Question: Delay already accepted class date?

[zasca]

I was interviewed and hired the same day at PDT. Late that evening I get an interview email from XJ. My class date and earliest possible interview are the same day. Think I could try to request (and get) an earlier interview? What about requesting a later class date? (I was kinda put on the spot...)

Not flamebait but, I have reaaaally low multi time. Does XJ interview guys not meeting the multi "mins" knowing that they might not or never hire them regardless of interview performance?

thanks

 

[zasca]

Oh, I have a degree with that good ole 727 SIM time if XJ takes that into consideration...

 

[OttoPilot]

Talk to XJ about moving the interview but don't mess with the sure thing.

 

[Tarzan]

Don't burn any bridges. I've been asked if I've ever been fired or quit without notice.

 

[CA1900]

Don't burn any bridges. I've been asked if I've ever been fired or quit without notice.

Changing your mind about accepting a class date is not quitting a job without notice. Until they start paying you, you're not an employee and you haven't "quit" anything. Even not showing up without notice would be a real jerk move (since someone else might have wanted that slot), but it still wouldn't be quitting without notice. You're not an employee yet.

As to delaying the class date, no harm in asking -- tell them you have some loose ends you need to tie up at home, and see if there's a future class date you could take.

That said, I'm not so sure I'd pick XJ over Piedmont, unless there's some commuting issue you're trying to avoid. I'd personally stay far away from the NWA family right now.

 

[chuychanga]

If you think the other job will be that much better then just come up with a good excuse to delay your class date. If they say no, then go to class and don't burn a bridge just for a shot at an interview. But if your excuse is good enough they should have no problem moving a class date.

I was in your exact same shoes. Three years ago a fictional sick grandmother got my class at TransStates moves back two weeks so I could interview at XJT. It was the best thing I could have done. I'd have been furloughed a few months later at TSA after having had to turn down the XJT interview. Instead, I got the job at XJT and things could not have turned out better.

Just don't totally burn the bridge until you have an actual job offer.

 

[bertengineer]

Here is the question. When you say XJ do you mean Mesaba or Express Jet? Easy to get confused. If you want to be based in MEM as the junior base to fly the Saab, or DTW then do the interview at XJ. MSP is going to be and is a very senior base. You will not get the -900 with low time. You will have guys show up to class that are older and have more hours so you will be seat locked in the Saab FO position for 3 years, although you can move to upgrde in the Saab or the Jet if you had the hours. But you will not be able to go from a FO in the Saab to a FO in the CRJ-900 within that time period. Right now MSP is the -900 base with onlu 4 supposed to on property by June, and the 1 CRJ comes back to Pinnalce in June. Heard it directly from the Horses mouth!
If ERW or CLE or IAH is where you want to be, then go to XJT! or stay at PDT for the ROA Base flying the -8

 

[sopdan]

Talk to XJ about moving the interview but don't mess with the sure thing.

Yeah, that. Why would you throw away a class date for an interview, which in your opinion is a long shot?

 

[JoeMhama]

curious to know what your multi time was?

I have 1200/20 and have applied to all of the desparate for FO regionals, but havent recieved any calls. I even applied to Mesa!!!

 

[zasca]

Yeah, sorry, I meant expressjet. The only reason I would consider "risking" the real thing is because XJT has growth and PDT admitted that they are looking to stay the course for many years.

I have sub 30 multi time(including turbine). My school has friends in the training department but I did not use that to get the interview. Just faxed it in... Good luck Joe Mhama. Oh, and XJT gave me an interview date in the less than a month. And they don't give experienced guys the time of day???

 

[chuychanga]

You are not risking a thing by asking them to change the class date. They are not going to can you for asking. Come up with a good excuse though or they won't do it. Don't use my sick grandmother excuse because someone at PDT certainly browses these boards from time to time. If they absolutely won't budge, then only you can decide what to do next.

This is a job that you be at for a bare minimum of several years, so don't feel like you have to take the first offer simply because it's the first offer. The regional job market is not as bleak as it was a few years ago. So far you've gotten at least two interviews. More will come if you need them, maybe not immediately, but I'd rather have the right job later than the wrong job sooner. The regionals mostly seem to be begging for half-way qualified new-hires lately. I'm not telling you to blow of PDT, just letting you know that these jobs are not as hard to come by right now compared to a few years ago.

 

[Dirty Sanchez]

curious to know what your multi time was?

I have 1200/20 and have applied to all of the desparate for FO regionals, but havent recieved any calls. I even applied to Mesa!!!

Maybe you should work on the "20"...

 

[mamba20]

Expressjet hands down. Great company to work for. Do a search on here about it, probably the best regional to work for. Nothing wrong with PDT (great group of guys) but its associated with US Airways.

 

[ceo_of_the_sofa]

Go to PDT, get your 1500/300 and move on to just about any regional you want. By that time, maybe things will be clearer with XJET as far as branded flying/RFPs, etc.

 

[vectorvictor]

Changing your mind about accepting a class date is not quitting a job without notice. Until they start paying you, you're not an employee and you haven't "quit" anything. Even not showing up without notice would be a real jerk move (since someone else might have wanted that slot), but it still wouldn't be quitting without notice. You're not an employee yet.

As to delaying the class date, no harm in asking -- tell them you have some loose ends you need to tie up at home, and see if there's a future class date you could take.

That said, I'm not so sure I'd pick XJ over Piedmont, unless there's some commuting issue you're trying to avoid. I'd personally stay far away from the NWA family right now.

This is sound advice. If you want the second job (the one you still have to interview) postpone the class for "personal" reasons and then you still might have the ace in the hole. Never burn a bridge if you don't have to.

VV

 

[BoilerUP]

If you attend my alma mater, your systems and sim experience will help in training but it won't mean d!ck once you hit the line. Call SBY and tell them you need to be pushed back a class; they might not like it but I doubt they'll dismiss you because of it (especially since I was told today they can't afford to lose FOs to upgrade right now, they are so short).

Expressjet is NOT GROWING; they are simply trying to find homes for the 69 airplanes CAL got rid of in lieu of CHQ. They might grow in the future, but are not growing now.

Personally, I'd chose XJT between the two, if only for the reason that they are a non wholly-owned public company. The branded flying is a gamble that could bust bigtime, or it could be profitable...we'll know in a year or so. If you want to be on the east coast (vacation spots like EWN, SBY, CHO, SYR, LGA, etc) go Piedmont; if you plan on commuting or want to try Texas or SoCal, go Expressjet. Good luck!

 

[zasca]

whew, they gave me an interview on the 12th. Get the privilege to wake for a 5:40am flight!!