One year after SWA interview... What to do?

[SKYW Pilot]

Is there anything special I need to do after my one year is up? Got turned down last February. I've been keeping my application updated online. Should I be making phone calls or just shutup and be patient? Thanks in advance!

 

[kelbill]

If I were you I would do as you are doing and ask around on the forum here, AND:

Call the People Department and in a very cordial and amiable way tell them your situation and ask if there is anything special you need to do, being that you are 1 year past your last interview/DB. Let them know how excited you are to be given another chance, and that you just don't want to miss crossing the appropriate t's and dotting the right i's for round two. I always ask if they are not too busy to answer a question. If they sound flustered (lets face it, they might be all a$$es and elbows with thousands of apps on file), try later in the week. You'd rather get good info than a short answer to get you off the line. I'm sure they are helpful regardless though.

This but assumes there wasn't more specifics given out on the application site regarding turn downs. If so, make sure you read those and do as they say first. Good luck. I've flown with more than a couple 2nd times a charm folks here.

 

[AlbieF15]

SWA is a great company--but look at Continental and Jetblue too. Don't close any doors as you chase your dreams. SWA has taken a lot of guys who took several tries--I know Chase can probably share more insights there.

Good luck!

 

[kc81900]

I agree to call the PD. If you don't feel comfortable calling them and fear that you are being intrusive. What I often will do is call them in off hours to get their voice mail. That way you give them the opportunity to call you back when they have time in their schedule it gives you the comfort level to not feel rushed.
Everytime I have left a voice mail the PD has called me back within one week. Good Luck

 

[SWA/FO]

Air Tran, Fed Ex & UPS too...

 

[crxpilot]

I'm sorry kc81900, were you saying something?? {too busy mesmerized by your avatar! ;-) }

I agree to call the PD. If you don't feel comfortable calling them and fear that you are being intrusive. What I often will do is call them in off hours to get their voice mail. That way you give them the opportunity to call you back when they have time in their schedule it gives you the comfort level to not feel rushed.
Everytime I have left a voice mail the PD has called me back within one week. Good Luck

 

[Alcatraz]

Good luck SKYW Pilot!

There is a very high percentage of people who work here after interviewing more than once (I think there were a few in my new hire class a few months ago), so there is hope!

 

[Resume Writer]

I agree about calling the PD to inquire about anything you should do, in addition to reiterating your interest / enthusiasm in flying for them.

However, as other people have said, do not put all your eggs in one basket. There are other airlines that are hiring, so take a shot at them. Use all of your contacts at other airlines to improve your chances of getting in the door.

Further, before attending the next interview you receive, really go over in your mind what you think you may have done to not receive the offer the first time. Can you remember a situation where your answer received a negative response (i.e., negative body language)? Did you keep your answers short and straight to the point? Did you participate in conversations at lunch without getting into "taboo conversations?" Were you kind to everyone you met (including other passengers) - from the time you stepped into the airport at your departure city until you stepped off the plane at your final destination?

One last thing..when people are using friends as references (at any airline) find out what their reputation is at that particular airline. Having 10 references who are not "quality" could actually work against you. The internal letters of rec should be just as formal as an external one. I would rather see a person with fewer letters of rec from quality people then just trying to "stack the deck" in your favor with multiple letter of rec.

Just my thoughts....

 

[PacoPollo]

SWA is a great company--but look at Continental and Jetblue too.
Good luck!

Yeah but he already spended 8-10 grand in a type.

 

[enigma]

Good luck SKYW Pilot!

There is a very high percentage of people who work here after interviewing more than once (I think there were a few in my new hire class a few months ago), so there is hope!

How would you define "high percentage".

Let's get real here people, yes SWA has hired people on the second/subsequent attemp. This is factual, but basically worthless.

When an airline interviews twenty to hire one, there are bound to be a lot of pilots walking around who didn't make it in. And, when that airline allows second chances, they are bound to end up hiring a few that didn't make it the first time.

For every pilot who succeeds on their third time, I'm sure that you can find five who interviewed three times and were turned down each time. Don't get your hopes up.

At the current time, I would say that SWA has a finely honed personality detector in place in their interview process. If one doesn't pass the first time, it is highly unlikely that one will pass on subsequent attempts.

Your life will be better if you concentrate on carriers that hire pilots with your traits. Research it and go for the job that you have the best chance of obtaining.

Nothing says that their personality detector judges your personal worth. It judges whether you will fit into their culture. You could be Mother Teresa's long lost brother and still not fit into SWA's culture. It isn't good or bad, it is what it is.

