I interviewed at Pinnacle, ASA, and ExpressJet. None of the interviews are overly difficult. I studied the gouges very in depth. Don't just find the answer to the question, know why it is the answer. ATP study guide, AIM, Jepp legend, FARs, POH for your current twin are all good study guides. But absolutely positively the most important part of any technical studying IMHO is to know WHY the answer is the answer.
Pinnacle:
Written test, mostly ATP stuff and some high altitude/high speed aerodynamics (probably as a result of their little issue at FL410 a few years ago). They grade the test and then ask you some basic systems questions and HR bull**** questions and then a sim eval. The guys who do the interviewing are "good ol boys" so just play their game and don't make yourself look like an ass.
ASA:
Don't know if they still do it this way but it was kind a long process. After they receieve your resume they phone screen you and ask you most of the HR questions then (failed checkrides, certificate actions, previous employers, etc). If they like you, you get a UPS package with the formal application, flight time break down, federal paperwork, etc. If they STILL like you, they bring you to ATL for a 2 day deal. Day 1 is the sim eval. If you pass that and come back for day 2 you get the technical interview with the standard tech questions (systems, regs, etc) and the "tell me about a time" stuff. After that, they send you home to wait for a call. I was hired into the pool but never accepted a class date.
ExpressJet:
In my opinion, one of the most efficient and straight forward interviews out there. They sit you in a room with all the other interviewees and call you out one by one to go one of 3 rooms. One room is questions about your current twin and some "tell me about a time". Another room is Jepp charts (Enroute and approach. Breif an approach. Don't freak out if you are looking at Mexican approach, they are just like US charts. Also a lot of "what does this symbol tell you" or "what does this mean") and some basic AIM knowledge. Last room is the HR room. This is really the make or break. They want to see some personality and character. You will also be asked the standard "failed checkrides" "faa cert actions", stuff like that. Then you stand in the hall for the longest minute of your life. If they take you down the hall to fingerprint and do paperwork, you're in. If they show you to the lobby and tell you to wait for the bus to airport, you're out.
Last few nuggets of knowledge that will help you at any interview:
- Technical knowledge is important but what will turn off an interviewer more than anything is someone who is cocky. Just be humble. I tried to make each interviewer laugh a little. Show interest and that you want to work for the company but don't come off as an eager, spineless, sucker-punch-your-mother-to-fly-a-jet wannabe.
- Personality. Usually its line pilots who are involved in the hiring. If they can't stand you for 15 mins then they DEFINITELY don't want to sit next to you for 4 days so they won't recommend you for hire.
- If you have any blemishes on your record or failed checkrides, DO NOT lie about them or fail to disclose them. DO NOT blame anyone but yourself. Show that you learned from your mistake and that it made you a better pilot. Saying "I failed my CFI ride because the examiner was a jerk" will get you out the door pretty quick.
Hope this helps.