Hi!

iPilot: EXACTLY

I heard of 3 things:
1-Hiring guys below 200 hours with -141 Commercial MEL
2-Assigning guys a class date (WITHOUT an interview....looked at resume and licenses...you are hired!) that was AFTER the guys Comm checkride...the class date was contingent on passing the Comm check.
3-Hiring guys who met ALL the Comm qualificiations. When/if they passed their oral sim/any required aircraft checkride, they were granted their Commercial license.

In the case of 2 and 3 (and possibly #1 also), the first Commercial flight these FOs ever did, was with paying PAX in the back and an IOE instructor in the left seat!

cliff
NBO