Bleagle - if that got under your skin, you probably are not going to like the airline training environment, or line flying, as a new hire First Officer. Everyone has good days and bad. Flexibility, understanding and a thick skin go a long way when it takes interaction with a dozen or more folks to get your jet off the gate. As a new hire - your work load is entirely up to your co-workers. You turn on the hydraulics when the rampers want it, if you don't get their version of a standardized signal, you may get a very colorful introduction to local culture. You are responsible for following a standard procedure and have to esablish communications, or brief the signal. If you get mad, it only wastes your time and distracts your attention - you don't extra time, or SA when you are new.

Your "HR" guy might just be a very senior Captain, or soon to be head of your fleet. The previous recruiting manager, is now 777 Program Manager. It is a risky game to label anyone here. Delta, like other successful companies, provides opportunity for sharp folks to rise to increasing challenges in management. As a new hire FO, the best pre flight check is to keep the ears & mind open and temper in the inhibited/wired shut position.

At the risk of stepping on a mine, I see applicants (myself included) who were fairly high up the chain of command at their previous jobs have a hard time adjusting to being at the bottom as a new hire pilot. IMHO going from the Left Seat to the Right Seat is more difficult than the upgrade was years ago.