Safe Interview Questions

[Resume Writer]

Hi Everyone,

I am starting a new thread to address "safe" questions that can be asked in an interview. Remember, when you are applying for a job, you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you. You need to know if the company will be a good fit for you or you will be miserable.

They are separated by the position, the manager you will be working for, and the company in general. They are not written specific for aviation, but you can pick and choose the kind of questions you might ask.

I am not saying to ask all of these questions. Use your judgment and modify as necessary. The reason I am providing these is to give a general idea of types of questions you can ask.

Kathy

The Position:

• Is this an open position or will you be creating one?
• What would my responsibilities, duties, and title be?
  (What is the most crucial/important aspect of this job? Least important?)
• Describe a typical day on the job.
• What are the most difficult aspects of the position?
• What are examples of the best results produced by people in this job?
• Are there projects that I will be involved in now? In the future?
• Are there opportunities for upward mobility and growth?
  (What is the typical career path look like?)
• How much autonomy will I have?

The Manager:

• How did you get started with the company?
• Would I be reporting to you or someone else? What is their function?
• Could you describe in your own words how you manage your people?
• Who else would I be working with?
• What is the philosophy on training and development here?
  (What special training can I expect to receive or would be required?)
• How will I receive feedback on my job performance?
• How many people have held this job in the last five years?
• Has there been downsizing within the company? How is it handled?

The Company:

• What is the average tenure in the company?
• How would you describe the environment I'll be working in?
• Where does the company see itself five years from now?
• What are some of the company's foremost aims and goals?
• Are there any particular company policies or procedures that I should be aware of?

 

[Flying Illini]

As always, good stuff.

Thanks Kathy!

 

[mullet]

I think not only are they safe questions for an interview but have absolutely nothing to do with regards to an airline interview! I dont get it???

 

[Resume Writer]

I think not only are they safe questions for an interview but have absolutely nothing to do with regards to an airline interview! I dont get it???

As I stated at the beginning of this post, these are in reference to another thread, where everyone got on the issue of questions they can/cannot ask in an interview. I also stated that these were not necessarily aviation related, but more of a framework for people to see the "types" of safe questions they can ask without making the interviewers upset.

Also, not everyone on here is going for an "airline" interview. Some of these questions can be asked at the flight instructor, freight or corporate level and are very valid. The "company" questions listed can be asked at an airline interview.

Please remember everyone that I work with all different professions; aviation just happens to be a specialization of mine. When I write articles, they have to be pretty generic so all of my clients will benefit.

Hope that cleared up any confusion!

Kathy

 

[bobbysamd]

"Safe" airline interview applicant questions

Great generic questions, Kathy. But how about some safe generic pilot interview questions?

I submit there are very few - and I'm not going only by my Mesa experience. I attended four regional interviews and one cattle call. From these experiences I gathered that a candidate should come across as a supplicant for the job, compliant, and not as someone who might appear to be contentious. I already know the response - that raising questions is part of CRM, one should not always accept what the captain says blindly, etc. To that end, I fully realize that FOs walk a fine line.

The scope of my question pertains strictly to dealing with the "do you have any questions" gambit - which, through personal interview experience and counseling, I discovered is safer to decline.

 

[Resume Writer]

Bobby,

You can still ask the safe questions under the company header. Asking the tenure of the average employee is good to see whether they have a high turnover. However, depending upon the company and the level of airline, as an example, they might have a high turnover (regional) versus a low turnover (major).

Asking the company plan for 3-5 years might be a safe question versus asking the type of equipment plans like what happened to you at Mesa. The 3-5 year question is safer, because it is unlikely to ruffle any feathers and is less specific; they can choose what they want to tell you. Further, you might get an idea of whether the company even has a plan for their future.

You are correct that asking questions can sometimes put you in a bad light. Hopefully, through your research and the interview itself, most of your questions should have been answered. The main thing to avoid is the "stump" the interviewer type questions or making yourself look smarter than they are.

As an interviewee, you really should do your homework. Research as much as you can, look at their press release page, etc. You can sometimes ask about something in a press release, but once again, you have to be really careful.

