SWA... Comments at Air Inc Conference

[Swerpipe]

Went to the Air Inc conference at LAX this weekend. The People Department made some surprising comments regarding the interview process and March interviews during the presentation and also during the brief talk at their Kiosk:

1. Do not stress about the Line Oriented Interview. We just want to see what you do at your office everyday. How you interact and how you solve problems. Show us how YOU do it.

2. Many of the March Interviewees were "over prepared". By that they meant that answer to questions were over-rehearsed and too polished. "We know that you have conflicts in the cockpit, that there are sometimes problems with maintenance, that the weather isn't so perfect, that everything is just not so perfect. We want to know the real you. We want to know the real you and if there is a wall between you and us that can not be broken, the candidate will not be hired."

3. We assess your ability to be a Southwest leader by your ability to be yourself while relating your experiences as a Captain and not by showing us your qualifications on a resume. We are not interested in hiring Mr. Perfect.

4. The percentage of folks hired in March was "lower than expected. We were a bit dissapointed". Better qualified folks did not result in a higher hired percentage.

5. Folks should hang in there, the process is just starting. Be patient.

6. Some of the people that went to interview in March will go to class in June.

This is to the best of my recollection and I am not trying to put any personal opinions on what I just wrote. At 3400 TT and 1950 turbine PIC, aerospace engineering degree and experience, the Captain told me my time was "a bit low". He also told a Part121 driver that his TT was bit bit low at 5500. Both of us were typed at HPA.
I think this underlines the type of fierce competition currently in progress to get an interview slot at SWA.
My speculation is that at some point they will have to interview more or stop classes if they are not hiring more than 48 people per month.
All this aside, I am so in Love with Southwest and look forward to the opportunity of interviewing.

 

[ADG]

Swerpipe,

Thanks for the info. Did they say anything about "jet" time vs "turbo-prop" flight time?

Competition is tough! (5500 hours a bit low)

ADG

 

[juan2go]

Both of us were typed at HPA.

?

Does it matter where you got your type? I don't think they care. But what is the word on the street?

juan

 

[Swerpipe]

turbo prop vs. jet time

To be specific, that was the comment of the particular Captain, not necessarily the official position of the People Department. Obviously, I take his opinion very seriously. To put it in perspective, many SWA pilots have gotten hired with less than 3400 or 5500 TT and 2000 PIC turbine. What we have is a more competitive environment. I think that eventually, if patience doesn't kill you, you will get a call. Be ready. As far as jet time vs. turbo-prop time, I know jet time is better but more importantly keep flying. Where you get the type rating?, it certainly doesn't matter. I met a bunch of really cool guys at the conference. It's always great to meet people facing the same preocupations, dreams and frustations as I am facing. A lot of talent out there...

 

[juan2go]

Thanks for the info. You have metro time, you'll get on!

juan

 

[Swerpipe]

Juan to go

Says who? If there is anything that I brought with me from the conference is that competition is tough and that the wait is probably going to be longer than many of us expected. Of course, I hope I am wrong and you are right. Thank you for the encouragement. I certainly hope that people in the know respect the aircraft as much as we do.

 

[juan2go]

Competition is tough. And although preparation is important, attitude is everything. Your comments from the people dept. prove it.

juan

 

[SWAdude]

2. Many of the March Interviewees were "over prepared". By that they meant that answer to questions were over-rehearsed and too polished.

In a post a while back I mentioned this exact issue. It is not be taken lightly. Be prepared but relaxed and not canned. As pilots we have been trained to believe that there is not such a thing as being over prepared for a ride. It can be difficult to hold the reins back abit when our approach to preparation has been so deeply instilled in our souls. Try not to let the fear of the unknown drive you to over prepare. When I interviewed people that appeared to be over-rehearsed I felt like I really didn't know them.

Good luck to all.

SWAdude

 

[Swerpipe]

I remember it

SWAdude,

I remember your post and actually thought about it when I heard the remarks, you were and are still right.

 

[SWAnnabee]

Typed applicants interview time.

H have heard from a SWA/FO friend of mine that they have around 600 apps on file with the type AND meet all the minimum qualifications. At the current rate of monthly interviews, he claims that the word at SWA is that ALL apps with types AND the minimums will be interviewed by this fall. Any comments on this?