Good Luck,

PS, on a personal note, I've spent the better part of ten years reapplying. At the present, I don't know if I'll ever get hired by SWA. What I do know is this. I've devoted a lot of time to my SWA pursuit, at times I look back and realize that I might should have spent that time enjoying what I have instead of fretting about getting hired somewhere else.

PPS, Last, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, attend a Emerald Coast prep session early and often. Job seekers of this era are a lucky bunch to have Albie's services available.

 

[kelbill]

I like what Resumewriter said almost verbatim. As for Enigma, a few points are well taken and a few others off the mark.

1. Of course you should be thinking about other jobs out there and not put your eggs into one basket, especially if you have been turned down once before. Maybe your current job is second on your list behind SWA and so you don't need to apply elsewhere. That seems reasonable to me to keep at trying to get here.
2. Don't try to make heads or tails out of the interview results being a spot on assessment of your personality. I fly with a bunch of blow hards, party animals, boring stiffs, the full gamut. So all types make it through. Then again, maybe they interviewed better than you if you were nervous or a little stoic or dull. Remember, the guys/gals doing the interviews are volunteers, so in general are motivated and happy folks here. They want to fly with people they can like in a short time.
3. The fact that you are asking about what to do for a follow up chance to interview tells me you are the type who fits in at SWA, so keep your chin up.
4. Though I admitted to flying with 2nd interview hires, the odds in the grand scheme of things will be stacked against you. But on the other hand, if you have more hours now and stand up better in the paper rankings, I personally would rank you higher on the list for giving it another go.
5. Don't burn any bridges, but apply where you want to work, because life's more enjoyable if you are where you want to be.

I don't tout specific interview prep, but if you or your friends/family think you might not have knocked them dead at the interview, it can't hurt to get someone to analyze your quirks and mannerisms. The interviewers only have a few minutes to get to know and like you, so make the most of it.

Good luck again.

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

While some of Enigma's comments at first seem slightly irritating to me, as a SWA employee, they make a lot of sense. I respect the opinion. It is a good dose of reality. But there is another side to reality too.

If you have been turned down you are going to feel hurt. You are justified in your feelings. But life is too short to feel that way for long.

If you choose to come back for interview you have to "get up for it" and put the past aside. Look toward the future and deemphasize what "coulda been". The people department will probably not be able to help you but they don't mind the phone calls. I recommend one or two different interview preps. A third party will give you honest info.

Not everyone wants to or gets to work for SWA. If you are fundamentally happy with your current situation it will come out during interview and you will be more successful. You will be more relaxed if you feel you could get turned down again and continue on. No one, I mean NO ONE, does as well as they know they can during the interview. We all make errors, say the wrong things, and wish we could have said it better. If you are relaxed and showing them who you are, that is all you can hope for.

 

[enigma]

As for Enigma, a few points are well taken and a few others off the mark.

please elaborate, which points were off the mark?

 

[enigma]

While some of Enigma's comments at first seem slightly irritating to me, as a SWA employee, they make a lot of sense. I respect the opinion. It is a good dose of reality. But there is another side to reality too.

I completely agree with everything you wrote, so please tell me what position you hold that shows the other side to reality. Remember, this string is in answer to a pilot wondering how to pursue his second chance. I responded to that inquiry. My post was not a critique of SWA, only what I hope can help another pilot avoid putting all of his/her eggs in one basket. The old conventional wisdom (about a repeat interviewees chances the second time around) lends wannabees a somewhat unrealistic expectation of their ultimate success.

regards

 

[MINIME]

SKYW pilot,

Good luck with what you decide. I think everyone here has valid points. There's alot to be said for interest and eagerness. All in all, I think that's what LUV is all about. How much do you really wanna work for them is a big part of the pie. Hell I think I'll call them and I haven't even got my first shot YET....

 

[737 CAPTAIN]

Dont Give Up Dude.. It Took Me A Couple Of Times To Get Hired.. Plus I Know Of A Few Guys That Interviewed 3-4 Times Before They Were Hired..

 

[kelbill]

Enigma,

I feel the following don't jive 100% with my thinking:

"At the current time, I would say that SWA has a finely honed personality detector in place in their interview process. If one doesn't pass the first time, it is highly unlikely that one will pass on subsequent attempts."

Sure they have a system down, but leaving my own sorry butt out of the equation, I have flown with a lot of guys with all sorts of personalities, many not exactly easy to like or get along with. I've flown with a few hundred guys, and trust me, they all don't remotely have the same personality. I also know a few great guys who didn't make it through the interview who would have been awesome fits here. Sometimes it is the luck of the draw of who comprises your interview team.

