First Corporate job interview
09-27-2009, 12:30 PM
#1
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Joined APC: Sep 2009
Position: Emb/FO
Posts: 36
First Corporate job interview
Hi all. I would appreciate any suggestions on this....
After 17 years of law enforcement, I've decided to seek employment as a professional pilot. I've been flying for 17 years and have about 1600 tt with 200 multi with a multi-comm rating. I live in California and I've been applying on various online sites like climbto350, findapilot, etc. I received my first call from a chief pilot out of Texas who needs a sic for his employer's new Beechjet 400A. I have no commercial experience except for the training and no jet time. If hired, the chief pilot and I will be sent to get type rated together. They have paid for my airline ticket and hotel for a interview with the chief pilot and the primary owners of the corporation. One of the reasons they are interested in me is because of my law enforcement experience. When not flying, they want the sic to assist their investigators.
My questions are:
What questions should I ask during the interview?
Would it be inapropriate to ask for a couple of extra days off every month(non-paid) to fly back home until I'm able to sell our house and move my wife up to Texas?
What kind of salary should I ask for?
After 17 years of law enforcement, I've decided to seek employment as a professional pilot. I've been flying for 17 years and have about 1600 tt with 200 multi with a multi-comm rating. I live in California and I've been applying on various online sites like climbto350, findapilot, etc. I received my first call from a chief pilot out of Texas who needs a sic for his employer's new Beechjet 400A. I have no commercial experience except for the training and no jet time. If hired, the chief pilot and I will be sent to get type rated together. They have paid for my airline ticket and hotel for a interview with the chief pilot and the primary owners of the corporation. One of the reasons they are interested in me is because of my law enforcement experience. When not flying, they want the sic to assist their investigators.
My questions are:
What questions should I ask during the interview?
Would it be inapropriate to ask for a couple of extra days off every month(non-paid) to fly back home until I'm able to sell our house and move my wife up to Texas?
What kind of salary should I ask for?
09-27-2009, 01:30 PM
#2
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Joined APC: Apr 2007
Position: 767 FO
Posts: 836
First, don't bring up the salary until they offer you the job. You don't want to be too expensive to hire and you don't want to undercut what they were prepared to offer you. Here are two websites to check out to get a salary estimate. One is more in depth than the other but you'll get a range for the size of aircraft in the region. Job Salaries-Performance Reviews-Compensation software- Salary.com PayScale - Salary Comparison, Salary Survey, Wages
Second, let them know that you might need time once your training is done to move your family. As an employer I'd expect your spouse to be able to get most of the move organized and complete, but if I wanted you to stick around for a while I'd offer up a few unpaid vacation days.
Ask about the ratio of flying to investigations. Ask what kind of investigations you'd be doing. Ask about the type of flying (ie. destinations, weekends, business or pleasure). If the passenger is going to be on the ground for a set, lenthy period of time ask if you can fly the aircraft home or commercial home rather than remaining at the destination for several days.
Have about six or eight questions lined up just incase some get answered during the interview.
Second, let them know that you might need time once your training is done to move your family. As an employer I'd expect your spouse to be able to get most of the move organized and complete, but if I wanted you to stick around for a while I'd offer up a few unpaid vacation days.
Ask about the ratio of flying to investigations. Ask what kind of investigations you'd be doing. Ask about the type of flying (ie. destinations, weekends, business or pleasure). If the passenger is going to be on the ground for a set, lenthy period of time ask if you can fly the aircraft home or commercial home rather than remaining at the destination for several days.
Have about six or eight questions lined up just incase some get answered during the interview.
09-27-2009, 01:37 PM
#3
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Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: FAA 'Flight Check'
Posts: 13,837
First, don't bring up the salary until they offer you the job. You don't want to be too expensive to hire and you don't want to undercut what they were prepared to offer you.
Second, let them know that you might need time once your training is done to move your family. As an employer I'd expect your spouse to be able to get most of the move organized and complete
Moving is spouse work! You need to get to work!
Ask about the ratio of flying to investigations. Ask what kind of investigations you'd be doing. Ask about the type of flying (ie. destinations, weekends, business or pleasure). If the passenger is going to be on the ground for a set, lenthy period of time ask if you can fly the aircraft home or commercial home rather than remaining at the destination for several days.
USMCFLYR
09-27-2009, 03:35 PM
#4
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Position: Emb/FO
Posts: 36
Problem is, if I get the job, I would want to see how things go. I would want to make sure I've got some job security before I decided to sell our home in California. Until then, I'd like to be able to go home to Cali once a month for a couple days but would need a couple days of travel time in addition to my regular days off. I'm not sure if I should even approach the subject during the interview or not. Either way, I'll make it work, but having those extra days a month to go home would make it a lot easier. So, question is: Should I ask during the interview or wait until after I get the job and approach it then?
09-27-2009, 03:49 PM
#5
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Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: FAA 'Flight Check'
Posts: 13,837
Originally Posted by jbravo65
Problem is, if I get the job, I would want to see how things go. I would want to make sure I've got some job security before I decided to sell our home in California. Until then, I'd like to be able to go home to Cali once a month for a couple days but would need a couple days of travel time in addition to my regular days off. I'm not sure if I should even approach the subject during the interview or not. Either way, I'll make it work, but having those extra days a month to go home would make it a lot easier. So, question is: Should I ask during the interview or wait until after I get the job and approach it then?