 

[SWA/FO]

That wasn't me was it?

 

[SWAnnabee]

No SWA/FO

Sorry, not referring to you. Coincidence in typing. Any truth to this rumor?

 

[SWA/FO]

"This is to the best of my recollection and I am not trying to put any personal opinions on what I just wrote. At 3400 TT and 1950 turbine PIC, aerospace engineering degree and experience, the Captain told me my time was "a bit low". He also told a Part121 driver that his TT was bit bit low at 5500."

Guys,

I would not put much weight into some Captain's comments unless he is involved fully in the hiring process.

Was he a member of the interview team? Maybe the first guys called for interviews were high timers from UAL, AA & US Airways. Compared to your time that may be a bit low. Is that the norm, I don't think so?

We hear a lot of stuff while online, you know rumors etc.. and some folks like to fill in the blanks.

I talked to Lindsey Lang about two months ago and she stated that we will need so many pilots over the next couple of years that tons of folks will be called. In a recent conversation with a Chief Pilot he stated that guys with higher PIC do have more experience in decision making & better stories to tell during the interview. However its all over the board because guys will low PIC have done well in our interviews too.

This just reminds me of a trip I was on over 2 years ago. Our crew and a US Airways crew were sharing a hotel van ride. The FO from US Airways was talking to our Captain about getting on with SWA, what to do, what would his chances be and who to call.

The SWA Captain has been here 18 years and really had no idea as to the current hiring process, infact when he was hired it was an informal meeting with a Chief Pilot that basically asked "when can you start". I was trying to tell this fellow what to do and he seemed interested in only talking to the Captain. So there I was a fairly new FO that had just gone through the hiring process and this guy is trying to get info out of a Captain that "has no clue" since he last looked for a job 18 years ago.

Finally after listening to the our Captain say "well I'll make some phone calls and see what I can find out for you, maybe a contact name and phone number" - I handed the US Airways a card with a name and number of a contact within the people department.

My point is that FOs at SWA have been on the property for 5 years or less. Many of us remember what it was like on the outside looking in. We can remember our interview experience.
We have some good info.

Maybe this Captain was just brought along to the Air, Inc. thing to man the booth? Just a line guy without all the facts?

You will get a call, your time is good and your type rating is your key to the top of the stack. The company just can't wait 6 months for people to get their types...they want people in class.

 

[SWAdude]

My point is that FOs at SWA have been on the property for 5 years or less. Many of us remember what it was like on the outside looking in. We can remember our interview experience.
We have some good info.

With all due respect SWA F/O I am in my 10th year here and with the exception of the new CPT part of the interview that they have incorporated, the interview now is exactly what candidates where experiencing when I interviewed in 1994. In fact I was flying with a 4 year FO a few months ago that was giving advice to a jumpseater that in my opinion was flat off the mark.

I will always remember what it was like to be outside looking in at all of my 6 airlines I have worked for which now includes three majors which all are still in business. I would hesitate to give any advice on the other airlines I have worked for since I am sure that things have or had changed for them. This airline though is asking the same questions and hiring the same type of folks that it was back in 1994. The only difference sadly is that many have been furloughed.

There will always be people that give bad advice....I know i got some. One of my pieces of advice is try to talk to many on the inside and try and figure it out for yourself.

Respectfully,

SWAdude

 

[SWA_Proud]

The SWA pilots at Air Inc are in the know.

 

[chase]

Thoughts

The folks at the Air Inc conference ARE the real deal. Their opinions count far more than mine, others on this site in my humble opinion. Others may disagree but their observations are for real.

Saying that I still believe that one's hours judged against some imaginary or in this case actual comment by an interview team member is cause for reflection.

Yes these are highly competitive times & TT is an indicator. Should you apply if you meet the mins? In most cases I'd say of course. Are you as likely to get offered a job? Probably not but the chance is there, we've done it in the past, will do it again & will continue to give young pilots an opportunity of a life time to move to a major carrier when their TT is far less than the average interviewee. So don't get discouraged when you hear that 5500 TT is a little low.

All factors are important in getting hired: TT, complexity of equipment, PIC time, education, background, type, etc. You are what you are when you go to the interview so be yourself & realize what you bring to the table for SWA & what they have to offer to you & emphasize that. Good luck,

 

[juan2go]

young guys

How old is the 5500 hr tt guy? Age is taboo, hmmmm. How old is the 20 yr military pilot with 3000 tt?