"Your life will be better if you concentrate on carriers that hire pilots with your traits."

According to this theory, you should only apply to a couple differnet airlines/cargo carriers. Like the personality thing at the SWA interview, some times the interviews go well, other times not so well. Guys used to get hired by 2 or 3 airlines all the time, and had to decide which one to go with. I don't think traits are quite so airline specific. Sure there is a little bit of a correlation, and hopefully at lot at SWA, but most traits are developed and ingrained after you've been working at one particular company for a while IMO.

Not slamming you, just disagreeing. Now that 737 Captain has chimed in, we have first hand interview retread experience. Nobody is trying to raise hopes unrealistically, but the question was specifically about his second shot at SWA, not about putting his eggs into one basket.

 

[climbhappy]

I'm beginning to think this boils down to an endurance test. for the turndowns, I guess they want to see how bad you want it. Nothing good evers comes easy, I reckon.

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

I completely agree with everything you wrote, so please tell me what position you hold that shows the other side to reality. Remember, this string is in answer to a pilot wondering how to pursue his second chance. I responded to that inquiry. My post was not a critique of SWA, only what I hope can help another pilot avoid putting all of his/her eggs in one basket. The old conventional wisdom (about a repeat interviewees chances the second time around) lends wannabees a somewhat unrealistic expectation of their ultimate success.

regards

Let's get real here people, yes SWA has hired people on the second/subsequent attemp. This is factual, but basically worthless.

When an airline interviews twenty to hire one, there are bound to be a lot of pilots walking around who didn't make it in. And, when that airline allows second chances, they are bound to end up hiring a few that didn't make it the first time.

For every pilot who succeeds on their third time, I'm sure that you can find five who interviewed three times and were turned down each time. Don't get your hopes up.

At the current time, I would say that SWA has a finely honed personality detector in place in their interview process. If one doesn't pass the first time, it is highly unlikely that one will pass on subsequent attempts.

Your life will be better if you concentrate on carriers that hire pilots with your traits.

Nothing says that their personality detector judges your personal worth. It judges whether you will fit into their culture. You could be Mother Teresa's long lost brother and still not fit into SWA's culture. It isn't good or bad, it is what it is.

Good Luck,

PS, on a personal note, I've spent the better part of ten years reapplying. At the present, I don't know if I'll ever get hired by SWA. What I do know is this. I've devoted a lot of time to my SWA pursuit, at times I look back and realize that I might should have spent that time enjoying what I have instead of fretting about getting hired somewhere else.

First, I did say you had valid points and that I respect your feelings on the subject. But your statistics are made up and some are just plain wrong.

I don't think an interview is "worthless" because some are not hired on the second or third attmept. You say 1 in 5 are hired. Again, not right. It just seems like it is one in 5. You may do well in the interviews and not make it thru the board. So it may not be a personality detector issue at all.

Just 'cause you aren't hired the first time doesn't mean your personality does not fit SWA.

Just because you reapply doesn't mean you aren't enjoying life. Maybe you didn't choose to but some do enjoy other pursuits even while job searching.

I personally think it has to do with your competition that month. Where you rack and stack. Interview in May get hired, interview in June get the bad letter.

 

[chase]

Is there anything special I need to do after my one year is up? Got turned down last February. I've been keeping my application updated online. Should I be making phone calls or just shutup and be patient? Thanks in advance!

Skyw,

You've gotten some great advice from a broad range of folks...folks who didn't make it, folks who didn't make it & got hired later, other folks who help those who try to get hired at Southwest. Thanks first of all for giving SWA a 2nd chance at you. Obviously in your current role as a Check Airman your current company has put a lot of faith in you....that says alot.

Contacting the PD is sound advice....doesn't necessarily equate to a call for another interview by any means but all the folks there will be glad to answer any questions you have. Good luck with that.

The other advice about having lots of irons in the fire is good also if:
1. You're ready to move to some other lateral or higher position because you feel your current position doesn't meet your professional goals and you believe it will enhance your chances of getting hired at the "next" level.
2. If the "next level" is a peer of SWA, don't hesitate to apply....who knows what will happen with SWA but having a solid job with a company you respect & enjoy that offers you professional satisfaction is certainly worthwhile to entertain....put the line & the water & start fishing dude!!!
3. Do the review like Kathy said & talk to your buds who are at SWA..find out what has changed over the last year, trends, intel on growth, financials but take a good look, as previously mentioned at your past performance in the interview. If that requires the help of a professional in terms of prep...I'd recommend it but talking to your SWA buds in a brutely honest way may also accomplish the same trick.

