For me it took going to the interview to decide not to go. They offered me the job, but I didn't offer the job to them. My first problem was with the $50 interview fee. It reminds me of a story that I heard about how a pimp used to find new girls, but I'll paraphrase to keep it g-rated. Basically, if a company like mesa is going to charge $50 just to interview, I think of that as their first level of screening. Anyone who will pay the fee is either desperate, submissive, or just hasn't thought it through. Since I paid it, I guess I hope I'm in the last category. Think of it from their perspective... if you are willing to pay just to interview, aren't you much more likely to be willing to, uh, "accept" the company's shortcomings down the road?

Furthermore, my impression of the management wasn't so good. The cheif pilot representative didn't bother to take the little earpiece out of his ear during the interview, and he was quick to lecture us about how we weren't going to have a good quality of life at his company at any time, even after upgrading. Well, at least he was honest. I consider myself competitive for any crj job, and honestly, I think I found a much better job at another company. Someone told me one time that living with a regional job is deciding what you are willing to put up with and for how long, ie compromise. You will have to make your own determination, but don't take a job at mesa just because it is the only one that will let you pay them money to interview you; if it isn't what you want, you'll only be dissapointed that much sooner. Instead, think of things like geography and equipment. Are you willing to move anywhere? If not, pick the company that serves the part of the country that you want to be in. Do you want to fly jets? If so, then don't go somewhere that is going to put you in a turboprop. At any rate, my advice is to try to resist taking a job just because it is the only offer. If mesa is your best offer, then go for it.