SWA Decision Board

[SkiMoguls]

Hello to all, and good luck to those waiting to hear from SWA.

I had an interview on May 6th and am still waiting to hear from the DB that met on the 15th. Man O Man it's nerve racking!!! Many thoughts have raced through my head and I did a little math that some may find shocking.

If the DB meets once a month and the average monthly applicants that the DB actually looks at is, and this is just a rough guess, about 160 pilots. The time that is spent looking and deciding your future is really short. Take the 160 and devide that by 8 hours, you get 20 pilots/hour. 20 pilots per hour = 3 minutes looking at each applicant. I have and will have all my fingers crossed until I hear from the PD about how I faired during those 3 minutes in front of the DB. Good luck to all May interviewees and all future applicants. Preparation is key and making a good first impression is so important so that you do well in the interview to make the 3 minutes that the DB spends on you to be an easy decision.

I'm not normally like this, but for those that have been through it, understand. For those that haven't, expect some unusual moods and thoughts to enter that skull of yours as you wait for the words, "Continue the process."

If you had an interview in May and have heard from the DB that met on the 15th, please PM me or post here so I know when to duct tape my phone to my head, so I don't miss the call (hopefully)!

 

[9_Driver]

I had an interview on May 6th and am still waiting to hear from the DB that met on the 15th. Man O Man it's nerve racking!!! Many thoughts have raced through my head and I did a little math that some may find shocking.

Man - you're the mathlete! It'd take me way too long with a whiz-wheel in hand to figure those numbers out. Kind of scary to think about the timelines and how important that 3 mins is, and how much the interviewers were writing down on all those sheets of paper throughout the day. I wonder if, at the end of the interview day, they put together some sort of "summary" sheet to make it easier on the board members. Almost sounds like an AF promotion board but with a much better potential outcome!

Like you, I interviewed in mid-may and am <patiently> waiting to hear the results from the DB. So far no news is good news - haven't heard anything back from my fellow interview'ees either on the e-mail. Maybe they're just waiting 'till the weekend so folks can celebrate the good news the right way <I hope!>.

Good luck to all the folks who met the decision board - hopefully we'll have some good news here soon. Until then, keep those phone lines open...

 

[jp1030]

I'm curious if anyone knows how the process works, we were told we would hear in 4 to 6 weeks. Do you hear from them earlier if they don't want you, or does everyone who is interviewed go to the decision board?

Thanks

 

[rangridr]

SkiMoguls,

I feel for you and I hope you do get news before the weekend. Not wanting to add to your misery, but I think Chase said in a previous post that it usually takes 10 days to 2wks after the DB before anyone gets any news. If that is true, you are still within that window if they met on 6/15. Hang in there guys (easier said than done!) and good luck to all that are waiting!

Rangridr

 

[chase]

DB thoughts

Everyone who interviews will have their package reviewed by the DB. Once the decision has been reached by the DB (15 June I heard), phone calls (good)will begin going out with a week, sometimes less (but don't expect anything over the weekend). Letters (bad) will go out shortly thereafter too. Getting no news after a couple of weeks usually means 1 of 2 things:

1. You didn't meet the DB you thought, maybe all your background material wasn't ready, background folks are backed up & couldn't get to you in time, other unforeseen delay. You may or may not get called about this but the key is as long as you haven't been told you've been voted off the island, you're still on the island...have a margarita!

2. Slow mail, some sort of internal delay (you won't know it).

If after a 3 weeks you are going postal (no offense to postal workers!) then don't hesitate to call the PD & ask if the "luv" is still there & explain your situation. They'll research the situation & will get back to you. They are great folks & really want to help the process be as painless as possible.

hope that helps,

 

[Torpid]

Chase, does everyone who interviews also have their letters of rec checked? Is it possible to make it all the way to the DB, not have your references checked prior to the DB, and still be hired? Thanks for all your insight.

 

[tmstewar2]

Decision Board Process

As a previous pilot recruiter for SWA this is what I can tell you about the process - at least then.

During the interview process all the interviewers take notes on the individual responses that are given. Then at the end of each interview the interviewer takes a few minutes to write a summary about you - good or bad. After all three applicants are interviewed the three interviewers get together and discuss there observations about each applicant and yes an overall summary is written on each applicant. The summary, recommendation and a score talley sheet is typically all that is reviewed by the DB on the big day. They will only review individual interview notes if they have a question or concern - for instance - you have top letters of rec from inside guys but didn't do to well on the interview - they might take a few minutes longer and look over all your materials versus just the final summary, recommendation and scores.

I know this seems over whelming but this is the way SWA has done the process for a while and it seems to work for them. Hang in there let the process work.

If you have any other specific questions please PM or Email and I will respond ASAP!

Good Luck to all - its a great place to be.

Terri

 

[chase]

Response

Torpid,

Everyone's package does get to the DB. However, not everyone who interviews will have their references checked. If the results of the interview are not positive the background checkers generally won't call your contacts/references. Do folks who don't make it through the interview get hired by the DB? In most chances the answer would be know. Now I have no way of knowing definitively since I've never been there, haven't been an interviewer but from my years here of talking to folks & my understanding of it, the likelihood is slim of getting hired without passing the interview, i.e. having your references called shortly after your interview. However, everyone's package is voted on by the DB & a thumbs up or thumbs down is decided on each person at that point.

