Wal Mart will be interviewing

[g159av8tor]

It seems this thread had been hi-jacked in the past, but I thought I'd try it again.

I got a call from Sandy in the home office stating that Wal Mart is gearing up to interview for open pilot positions. Would anybody like to share their interview experience and offer any specific advice or gouge? I'm excited about the possible opportunity and grateful for any shared knowledge.

Tailwinds...

 

[Tooslow]

How much do they pay, I am going to quit the airline $hit!

 

[g159av8tor]

Wal-Mart Pay

Lear FOs start at $43,000/YR. That is competitive for a small corporate jet.

Tailwinds...

 

[Justino]

Do I have to also work as a checkout clerk ? If not I would love to fly for Wal Mart? Do they have min posted times?

 

[g159av8tor]

Wal-Mart has not posted any mins that I know of. Probably, my mins are now considered competitive: 4500+ TT, 2800+ Turbine, LJ experience and at least a four year degree (I am 5/6 done with my MS). Does that help, probably not. Why peolpe bash the pay and upgrade time is beyond me when the regionals can't offer anything better by far. $43,000 plus is really competitive for a small corporate jet. I've nearly done it all in my six year flying career (save military, although I've towed targets for them) and will say QOL is by far the most important aspect of any flying career, or any career for that matter.

Tailwinds...

 

[gear_guy]

Have fun trying to live in Bentonville on that if you have a family.It's all perspective. If you have spent your career working for the regionals making slave wages, it's a great deal. But if you have spent your entire career in corporate aviation, it's a let down. They are 2 different worlds! We are'nt talkin about some fly-by-night corporation. They are the largest company in the world. I imagine they have a hard time finding experienced career corporate aviators to fill their positions. I just hope they eventually bring their pay up (or at least negotiate). But I highly doubt it when you have so many folks willing to take the job.

 

[Justino]

O, I guess my time is not high enough! I figured. Hey I am almost done with my Masters too, I grad this December!!! Although, I will not use the degree for flying; its kinda hard to use a department of defense and strategic studies MS degree in the air! O well, maybe I could fly for the CIA or FBI.

Thanks for the info

Cyah

Justino

 

[English]

Lear FOs start at $43,000/YR. That is competitive for a small corporate jet.

Tailwinds...

I don't think competitive is the right word.

My buddy was hired at a very good corporate gig this year. As an FO he starts at 90K.

43K sounds like WalMart wages - oh, oops, uh....

 

[SkyBoy1981]

If he's making 90k as an FO on a jet the size of a Lear 31....then please, point me in that direction. As far as Wal-Mart, the biggest draw back I've heard is living in Bentonville with virtually no airline travel benefits, and that advancement is usually to those that brown nose the most rather than those that have the most seniority. Again, these are only rumors though. Its definitely a lot better than some other corporate gigs out there.

 

[shaq]

I don't think competitive is the right word.

My buddy was hired at a very good corporate gig this year. As an FO he starts at 90K.

43K sounds like WalMart wages - oh, oops, uh....

I had to jump in here...

If you really believe that your post has any intelligence behind it whatsoever, well, check yourself in to a mental facility IMMEDIATELY!!! If there is ANYONE out there (inside the U.S.) paying 90K for a Learjet 30 series F.O. to start then that employer is as whacked as you are... And to think I would ever say a pilot is overpaid.

Now, if your buddy started at 90K as a Global, Gulfstream, Falcon, etc... FO, then that would be believable. If that's the case your post is just flamebait.

Either way you are an idiot. PERIOD!

Bottom line, from what I have seen and heard from meeting some of their guys on the road it's a pretty fair deal with positives and negatives just like everywhere else. No matter what your mentally distorted grand visions of pay scales tell you, $43,000 / yr. is a fair wage for the position. Especially in the AR region.

Please tell us where your padded cell is located and we'll have the internet connection turned off...

 

[English]

I had to jump in here...

If you really believe that your post has any intelligence behind it whatsoever, well, check yourself in to a mental facility IMMEDIATELY!!! If there is ANYONE out there (inside the U.S.) paying 90K for a Learjet 30 series F.O. to start then that employer is as whacked as you are... And to think I would ever say a pilot is overpaid.

Now, if your buddy started at 90K as a Global, Gulfstream, Falcon, etc... FO, then that would be believable. If that's the case your post is just flamebait.

Either way you are an idiot. PERIOD!

Bottom line, from what I have seen and heard from meeting some of their guys on the road it's a pretty fair deal with positives and negatives just like everywhere else. No matter what your mentally distorted grand visions of pay scales tell you, $43,000 / yr. is a fair wage for the position. Especially in the AR region.

Please tell us where your padded cell is located and we'll have the internet connection turned off...