Don't let the tt thing discourage you. Let SWA decide. All new hires will not be 14-18K USAir pilots, or 25 y/o commuter guys with 5000 tt. Two guys in my swa class had 5-6K tt and they were 24 and 27 yrs. old. At the other end of the spectrum there was a 50 y/o and 51 y/o. One was a former cactus cpt. and the other a great guy with over 25 years flying in the Marines.

Just my two cents.

juan

 

[SWA/FO]

Ok - understand. I guess just apply

 

[avoidingmyboss]

Swerpipe,

How’s it going, I got the hat. I LUV Mark, Joe, and Dewayne. I hope he gets on with SWA as a ground instructor I would like to see him there someday.

Its on SWA’s web sight that they want to have 10,000 pilots by 2012. If this is the case we all should have jobs…in a perfect world. If they expand by ½ of what’s forecasted then a lot of us low timers will have the opportunity to go to SWA. But if they hire as forecasted will someone without the type have time to get it? SWA will give you 6 months to get the type. If they need someone to fill a class next month someone without may have 10,000 hours and someone with may have 5000. Who do you think will get the job and be more senior? If I were the person w/ out I would not want the pressure of leaving a job going to get a type and then going to training. For my personal taste too much time away from family and friends.

I don’t have a job there. I have time, I have a job, and due to personal obligations I don’t want to get a job there until next year. I have the type and I have the app in. If I have the opportunity to get on there before that time I will take the position and I hope that SWA will understand if I need to take time off during this period.

 

[Trojan]

Like the SWA employees say "Just apply and don't worry, we need you". I'm sure those at the conference had good info. Use it for what it's worth, then pass it along, as it always has been done. While total time and ratings help, a good employee is what every airline wants.

I'm a furloughed major airline pilot, now working as an instructor at a 737 type rating school, and have the great opportunity to talk to SWA domicile CPs, PD folks, newhires needing a type rating "quick", and pilots just trying to add the type for a better chance. I've recently had the opportunity to talk to several pilots going through the current process. First, they all said the interview groups were VERY qualified, and pretty diversified. They also said things I have been hearing in the airline business for the 18 years I've been flying for a living. They were suprised how many Air Force guys they ran into. They were suprised at how many interviewees admitted to having "high level connections" at SWA that "probably helped out". And they were suprised how many folks did "interview prep". Fact or fabrications? Who knows?!? Does this mean if your not high time, ex- military, or have SWA connections you shouldn't apply or have a chance to get hired? Heck no!!!

Have fun building your flight time, write down the good stories in your logbook for future use, and vote Bush out of office. That's my advice on how to land a job in a healthy airline environment, it's worthy of being part of an AirInc conference, and it is free ;-)

 

[majortool]

Does anyone have either an email address or a phone number for Lindsey?

 

[LUVdaVIKING]

Trojan,
How about keeping your left leaning political views to yourself and just keeping to the subject at hand. The Honorable George W. Bush is a fine TEXAN and unquestionably the best man to lead our nation in these critical times. Have you served your nation...? I didn't think so. If we want your advice on who to vote for we'll ask...NOT. If you're interested in SWA, last time I checked they were headquartered in Dallas, TEXAS -- don't be bad mouthin' our President.
A Republican and a Navy man

 

[Trojan]

Just thought I'd have some fun with that one ;-)
I'm very proud of the military, I just don't like what our current CIC and his corporate buddies have done to help ruin the labor industries. But like you said, we'll switch threads for political commentaries.
P.S. Making assumptions about other's service is dangerous. And so is "Messing with Texas".
P.S.S. SWA PD 214-792-5088

 

[hoya saxa]

P.S. Making assumptions about other's service is dangerous.

Why? Did you serve? Your profile indicates otherwise, although profiles are frequently mis-leading... As a matter of fact, I'm not really supine right now as my profile asserts.

 

[enigma]

, and vote Bush out of office.

Eight years of Clinton got us September 11, 2001. Bush is not pro big labor. Which is/was worse for our industry?

If you want to argue my assertion about Clinton, let's take it to the general bbs.

enigma