In this environment it is a dangerous thing to make it too *painful* to hire you. By this I mean - there might be 5 other applicants who don't come with *conditions*. Bringing up certain issues in the interview might sway them to find someone else.
On the other hand - if you wait until you get hired, are you prepared to be denied your request for additional time off?
As far as waiting for some amount of time until the job seems to be working out prior to selling the family home in SoCal or moving the family out - - think GeoBach. A lot of military do this as they get more senior when they change duty stations and the wife has a good job and the kids are in high school, etc.... It can be done fairly cheap with some searching and maybe a little luck. At one time I rented a room in a nice condo for only $300/mo and had full use of the rest of the house (kitchen, laundry).
Good luck jbravo. Difficult decision - but at least you have a decision to make!
USMCFLYR
09-27-2009, 05:14 PM
#6
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Joined APC: Apr 2007
Position: F/O- G-V/550
Posts: 1,163
Originally Posted by jbravo65
Hi all. I would appreciate any suggestions on this....
After 17 years of law enforcement, I've decided to seek employment as a professional pilot. I've been flying for 17 years and have about 1600 tt with 200 multi with a multi-comm rating. I live in California and I've been applying on various online sites like climbto350, findapilot, etc. I received my first call from a chief pilot out of Texas who needs a sic for his employer's new Beechjet 400A. I have no commercial experience except for the training and no jet time. If hired, the chief pilot and I will be sent to get type rated together. They have paid for my airline ticket and hotel for a interview with the chief pilot and the primary owners of the corporation. One of the reasons they are interested in me is because of my law enforcement experience. When not flying, they want the sic to assist their investigators.
My questions are:
What questions should I ask during the interview?
Would it be inapropriate to ask for a couple of extra days off every month(non-paid) to fly back home until I'm able to sell our house and move my wife up to Texas?
What kind of salary should I ask for?
After 17 years of law enforcement, I've decided to seek employment as a professional pilot. I've been flying for 17 years and have about 1600 tt with 200 multi with a multi-comm rating. I live in California and I've been applying on various online sites like climbto350, findapilot, etc. I received my first call from a chief pilot out of Texas who needs a sic for his employer's new Beechjet 400A. I have no commercial experience except for the training and no jet time. If hired, the chief pilot and I will be sent to get type rated together. They have paid for my airline ticket and hotel for a interview with the chief pilot and the primary owners of the corporation. One of the reasons they are interested in me is because of my law enforcement experience. When not flying, they want the sic to assist their investigators.
My questions are:
What questions should I ask during the interview?
Would it be inapropriate to ask for a couple of extra days off every month(non-paid) to fly back home until I'm able to sell our house and move my wife up to Texas?
What kind of salary should I ask for?
If you go to aviationinterviews.com, you'll be able to see some of the technical questions they like to ask during aviation interviews. You don't have to register, just click on the companies, and you'll be able to see a couple of questions for each, such as what is the final aproach fix on an ILS approach?, etc...
One advice I like to give, everything positive, EVERYTHING....even if the airline is 4 hours delayed or the hotel isn't the best around, no negative coments or complaints.... If they called you in with no type or jet experience, they must really like you on paper. Walk in with a good attitude and the job is yours.
As far as a couple of days off to fly back home, I wouldn't bring that up during the interview. I'd let them offer me the job first, and then I'd ask the chief pilot....
when they ask you about salary, you can ask what the industry standard is. At that point they'll probably tell you what the average salary is for that position and what they're offering
hope this helps and good luck
09-28-2009, 03:06 AM
#7
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Joined APC: May 2007
Position: G III
Posts: 150
Very solid advice. They are hiring you because they like something about your personality and background, not your flying quals. For you, this is great news, so continue the positive feelings. I imagine your family accomodations will come up, so just let them know you will be flexible and have others to help when work conflicts with family. Good luck!
Z
Z
10-08-2009, 06:05 PM
#9
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Joined APC: Sep 2009
Position: Emb/FO
Posts: 36
Well, I went to the interview. It seemed to go very well and I enjoyed the experience. When I got back home the chief pilot called me and told that it came down to me and one other pilot who had a lot of time, most notibly turbine time which I dont have. Understandably, they chose the other more experienced pilot. Although I'm a little bummed that I didnt get offered the job, I feel fortunate that I got to interview for it.
10-08-2009, 06:24 PM
#10
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Joined APC: Jul 2008
Position: Chief Pilot G550
Posts: 63
I wish you the best!
You have a great diverse background that will get you many places in life.
You have gone about it the right way and I look forward to seeing you at some distant FBO with you flying the aircraft you always dreamed of.
May your dream comes true!
You have a great diverse background that will get you many places in life.
You have gone about it the right way and I look forward to seeing you at some distant FBO with you flying the aircraft you always dreamed of.
May your dream comes true!
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