Name calling is not the way to go.

And, I am 100% accurate in my statements above. He works for a real corporate aviation flight department at a Fortune 500 company flying a Lear 45.

 

[Lear70]

Oh God... here we go.

Shaq, I'd advise you not to argue with her - you can't win, you never do with a girl...

Sorry English, couldn't resist.

 

[shaq]

English,

Tell your buddy to keep a resume polished up, I've worked at one of those flight departments before. As soon as the financials start to go down the toilet some bean counter downtown starts looking for overpriced convenience items (i.e. PILOTS) and runs to the CFO with his/her copy of the NBAA Salary Guide or Stanton Group Industrial Compensation Survey...

Then mam, the real fun starts...

The key to running a flight department where EVERYONE gets to have a long 30 year career and retire is keeping a small target. Doesn't sound like your buddy is working for one of those, hope I'm wrong. I once was speaking with a new hire at FlightOptions who had previously worked for a flight department just as you describe. Worked out great for him ....

As for name calling. My father always said, "if you don't want to be called it, don't act like it... There's always someone around to make the call..."

This will be my last post on the subject because someone like yourself lacks the ability to learn from people like myself who've "been there, done that" and fighting ignorance is a lost cause.

Regards!

 

[gear_guy]

This is exactly why the pay will never change.

BTW- I know F/O's that started at 105k on a Citation. And believe me they are'nt going under. I'm not gonna mention names, just believe me on this one.

If taking that job is stupid, somebody needs to put down the pipe.

And why do people want to compare everything to the regionals. Who said we ever considered that an option??? It's not apples and oranges....It's like comparing the Ritz to the Motel 6 (IMO). No offense to those who chose that career, but Regionals and Corporate have about zero in common with each other.

 

[SkyBoy1981]

And why do people want to compare everything to the regionals. Who said we ever considered that an option??? It's not apples and oranges....It's like comparing the Ritz to the Motel 6 (IMO). No offense to those who chose that career, but Regionals and Corporate have about zero in common with each other.

I wouldn't say that Ritz vs Motel 6 is a very good comparison. I've known many people to leave corporate flying for the regionals, and even with the paycut have been much happier with the overall schedule and work environment. There have also been many people to do the opposite with the same end result. Its really all about the individual and where their interests are. Some people would rather be a part of a huge operation with hundreds of pilots, while some prefer to keep their job on a smaller more personal level. With that being said, I do agree that one cannot directly compare corporate to airline flying...they are two totally different career paths for two different types of pilots. So, instead of saying "its like comparing the Ritz to the Motel 6" I think its more like comparing buying a new car vs buying a new truck. Both CAN be good vehicles, but some people like cars..and some people like trucks. Its simply not a universal decision.

 

[SkyBoy1981]

deleted...duplicated somehow.

 

[English]

English,

Tell your buddy to keep a resume polished up, I've worked at one of those flight departments before. As soon as the financials start to go down the toilet some bean counter downtown starts looking for overpriced convenience items (i.e. PILOTS) and runs to the CFO with his/her copy of the NBAA Salary Guide or Stanton Group Industrial Compensation Survey...

Then mam, the real fun starts...

The key to running a flight department where EVERYONE gets to have a long 30 year career and retire is keeping a small target. Doesn't sound like your buddy is working for one of those, hope I'm wrong. I once was speaking with a new hire at FlightOptions who had previously worked for a flight department just as you describe. Worked out great for him ....

As for name calling. My father always said, "if you don't want to be called it, don't act like it... There's always someone around to make the call..."

This will be my last post on the subject because someone like yourself lacks the ability to learn from people like myself who've "been there, done that" and fighting ignorance is a lost cause.

Regards!

It is also obvious that someone like yourself lacks the ability to realize you don't know everything.

And yes, fighting your ignorance is a lost cause.

 

[gear_guy]

Why peolpe bash the pay and upgrade time is beyond me when the regionals can't offer anything better by far.
Tailwinds...

This was the comment I was refering to. I think if you re-read my earlier post it will make more sense. I don't see how they are both like buying new autos. I don't get that analogy. That implies that they have something in common...which they don't. But that's for another thread. I personally have never, and will never consider the regionals as a career because their pay is unfair.

My point is that they will not raise the corporate pay as long as people "making that for 6 years in the regionals" keep saying that it's fair pay. Sure it's a raise to people in the regionals. But for those of us making a career out of corporate aviation it is below average for the #1 company in the world. You're really screwing people out of the money the job deserves. That's all I am saying. You guys complain about the Mesa's and Jet Blue's, and then drive corporate aviation pay down yourselves. Thanks alot.

 

[sleepy]

About 7 years ago I started as a LR-31A FO with a company much smaler than Wal-Mart for about $44K per year plus very good benefits. For the area (NW Arkansas) and the type of employer (discount retail) the pay sounds about right.

