SWA Interview Notes

[YellowLab]

I'm not trying to take business away from Resume Writer but several of my friends have been turned down that have done the prep. I feel it is because their answeres sounded too "canned". It's just my opionion but I think if you go in there and be yourself and totally honest you can't go wrong. I didn't always follow the "S.A.R" format to the letter but I think it was Ok because they knew I was being me and being totally honest. It's just my opinion.

 

[Resume Writer]

No worries - you are not taking away business from me. I do not solely rely on the aviation profession to make my living. I just enjoy working with aviation people because I love the industry.

It is really hard to say that people are turned down because their answers sound "too canned." There are factors that are not in my control. Not everyone is a direct match for SWA. They are looking for a certain type of person and if someone does not fit that criteria, they will be turned down.

Also in consideration is the reputation a person has in this industry - whether they come from a civilian or military background. Your reputation is everything and it can have a resounding affect on the rest of your career. I can point to a specific example of one candidate that prepped with me that did not make it. It had nothing to do with my prep. He apparently had made enemies throughout his career and every time he applied, they all kept checking the list. The reason I tell this story is so that people realize what a small community aviation is and to never burn bridges.

Kathy

 

[viking737]

Who is Judy Tarver working for these days?

 

[chase]

Judy is an independent contractor who does professional interview preparation. She's also researches and writes on the industry for several publications and is a personal friend...she has many irons in the fire related to aviation and outside of aviation...I might also add she recently was recognized by Women in Aviation with an award (my apologies for not recalling the precise award title)....a great lady with incredible knowledge when it comes to interview preparation and the industry as a whole....she worked for American Airlines for 17 years as a pilot recruiter/interviewer directing their shop for a period of time. Her resume is lengthy & quite impressive.

Yellow lab & resume writer are correct there are many reasons why folks don't get hired.....it can mess with your mind if you give it too much thought. Choose a path that you feel comfortable with, ask your friends & be honest with yourself when making the choices about what to do to prepare oneself....good luck.

 

[canyonblue737]

i felt i had a handle on how to answer questions in the style SWA wanted. i also felt i was good at interviews. but i was nervous you know? so i used a prep, didn't gain much new insight out of it... but it let me know that i *was* on the right track. i didn't try to learn answers, just make sure i was presenting myself as i felt i was.

did it work? you bet... been drinking the koolaid and flying the LUV jets and it is all good. do a prep if you feel really nervous or think you are poor communicator. don't do a prep to learn the right answers, those have to come from you.

 

[Mach 80]

Sometimes the reason a guy get's turned down is just because of the numbers. If 80 people interview in a month and they only want 20, 60 are going to get turned down. Maybe half those guys had obvious weak spots but the rest simply got caught up in the numbers. Supply and demand. I have heard stories where almost all the interviewees were wonderful but....SWA simply didn't need them all and it made deciding VERY tough.

 

[Vince Neil]

Had I not used a prep service I would have been done within five minutes of the first interview. Before prep my answers on how would I handle certain things were just too military and hardline. After going trough it a bit I realized that to a civilian I would've sounded like a prick. Those type of responses I originally had are IMO the shazbot when it comes to active duty and I still feel that way, but it ain't the way to go into a airline job interview at all. That was the main thing that I got out of it, but it also forced me to clean some things up a bit, better organize my answers and overall just feel really relaxed and comfortable. I don't think I would have been successful without it.

btw, I originally didn't think I would need to do any formal prep. I thought I would be able to think on my feet and just jam. Man I was a soup sandwich the first time I got serious about telling stories.

Faye Simmons and Albie kept me from acting like a retard.

btw, I knew Albie worked for FedEx right away...Homo could'nt keep his eyes off my package!