southwest interview

[commode Air]

Should I bring a resume and cover letter to my interview or is my online application enough? what did you guys do?

 

[SeaSlam]

Always...it's a professional courtesy. Just imagine how you'd feel if they did ask for one and what your response would be.

 

[CaptainBrazilia]

When's your interview??

 

[Resume Writer]

Always bring a resume to the interview, no matter what company it is. In fact, bring about 10 copies, so that you can have one for every person that interviews you.

I use the analogy of a business meeting. Imagine there being no agenda printed up. It is always professional to come prepared with whatever would be needed for the interview.

Kathy

 

[Yahtzee]

Should I bring a resume and cover letter to my interview or is my online application enough? what did you guys do?

They are not required. The online application is the mechanism SWA uses in lieu of a resume and the old paper application and it is enough.

By all means bring a resume and cover letter if you will feel more comfortable. You will not be asked for them, but you can certainly submit them in the morning before your group gets split into two parts for the IOE and the interviews. Just make sure you bring the things they do ask you to bring. That's much more important than bringing something they don't.

I brought a few resumes, and a cover letter. In the end I chose to leave them in my briefcase...it just seemed like the right thing at the time. More than three resumes would be overkill and the environmentalists might balk.

I scanned my FAA license, Medical, Passport, High School and College diplomas, then cut and paste each of them to a MS Word document with a header and printed each on a color laser printer. If you take this route, save the document as Word files, as you will need them again if you get called back for a class.

Congrats on getting the interview. Like many have said before...just be yourself. Relax and have fun. The folks at SWA will go out of their way to make you feel welcome. It will be an exciting, pleasant day.

Yahtz

 

[Beldar]

Hey Commode!

For what it's worth, I only brought the latest copy of my resume. I have heard of people bringing both but all of the interviewers I dealt with were happy with the resume. Not that they were going to give me grief for not having a cover letter. Could you imagine, "hey, where's your cover letter?"

Called to continue last month so it worked for me.

Then again, I wasn't smart enough to think of bringing a cover letter and I don't think there's such a thing as overkill for times like these.

 

[Yahtzee]

I don't think there's such a thing as overkill for times like these.

Congrats on getting the call...you're gonna love it hear, but ask that guy who hired the plane with the banner tow to fly over the HQ parking lot during the Legends of the NBA dedication ceremony about overkill...that may have been overkill.

 

[scoreboard]

Bring both just in case

Night before my interview just as I was closing my eyes, I thought "so where is my resume?". Didn't sleep much after that, went without both, never asked for either, got the job. Bring both just in case. Good luck! Be yourself!

 

[Juvat]

Not required

I interviewed at SWA in July. They did not ask for a resume or cover letter. You should be getting a package from them with all the forms/paperwork you need to bring. A resume is not listed as one of the required items, so I wouldn't bother (in spite of the advice given by other nice folks in this thread).

Of course, if not having one will trigger some sort of nervous twitch, sweaty palms, sudden uncontrollable diarrhea, hair loss, bad breath, or vomiting, then by all means bring one. Otherwise, go and have a good time and relax. It's really a fun interview and they're just trying to get to know the "real you."

Best of luck to you!

 

[HarleyGuy]

What do they ask you to bring? I've heard people talking about transcripts and such. Do they want that? When I did my ATA interview, they didn't want anything beyond FAA/med.

HG

 

[satpak77]

how long

from the interview until the "we hired you" or "we don't want you" call?

 

[Juvat]

What do they ask you to bring? I've heard people talking about transcripts and such. Do they want that? When I did my ATA interview, they didn't want anything beyond FAA/med.

HG

Here you go:

• 3 letters of recommendation
• copies of first class medical and ATP certificate
• unexpired US passport and drivers license (originals)
• copy of unexpired US passport and drivers license
• copy of high school diploma or transcripts
• copy of college diploma or transcripts
• current contacts information (the form is included in the packet they send you)
• terms of applicatoin/employment (just have to sign it)
• employment process acknowledgement (ditto)
• form 8850 (included in packet)
• request for FAA DOT drug & alcohol records (included)
• notarized NDR form (included)
• PRIA request contact information (included)
• FAA records request (included)
• air carrier and other records request (included)
• fingerprint data form (included)

I hope this helps. Good luck to you!

 

[Juvat]

from the interview until the "we hired you" or "we don't want you" call?

I interviewed in the first week of July and got the call in the first week of September. It was a long wait (but well worth it!)

From talking to other people, I think the typical wait from interview to phone call is 6 weeks max (if you interviewed at the beginning of the month).

 

[Twodogs]

Bring several copies of resume.

I recommend bringing your resume for a different reason. It didn't seem like anyone in my group handed in resumes during the interview but nearly everyone did run into a SWA pilot that they had flown with. If you flying career spans more than ten years I bet you run into a SWA pilot that you flew with previously and I recommend giving them a resume and asking for an online recommendation. Also ask about other SWA pilots you may have lost contact with. Get all the online recommendations you can.