probably will be confirmed next week when the first of 2 weeks of Oct interviews will be occurring but I've heard interveiws maybe curtailed for the following two months, Nov & Dec. I know that will be disappointing to those awaiting a call...however, lets recap what has gone on so far and what is in store for '05 for SWA & you.

-- Began interviewing in Feb '04 again...8 months of interviews for the year (not bad in this climate)

-- Estimate of around 1000 folks who had a chance to sell themselves to SWA (all you want is a chance and those folks were some of the lucky ones so far) at the interview

-- Implemented a new addition to the interview process, Line Oriented Interview (LOI) seamlessly into the process thereby allowing 2 more folks to view the applicant and rate them....highly successful & fair process (my opinion)...good for SWA and the applicants...attaboys to the folks in Flight Ops who added this little twist & thanks to the Fed Ex folks for their assistance

-- A little under 50% were selected--my estimate, based on many sources but even if it is closer to 40% than 50% these are historically high numbers...you should be encouraged!

-- Reapplication was changed from 2 yrs from interview date to 1 yr for those who didn't make it the first time through...great news for those 2nd, 3rd & 4th timers who wish to try again...this truly recognizes the fact many "great folks" slip through the process and aren't selected....SWA recognizes this fact & thus allows multiple attempts to those who really desire to try again

-- A pool of over 200 pilots (forever known as the "poolies".....some are still pretty wrinkled I hear...they're my hero for staying around for so long with nothing but promises...thankfully kept by Herb & the PD...good on ya folks!) many of whom who had been waiting for over 2 yrs:D from their original interview date were brought on to the property earlier this year

-- SWA learned a valuable lesson from the above experience...don't keep too many folks in the pool if you're not going to able to train them...why continue to interview if you have all the slots filled for the foreseeable future (probably through early 1Q05...this prevents false hope and allows folks to live their lives without being on the hook

-- At the end of the day approximately 400 new hires will come on the property by the end of '04...approximately 170 of these were from the 'poolie' group so only 230ish of the other new hires came from folks who interviewed this year, some with as little time from app to interview to being on the property as 5 months!!!

-- New hire class starts today (4 Oct), 2 in Nov & 1 in Dec...that will drain the pool a little bit and help those who interview early next year to get to training that much sooner which is always good I believe

-- A net of 29 airplanes next year with hiring projections ranging anything from 400 to 600 new hires...if we find more airplanes "katty bar the door", interviewing will definitely go up and more new hires

-- Based upon needing those many new hires (or more)expect at least 1200+ or more folks to be interviewed next year, probably much more if more planes opportunities come along

-- Training has moved a lot of folks PC up by several months in order to make room for the bow wave of training that will require sims...that is always a good sign & should bode well that if something changes quickly & we need more folks, we can get them the training we need....it doesn't take long to get invites to interviews does it?

-- The PD folks, interview team & everyone out there can now sit back and focus on other things for the holidays...like your family. The folks here have been working very hard to get the best folks they can...it takes a lot of time and money. Having an enjoyable holiday season will allow them to do what any of us would like to do....do a little work, enjoy family and experience the holidays without having a lot of "stuff" looming over you. Put down the interview prep in enough time to do exactly that & you will look back upon this 2 month break as a breather from the stress of applying for a new job. Don't stop completely but at least take a 2nd look around and enjoy the things that are important. Oh BTW, all of these folks do much more than just pilot interview "stuff" so they aren't exactly sitting around with their feet up doing nothing...this will give them time to do those things and adequately prepare for upcoming year which will be 120 MPH for sure!

