Coop
The original thought was there would be about 7 new-hire classes this year. We will have had 4 with the 7 April. I haven't heard an official date for the next one but with the heavy flying the FOs are doing I would expect it would be sooner rather than later. I'm sure they are looking at the current loads & expected loads for the next few weeks to see if there has been a drop. Either way there is alot of VJAing going on right now. I just got back from working my 6th straight day-3 days of extra flying to fill holes & a regular 3 day trip. As for next year, the aircraft orders are still there (I need to go back & look up the exact numbers, I'll put them in this box when I get them. Hope that helps a little.
As for those who may have read my original comments & thought SWA isn't taking updates, i.e. those who applied without types prior to 1 Nov '02. Here is my advice for those in the pool but without a type.
There are two pools in essence. One with & one without types. We all know that. One wants to get into the pool with types & do it ASAP during this lull & here is my reasoning.
IF you REALLY want to be at SWA & you see yourself here in the future AND you're willing to do EVERYTHING to make that happen, then I would recommend you take this lull in accepting applications as your time to get the type rating. Here is why.
1. SWA has many apps, fewer with types than without. You immediately move yourself into a more competitive pool & a sooner interview date when the interviews start. This is the only thing you can do during this time so why not take advantage of it & improve your chances?
2. When the app window opens up again there will be many folks (there will be more furloughs down the road I'm afraid & many of them will be applying) with types & will only push the folks without types further back in the line to get a call for an interview.
3. By getting the type during this lull it is my belief it could demonstrate to a decision board that you took advantage of this time to improve your position & shows a level of desire to work for the company when many others will use it as a time to sit on the sidelines & see what happens.
4. Getting a type class after the app window opens may prove to be difficult because once the window opens, there will be many folks competing for limited slots.
I realize getting the type is (1) expensive (2) no guarantee to getting hired (3) easy for me to say since I have a job & a steady income. All of the above is true. I only offer these thoughts for your reflection. Only you can determine if any of the above is applicable to you & whether you wish to make this type of committment to coming to SWA. I will also give you my best reason to get a type:
5. By acquiring a type in the near future, you will be eligible for being interviewed & thus potentially hired sooner than those folks who don't have a type or those who apply after the window opens up again....that equates to seniority & that equates to money.
This lull in hiring & slow draining of the pool is frustrating for many, including SWA. I fully expect (& have read recent financial analysis to support it) our growth to accelerate once other carriers determine their level of cutbacks or outright bankruptcy/liquidation. The pain suffered by those employees is unfortunate for all those involved.
At some point many of the folks in the current pool had to weigh the pros & cons of getting the type or not. Some were fortunate to get hired without the type & acquired it after getting the call from LL. IMHO that may be much more difficult to do in the near future. Again I caveat all of this with the fact I have no inside information but am only speculating. I'm writing this to only let those who have met the deadline to realize you do have options that could improve your chances of getting hired once interviews start again. Cheers & God Bless our troops,
The original thought was there would be about 7 new-hire classes this year. We will have had 4 with the 7 April. I haven't heard an official date for the next one but with the heavy flying the FOs are doing I would expect it would be sooner rather than later. I'm sure they are looking at the current loads & expected loads for the next few weeks to see if there has been a drop. Either way there is alot of VJAing going on right now. I just got back from working my 6th straight day-3 days of extra flying to fill holes & a regular 3 day trip. As for next year, the aircraft orders are still there (I need to go back & look up the exact numbers, I'll put them in this box when I get them. Hope that helps a little.
As for those who may have read my original comments & thought SWA isn't taking updates, i.e. those who applied without types prior to 1 Nov '02. Here is my advice for those in the pool but without a type.
There are two pools in essence. One with & one without types. We all know that. One wants to get into the pool with types & do it ASAP during this lull & here is my reasoning.
IF you REALLY want to be at SWA & you see yourself here in the future AND you're willing to do EVERYTHING to make that happen, then I would recommend you take this lull in accepting applications as your time to get the type rating. Here is why.
1. SWA has many apps, fewer with types than without. You immediately move yourself into a more competitive pool & a sooner interview date when the interviews start. This is the only thing you can do during this time so why not take advantage of it & improve your chances?
2. When the app window opens up again there will be many folks (there will be more furloughs down the road I'm afraid & many of them will be applying) with types & will only push the folks without types further back in the line to get a call for an interview.
3. By getting the type during this lull it is my belief it could demonstrate to a decision board that you took advantage of this time to improve your position & shows a level of desire to work for the company when many others will use it as a time to sit on the sidelines & see what happens.
4. Getting a type class after the app window opens may prove to be difficult because once the window opens, there will be many folks competing for limited slots.
I realize getting the type is (1) expensive (2) no guarantee to getting hired (3) easy for me to say since I have a job & a steady income. All of the above is true. I only offer these thoughts for your reflection. Only you can determine if any of the above is applicable to you & whether you wish to make this type of committment to coming to SWA. I will also give you my best reason to get a type:
5. By acquiring a type in the near future, you will be eligible for being interviewed & thus potentially hired sooner than those folks who don't have a type or those who apply after the window opens up again....that equates to seniority & that equates to money.
This lull in hiring & slow draining of the pool is frustrating for many, including SWA. I fully expect (& have read recent financial analysis to support it) our growth to accelerate once other carriers determine their level of cutbacks or outright bankruptcy/liquidation. The pain suffered by those employees is unfortunate for all those involved.
At some point many of the folks in the current pool had to weigh the pros & cons of getting the type or not. Some were fortunate to get hired without the type & acquired it after getting the call from LL. IMHO that may be much more difficult to do in the near future. Again I caveat all of this with the fact I have no inside information but am only speculating. I'm writing this to only let those who have met the deadline to realize you do have options that could improve your chances of getting hired once interviews start again. Cheers & God Bless our troops,
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Hopefully soon!