 

[AA717driver]

Is that area expensive to live in? Sounds like you could do ok on $44k starting out. What's the 5-year pay?TC

 

[SkyBoy1981]

My point is that they will not raise the corporate pay as long as people "making that for 6 years in the regionals" keep saying that it's fair pay. Sure it's a raise to people in the regionals. But for those of us making a career out of corporate aviation it is below average for the #1 company in the world. You're really screwing people out of the money the job deserves. That's all I am saying. You guys complain about the Mesa's and Jet Blue's, and then drive corporate aviation pay down yourselves. Thanks alot.

Well, I understand your point, and it is a valid one, but I don't see where Wal Mart's pay is excessively low considering the type of aircraft that they fly and the trips that they do. It may be one of the world's biggest companies, but you're not flying Falcon 900EX's or G550's all over the world...instead its a LJ31 flying mostly domestic trips that return to home-base every night. Being a corporate pilot myself (and not one that came from the regionals) I don't consider that to be a very unreasonable starting salary. I'm not sure what the pay is beyond the first year, though.

 

[Lou3]

Does anyone know where to find out additional information (ie, requirements) for applying? I checked out the Wal Mart website but could not find anything Aviation related in the careers section.

 

[Treme]

So how did the phone interview go? Whats next? I heard they scheduled a 3-day interview process for some people down in Rogers. Thats a pretty long process! What happens if a candidate can't get down there on those specific days? Good luck!

 

[BoilerUP]

44K doesn't seem too bad for NW Arkansas...its not like its SoCal or the NE corridor for goodness sakes. Plus you don't have to worry too much about the company going BK. More money would be nice though, it would probably keep people there longer. How are the bennies?

I'm curious too, what is the 3 and 5 year FO pay, and 5 year captain pay? Do they have anything bigger than Lears?

/too lazy to search

 

[j328ernest]

So how did the phone interview go? Whats next? I heard they scheduled a 3-day interview process for some people down in Rogers. Thats a pretty long process! What happens if a candidate can't get down there on those specific days? Good luck!

Treme,

You didn't display WHO you were directing your question towards regarding feedback from the Wal-Mart telephone interview.

As for others on this board, Sandy from Wal-Mart just called me yesterday and I'm booked for a 11AM telephone interview TOMORROW! Yeah I know it was short notice on both sides but they gotta do what they gotta do. So again I know it's short notice but aside from being myself tomorrow if any of ya'll have already been through it by all means PM as quick as possible so I can get a leg up on this.

Ernest

 

[On Your Six]

44K doesn't seem too bad for NW Arkansas...its not like its SoCal or the NE corridor for goodness sakes. Plus you don't have to worry too much about the company going BK. More money would be nice though, it would probably keep people there longer. How are the bennies?

I'm curious too, what is the 3 and 5 year FO pay, and 5 year captain pay? Do they have anything bigger than Lears?

/too lazy to search

I know Wal-Mart operates a Global Express as well as a GIV (I am not sure if the GIV is still operated). The Global is capable of flying from Arkansas to China nonstop and it apparently does so frequently (from what I have heard). I am surprised that Wal-Mart doesn't operate more heavy iron beyond just the two mentioned as they continue to grow internationally - I imagine the Global pilots are worked A LOT..........

 

[Gulfstream 200]

Arkansas to China non-stop?....humm....

you SURE bout' that??

Sounds like an 18hr leg to me....

 

[smileyface]

Wal-Mart international ops

Rogers to Bejing doesn't work nonstop, but Bejing-rogers works... as does Seoul and Tokyo to Rogers.

We don't have the G-IV any more, but operate a CL601. Niether of the international airplanes get dusty.

 

[ERJDRVR]

My friend has an upcoming phone interview. Looking for a few bits about the interview.

Who is the Chief Pilot.
Anyone had a phone interview lately? What was asked.
(I did a search on here, found zero about it... mainly bashing walmart stuff)
Looking for any helpful info to help her out.
Any info appreciated.. PM PLEASE !!!!

 

[g159av8tor]

My friend has an upcoming phone interview. Looking for a few bits about the interview.

Who is the Chief Pilot.
Anyone had a phone interview lately? What was asked.
(I did a search on here, found zero about it... mainly bashing walmart stuff)
Looking for any helpful info to help her out.
Any info appreciated.. PM PLEASE !!!!

ERJDRVR,

PM any Wal-Mart pilot about the phone interview. I just completed it and the 50 minute process was fair and balanced as a conference call could be with six pilots and an HR rep. asking situational questions and pilot technical questions. Good luck to your friend. They're looking to hire three pilots total.

Tailwinds...