SWA 737 type requirement

[180ToTheMarker]

A question for those who may know: I got my app in prior to last years cut off date for the type requirement for the interview, but I heard that the folks who are typed will be called prior to those who are not. Is this true?


Thanks

 

[learherkjay]

Yes and No,
The official line from SWA is that they are looking at each application competitively instead of the old first come first serve process of the past. Reason would stand that the majority of those "competitive" applications are guys who have their type already. Apparently, SWA has roughly 2500+ applications on file and only 650 or so have their 737 type. So, if someone applied after you and has a type rating, he/she will most likely be seen as more competitive than you. My advice, get your type ASAP. I just returned from Dallas two weeks ago. Went to Higher Power Aviation for the type and got my application in before the April 1 deadline. I am sure people more familiar with the process can help you out, but that was the latest from the SWA HR people two weeks ago. Good luck

 

[Pig]

From what I understand talking to SWA HR people and others, SWA has a firm policy of interviewing the least qualified typed person before the most qualified untyped person. I'm pretty sure that has been the way it was and will continue to be with this new "competitive review" of applications prior to being invited to interview.

 

[chase]

Type or no type

The good news is you're in a stack of names that will get interviewed. The bad news is you are in a large stack with folks who may have more or less experience than you have but you are competing with folks who HAVE types in the other stack.

Lots of variables will determine whether you wish to move from the large stack to the small stack i.e. affordability, available resources, time off, level of desire to work at SWA, etc. The important thing to remember is that while at some point SWA will open up applications again, the current requirement is that one MUST have a type to apply. In other words, everyone that applies from this point on (until SWA changes the requirement) will have a type when you don't. While I can't say definitively say they will be called before you it would make sense a "competiitive process" would tend to favor those who do have a type over those without one.

You have control over a lot of things to include improving your chances of getting called. Did we interview folks without types with folks who had types? Yes, you bet. We even hired many of those folks without types & they then had to get a type within 6 months. But that was then, things have changed dramatically. One reason why the requirement was put back in place. It is not an easy decision & one that each person must weigh in these difficult times. Good luck in your search for the best airline for you.