Let's take SWA's decision to go into PHL. As we already know, that move was contrary to their normal business plan of not going head to head with a competitor in their main hub. You could ask "how" (denotes some curiosity of the process) that decision came about instead of "why" (questioning their intelligence in the move).

Hope that helps a little bit...

Kathy

 

[bobbysamd]

Safe interview questions

Just my concern would be that seemingly innocent questions, asked in plain English, and acceptable in other vocations, can be misconstrued. For example, if I ask about employment longevity, which I have asked during non-aviation interviews, an airline might think I want to stay, and thus top out at scale, vest in the 401-K, and increase their expenses. Or, if I ask about opportunities extrinsic of line flying, such as ground school and sim instructing. Those are things I really would have liked have done for an airline, but they might think I won't be especially willing to change domiciles (which would have been somewhat true, but there is always commuting) or don't like flying (which was "so not true"; otherwise, why waste my time with them and undergo the stress). It's like walking a tightrope.

Once more, good information and help. Thanks again, Kathy!

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Consider Bobby's question that he places at least partial responsibility for his failure to be hired at Mesa. "I asked Mister Reed if Mesa had planned to acquire RJs."
Now, this seems like a really benign question (and hardly one that would keep a person from getting hired on its' own), but one should consider every angle and phrase questions so that they won't be misconstrued as "Gee, I sure hope you get RJs", or "I don't want to fly some Canadian hunk of junk."
Suppose one said something like this: "I understand the current fleet is x number of Dash-8 100s (shows you know something about the company). Are there currently any changes planned for the company fleet?" Now, there is no way even the biggest prick could be put off by such a question. But ask the guy who doesn't want RJs if they are going to get them probably won't get you points.

2 regional interviews, 1 Jet Operator, 1 National and 1 Major. All successful. All but one regional I asked questions. At one, I asked the fleet question exactly as stated above. At another, I KNEW there was a fleet change being planned, so I asked if there was any more progress in the search for a replacement for x series aircraft. It was definitely a controversial subject, but the way I stated the question was purely an innocent inquiry as to whether any more insight on the subject had come up.
When they ask you if you have any questions, you better either have a question, or tell them WHY you don't have a question (which is what I did with the one company I didn't ask a question.) If you just say "no, I don't have any questions." you are screwing yourself. Do phrase your question carefully.

This is also your cue to thank them for their time, for inviting you to come get to know them and vice versa and to ask for the job.

 

[Resume Writer]

Really good points, Hugh! You conveyed what I was trying to convey, but could not come up with the words. It is HOW you ask the question and phrase it that makes the difference.

Sorry all, I am suffering from sleep deprivation as the baby has been waking up at night with cutting teeth!

BTW, none of you commented on how cute she is in the latest avatar!!

Kathy

 

[bobbysamd]

Consider Bobby's question that he places at least partial responsibility for his failure to be hired at Mesa. "I asked Mister Reed if Mesa had planned to acquire RJs."

From the other discussion:

You asked the question about the RJs of exactly the wrong person. "Mister" R used to refer to the jets as "Orenstein's (sp) wet dream" and did everything he could to shoot the program down. Johnny O returned to Mesa and shortly thereafter R was bouncing on the sidewalk.

At least partial responsibility, yes.

I guess I should plead guilty to improper question phrasing and poor interviewer assessment. However, in law, there is a concept called comparitive fault. Who has the greater responsibility for an event, Party A or Party B. If Party A brings action against Party B but it is found that Party A is more than 50% at fault, Party A loses. I followed advice that one should ask questions - and, I asked the wrong person. I don't blame the advice because I chose to follow it. My responsibility; my bad. But, I submit, a reasonable interviewer would not have knocked me out for asking the question; how was I to know that Reed was unreasonable. Therefore, because you never really know for sure with whom you're dealing at an interview, I probably would still decline the "do you have any questions" gambit at an airline interview - but, that's just me.

I do agree with Hugh that asking for the job is an excellent question.

There is another lesson here: Get professional interview counseling beforehand, from Kathy, or someone. I finally did, for two interviews. I was hired at both.

 

[Goose Egg]

Good Q's, Kathy. I hope you don't mind, but I copied and pasted them into a Word document for future reference.

