SWA Interview Prep

[SWAPrep]

Hi to all, my name is Craig Thornton, I run a company called PrepAir, (some might know us as SWAPrep). After numerous members of this site have suggested, I am posting some info for the masses.

As most of you probably know, SWA has become a "Obvious Choice" of carriers to apply for. The flood gates opened 12 Jan 04 with the application process (electronic) begining again and the new hire classes starting. As you might imagine, the "Rumor Mill" floodgates started up just as fast. Remember...Believing things that are too good to be true probably are just that.

I started this Prep service way back when because I really enjoy helping people polish their skills, and seeing their smiles and excitement when they get hired is reward in itself! However since 9/11 the volume of people that want to join SWA has swelled to enourmous preportions to say the least. It is so hard for me to answer all the questions and rumors that you all hear and have that I have decided (with the gentle force of my wife) to add a "Recent News" link to my website, SWAPrep.com in hopes to answer some of the questions and/or rumors.

On the same note, our phone has been ringing off the hook, my wife tells me that while I am on the road she thinks she is answering a request line at a radio station! So I ask all of you to please e mail me ([email protected]) with any and all questions you may have. E MAIL AS MANY TIMES AS YOU WISH, I enjoy helping and am glad to answer (if I can) as many questions as you have. Please call only if you are ready to schedule, we would really appreciate this. I will keep up the "Recent News" link on a regular basis and respond to all e mail at least twice a week. Thanks for continuing to be such wonderful people to work with!

Sincerely,

Craig Thornton

 

[Dennis Miller]

I was under the impression that an interview at SWA required no prep. The only worthwhile prep I remember was the broad in Alaska that would prep the potential NWA pilots on how to beat the psycho test. Had friends that swore by her work. It's sad that with hiring starting up again some of these so called Preppies are coming out of the woodwork and down from the mountaintop with the word from the maharaja on how to trick some worn down version of Matlock from Hiring that you are the second coming of Yeager.

These people are about as bad as the Televangelists that profess to show no favor to any particular denomination, but just watch their eyes light up at 10’s and 20’s.

 

[satpak77]

Chill out

Hey Dennis

that ain't cool man, this is American, if someone has a business idea then its that persons right to try to make it work

If this person wants to offer interview "prep" than good luck to him.

chill

 

[Cyclone]

maybe, maybe not

The best advice anyone can give you going to an interview is to just be yourself...and to be ready to share flying-related stories that will help the interviewer get to know you.

The airlines use the SAR (situation action result) method and score your answer based on how you answered the question.

If you're the type of person who doesn't get flustered and has the gift of gab...then dennis miller is right. Just show up, be yourself, smile, tell your stories and you'll get hired.

If you're the type of person who is inclined to "wig" at the interview...or you're just apprehensive because of a fear of the unknown (e.g. haven't ever done a job interview) then it makes sense to get help. There are coaches out there who really do try to help you...not just teach the test. It's all about the delivery.

Gary Player (famous golfer) once said "the more I practice the luckier I get." You can practice with your spouse, friends, etc...but a professional coach will help too. The thing to decide is "how will it help me and is it worth a few hundred bucks?" Absolutely yes if it boosts your chances; the biggest thing it will do for most people is help with your confidence.

 

[CorpFlyBoy67]

Craig,

I think it is great that you offer this service. But check your spelling before posting. On your website it says that you do resumes and cover letters. It kind of ruins the credibility of you putting together resumes when several words are not spelled correctly in your post.

Just my 2 cents

 

[SWAdude]

I really don't think this is the arena to advertise. I'm surprised the monitor hasn't pulled this "ad".

I am in favor of interview prep. Not by an insider. I believe it is a conflict of interest.

I must add that being over prepared does show in an interview and casts doubt on who you are.

Just my opinion.

Respectfully

SWAdude

 

[ArchieF16]

I don't think there's anything wrong with what he's doing.....Albie does the same thing for FedEx and jetBlue....it's not like they're giving away the answer to tests, I think it's just an overall understanding of how the system works, ways you can prepare yourself for the interview and perhaps conduct some practice interviews.....I know from Albie's prep, having never interviewed in my life, I went in with much more confidence--which is half the battle I think......just my opinion......This is an interview board and any info that can help our bros out I think is well worth it and more than appropriate for this board.........

 

[SWAdude]

This is an ad plain and simple. And if you believe in this site one should expect someone to pay for its service. As well as everyone pays for Craig's service.

 

[ArchieF16]

So if someone else had recommended the site instead of him doing it himself, that would be okay with you? I don't get it. There are guys out there trying to get on with your airline and, like you when you interviewed, everyone wants to go in as prepared as possible. That doesn't mean over-prepared, but going in with confidence, and that WILL show.


