SWA Interview prep

[pilots-wife]

Anyone know what the best SWA interview prep is?

Where can I find the gouge?

THANK YOU!

 

[scoreboard]

www.EmeraldCoastInterviewConsulting.com

There is no gouge, be yourself.

 

[radar_contact]

I second the vote for Emerald Coast. Just be VERY careful not to overprepare. You don't want to come across as scripted or rehearsed. Like scoreboard says, they want to get to know YOU, so just be yourself.

 

[Saluki Dawg]

Emerald Coast is the best one out there by far. They even have a link to their website on this forum at the top of the page. Good Luck.

 

[fracpt]

I too can attest to emerald coast! best of luck to you and review stories with your siignificant other. I thought it helped a lot. She was great at telling me if I was long winded or was boring her with too much detail!!

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

The best thing to know is yourself. Trying to read all of the interview experiences reports will drown your efforts... Use the TMAAT questions to come up with all your stories.

Read Nuts and the SWA Airlines Way. Have your family ask you interview questions and reply to them. Don't wait for the inteview to express your answers verbally for the first time.

To get really good.. video tape or sit in front of a mirror and answer questions...

What is nice about SWA, is they know you are nervous and are grading you and not your interview skills....

 

[:-)]

If you are naturally: happy, confident, poised, friendly, courteous, and positive you won't need any prep. If you're not such a person, all the prep in the world won't help. Now, for the bad news.... hundreds, if not thousands, of naturally happy, confident, poised, friendly, courteous and positive people did NOT succeed in the SWA interview.

If you do prep (with apologies to emerald coast) don't use a prep service. This way, you can honestly tell them that you prepped yourself. It has been reported that SWA doesn't appreciate "prepped" applicants. I suggest that you take great care to keep yourself from "overthinking" the interview. Review your past experiences, thinking especially about experiences that involved human interactions, so that you can tell the interviewers how well you deal with people. Just go in, sit down, avoid any bs and be yourself.

Good Luck,
and be

PS if you don't succeed, keep on keeping on. I'm living proof that being a SWA failure doesn't necessarily condem one to the scrap heap of life.

 

[AlbieF15]

:+)

Hmm...don't prep--but don't get hired and its okay? Spending 8 grand for a type (because they like to see that) is okay but not spending less than 4 hundred with a money back guarantee (because they DON'T like it?) is somehow a bad idea? I scoff...

SWA doesn't like "prepped" clients--but they don't seem to like about 80% of who they interview anyway. They chased off Rob Beeks and a few other SWA pilots who tried to help others, and drove another board regular underground. "THEY", whoever "they" are, really want to control the process and seem to get off on telling about 80% of the applicants that they "just aren't SWA material..." If you are SWA pilot and try to help someone you are pressured to stop. Not being a SWA pilot, those outside the Dallas circle are not well liked because they cannot control what we do. If you want to make everyone happy--go to Judy Tarver. She works with Higher Power--so she's "SWA approved". She won't give you back a dime if you aren't hired, nor will HP for the type--but the good news is you will NOT have upset anybody along the way and for some people that is paramount.

SWA hires about 20% of who they interview. They hire better than 60% of our crowd. I refuse to buy the "we just want you to be YOU..." stuff. If they did, they would hire more than they do now.

So--how many of you have stopped by a Titty bar on the way home from work? Did you rush in telling your girlfriend "geez...you shoulda seen the girls there at the titty bar--they rocked! There was this one that...." How many of you--if asked if you went--would say "nah..honey...that's not my thing--I've got YOU!..." Well...if you are the guy who says I absolutely, postively, cannot tell you a lie my love....here's everything I did....then I suggest you skip the prep or go throw some more money at HP. If you can say to yourself (girlfriend--you are hot--but you aren't my wife YET--so I ain't telling you $hit...) and then tell her "no babe...had a beer at the office and came home to ravage you....", then I think you have a chance if you want to use one of us.

