Preferential hiring

[ultrarunner]

Preferential hiring....

I read quite a bit about this topic, and find it quite funny at times...

To give you a slant, here is some background....

My wife is the Senior Vice President of Human Resources for a 1.5 billion dollar division of a 5 billion dollar corporation.

She handles all hiring at director level and above, including CEO's.

She and I have had this talk MANY times, and this is her take:

'If two candidates meet the minimum qualifications for the job, and all other issues being equal...personality, etc..., the "diverse candidate" will get hired. It's that simple. My wife supports a dirverse work place.

So I ask "well, what if you're hiring a Sales Director, and the WASP male has 10 years experience in that field and the diverse candidate has five years?"

Doesn't matter...the postion only requires five years experienc.


So now, apply this to the aviation sector. Take any airline that is currently hiring or has hired recently....

They are hiring FO's, except in some extreme cases, but lets stick to the hiring of FO's.

An airline posts the minimum requirements, all all heck breaks loose the furloughed WASP male airline pilot gets turned down in favor of the diverse candidate.

Well, ya know, the job didn't require 25,000 hours, in required 1500 tt and an ATP.

THERE YOU GO!

 

[Catbird]

Ultrarunner- I hope the Neurosurgeon performing brain surgery on your family member was hired with minimum job qualifications . And received the job per MS Ultrarunner always choosing "Diversity" over experience.

 

[ultrarunner]

I hear what you're saying, catbird, but we're not talking brain surgery. What we're talking about are, in the minds of management, entry level FO positions. And these positions have a minimum experience level and skill-set, and there is no reason to think a person with that will not be hired in favor of someone who far exceeds such requirements.

 

[CRJ puppy]

Hhhhmmm,

I'm a mid-life career changer, began learning to fly when I was 37. Started flight instructing when I was 41. In my short career I have been offered a job at every regional operator that I have interviewed with (and getting the interview has not been an easy task these past couple of years). I'm just an average white male who works to do his best at every job or position that I've ever held. Aviation is about career #5 for me, and I have always felt that my age was a benefit for me in this field.

From my perspective, age discrimination is a non-issue at this time in this industry.

 

[jergar999]

Go to planejobs.com and check out the listing for female pilot.

 

[taloft]

Go to planejobs.com and check out the listing for female pilot.

Hmm, seems you need a login for that. Could you repost for us?

 

[jergar999]

It's actually already posted in another thread, called I think I'm going to puke.

 

[GCD]

Bobbysamd,

Maybe it could be your answers in the interview.

I know that some companies will stay away from older pilots who have never flown in airline operations. In their interview, they say something like, "I just want to see what airline flying is like." The guys who give this answer only last a few months after they get a taste of airline flying.

I'm not being critical toward you. I'm just giving you some insight that I have been privvy to.

 

[bobbysamd]

Interview answers

Maybe it could be your answers in the interview.

Quite possibly. I interviewed with Mesa in 1990. I met with Grady Reed, who was VP of Operations or something and who, I found out later, was Mr. Beech 1900 at Mesa. He was a somewhat taciturn individual. "Mister" Reed asked if I had any questions. Now, during this period, RJs were being developed. I had read about them in Flight International or some such magazine. So, I asked "Mister" Reed if Mesa had any plans to acquire RJs. He was clearly put off by my question and answered "no." I was rejected. There is no doubt in my mind that he blackballed me because of my question.

I felt that I asked a perfectly reasonable question. I've been told as much. I was exhibiting knowledge of the industry and an interest in my future company, things that counselors say you should exhibit. I should have known better than to open the door to giving the impression that I was a 40-ish, career-changing dilettante. It's amazing the things that can be derived from an interviewee's question. It must be some kind of savant ability.

Funny thing, though. Mesa got some of those RJs that Grady Reed said it would not acquire. Hmmm.

I know that some companies will stay away from older pilots who have never flown in airline operations. In their interview, they say something like, "I just want to see what airline flying is like." The guys who give this answer only last a few months after they get a taste of airline flying.

Well, there you go. I believe that helps prove my point. As is said in law and elsewhere, res ipsa loquitor, "the thing speaks for itself."

Anyone, young or old, who provides that answer should rightfully be rejected on the grounds of stupidity for blowing a great opportunity. I worked plenty hard to get the few interviews I had and I wouldn't have been that stupid. Airline interviews at any level do not grow on trees. While I don't recall being asked any questions that would prompt such a response, my answers would have reflected total commitment to airline flying.

 

[jimbo]

In reponse to English's question there is an airline that offers a scholarship for women and black aviators. They are'nt currently hiring now but do hire quit a bit every year.The scholarship (when won) provides a type rating and first class date available. The reason for the first class date available now is because some of the individuals would "bale" for another airline because they were put in the pool and had to wait forever.
I personnaly know 2 individuals that have won the scholarship (in both catagories). They are great people and deserve it wholeheartedly. There are some people that might think it unfair especially if they've been in that same pool for almost 2 years.
I don't know if that answers your question but there is some pref hiring going on today due to the scholaship program.

 

[English]

Which company offers the scholarship? Are you referring to SWA?

They have a scholarship available to members of Women in Aviation. If you go to the Women in Aviation website, you'll see that the prerequisites for membership do not include a specific gender. Many males are members of Women in Aviation. So, the SWA scholarship is not limited to women. I'm assuming this is who you are referring to...

 

[jimbo]

The answer to your question is yes.
I did'nt know that males could be members. I guess that excludes pref hiring in that regard.