There aren't any foolproof methods out there or else everyone would be flocking to them....be yourself, have fun, show a lot of enthusiasm & understand clearly before you step on the property of any carrier, not just Southwest, why you want to work at that particular carrier & why you're a good match for that carrier....I'm still trying to figure that one out!!!! good luck & thanks again for your interest in SWA.

 

[turn&pull]

I was hired at SWA on my second try. During both interviews I felt that the interviewers were trying to put me at ease and give me a chance to show them who I was. I will say that on the 2nd interview I was more confident; not that I would get the job, but in my abilities and qualifications. At the first interview I think I felt a little intimidated.

I interviewed the first time Feb of 01 and my 2nd interview was April of 04. A long time to wait? Yes. Do I have any regrets? No. Would I have gone to work for another carrier? You bet. At the time I got my 2nd interview I was working real hard with my contacts at UPS and hoping for an interview there. I definitely would have gone to UPS, however I don't believe I would have liked it as much, but of course I don't know for sure.

If you want to work for SWA do everything necessary to put yourself in a good position to get hired...get a type, etc. But by all means, if you think you could be happy at another carrier, work on them too.

Best of Luck,
T&P

 

[AlbieF15]

Do the math, bros....1 out of 3 or 1 out of 4 is what the numbers are off the street. Good? Bad? Right? Wrong? Whatever I (or we) pontificate on the boards won't change a thing.

SWA has a very unique and special culture, and works hard to make sure whoever comes aboard understands the significance of that culture. That's a tough act for 3 folks with 45-60 minutes with a bunch of interviewees to try to figure out. Rather than risk being "wrong" about someone, however, and polluting the SWA gene pool with whatever they think might dilute the special flavor of the place, the default setting is the "if there is a doubt there is no doubt.." routine and the DB takes a pass--at least on this round.

Now--I personally have seen the grit, sweat, and heart from several GREAT people who I thought clearly wanted to work for SWA and nobody else--yet they were turned down. I easily spend 4-8 times as much time with each of them as did their interviewers. If I were King--they'd be at Southwest now. I also know some clown acts from AF days that are at SWA that couldn't lead a starving dog to a steak. However, I think the folks at SWA are doing the very best they can with a tough job. I also think sometimes they let a few jewels slip through their fingers.

So--I say if SWA is your dream then bust your a$$ and do whatever it takes. I wanted to fly F-15s...didn't get one out of UPT but managed to end up here anyway. No quitting the race is important if you want to win. However--I'd also be pragmatic enough to know its a tough game out there, and SWA has no monopoly on great people, great jets, great layovers, great domiciles, and profitablity. If you want to be a successful airline pilot, there are plenty of places to make it happen. From 18-35 I was a Delta wannabe--but never could quite make the AF and Delta get together on timing to let me out to follow my dreams. Funny how life shut one door but opened what turned out to be a better door for me in other places. If SWA keeps slamming the door in your face, I cannot help but believe you've got a destiny for success somewhere else.

And to my SWA bros and clients--stay humble. You got your dream job--there are a lot of people out there trying even harder than you did that for whatever reason haven't had it work out. Count your blessings and pass it on...

 

[K-Mart]

I also know some clown acts from AF days that are at SWA that couldn't lead a starving dog to a steak.

Maybe they ate the dog. Were they Korean????

 

[AlbieF15]

...I'll give you until noon until the PC police roll in on that one!

 

[Inida Job]

From another SWA reject

I don't think an interview is "worthless" because some are not hired on the second or third attmept. You say 1 in 5 are hired. Again, not right. It just seems like it is one in 5. You may do well in the interviews and not make it thru the board. So it may not be a personality detector issue at all.

FBJ,
In the interest of full disclosure I'll say up front that I was rejected by SWA this last summer. I paid my $8k for a type, went to interview prep, called everyone I could ever think of that had even the slightest connection to SWA for letters of rec (I got a bunch). I got along great with all the interviewers (2 of them had backgrounds identical to mine!). All my references were called, I got a call from a SWA Capt friend two-three days after the interview saying he had dinner with the guy doing my background check and everything was going great. A week after the decision board I get THE LETTER (insert tragic musical interlude here). It hurt, I cried, I moved on.