Its your call. Plenty get hired without any prep. There are lots of people out there who can help. If you guess wrong--you only have to wait a year to reapply.

You know where I stand... I suggest anyone interested get references...

 

[:-)]

:+)

Hmm...don't prep--but don't get hired and its okay? Spending 8 grand for a type (because they like to see that) is okay but not spending less than 4 hundred with a money back guarantee (because they DON'T like it?) is somehow a bad idea? I scoff...

SWA doesn't like "prepped" clients--but they don't seem to like about 80% of who they interview anyway. They chased off Rob Beeks and a few other SWA pilots who tried to help others, and drove another board regular underground. "THEY", whoever "they" are, really want to control the process and seem to get off on telling about 80% of the applicants that they "just aren't SWA material..." If you are SWA pilot and try to help someone you are pressured to stop. Not being a SWA pilot, those outside the Dallas circle are not well liked because they cannot control what we do. If you want to make everyone happy--go to Judy Tarver. She works with Higher Power--so she's "SWA approved". She won't give you back a dime if you aren't hired, nor will HP for the type--but the good news is you will NOT have upset anybody along the way and for some people that is paramount.

SWA hires about 20% of who they interview. They hire better than 60% of our crowd. I refuse to buy the "we just want you to be YOU..." stuff. If they did, they would hire more than they do now.

So--how many of you have stopped by a Titty bar on the way home from work? Did you rush in telling your girlfriend "geez...you shoulda seen the girls there at the titty bar--they rocked! There was this one that...." How many of you--if asked if you went--would say "nah..honey...that's not my thing--I've got YOU!..." Well...if you are the guy who says I absolutely, postively, cannot tell you a lie my love....here's everything I did....then I suggest you skip the prep or go throw some more money at HP. If you can say to yourself (girlfriend--you are hot--but you aren't my wife YET--so I ain't telling you $hit...) and then tell her "no babe...had a beer at the office and came home to ravage you....", then I think you have a chance if you want to use one of us.

Its your call. Plenty get hired without any prep. There are lots of people out there who can help. If you guess wrong--you only have to wait a year to reapply.

You know where I stand... I suggest anyone interested get references...

Sorry ALbie, I love ya man. Let me retract a little and say that you're stats ARE correct, You do have a higher percentage of hires than average. SWA just doesn't like "overprepped" people.

To everyone else, Albie IS the BEST prep. If you're going to prep, I highly suggest Emerald Coast. I'm just danged cynical about the SWA people departments interview system. I think an applicant could interview on two successive days, tell the same story to each interviewer every time and get hired day one and get ignored the next. I can say that they do NOT like "over prepped" candidates.

 

[CF34-3B1]

I would agree with the "over prepped" warning, but I think if you look at interview prep as coaching and helpful hints, rather than a "tell me the right answer so I can tell them what they want to hear" kind of thing, the $ is well spent.

I certainly felt better going into the interview having done the prep, but that's just me. I also spent the $12 for Rembrant whitening strips, and the $18 for a haircut. =)

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

SWA is unique b/c of the type requirement. I think, since SWA requires the type, that if you pay for one there is some sort of obligation for SWA to interview you.... I'm not saying this obligation is mandatory, but SWA would get a bad rap if guys were spending $$$ and not even being asked to dance.

Unlike FedEx, which uses its pilots to pre-screen.. then the M&G, then the interview... FedEx hires about 80% (?).

Many pilots casually say "I guess I'll go get my type and go to SWA". Very presumptuous.... SWA isn't obligated to hire anyone "just cuz they got thier type".. What many SWA applicants fail to do in my opinion is objectively analyze if they are really SWA material. If you are going to spend $$$ on a type shouldn't you do some due diligence and see if that cash outlay is really pragmatic. IOW, find out if you are really SWA material beofre you blow the cash.. Objectively analyzing ones self is very difficult!

And thus, SWA's low acceptace rate... there is some type of obligation to interview and too many pilots think they are SWA material and they're nowhere close, but they don't have a clue and try anyway....