-Goose

 

[TonyC]

Just thinking out loud here...



It seems to me that this "Do you have any questions?" thing should be approached like the "Tell Me About A Time"s. You prepare an answer for any TMAAT you can anticipate, and you develop a strategy for answering TMAATs that you did NOT anticipate. To answer a TMAAT with "I don't know" or "I can't think of a time like that" would be a cardinal sin.

Similarly, it seems that it's just the right thing to do to ask a question. It shows you're genuinely interested, it shows you're serious, it shows you're intelligent enough to think outside the TMAAT box. I don't know what it shows, and I don't know what they're looking for, and I don't know why they ask. Maybe it's just something that reflexively comes out of their mouths while they're making the last note or two before excusing you from their presence. Who cares why - - the important thing is to have an answer to the question, i.e., the harmless question. It seems to me you ought to prepare a question in advance, and practive delivering it. Maybe prepare an alternate, while you're at it.

I would think you could take advantage of the moment to thank the interviewer for the opportunity to interview, brag about how resourceful you've been and how much you've already learned about the company, and then polish it off with a question that gives the interviewer the opportunity to talk about something he/she likes.

"Well, I've been in touch with three of your pilots, so between them and your website I've been able to answer just about any question I've had. I'm really impressed by the people I've met today, they've been extremely helpful and informative. The only question that comes to mind is ... Where did you get that haircut?"






OK, so change the question if you don't like it!



Bobby -

If you had it to do all over again, knowing then what you know now, would you ask a question? If so, what would that question be?

 

[Mustang5.0]

This is also your cue to thank them for their time, for inviting you to come get to know them and vice versa and to ask for the job.

What is the proper way to ask for the job? Can you give an example?

thanks

 

[bobbysamd]

Asking a question

If you had it to do all over again, knowing then what you know now, would you ask a question? If so, what would that question be?

Hmmmmm. For an airline interview, and based on my experiences, I would probably not - but, I might follow Hugh's suggestion and ask for the job. I did write elsewhere that I have asked questions about longevity - but the interview in question was not nearly as touchy as an airline interview - one where you don't get second chances.

An interview is like sales. Every question provides another opportunity to sell your product - you. However, so many salesman forget to ask for the order at the end of their presentation. How will you get the job if you don't ask for it?

On the other hand, I would follow the trial lawyer's example. Never ask a question at trial for which you don't already know the answer.

 

[Resume Writer]

Good Q's, Kathy. I hope you don't mind, but I copied and pasted them into a Word document for future reference.

-Goose

No problem, Goose. Use them and modify them for each situation.

Kathy

 

[TonyC]

On the other hand, I would follow the trial lawyer's example. Never ask a question at trial for which you don't already know the answer.

Excellent advice, I'd say. After all, I don't think the purpose of asking the question is to actually learn anything new.

If you were forced to ask a question during that Mesa interview, knowing what you know now, bearing in mind the lawyer advice, knowing you were "asking" the guy you asked, what would you ask now?

I think it might be instructive for those who have followed your story - - if you disagree, forget I asked.

 

[Resume Writer]

What is the proper way to ask for the job? Can you give an example?

thanks

Here is a simple way to ask for the position:

• "I feel my background and experience are a good fit for this position and I am very interested in working for your company. I would very much like to be considered for the job (or May I have the job)!"

The prerequisites of this approach are threefold:

1. You have already sold them on you as a candidate
2. They have already sold you on working for them (and hopefully it shows in your passion and enthusiasm for the job)
3. You are talking to the person who makes the hiring decision

At this point, you might be saying, "I can see having the first two, but how do I know who makes the hiring decision?" Simple. Ask. "Who will be making the hiring decision for this position?" Ask HR, ask the managers, ask a peer level. Any of them can tell you. You just need to ask.



If they tell you that they will be making their decision next week, then maybe asking for the position at that point may or may not be the best thing. However, I would suggest you follow up immediately with a thank you note, once again selling yourself to the decision maker and anyone else that participated in your interview session.



It really depends upon how comfortable you are with asking for a position. Asking for the job may appear a little bold, and you have to use common sense, determining if they even "want" to offer you the job. Pay attention to the body language.

