Originally Posted by
Reactivity
My experience would tend to indicate that recommendation letters don't do a lot to speed the process along. I uploaded four when I updated my application in August last year. Two were from Alaska pilots and one was from my current direct supervisor.
What I have learned over the course of the last year is that a strong résumé and a lot of effort to be seen at recruiting events will do a lot more for you than letters with your application. I'd guess that's why they don't take them with the application now - it's just not what they're looking at when they decide who to call.
I know applicants who have had their resume walked in to a base chief's office with only one LOR attached, no job fairs attended and have been invited to an interview within months.
I'm wondering if they stopped allowing LORs to be included with your online application so that line pilots have to make in person introductions for the person s/he is recommending.