Tips on Successfully Interviewing at SWA?

[RUNWAYHOG]

Only 2 out of 12 were hired in my group, interviewed in March, didn't get the job. No Luv for me there. It was my 2nd interview, and had 6 recs, two SR Capt's and 4 F/O's that had been their anywhere from 3 to 5 years. Done an interview prep that was said to be the best prep for SWA. I did everything I could to get on, all in all it cost me over 1000.00. WARNING, don't be lured in by people or companies that say they can get you the job their. All they want is your money. They got mine this time, but not again.

Good luck to everyone interviewing with SWA. You will need it.

 

[Steve]

Only 2 out of 12 were hired in my group, interviewed in March, didn't get the job. No Luv for me there. It was my 2nd interview, and had 6 recs, two SR Capt's and 4 F/O's that had been their anywhere from 3 to 5 years. Done an interview prep that was said to be the best prep for SWA. I did everything I could to get on, all in all it cost me over 1000.00. WARNING, don't be lured in by people or companies that say they can get you the job their. All they want is your money. They got mine this time, but not again.

Good luck to everyone interviewing with SWA. You will need it.

Where did you fly the OV-10? You can PM me.

 

[chase]

,

A lot of brain cells used to analyze the logic...I have to keep things simple. After 7 years I've assumed many folks who visit the FI Hangar>Aviation Interview Board>Major are looking for information that could help them during an interview. I don't know the secret formula for SWA, I don't believe there is one as evidenced by the variety of folks who are selected compared to those who are. Engaging in a discussion on a topic that might help others was the motive....as I've recalled this story many times, in a previous time the head of the People Department came on a compuserve forum and routinely encouraged folks with helpful information on how to best present themselves for an interview....basic information but spot on that helped me & many others who use to regularly visit there....she also routinely answered questions from strangers on the forum...she was super. I'm no exec VP by any means....just an FO who hopes folks put their best foot forward....we've all had help from someone...just paying back a debt to those who helped me. Nothing more cosmic than that my friend.

 

[SupaFly]

chase, why would you be interested in "helping" SWA hopefuls unless you KNOW the process favors one type of personality over the other, and that this causes good people to fail? Might you have had a few friends try and fail?, so you're trying to come to grips with a system that you now realize isn't optimized to finding the best person for the job? Think about this, if the SWA pilot hiring system works, aren't you doing the company harm by helping people manipulate the system?

Think about it bro

Let me preface this post by saying that with a military background, I can't offer much experience in civilian hiring practices, so this is opinion only...

, have you ever known someone smart who didn't score well on the SAT? Just like there are really intelligent people who don't test well, I'd bet there are excellent pilots (in the cockpit and in the crew room) who don't interview well. If Chase can help those out, then he is adding value to this forum. Those who are excellent pilots and interview well don't need the help, and the idiots who try to hide it in the interview will probably have tells that distinguish their idiocy. Sure, the system is not perfect: good people like T2Pilot don't get the call and bad apples slip into the company, but a few words on an online forum with the goal of helping out those looking to move up in the industry from those already there is a good thing. Except for a few on this forum who think their stuff doesn’t stink and wants everyone to know it, most comments by declared SWA pilots seem intelligent and helpful, so maybe it works.

I'm still waiting for a class date, so the process is still fresh in my mind. I actually enjoyed the LOI, but I am the type who relishes a good challenge, facing a problem, gathering information, making a decision, delegating responsibilities, and critiquing the process to do better the next time. I've never seen seven minutes go by so quickly. There was nothing in the interviews that really surprised me, but I had a lot of time in the upper bunk on an aircraft carrier crossing the Atlantic to remember personal stories of flying, teamwork, leadership, and learning. I did leave a little dejected, because in the last interview I didn't finish a question well. I missed the opportunity to say "This is what I learned about that..." allowing the interviewer to relate one of his own stories while I tried to convey that any mistakes I made were the result of youthful inexperience and not character flaws. Of course, this is what stuck in my mind, so I spent the next five weeks thinking up more places where I should have said this, or had a better story for that, becoming more and more depressed and convinced of failure. In the end, it worked out for me.

I approached the interview as a chance to tell good aviation and personal stories as if I were trying to make a good impression on a new supervisor, or fit into a new social setting. I wanted to show that I could be trusted with the lives of 137 customers in the back, that I would make decent conversation passing the time at the hotel bar on an overnight, and that a captain wouldn't look at his trip and mutter "Oh great, not eight hours in the cockpit with this kid again." I would recommend interview prep to anyone who has not looked for a job recently, a lot of time thinking about personal events that detail desirable personality traits, and a suit that makes you feel comfortable and confident.

Supa

 

[ONEWAY]

thanks to some hard work, good fortune, and info from those on this board...

I interviewed back in the winter (once) and got hired..

what worked for me:

1. Smile 'til you face hurts (smile at EVERYONE!)
2. "....there WE were..." instead of "....there I was...."
3. make it known to everyone how much you WANT TO BE THERE!

best of luck to all!

 

[Cheesemo]

Where's your FOM?

Chase,

Shouldn't you be studying?

Cheers,
Cheese

 

[northstar]

don't forget y'all...

Southwest Pilot Open House

June 10, 2006 1pm-6pm

(yes I know, it's a Saturday"

At SWA Headquarters

... "you don't need application minimums to attend"

HAVE FUN !

 

[AlbieF15]

Simple technique...

BALLWALK.

 

[Uppercrust]

Simple technique...

BALLWALK.

Now that's what I'm talking about!!!

 

[Cujo55]

Simple technique...

BALLWALK.

...an oldie, but a goodie....seen it work!

Cheers