Are you against Albie and all of those who talk his services up?

 

[SWAdude]

So if someone else had recommended the site instead of him doing it himself, that would be okay with you?

Yes it would....I think someone should pay for services. The people who manage this site deserve just as much as Craig deserves to be compensated for his. Its a matter of ethics. Craig has one anly one post on here. Don't you wonder why??

Are you against Albie and all of those who talk his services up?

No i'm not. Read my initial post again. I believe an insider has information that an outsider wouldn't have. We try very hard to try and choose the best employee not only for our futures but for the futures of every SWA employee and their families. It becomes increasing more difficult to make those types of decisions when one has more inside information on items of the interview that are intended to be confidential.

Is this so difficult to understand??

 

[Yahtzee]

Clarification...

SWADude,

I spoke to Craig this am before he made this post. He asked where I had heard about him. I told him flightinfo.

He had never made a post before today, and with the rumor that Rob Beeks was getting out of the prep business, I think he has been getting a lot of phone calls. I believe he made this post to simply have fewer phone calls in hopes people might contact him through e-mails.

Other reputable SWA folks have made posts listing his website and that's how I found him.

I'm not trying to be over prepared, but rather well prepared. It's been 12 years since I've had an interview and I believe I could use some help...where it's Craig or someone else.

I'll take the heat for opening this can of worms. Sorry.

Yahtz

P.S. I've also contacted some non-airline professionals looking for interview prep but have not gotten any responses.

 

[SWAdude]

Yahtzee,

It was Craig's decision to post. Not yours. I can see nothing wrong with what you have done or going to do.

I mentioned the over prepared as free advice. There is such thing as being under prepared and that isn't good either. People often over look the over prepared aspect in evaluating their performance. Coming off as "canned"
is just as bad as being under prepared. Their is a huge in between to work with.

Good luck!!

SWAdude

 

[HOUMAN]

I won't comment on somebody using this board to advertise their business. But being "over prepared" or "under prepared" is unique to everyone. I know some people who have done "nothing" to prepare for interviews (or so they say) and have no problem. On the other hand there are others who need to study, prep and feel good about themselves to perform in the un-natural enviroment of the interview room. I say, if you want that "magic feather" that an interview prep gives you, then go for it. It just might help you. Good luck everyone.

 

[AlbieF15]

Who would you rather get help on an interview than someone who has successfully navigated the same waters you are charting?

One reason I haven't waded into the SWA business is I didn't go through the application process. On the other hand, I think being hired by an company and knowing its quirks and strengths make insiders like Craig or Rob an excellent option. I don't know what Craig or Rob did prior that might make them good coaches, but their clients speak highly of them and I think that is the most valuable testimony.

As for being "canned", I don't know about Craig or Rob's approach, but unlike some "other" large, impersonal groups out there I would never try to make anyone into a clone or copy of another candidate. You simply cannot polish a Viper driver into looking like an F-15 pilot . no matter how hard you try. (Okay...thats a joke for my side stick buddies...) Seriously...if I tried to make a GIV driver sound like the last regional captain who copied the last military heavy driver who got good gouge from a fighter pilot he knew...well...you get the idea. The interviewers are simply too sharp, and you won't do your best if you are being phony. What a good coach can do, however, is help you explore your own experience for the examples that show why you would be a great fit for the company. My favorite clients to polish are the guys who have done a bit of it all--civilian, military, and 121, because they can relate to so many interviewers. However, the important thing is knowing what you want people to know about you that makes you unique and would indicate you would be just an awesome potential employee at ______.

There are plenty of guys who walk in cold and get the job--I did it twice--at JetBlue and FedEx. However, looking back, I could have done even better with some polish. I think in this tough market a guy who wants the extra margin of help is not going to come off as a "clone" of previous successful candidates, but instead (like Archie) will have take a dynamite set of credentials into the interview knowing he or she can express themselves in such a way that will play to their respective strengths. No..its not rocket science...but if you ask former clients they will generally tell you the time and money spent was well worth the effort. And...like you said...its a free country. But when you walk into your JetBlue or SWA interview, you better understand that there are likely a dozen or more folks who have spent hours and hours honing their act with guys like me, Craig, and Rob, and they are definately going to have their "A" game on. If you don't use a pro, you better at least practice practice practice. My guys and gals averaged 93% (14/15) on this last group at JetBlue, and have gone about 88% overall through the phase I process at JetBlue. There are also quite a few well waterlogged FDX poolies I helped into the water. There is a strong case many could have made it through without any help...but they decided it was worth the extra time, effort, and travel. How many blue darts or letters on chief pilot's desk do you want to burn on the way to your dream job? I think guys like Craig and Rob are cheap insurance, and I'm free if you don't make it...so I'd hardly call any of us a bad investment.