Not wanting to "put all my eggs in one basket" I went on to interview with 5 other companies and was hired by all 5. I currently fly 737s (put that type to use!) with CAL. But since my plan is to reapply to SWA as soon as my year is up, I have been trying to figure out why I was passed up the first time. In the process of doing this I have kept in touch or contacted many other SWA hopefuls. According the the info I have gathered it has been running about 1 in 5 interviewees get hired. If you have info from the PD that says otherwise then I'll shut my mouth. All 18 guys in my intervew group were well qualified and easy to get along with (isn't everyone on interview day and only 4 were hired so I am in great company as a SWA reject.

I'm not sure what the secret code is but there is something else going on behind the scenes. It might be a quota system (we need 3 military, 3 civilian, and one left-handed-albino-monk in this hiring board), it might be nepotism/cronyism (ya gotta know a Capt with single digit seniority) or maybe they are just being picky because they can (1.375 billion applications served!). Why else would a company that is so cost-concious fly 18 non-revs to Dallas (not to mention the $7 voucher for lunch in the cafeteria) just to hire 4 when they could have done the same with 5 (just in case one turns out to be a total nugget).

This is my one and only gripe with the hiring process and it certainly isn't going to stop me from reapplying multiple times until I knock some sense into the PD. I know there are plenty of reasons why they don't give feedback as to why you weren't hired but how can I fix it if I don't know what's broke?!? Just my $29.97 worth (I went past 2 cents in the first paragraph).

For SKYW,
Keep pluggin' away, I know I will.

IJ
ps. just in case my sense of humor is coming across as too sarcastic...I like SWA, I want to work for SWA, I know people at SWA who want me to work for SWA. And now that I have exerience at another major airline I can say that I would fit in at SWA better than I do here. Not that there's anything wrong with CAL, just a personality difference. OK I'm really done now...sitting on reserve in case you couldn't tell...OK...cya...I'm out...now...

 

[enigma]

kelbil, thanks for the response. As I imaging most every FI'er knows, I'm a long time fan and supporter of SWA. I have no desire to trash the SWA system. Hopefully, I don't come across as being a serious detractor.

Enigma,

I feel the following don't jive 100% with my thinking:

"At the current time, I would say that SWA has a finely honed personality detector in place in their interview process. If one doesn't pass the first time, it is highly unlikely that one will pass on subsequent attempts."

Sure they have a system down, but leaving my own sorry butt out of the equation, I have flown with a lot of guys with all sorts of personalities, many not exactly easy to like or get along with. I've flown with a few hundred guys, and trust me, they all don't remotely have the same personality. I also know a few great guys who didn't make it through the interview who would have been awesome fits here. Sometimes it is the luck of the draw of who comprises your interview team.

kelbil, it would seem that I have more faith in your system than a lot of you have. After: reading a lot on this and other boards, reading SWA write-ups in professional journals, listening to LL in webcasts, speaking to interviewers, speaking to current SWA Captains, and most importantly - speaking to a SWA PD big-wig; I am convinced that your system IS well honed. Your PD has a personality profile that it is looking for, and your PD is confident that their system works. You and I may be looking at a different aspect of personality than your PD when we look at certain SWA people and wonder how they made it, but those pilots did make it. The PD saw something in them that isn't readily apparent to the rest of us.

"Your life will be better if you concentrate on carriers that hire pilots with your traits."

According to this theory, you should only apply to a couple differnet airlines/cargo carriers. Like the personality thing at the SWA interview, some times the interviews go well, other times not so well. Guys used to get hired by 2 or 3 airlines all the time, and had to decide which one to go with. I don't think traits are quite so airline specific. Sure there is a little bit of a correlation, and hopefully at lot at SWA, but most traits are developed and ingrained after you've been working at one particular company for a while IMO.

Traits may not be quite so specific for most airlines, but SWA is not most airlines. Other airlines tend to look more at the overall pilot. They test for general knowledge, intelligence, etc. They give simulator checks and other flying knowledge/ability tests.

If a pilot can fly the wings off of a sim, and knows how many individual bulbs are in a ALSF II, but has a hard time smiling, maybe he should try and find a sponsor at AirTran or FedEx. That's really all I'm trying to say.

Not slamming you, just disagreeing. Now that 737 Captain has chimed in, we have first hand interview retread experience. Nobody is trying to raise hopes unrealistically, but the question was specifically about his second shot at SWA, not about putting his eggs into one basket.

