Some thoughts
While the pool of current folks awaiting class is still 200+, I've heard more rumblings lately that interviewing may start back again shortly after the summer timeframe, sooner than what I thought but of course no guarantee.
However, the numbers of fully qualified (with types) that are sitting awaiting for the interview call is in the 600+ range. Approximately 3500 + total applicants of all folks are on file. SWA projects to interview slightly less than 1000 folks to fill the required need for next year's (04) hiring. This will probably drain the current apps w/types but if you don't have a type (& you've applied already) then the wait will be later in the year ('04) or the following year ('05) to get the call. Having the type will get you to the "call for interview" assuming everything else is kosher, quicker to interview than without a type but at some point those without types will get the call because the required number of interviews (based upon the projections of new aircraft, pilot retirements, etc. see other thread on this topic under my name) will only be going up in the later years ('05-'12).
Assuming a 1:5 or 1:4 ratio of new hires over interviewees, the prospect of over 100 interviews per month beginning in '05 is realistic. Folks who haven't even discovered this board will be on interviewed during that timeframe. Folks who are reading this now who meet the requirements + have a type + already are awaiting a call, will for sure be interviewed within the 12 months & maybe even later this year. Folks reading this now, who have all all the requirements to include the type but who haven't applied yet (window is close) will most likely get interviewed next year which should be good news. Folks reading this now who have all the requirements except for the type but haven't applied yet will be behind the 3500 + current apps. My best guess is you won't be interviewed until sometime in '05 if the numbers hold true. How to move yourself up? Get the type.
Again I will caveat all of this to say as I always do, no one really knows. Lots of things can change all of these predictions, war, terrorist attacks, economy, etc. Lots of air guessing going on & cyber junk thought, no science to it.
Additionally, to those who may deduce that even those without types will get a call one day for an interview so the type requirement may go away again, yes that is true. So one will have spent money on a type when it wasn't required for the interview.
That statement above is correct but the question is when will this occur. Opening up the app window to those w/o types at some point will occur in the future. This won't happen though IMHO anytime within the next 18-24 months. So in the mean time one can wait (which maybe smart economically depending on the circumstances) & know that SWA isn't in your future for that period of time or decide to get a type & be ready to go when the window opens up and be in the smaller pool of those with types vs. those without types. REMEMBER: There is no guarantee of being hired with a type over those without types when everything is stacked together so please don't read anything into my comments above. Always have plans to have several irons in the fire, not just SWA.
To those who say "hey chase is promoting getting a type". Yes, if you're serious about trying to make yourself competitive for SWA. To fully disclose, I am an instructor at HPA & while I haven't taught in quite awhile & receive no monetary gain except for when I teach (which isn't often which is good for the students there
. Regardless of that fact, I still stand behind my thoughts but please don't put your family or yourself in a financial crisis over the ramblings of forum poster...never good advice.
My desire is not drum up business for type schools but to provide info to readers on how best to plan for a future with SWA. SWA is not your average airline company & personality match is important. None of us believe we are jerks but we can all identify the one's we've flown with. This can & does come across in interviews. Look in the mirror & determine for yourself if you think you meet the criteria (again obviously there are exceptions because they let me in!) Not all of us are are comfortable at interviews either. Is one mentally prepared to be turned down & go after it again? If you can't answer yes than you may wish to reconsider going through the mental anquish of applying & getting turned down. You must decide for yourself if this road is worth going down. I have no secret formulas or insight other than what I hear & see. Hope it has helped.