-- If we're going great guns next year the holidays maybe tough to enjoy for the SWA team so taking a short break over this period of time maybe their only break for the upcoming year

Yes the bottom line to those hoping for a call in Nov or Dec is that it may not be coming (remember, it could & may very well change tomorrow & if so someone will post it here....that will be good news indeed) but to the 'poolies' from earlier this year, they realize what the 2+ year is like and comparing that to 2 months was a short hold of the breath for a shallow dip for them. Hang in there, fill in the gap in your prep a little but as I said, enjoy the hiatus from the grind of prep and applying, at least for Southwest. Pursue other options for sure to keep family covered but please come back and see your friends at Southwest again, they do want to hear from you....and most of all remember this....there are many of you right now who even as you are reading this post will be SWA employees this time next year or sooner:) , that is pretty exciting to me and should be hopeful to you...to many it will occur much sooner than that so be ready at any time for the call....as I spoke to one of the new hires last night, he got the call this past Friday, 4 PM & was asked "could you make the new hire class that starts on Monday?"....he dropped the phone and had his bag packed & was on the way to Dallas before it hit the floor...he had to turnaround and pick his wife up:rolleyes: ....he's loving life right now (maybe slightly info deficient about what is to happen at new hire training but is definitely glad to be hear!). Also a big shout out to all the spouses who put up with this lifestyle and hassle...you are the heros who put up with idiots like us chasing a dream....Cheers & God Bless,
 
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Chase,

As usual, great information! Thanks much. Question, in your opinion is 47 to old to apply? Only leave 13 to have fun with!!
 
ATR,

Not at all...we have folks who are that age or older who are routinely in new hire classes. Older guys/gals make sense to hire for alot of reasons:

1. Age=experience (usually), I'll assume it does in your case

2. Allows us to hire younger folks knowing we'll never have a bubble of retirements at any one time...avg age for new hire classes hovers in the upper 30's....to get it there you have to have some old farts like us in there!!!

3. Oldest new hire I've heard of is 53 so you're well outside of that window

4. With the likelihood of Age 60 going away next year you should be able to add another 5 yrs to that flying career, yea!! you're suddenly 42 again!

5. If nothing changes you probably won't ever top out on the pay scale...good for SWA (if Age 60 doesn't go away)...

6. Bottom line, we don't judge folks on their age (age discrimination laws), the folks at the interview will judge you on how you come across during those 3 sessions & the LOI...age won't be a factor unless you make it one

Good luck :D
 
and the wait continues.....
 
Chase,


Any speculation on how this may effect those who will meet the Oct Decision Board? Doesn't sound like it will, but I'm new to this business.

Thanks.
 
Beanfighter,

Just got the email from HR this week. There won't be any interviews in November. December is still to be determined, but my guess is we won't interview until January. With the new year we'll likely go non-stop through late fall at the least.

Sorry for the less than good news, but in reality, it won't change the timing for new candidates in '05 (I know the waiting is a serious pain in the backside!)

Cheers,
Cheese
 
Fliptheduck

Cheesemo has the most current info....I haven't heard anything that would dispute it....the number of folks in the pool adds up to a couple of months worth of folks to start '05....I would believe the desire is to keep the time from interview to getting on the property to what has been a historical number of around 4-5 months (when they are consistently interviewing & hiring)...continuiing the interviewing now would only add to the pool thus delaying the time for folks to get on property....that experience before wasn't good for anyone, applicants or SWA.

As cheesemo said, not necessarily good news but the time to get on the property if hired won't be sped up any by interviewing in Nov/Dec....but who knows what the future will bring....Kelly has said SWA will respond to any sudden changes & that could mean anything so don't count anything over until the fat lady sings!! cheers
 
Chase,

Weren't the projected numbers for this year originally around 400?

Typically this time of year, the departments are preparing their budgets in most all companies for hiring in the coming year. I wonder if this might well be the reasoning, in addition to the PD taking a breather. The budgets being completed are necessary before hiring numbers can be calculated.

My advice? Polish your shoes and start preparing for your interviews now. I would be very surprised if they did not do some interviewing in December. As you all have seen, the typical time to do an interview, call references and complete background checks is two months. By that time, many of the people that have been projected for Jan-Feb 2005 classes will have started. It makes sense that they would do at least some interviewing in December.

From my perspective, although SWA had people waiting in the pool for a long time, at least they are smart enough to HAVE a pool. I have consistently watched some airlines be behind the eight ball because they do not plan in advance. At least with people in the pool, then you have an available resource to draw upon.

Good luck to everyone and keep the faith! :)

Kathy
 

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