Thoughts?

 

[Captain Overs]

You post sounds like flame bait. I'm not sure if you intended it or not.

Af far as SWA goes it's a gamble. People spend money on the type to be competitive and get the interview. I know several people who got the type and were called within a month for an interview. Many people I know got hired, including some that I thought would never have a chance. You never know, but I can tell you by not getting the type and not interviewing you can't get hired.

 

[LearAv8r]

Real simple guys and gals. If you can tell a story and have a beginning, middle and an end you will be o.k. (Notice I did not say Hired....Not everybody will get hired...that is why it is called an interview.)

Most of the applicants that come through the door at SWA are OVERPREPARED! Most of the interviewers (two are pliots or retired pilots) feel that they will not get to know you in the short amount of time they spend with you if you have CANNED answers. I have never been to a PREP course but if they give you your money back if you get shot down than it probably can't hurt. Now if you are getting ready for your interview and using every service out there you will probably come across as CANNED or OVERPREPARED. Real simple...If you are not good at story telling or talking about yourself and are a little rough around the edges than use a service but do not expect them to give you the answers to the interview. There are none. What they can help you do is show you how you may come across to others and what you can do to get people to know you in a short amount of time.

IT DOES NOT MATTER IF YOU GOT YOUR TYPE AT HIGHER POWER OR NOT. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE IN THE HIRING OF WHERE YOU GOT YOUR TYPE. SEEMS TO ME THAT THE ONLY PEOPLE TELLING YOU THAT IT MATTERS ARE THE PEOPLE ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER POWER. BE WARY.

If you feel that it is not worth it to get the type rating and still want to work at SWA than don't worry. You can still apply and get called for an interview. If they like you you will get hired and then have 6 months to get the type. The choice is yours. Don't think that just because you have the type that you are in. The type rating is a very small part of the interview process.

Remember there are no guarantees and when you interview be yourself, do not over prepare and be excited you got called and are interviewing.

 

[fugghedabowdit]

SWA is unique b/c of the type requirement. I think, since SWA requires the type, that if you pay for one there is some sort of obligation for SWA to interview you.... I'm not saying this obligation is mandatory, but SWA would get a bad rap if guys were spending $$$ and not even being asked to dance.

Unlike FedEx, which uses its pilots to pre-screen.. then the M&G, then the interview... FedEx hires about 80% (?).

Many pilots casually say "I guess I'll go get my type and go to SWA". Very presumptuous.... SWA isn't obligated to hire anyone "just cuz they got thier type".. What many SWA applicants fail to do in my opinion is objectively analyze if they are really SWA material. If you are going to spend $$$ on a type shouldn't you do some due diligence and see if that cash outlay is really pragmatic. IOW, find out if you are really SWA material beofre you blow the cash.. Objectively analyzing ones self is very difficult!

And thus, SWA's low acceptace rate... there is some type of obligation to interview and too many pilots think they are SWA material and they're nowhere close, but they don't have a clue and try anyway....

Thoughts?

I totally agree with this. I waited to get the type, and felt much better about getting the call for the interview, which came 13 months after my app was in. I felt like they called me for me, instead of the B737 type box being checked. I got hired. Just my .02

 

[puddlejumper101]

I don't know much about anything...but what I do know is that this all revolves around attitude. There is no prep on Earth that can mask that. I totally agree with Rez. O Lewshun when he mentions the "entitlement" people get once they have the type. There is no type, flight time, degree or anything that can mask a bad attitude and I think generally we forget that. Does SWA care what you did to get to the interview? not really. Do they care how much flight time you have? nope...do they care what you flew in? not one bit. If you are sitting there interviewing with them then you meet the goods...what seperates one from another is attitude. I know most of the "prep" coaches don't like hearing this but if you don't have the "goods" no coach on Earth can give them to you. Before my interview I did not know if I should get prep or not. I talked to several "coaches" and thought it over...but decided not to do it. The motivating factor for this was coming from inside SWA. Most of the guys, gals I knew that worked there were totally against me getting prep...they told me it was not needed. Now that I can look back...I totally agree. The questions, scenarios, and situations SWA puts you in are all designed to let your attitude come out. Just be yourself...and be happy to be there...it works. A smile is the best answer you can give to any question they give you.

