Hi Jamin...to add to the good advice already posted:

1. I chose CHQ mainly for quality of life...got a lot of info on that from some buddies of mine that already worked here, and from the good people here and a few other forums. At first base was important to me, but then I figured what will that matter if I'm never home and have to commute. So I figured I can move and explore the country, as long as I live in base...that was my first rule. By the time I applied I had over double the mins most places, so I looked at the top two regionals in terms of QOL at the time, which were RAH and Skywest. I didn't want to move so far away from friends and family in FL, so I chose the easternmost of those two. Commute if you have to, but move in base and life is much better. Look at pay, particularly after a year or two, and talk to current pilots about work rules. Upgrade times should be a factor, but not the deciding one IMO.

2. Most regionals have an online application process...or if you know someone at the company, you could probably have them walk in your info...though despite the hiring slowdown, this probably isnt necessary. I applied online, was called the next day for an interview. Check out alot of the useful info here on the main page for preparing the resume content.

3. I used the same website you are, and had some friends who had just gone through the interview process a few weeks earlier. With the info from those two places, I felt very well prepared for the interview, and it went exactly the way I thought it would. I made a massive list of written test, HR, and technical oral questions compiled from those two sources, and put together answers for all of them, then ran through them all with my wife...that made me a little less stressed out when interview time came, though of course there were some unexpected questions in the actual interview. I studied the ATP oral exam guide from cover to cover, refreshed myself on the systems of the aircraft I was teaching in, reviewed Part 121 in the FARs, and studied alot of basic aviation math, rules of thumb, etc. Best way to study jepps...look through the intro...everything in the Jepps is right there. Also check out http://www.jeppesen.com/wlcs/index.j...tions_aopa.jsp.

For the sim, I knew several of the profiles they might make me do, so I ran through them on flight sim several times per day (and believe it or not it helped).

Also...VERY IMPORTANT: make sure you have all the required paperwork, with several copies of each item they want. Passport, FCC license, driving record, etc. etc.

4. Honestly the only thing I did prior to ground school was enjoy my last weeks as a CFI in Florida, go to the beach one last time, etc, before I took the next step. They will provide you with all the study material in ground school, and then its time to bare down and study hard.

5. IOE...I couldn't sleep at all the night before...part of it was knowing my very first flight was going to be out of LGA...which scared the heck out of me Just be open to criticism, and be on your toes. Your mind will still be back at the gate when you're landing at your destination on that first flight. The IOE capt was a great guy, and I learned alot. By the end of the trip, everything will seem to be making more sense. Reserve is not as bad as alot of people make it out to be, depending on who you fly for. If you live in base, it's a pretty good deal...you may get a few extra days off out of it if they dont call you, though you're stuck at home on those days...which is why I can make such a long post If you don't live in base, reserve is terrible....it's tough to get home. Also, while on reserve, I've done trips from each of our bases, which is nice since you get to see how each base operates, and the quality of the trips throughout the system. Good luck.