 

[ArchieF16]

No i'm not. Read my initial post again. I believe an insider has information that an outsider wouldn't have. We try very hard to try and choose the best employee not only for our futures but for the futures of every SWA employee and their families. It becomes increasing more difficult to make those types of decisions when one has more inside information on items of the interview that are intended to be confidential.

Is this so difficult to understand??

I understand, we'll just have to agree to disagree.....I don't think anyone is giving away inside information....I think it's about understanding how the process works and getting the most out of each person who is interviewing and allow them to be confident when they do interview..........no one is giving away interview questions.....it's about preparation for some people who have never interviewed for any job in their entire life, let alone an airline interview........these people are the good guys SWA.......they're not out to dilute your company with people who don't deserve to be there...the interviewers can weed out those easy enough....

 

[Falconjet]

Real issue

Albie and Craig: yes it is a free country and we are all free to do what we want. I think some of the folks on the board (myself included) just get a bit of an uneasy feeling in our stomach when someone who works for an airline is using their "insight" into the process to make a profit off it by "advising" potential interviewees. Its kind of like porn, you are supposed to know it when you see it, and the insider prep business is awfully close to porn. When you use a free internet site to "advertise" your services, it gets even closer to hard core porn.

I don't know what the particular airlines think of their employees hiring themselves as pros in the interview prep, but I guess they give tacit agreement because they know some of their pilots are doing it (at least SW). I do remember signing a piece of paper during the FedEx interview that I agreed that the info during the interview was proprietary in nature and shouldn't be disclosed, but of course that wouldn't apply to general interview prep strategies.

Some folks used to call the Federal Telephone System (FTS) in the CG the 'family telephone system' because they would use it on occasion to make personal phone calls and such. Most people kept it to a minimum and true abusers would usually be disciplined. I never had much of a problem with the infrequent calls to girlfriends, family or what not, but sometimes guys would use the system to make business or financial deals for profit. That to me crossed the line of occasional personal use into abuse.

Perhaps that is what some of the backlash is about, the perception that the interview "pros" are using this forum for advertising a service that some feel is a little inappropriate in the first place.

You can debate the pros and cons of the interview prep all day, but those with a financial stake in the outcome maybe should take a pass.

These are just some thoughts, none of my business probably, but perhaps worth some consideration.

Peace.

FJ

 

[SWAdude]

.they're not out to dilute your company with people who don't deserve to be there.

Of course not,,,they are there to make money.

the interviewers can weed out those easy enough.

How are so sure about this? I am talking from inside the circle that many of us interviewers comment on these issues.

.it's about preparation for some people who have never interviewed for any job in their entire life, let alone an airline interview

I'm not against preparation, just an apparent conflict of interest. I am very much in favor of preparation. It shines brightly on a candidate. I'm at a lost at where you think i'm not in favor of preparation.

Where exactly do you want to agree to disagree?

SWAdude

 

[ArchieF16]

we just agree to disagree whether it's appropriate or not to post their services on this board.....

 

[AlbieF15]

As usual, FJ has some good points...which is why he is in demand at a couple of companies!

I do not discuss the FDX testing, sim profile, or specific scenarios in the SBI not only because of legal reasons, but because about all that info is already out there on aviationinterviews.com and other sites. Selling someone info that is already out there is Kit Darby's gig, not mine...

What I provide is detailed coaching on how to do your best in the targeted (tell me about time) interview format. Every person has individual strengths and weaknesses, and those are the areas we focus on magnifying and improving. FYI...this format has been growing in vogue in the HR world and is also used outside of aviation. My wife recently hired some teachers for a grant funded program she manages at a local community college, and the board used the same type questions that you face at jetblue, FDX, or SWA. In my opinion, if you can nail that interview at jetblue you can probably do very well at FDX or SWA too. (Just don't forget to bone up in a sim before you go to Memphis, or the plane ride back a day early will stink!)

I don't want the message boards to turn into an Amway sales site either, so I'll keep my hole shut unless directly asked from here on about the prep side. However, if you don't want to work with someone "inside" Rob Beeks has helped a lot of folks at FDX prep up for their Memphis marathon.

 

[man-down]

Some of you are really hard on Craig here. I wonder how many of you who calim that he is taking advantage of a situation have given money to kit darby?


I did not use a pay service to help me prep: but I did talk to active SWA employees to help calm my nerves. Chase was one of them, thanks! It worked, somewhat and I was lucky enough to be sucessful. I personally would feel much better getting a prep from someone at the company that knows what I will be going through for the interview and if I get the job, rather than a generic prep.


I also would want to stop as many unnecessary calls to my home (even if only for my wife's benefit). Putting a post here is fine in my book, after all it is an interview site.


m-d