 

[puddlejumper101]

If you are naturally: happy, confident, poised, friendly, courteous, and positive you won't need any prep. If you're not such a person, all the prep in the world won't help. Now, for the bad news.... hundreds, if not thousands, of naturally happy, confident, poised, friendly, courteous and positive people did NOT succeed in the SWA interview.

If you do prep (with apologies to emerald coast) don't use a prep service. This way, you can honestly tell them that you prepped yourself. It has been reported that SWA doesn't appreciate "prepped" applicants. I suggest that you take great care to keep yourself from "overthinking" the interview. Review your past experiences, thinking especially about experiences that involved human interactions, so that you can tell the interviewers how well you deal with people. Just go in, sit down, avoid any bs and be yourself.

Good Luck,
and be

PS if you don't succeed, keep on keeping on. I'm living proof that being a SWA failure doesn't necessarily condem one to the scrap heap of life.

Dude I totally agree :beer:

 

[Whine Lover]

If you need somebody to "train" you to get the Job....You probably don't deserve the Job.


YKW

 

[:-)]

SWA is unique b/c of the type requirement. I think, since SWA requires the type, that if you pay for one there is some sort of obligation for SWA to interview you.... I'm not saying this obligation is mandatory, but SWA would get a bad rap if guys were spending $$$ and not even being asked to dance.

....

Thoughts?

I really doubt that SWA interviews the amount of applicants that they do because they think that are in any way obligated because so many people bought 737 type ratings.


Someone else wrote something on this website years ago regarding SWA hiring, and what they said went like this, " SWA's hiring process can be related to the Dallas Cowboys draft strategy during the early 80's. For years, the Cowboys system worked (most likely according to chance instead of skill) so Tex Schramm concluded that it was infalible. They continued their flawed draft process for a long time past the point at which it had obviously ceased to provide positive results, largely because they were too arrogant to consider that they might be wrong. Southwest could be placed in the same catagory"

To be blunt, SWA interviews an excessive amount of pilots, and turns down an equally excessive amount of the pilots they hire because the PD believes their own press clippings.

 

[737ski]

Now it's personal... Please don't equate the SWA process to the Dallas Cowboys draft system. Both are winners, considering draft day...sift out the losers. Thank goodness the system worked. You must be a Redskins fan in drag.

May you see Roy Williams, full steam, in your dreams...

 

[Falconjet]

Actually, if I remember correctly, SW had a stated policy that they would interview EVERYBODY who met their mins. Those with the type rating would be interviewed sooner than those without when they were pretty fat with applicants who had the type. Those folks went into one pile and they got pulled out sooner (on average) than those without the type.

Now it appears that since they don't have as many applicants with the type they are calling more folks sooner without the type. I personally admire the fact that they are willing to give anybody and everybody who meet their mins a chance at an interview. It might take some time to work your way up through the stack, but you will get there one day.

That means that they aren't going to hire as high a percentage of applicants as a company who limits their applicant pool to only those with 3 or more recs (like FedEx), but at least everybody gets a chance. I'd rather have that chance than to be left out in the cold because I didn't know anybody who worked there.

As for the prep, I think that to not prepare would be foolish. Each person has to determine it they can honestly evaluate themselves on their interviewing skills and determine the type of prep that would best suit them. If you need the confidence boost by all means get the prep. If you are a confident person by nature and feel that you can prep yourself, then give it a shot.

IF I were going to get the prep, I would certainly go with one that had enough confidence to offer the money back guarantee, and as far as I know Albie is the only one who offers that.

Good luck.

FJ