You can usually tell by body language if they are interested. Are they leaning forward, hanging on every word you say? Or are they sitting back with their arms crossed? If it is the latter, I would not ask for the job because they are probably not going to offer it to you!

If in the interview, (now this is very general) they make comments such as, "You will be flying the X aircraft," or "Your route will be JFK to PHX every day," then they are placing you in the position. I am simply using these as an example; if you go to a major, this may not be a good example.

There is so much psychology that goes into an interview. It is anticipating the questions that are going to be asked and the reactions to your specific answers.

Anyway, I hope that somewhat answers your questions!

Kathy

 

[Mustang5.0]

thanks Kathy!

 

[freeflyer14]

ResumeWriter:

Would it be safe to ask something to the tune of:

What do you like best about working here?

or something along those lines which lets the interviewer show off his or her respective company to you.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Would it be safe to ask something to the tune of:

What do you like best about working here?

I would not ask that at a pilot interview. An open-ended question like that actually puts the interviewer on the spot whether they realize it or not. If they like you so far, it might not be too bad, but if they are on the fence, I think that type of question would put you over the wrong side. Ask a carefully phrased question that shows you've done some research and know something about the company. Think about this: how could you possibly do significant research on a company and not have numerous questions come to mind? If you write questions down as you are researching, you'll hit home runs every time if you phrase them in a completely benign fashion.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

It seems to me that this "Do you have any questions?" thing should be approached like the "Tell Me About A Time"s. You prepare an answer for any TMAAT you can anticipate, and you develop a strategy for answering TMAATs that you did NOT anticipate. To answer a TMAAT with "I don't know" or "I can't think of a time like that" would be a cardinal sin.

Similarly, it seems that it's just the right thing to do to ask a question. It shows you're genuinely interested, it shows you're serious, it shows you're intelligent enough to think outside the TMAAT box. I don't know what it shows, and I don't know what they're looking for, and I don't know why they ask. Maybe it's just something that reflexively comes out of their mouths while they're making the last note or two before excusing you from their presence. Who cares why - - the important thing is to have an answer to the question, i.e., the harmless question. It seems to me you ought to prepare a question in advance, and practive delivering it. Maybe prepare an alternate, while you're at it.

I would think you could take advantage of the moment to thank the interviewer for the opportunity to interview, brag about how resourceful you've been and how much you've already learned about the company, and then polish it off with a question that gives the interviewer the opportunity to talk about something he/she likes.

"Well, I've been in touch with three of your pilots, so between them and your website I've been able to answer just about any question I've had. I'm really impressed by the people I've met today, they've been extremely helpful and informative. The only question that comes to mind is ... Where did you get that haircut?"

Read this, then read it again. THIS is the best way one could approach this subject. And for a woman interviewer, just ask her if she realizes she looks fat in that outfit. Seriously, Tony is showing you how best to approach this subject in a couple of short paragraphs. Keep it simple and use it as an opportunity to sell yourself some more.

 

[Resume Writer]

I agree with Hugh's assessment of this question. It could backfire on you. As I said before, there is so much psychology that goes into interviewing and it really depends upon the personality of the interviewer what question(s) you will ask.

ResumeWriter:

Would it be safe to ask something to the tune of:

What do you like best about working here?

or something along those lines which lets the interviewer show off his or her respective company to you.

 

[bobbysamd]

Deju vu all over again

If you were forced to ask a question during that Mesa interview, knowing what you know now, bearing in mind the lawyer advice, knowing you were "asking" the guy you asked, what would you ask now?

Knowing what I know now about Grady Reed and realizing that he could turn anything I might ask against me, frankly, I still would be reluctant to ask him anything. I would re-emphasize my interest in working for Mesa and ask that he keep me in mind as he hires pilots.

 

[:-)]

Knowing what I know now about Grady Reed and realizing that he could turn anything I might ask against me, frankly, I still would be reluctant to ask him anything. I woul re-emphasize my interest in working for Mesa and ask that he keep me in mind as he hires pilots.

Knowing what I know about Grady Reed, I'd would have walked out of the interview when I saw his worthless arse. Any company that would have GR hiring pilots would have to be a bad, repeat BAD place to work.

Cal