Lori,

First off thanks for all the years of advice to all of APC. Its nice when someone takes the time to answer questions out of their busy presonnel time.

I went ahead and dropped 800 bones for the Dark Navy Blue suit, White Shirt, and black wingtip shoes that I hear is the standard SWA interview outfit. I held off on buying the tie. I've heard solid red or maroon is the best thing to do, but I also tried on a nice red, navy and white striped tie. What do you recommend? Also do I add the colored hankercheif in the pocket or not? American flag on the lapel?

Waldo

 

WOW! Does it really matter that much what suit you wear? I mean you and I Waldo have been in the same boat recently - letting Uncle Sam dress us - but as long as you look presentable and professional, please tell me that whether you wear a hanky isn't the difference in getting a job at SWA or not. Also - is that what they teach us in TAPS; that it is good to look like everyone else (you mentioned a "standard SWA interview outfit")? You don't want to look good in your suit but maybe standout a little so that you don't blend into the masses?

Thoughts Lori? Please tell me that there is a little common sense applied to this situation in reality. If they were that concerned about appearance then they should have everyone change into a SWA uniform so they could see what they would look like on the line!

USMCFLYR

 

It's all about that little bit of extra edge. If they want 100 pilots, and only 75 show up, everybody who meets minimum requirements gets hired. If they want 100 pilots and 5,000 apply (which would be expected in this market), every little bit helps.

Does a nice suit make you a better pilot? No, of course not. What it does is show a certain amount of respect for the organization that you hope to join, and a willingness to go along with what is expected.

We, as pilots like to think of ourselves as rugged individualists, not as cogs in a machine. Management wants to hire cogs for its machine. Pretend to be a cog in the machine until you are hired and get through probation. Then you can let your rugged individualist side out.

Joe

 

I'm all about the extra edge but if it comes down to whether or not you have a hanky then that IMO is over the top.

Now I've not been in the professional aviation business nor have I had the honor (or the terror) of the interview process , but I've been sitting on the sidelines for a long time watching. My peers have been in and out of the business so I understand the appearance that you are expected to portray, but like I said - it between the application, the experience factor, the interview, the simulator (if there is one), and all of the other myriad of things doesn't break you out (or sink you) - but that hanky or the color of your tie does - then 1 of 2 things has happened. I'm either trying to get a job with a company that I probably shouldn't be trying to because we obviously don't see eye to eye and my priorities are misplaced, or fate has stepped in and determined that I shouldn't get that job to begin with

Professional appearance, good grooming, projecting an image that does the company a service as a representitive and puts a face to the business - those are the things that are important. If the company wants all of us to wear the same suit then they should publish a dress code for the interview.
I'll step out on a limb and say that if the blue suit is a SWA standard, then should I apply with them and be lucky enough to be offered an interview I promise right here on APC that I will wear something different Btw - since I have no sense of fashion - I'll have to tell Men's Warehouse - NO BLUE!

Best of luck to all!

USMCFLYR

 

I wish I could wear my bag (flight suit) to the interview. I have very little time in a business suit. I only had one suit and it was more of a formal wedding type outfit.

All I've heard and maybe its an old pilots tale, is about the navy blue, white shirt, red tie combo at SWA. It maybe going overboard or am overly superstitious but you know the AF makes me wear a certain kind of suit too and I think they are even more strict. I think the civilian world has uniforms also, just trying to figure out what it is. Time to let Uncle Sam stop dressing me and let the wife or SWA take over

 

I wish folks would put as much mental effort into studying their own background as they put into what color suit and tie they're going to wear.

Seriously... as long as you are not wearing a light blue leisure suit with a ruffled shirt you will be fine. As long as you look put together and conservative you are good to go. The hankie is completely up to you (personally I would view it as way too formal.)

As a note - if your shoes are meant to hold a shine, then shine them. Color of your tie doesn't matter, just make sure it doesn't arrive in the room before you do. Keep it conservative.

But please, don't go out and buy an Armani suit so you "look better than the others" - it simply won't give you that edge. They want to see the whole package. Once you open your mouth do you think they are thinking about what you're wearing?

There may have been a day when the red "power tie" or the Delta blue shirt was the socially expected norm but it just doesn't matter. Look professional and conservative.

Y'know, there was a day when Jack Daniels boxers gave you an edge at the SWA interview. Hmmmm....

Does that help?

 

>>>here may have been a day when the red "power tie" or the Delta blue shirt was the socially expected norm but it just doesn't matter. Look professional and conservative.<<<

So, the red & orange tie in SWA colors might not fly? I have some Bermuda shorts, too, but the wife won't even let me wear 'em...in the dark!

tw

 

I definitely remember reading in Nuts! that the SWA interviewers used to see if they could get their victims to change into Hawaiian shirts and shorts. The ones who didn't had a hard time. Things must have changed a whole lot.

 

Trust me, the PD at SWA is not looking too much at your suit.