I assume by “go screw themselves” you mean they simply got a TBNT email. That said, if we knew exactly what they were looking for, everyone would be getting a job. The “fog a mirror and get hired” is a bit of an overblown myth.

FWIW I recently flew with someone on the interview team. He said that the interview pass rate really hasn’t changed much from the “before times”, but it’s just a lot easier to get an interview. He said that not coming fully prepared due to the “fog a mirror” belief was one of the biggest culprits. They weren’t bad people, but clearly didn’t give it their all. Also, arrogance and entitlement is an issue as well, but that was mainly contained within applicants from two particular regionals that I won’t name. One kind of surprised me, the other… well… not so much.

Also keep in mind that whether you get hired or not is based on your total package score. Not just how well you did in front of the interview panel. Now, if you really rub them the wrong way, they may score you so low that not much can save you. Conversely, if they really like you they might score you really high to push the odds in your favor. But at the end of the day, your application scores points, the hogan scores points and the interview scores points. The review board then looks over the packages of all the interviewees from the previous week. Didn’t accumulate enough points? TBNT. Passed the points threshold without any other major glaring concerns on your application? Welcome to United!

Like I said, getting an interview offer is easier than ever these days. But if you have a weak application (low time, no college degree, no PIC time in anything other than Cessnas, maybe only one or two type ratings, maybe even a sloppy app all together with errors and misspellings) and then don’t score well on the hogan either, an applicant will be facing quite the uphill climb at the interview. Conversely, a strong application (high time, 121 turbine PIC, college degree or even a masters or PhD, multiple type ratings, the dreaded volunteer work, maybe even check airman or sim instructor time) and do well on the hogan, you will likely have a good amount of wiggle room in the interview since you’re going in with a high accumulation of points.

At the end of the day, plenty of people are still getting rejected. I know multiple people who have gotten the TBNT. They all landed on their feet at other airlines, but they’re good people and their rejection was surprising.

Treat this interview like it’s 2015 and you’ll be at an advantage. Get interview prep (highly recommend cage Marshall), study, prepare, rehearse, buy a new properly fitted suit, be humble, and give it everything you’ve got.

Good Luck!