Originally Posted by
gloopy
I think people may be over estimating the liability angle. On the same token, good luck to some ambulance chasing scum bag lawyer trying to find your pizza delivery job a quarter century ago as well, let alone linking that to his junk lawsuit. Non event. The real reason IMO is two fold. First, it tells your "life's story" which is a big deal to many HR departments, especially DL. You read a lot on the forums about "red flags" such as tickets or taking a certain amount of time to get your degree, etc, but it isn't really about any of that specifically. Your life's story is what puts everything like that into context. The other reason is that its a great way to make sure you're detail oriented, or at least that you can be for a critically important known event like for (in most cases) the biggest job interview of your life. They also put a lot of emphasis on spelling and grammar, etc, not because they care so deeply about it on their off days, but because it helps show how seriously you are approaching the particular hugely important task at hand. You'll need nice looking, shined shoes as well. They are big on that, mostly because they know that you know they are, so let's see how seriously you take this, etc. A different major airline had (still has?) a hard on for the right color socks. Another made (still does?) you poop on a stick to get hired. The insane trivial pursuit knowledge tests many of the foreign airlines put you through blow away anything you'll ever see at a US airline selection process. Every place is different. Its one of the more comprehensive apps in the US at least. But nothing they ask or expect is really that hard. Its just what they require, no big deal.
Gloopy,
I understand what your saying but I still don't see the need to go that far back. You mention some regional guys staying 10 years. Ok, so if the guy got a job at that regional at 19, and flew for 20 years, then what picture are they getting then as opposed to the guy who flew for the same regional for 10?
I think what matters most is 1. Skill, without it no matter how nice you are, it's not going to matter at 0200 over Western Africa when things are going south 2. A good attitude, everyone cares or should care about that and I don't mean a kiss ass. 3. Career progression it at all possible
Yes look professional, but if I was doing the hiring I sure wouldn't care so much about how shiny a guys shoes were. I would care a lot more about how shiny he is going to be to fly with on a 5 day trip.
As for foreign airlines, I've been overseas part time since 2003 and full time since 2007. I've flown for 2 airlines (been at my current one last 5 years) and the rest was doing VVIP in bizjets.
Outside of emirates (yes I had interviewed there) my interview at my current employer was extremely simple. There was none. If you passed the sim, written , and medical you got the job as long as you could pass training which is not very difficult. We have and have had pilots here from every major back home except brown or purple....
I don't see much of a diff between what I do now and delta. I fly the same equipment, make the same amount of money or more, and have to meet the same standards.
This is why I would hope if I was invited to an interview they would care more that I've been doing essentially the same job then if I shined my shoes, took an enema (U did mention this) or listed my job selling Girl Scout cookies
I know I might come off as a pompous ass, I'm totally not and I do appreciate your input. I just don't see why guys should be expected to do all these things when at the end of the day we are all doing the same job anyway