Originally Posted by
FlyJSH
While I'm "only" 40ish, I found it hard to get interviews with regionals (forget about anyone bigger) with 10 years corp and 135 experience. At one interview with one of the "better" regionals, the CA at the interview said, "Why the hell are you here?" I left the interview wondering why I thought I wanted to work for them.
Yep, a pretty stupid question indeed. Or maybe not stupid, but asked in a poor fashion. But think about his, maybe he just wanted to know how you'd react when asked, not really the answer. Because the truth of the matter is, if you would have gotten that job, it would be asked by the guys you flew with. Again, and again, and again. By guys a lot younger than you, and probably less experienced than you.
If you gave an answer he liked, it would probably factor into his decision as to whether or not he could fly a 4 day trip, or even a whole month with you.
If he didn't care for the answer, well, that would probably sway his answer the other direction.
It's not until recently that airline interviews were the "touchy-feely we just want to get to know you type". Ask anybody that interviewed at some of the legacies in the 90's, UAL in particular when NS was running the show. It pretty much defined the term "high stress interview".