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Corporate interview.......HELP

Old 05-27-2012, 05:18 PM
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Default Corporate interview.......HELP

Hello All,

There is always a time when a grown man must put his tail between his legs and ask for help. This is me looking for some advice and help.

A little background; I worked for a regional airline for a few years, owned my own business for a bit and now flying freight. I love my job and my current company but it's time for a little forward progress in my career. After a phone and skype interview I was invited to a face to face interview in the coming weeks for a corporate company that I've been trying to work with for a while now. I don't have any legitimate corporate flying experience but I think I have the necessary "customer service" experience from owning my own business.

It's been a while since I've had to prepare for such a big interview and naturally I'm nervous. I bought a new suite and going to update my logbook, bring copies of the resume, license, medical, blah blah blah but how do you prepare for an interview with a 91/135 corporate operator? The competition is high so I want to stand out without looking like "that guy" or being over eager. Other then what I mentioned, what should I bring? What should I be studying?

Any help would be much appreciated.

~Gigity
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Old 05-27-2012, 05:28 PM
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In my experience, corporate interviews tend to be more "get to know you" rather than technical and "what do you know." Just be yourself, smile and be polite. Think of some questions to ask them and be prepared for lots of TMAAT type of questions. Congrats and good luck!!
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Old 05-27-2012, 05:34 PM
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Know lots about the company, from stock price to future plans or programs.

If you can, learn something about the person(s) interviewing you. Background, time with company, etc.

If the do international work, know something about international ops, easily researchable.

Do NOT throw airline type questions--seniority, bidding, upgrade time--have no place here. Understand a bit about how they fly, where, do they have a flight planning provider, what kinds of flying they do--business, some personal flying for the CEO, that sort of thing.

Ask about what additional tasks you might be assigned--safety, charts, training.

GF
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Old 05-27-2012, 05:35 PM
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My guess is, if they are offering you the personal interview after doing a phone and Skype interview, you are the guy they want - or at least one of a few candidates from their original pool. That's good! So, I would say this is more of a "get to know you" interview rather than one where they are assessing your technical capabilities as a pilot. So, as much as possible, try to fit in with their culture. Research the company and the flight department, ask good questions pertaining to their operations and the company's business. Show that you have done your research about THEIR operation, and that you want to be a part of it and will fit in. Be the guy that they want to spend 2 weeks on the road with. Friendly, competent, polite, but can have fun, has a sense of humor, and doesn't take himself too seriously. Also, despite your considerable experience, I'd guess they want to ensure you're flexible and humble enough to learn new things and to fit in with corp flying.

Because it's an interview, I'd still err toward the side of formality (suit and tie, shoes shined, all your documents in perfect order). Just sets the right tone - sounds like you did all that. If it settles into a friendly session after that, read the situation and lighten up accordingly. Always easier to dial down the formality as the situation eases up than to start off with "Hey dudes!" and realize they are all prim and proper.

Just thinking out loud, and all my opinion, so probably not worth much.

Good luck - sounds like a great opportunity.
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Old 05-27-2012, 06:15 PM
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OP

Mink has some great advice. The last hiring process I participated at our "mob", we were pretty excited about one candidate via a phone interview. We scheduled a follow up personal interview, arranged the travel. Totally different in person and fell apart.

Any corporate interview, among the tech and background questions, comes down to, "can we speed a week on the road with this candidate, have a good time and trust him with the plane?". Keep that in mind, as Mink said.

GF
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Old 05-28-2012, 06:22 PM
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My good friend just got hired for a large law firm. there were multiple interviews but were pretty much "get to know you" questions. Also about saftey, they wanted to know how you would handle saftey situations. "if it's broke, get it fixed". good luck!
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Old 05-28-2012, 08:41 PM
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I would say it's fairly important to keep in mind the major differences between corporate and airline interviews. Airlines often have quite a few candidates competing for a spot, but usually not quite to the same ratio as corporate. It's really critical to understand that when you interview at a corporate company, you can't ask questions that make it look like you're interviewing them also. You need to show that you already know their situation and want to work there more than anyone else does. If you show that you're just checking it out at the interview, they'll move on to the next person. Best of luck with it!
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Old 05-29-2012, 12:26 PM
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Originally Posted by SVA402 View Post
I would say it's fairly important to keep in mind the major differences between corporate and airline interviews. Airlines often have quite a few candidates competing for a spot, but usually not quite to the same ratio as corporate. It's really critical to understand that when you interview at a corporate company, you can't ask questions that make it look like you're interviewing them also. You need to show that you already know their situation and want to work there more than anyone else does. If you show that you're just checking it out at the interview, they'll move on to the next person. Best of luck with it!
Whatever you do...DO NOT follow any of this advice!

Be very sure to ask questions, and YES interview them as much as they are interviewing you. They want you to like being there, not that you just need a job. Its all about fit.

No, don't just ask about days off and if you are required to travel much or do extra chores as you hate those LOL...but about the worst thing you can do is leave that interview as a stranger, a YES MAN type.

Have a real personality, ask good questions, show that you have a life. Be a real person.

Think about the classic, old school airline type interview - and be exactly opposite of that...

Good Luck!
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Old 05-29-2012, 02:00 PM
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I was going to say the same thing. A corporate interview is a TWO-WAY street. A corp job is like getting married, you wouldn't marry someone you don't know, would you. You might spend a lot of time with these pilots, they AND YOU need to know how you I'll fit together.

GF
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Old 05-29-2012, 02:51 PM
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Agreed. Doesn't do either of you any good if a) you're miserable because you hate the job and the guys you fly with and b) they're miserable because you're always miserable.

The info from SVA might be good on the initial meeting, but you're past that.
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