Delta likes to hire confident, self-assured people. Not cocky, just comfortable in who they are and what they’ve done. I think paid prep is important if you are overly nervous or lacking self-confidence. Be honest with yourself about it, maybe get some second opinions, and hire paid prep if necessary. The flip side applies as well. If you come off as a s##t-don’t-stink know-it-all that’s not good either, and a prep company can help with that.

The hiring team is really good at hiring good people. If you’re one of those, it’s likely you’ll get hired. If you aren’t, they’ll usually spot it at some point and say no. A prep company can help knock the rough edges off and make it go better but they can’t change who you are. I fly with lots of new guys and 95% of them are super dudes - relaxed, knowledgeable, confident and just good people. The other 5% I figure fooled the interview team and slipped through the cracks.

FYI, I did no prep and got hired, but that was last century and I guess I fooled them.