I know you're not slamming me, if I thought you were I wouldn't bother responding. I also know of plenty of first hand retread experiences. I do not know of enough however, to lead me to believe that in the current hiring environment a retread has any greater chance of success the second time as they did the first time.

I stand by my statement that one should concentrate on job possibilities hire according to one's traits. Neither one of us wants to fly a month with someone who fooled the hiring board. Nor would I want to work for a company that valued a specific trait that I lack. It would just be too much work to live a continual lie just to make more money.

regards

PS, it is possible that most of the "square pegs" were hired before the current system was perfected.

 

[enigma]

First, I did say you had valid points and that I respect your feelings on the subject. But your statistics are made up and some are just plain wrong.

My stats come from right here on FI and other reputable hiring sites. My "one in twenty" was just bad math, but the one in five number seems to be pretty much agreed upon.

I don't think an interview is "worthless" because some are not hired on the second or third attmept. You say 1 in 5 are hired. Again, not right. It just seems like it is one in 5. You may do well in the interviews and not make it thru the board. So it may not be a personality detector issue at all.

Sorry, I'll have get somewhat defensive on this one. I DID NOT call your interview "worthless". I called the statistic that some get hired on subsequent attempts factual but basically worthless.

Just 'cause you aren't hired the first time doesn't mean your personality does not fit SWA.

Just because you reapply doesn't mean you aren't enjoying life. Maybe you didn't choose to but some do enjoy other pursuits even while job searching.

I personally think it has to do with your competition that month. Where you rack and stack. Interview in May get hired, interview in June get the bad letter.

Youre concept that ones chances are dictated by the competition in that month runs counter to statements made by PD reps during the interview process. You may be totally correct, but the PD says that it isn't so.

regards

 

[Dave Siegel]

Is there anything special I need to do after my one year is up? Got turned down last February. I've been keeping my application updated online. Should I be making phone calls or just shutup and be patient? Thanks in advance!

Hi, it's Dave!

Keep applying, because Southwest is the only airline that's worth anything. Superior management.

 

[sniper]

Do the math, bros....1 out of 3 or 1 out of 4 is what the numbers are off the street. Good? Bad? Right? Wrong? Whatever I (or we) pontificate on the boards won't change a thing.

SWA has a very unique and special culture, and works hard to make sure whoever comes aboard understands the significance of that culture. That's a tough act for 3 folks with 45-60 minutes with a bunch of interviewees to try to figure out. Rather than risk being "wrong" about someone, however, and polluting the SWA gene pool with whatever they think might dilute the special flavor of the place, the default setting is the "if there is a doubt there is no doubt.." routine and the DB takes a pass--at least on this round.

Now--I personally have seen the grit, sweat, and heart from several GREAT people who I thought clearly wanted to work for SWA and nobody else--yet they were turned down. I easily spend 4-8 times as much time with each of them as did their interviewers. If I were King--they'd be at Southwest now. I also know some clown acts from AF days that are at SWA that couldn't lead a starving dog to a steak. However, I think the folks at SWA are doing the very best they can with a tough job. I also think sometimes they let a few jewels slip through their fingers.

So--I say if SWA is your dream then bust your a$$ and do whatever it takes. I wanted to fly F-15s...didn't get one out of UPT but managed to end up here anyway. No quitting the race is important if you want to win. However--I'd also be pragmatic enough to know its a tough game out there, and SWA has no monopoly on great people, great jets, great layovers, great domiciles, and profitablity. If you want to be a successful airline pilot, there are plenty of places to make it happen. From 18-35 I was a Delta wannabe--but never could quite make the AF and Delta get together on timing to let me out to follow my dreams. Funny how life shut one door but opened what turned out to be a better door for me in other places. If SWA keeps slamming the door in your face, I cannot help but believe you've got a destiny for success somewhere else.

And to my SWA bros and clients--stay humble. You got your dream job--there are a lot of people out there trying even harder than you did that for whatever reason haven't had it work out. Count your blessings and pass it on...

Great post Albie

 

[Mugs]

Is enigma correct? SWA is interviewing 20 to hire 1? On top of that, the odds on a second or third interview are low? That sounds like a bunch of worthless 737 type ratings floating around out there. I'm sure Higher Power and other schools is just "Luv'n" it. Ineresting how much flack the UAL interview process used to take on this board (worthy criticism up until they fixed the process in the late 90s I will admit). However, the interview to hire ratio even at its worst at UAL was never close to the 20 to 1 ratio and it didn't cost a major chunk of change either.


----Missed the update. One in five seems more reasonable. Still leaves plenty of worthless 737 types though.