Pretty much everyone here who has had an interview knows to expect the usual questions about the aircraft we've flown and the technical stuff... But what about those dreaded HR questions? I don't know about you, but I've always worried more about the HR stuff than anything else. I'm a classic over-thinker so answering some of these can prove difficult for me. I thought it might be helpful to post a list of typical HR questions one might encounter in an interview for a flying job. That way, you can give them a once over and start thinking about how you would answer some of these. Hope these help someone!

*What would the person who recommended you say about you?

*What are you currently flying?

*Tell me some of the positives and negatives about your aircraft...

*Do you think you will have any issues transitioning to a glass cockpit?

*What do you have to offer (insert company name)?

*Will you be successful in our training?

*Tell me about a time you didn't get along with someone you flew with...

*Tell me about a time you had a problem with a captain...

*How did you resolve said problem?

*Tell me about a time you had a situation where a checklist didn't apply...

*Tell me about a time you knowingly broke a company policy...

*How would you and your family (if applicable) handle moving to (insert city)?

*Tell me about a time you were a successful leader...

*Tell me about a time you flew with someone that was unsafe...

*Tell me about a time that you would like to do over again if you had the chance...

*Tell me about a time you had a conflict with a subordinate...

*How did you resolve said conflict?

*Tell me about a time you did something unsafe...

*Have you ever broken an FAR?

*Tell me about a time you made a mistake or were distracted in the cockpit...

*Tell me about a time you "shined" as a pilot/crew-member...

*Tell me about your worst emergency you have encountered...

*What three words describe you?

*Are you comfortable flying a glass cockpit?

*What makes a good captain?

*Tell me about a time you failed as a leader?

*Tell me about a time you followed a policy that you disagreed with...

*How would your friends describe you?

*Tell me about your most memorable flight...

*Tell me about a time you went above and beyond for the company...

*Describe your leadership style...

*Name three traits every pilot should have...

If anyone else has any good questions to add to these feel free! Thanks!

 

I absolutely hated the HR questions! They were easily the weakest part of my interviews. Somehow I managed to get through all of them unscathed though. I definitely recommend putting some serious thought into your answers to those questions posted above. It will make the interview go much smoother.

 

Interviewers are not looking for canned or premeditated answers to these sorts of questions, they want to see if they can sort out what kind of person you are in a 15 minute interview and if you seem like their sort of coworker or not. They know what sort of person they are looking for usually. I am not sure if this approach really works or not, some psychologist might know better, but at any rate your candid response would be in the best interest of both parties. They need to see who you are, and you really should not be hiding who you are either as it will eventually come out at work. I have always been pretty frank at interviews, and I consider it one of my better skills. I might glance at a list of questions like this just so I am not taken unaware of what might come up, but I certainly never memorize a response, I just conceive how I want to come across, then speak my mind. They know you are only human, and there are usually no wrong answers to these kinds of questions.

 

I would never recommend memorizing responses to HR questions. I was just caught a bit by surprise by some of these when I had my first interview and I thought if I could post them here it might help someone else in my shoes in the near or far future. To me, if you can be at the very least mentally prepared to answer some of these questions by thinking about them before hand it makes the whole process go smoother.

 

Memorizing responses will sound fake.

But unfortunately this kind of psycho-babble HR BS is not very reliable...especially if the people applying it don't know what they're doing. It may do a decent job of weeding out undesirables, but it is also likely to weed out plenty of good candidates as well.

For this reason it may be in your best interest to try to understand the process and, while not spewing canned answers, at least have an idea of the overall "theme" which you are trying to portray and consider how all of the stock interview questions can contribute to that.

Trying to guess what they want to hear can trip you up. It's easier to determine how to communicate your message, one sound bite at a time, keeping the big picture in mind.

Unless you're an ax murder your "theme" should be pretty close to who you really are unless you're a very skilled actor.

 

HR questions usually seem to be fairly subjective, so canned responses can seem fake. Unfortunately HR seems to have a great deal of influence over the whole process.

 

My advice to you is to "Just Be Yourself". Be honest and sincere with your questions and you will do just fine. The exception to this rule is, if your Arse in the first place, this strategy wont work for you.

When being hired by an airline they are trying to avoid hiring problems. Dont be that guy that nobody wants to fly with. I have flown with my fair share. They try to hire people that they dont mind sitting in a cockpit with for 8 to 10 hours a day.

 

I'm new hear and far from an expert...but I think its wise to think of the questions and then think of an experience you've had that can sell you in a positive light. I say this because, I'd guess most HR types don't share my sense of humor, and I'd could quickly get myself into trouble rather quickly.

On the same note, I hate to give off the appearance of boasting/bragging, and it makes it difficult to talk myself up...which is needed in these situations.

I would aim to draw on responses or experiences that are professional, prudent and positive...and then how you learned from it and what you did about it (in a positive light)...

 

thanks for the list, by the way...I need it...

 

Most people cannot come up with great answers to these questions on the spot. I recommend memorizing situations that can apply to these answers. Always keep several in your mind and be able to use them to fit the question. I keep a journal of interesting events that have happened to me while flying or working in general, before an interview I go over them and try to think about how they could be used to answer these types of questions.

It's not memorizing answers, but I am setting myself up to succeed. It has always worked for me, I'm never sweating trying to "come up with a time when...."