Hope that helps. Thanks for the kind words. The process isn't too mysterious but to folks who are just starting the process it can be. The bottom line is when the interview comes you simply need to be yourself (how many times have you heard that) & enjoy the event. Of course preparation before will make that enjoyment a lot more but as I have said many times, concern oneself with the things that you can control & this process will be much less painful. Good luck & thanks for considering SWA! Have a great weekend,

 

[hudman]

Is it possible to make it all the way to the DB, not have your references checked prior to the DB, and still be hired?

Torpid,

I interviewed in March, was supposed to meet the April DB, and was subsequently deferred to the May DB (The People Dept. informed me of the deferred DB soon after the first one met). My references were not called until after the April DB, more that 30 days after my interview. I recieved the "continue the process" call after the May DB, some 60 days after my interview date. I don't think my case is common, but don't give up all hope if your references aren't called "quickly".

Hudman

 

[chase]

Hudman,


Thanks, you're exactly write, my apologies for not including your situation as an example of why references might not get called right away...it can & does happen but as you said, rarely...they usually call folks also who fall into this rare situation, don't know if they did for you Hudman but thanks for reminding me....I'm slipping...I hate posting incomplete info
cheers

 

[rangridr]

I interviewed in March, was supposed to meet the April DB, and was subsequently deferred to the May DB (The People Dept. informed me of the deferred DB soon after the first one met). My references were not called until after the April DB, more that 30 days after my interview. I recieved the "continue the process" call after the May DB, some 60 days after my interview date. I don't think my case is common, but don't give up all hope if your references aren't called "quickly".

Hudman,

Just curious . . . did you ever find out why the company slipped you to the later DB? Was your date of availability a factor? (i.e. not available for a while, so SWA slipped your decision for a while?) Seems unusual that you were slipped before they checked on your references.

Bottom Line: We're glad you're a "continue" kind of guy. Know we'll never understand exactly how this process works for all, but it won't keep us from trying!

Rangridr

 

[hudman]

Rangridr,

I was told by the People Dept. that it was purely a matter of numbers. There weren't enough hours in the DB day to check everyones records. My guess is that since this was the first interview month and DB after quite a long break, the process was was being "fine tuned". I speculate that it is probably more efficient now that a few months of running interviews, background checks and DBs have gone by. My availability is August, so this may also have played into the equation (ie, slip the guy it will least effect?).

Hudman

 

[rangridr]

Hudman,

Thanks for the reply. The most important thing is that the company communicated WHY. Sounds like they do their best to treat each person fairly and to keep each person informed about their status. Good luck as you continue the process!!

Cheers,
Rangridr

 

[9_Driver]

SWA Decision Board - Success!

Just got the call from Kim at the People Department about an hour ago with a congrats! Sounds like the calls are going out! WooooHoooo! For those who are interested:

Applied: Jan 2004 (electronic)
737 type: March 2004 (HPA)
Interview: May 2004
Decision Board: June 15, 2004
Notified to Continue: June 21, 2004

Now it's time to start working the DOS paperwork from the USAF & get ready for class (sounds like prob the Oct or Nov class dates). I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the rest of you guys & hope to catch up with you all in Dallas real soon! Good luck!

 

[scoreboard]

called

Been sweating bullets, then I got a call to go pee! See you in Big-D

ATP: Nov 03
737 Type: Feb 04, K&S
Applied: Feb 04
Interview: early May
Called to pee: 21 Jun 04

Outsidelooknin

 

[SLOTH]

Congrats to those who made the cut. I for one didn't make it this time around... BUMMER

Sloth

 

[tytl]

Congrats to you guys that got the call....by the way...what is the call? Is it when they call you for the drug test? I always thought that SWA never told you directly you are hired, or in the pool until you get a confirmed class date? Is that correct? just wondering. Good luck to all, and congrats to any new hires.
tytl

 

[SkiMoguls]

SWA Dream...is alive!

Folks,

It sure does look like calls started going out today. I got my call to continue today from Kim. Looking forward to some hard work followed by some pints in DAL. Here were my stats going in...

Typed: January 04 Higher Power
Applied: March 1 04
Called for interview in April
Interviewed May 6 for June 15th DB
Congrats call today June 21
PIC 2200 CRJ ASA
TT 5900

Good luck to all and for those who didn't get so lucky, keep the blue side up and reapply in a year!

Question: Is anyone keeping track of the pool? Post here if you can give us an answer.

Thanks,

Ski

 

[BH618]

Continue Call

Does anybody who got the call recently to continue have Kim's or whoever called you number. I got a call yesterday but my stepdaughter took a not so good message with a phone number that did not go through. She was consequently counseled on importance. Anyway, if anybody has the number, please let me know. Thanks.

Brad

 

[mach zero]

Just finished my PP test. Swim trunks now on...will be jumping in the pool shortly.

Init App. Mar. '02
HPA Type. Apr. '03
SWA interview May '04
Called this AM to continue

Kim says expect an Oct. or Nov. class date.