I did not mean to come across as if I was attacking you in any way and after rereading my own post, it may have appeared that way. I also used the word blatantly and that word was too strong. I had you confused with another poster, so that is a huge fail on my part.

However to say that you "doubt" anyone has gotten an interview without completing their degree in five years can be a misleading statement. You can't and don't know that statement to be true, just like it would be untrue if I said people in this situation will not be affected when being considered as an applicant.

 

All very good posts and insights. I agree with most of what has been said. The competition is fierce and we all want to catch this wave. I'm still hopeful that one morning out of the blue I will see that coveted email.

 

No worries. I really just didn't want to be the guy that mislead others. I guess I thought when I used the word "doubt" that was just my opinion with no facts to back it up. I should have overemphasized the word "Unless" because if you have something else on your app then over 5 years might not be such a big deal.

Their is no single qualifier on your app that will get you the intervew just as no single qualifier on your app will keep you from getting the interview. It's the entire picture that they look at.

 

When are interviews scheduled out til now? Best friend got an email today

 

Mid to late January.

 

Keep the hope alive. I just JS'd a flight where the FO was a new hire with 0 TPIC at a regional (straight civ aviation) that has no association whatsoever with DAL and he had zero internal recommendations. He attended several job fairs, had an incredible education, and was an absolutely stellar individual. I was humbled by his demeanor, background, and absolute competence. It certainly isn't the average path to employment, but the opportunity is there.

 

Zero internals? That is pretty amazing. Im surprised he didn't have at least one or two on file. There is a good point that you bring up. There are a lot of really good quality FO's that have not upgraded mainly because they can't hold it at any base. This does depend on the regional, but several have at least an 8 year upgrade or longer. Some will say on here "need to get TPIC, or get a LCA position." For some of us that position is not available at all. I've tried countless times for an LCA position and can't get it for anything.

That is definitely good for him and it shows perseverance and some luck can go a long way.

 

I was an FO flying a 737 in MCO in late 00- early 01 timeframe and had a guy on my jumpseat doing his observation rides so he was stuck with us for 3 days. He was 26 and had about the same credentials so I asked if his dad was a Delta guy. Oh no, no internal recs or anything like that just got lucky. Met his dad on day 3, senior freaking L10 Captain. He just didn't want people to think he was there because of his dad.

If the hiring department is really pulling and scoring apps without regard to human bias then none of these guys that have gotten on here and said they got hired with less than 3,000 hours, zero pic turbine and had reckless or suspended licenses in their past would have their files drop. It can't be both ways. I would imagine that the people at the job fairs gave the guy a leg up. The competion out there right now is fierce and we really have just started hiring in mass.

 

Luck definately played a part, but so did hard work. Sounds like that person really pounded the pavement going to multiple job fairs, plus the "incredible education" whatever that means. Could be something like Harvard pre-med or Georgia Tech engineering with a 3.9 GPA or something. That says a lot.

I'm continued to be shocked at how poorly and infrequently pilots that want dramatically better jobs actually network and better themselves outside their logbooks. It really doesn't take that much effort either when you step back and look at it. A day of your time and a suit you have anyway, a tax deductible entry fee and maybe a hotel room. Repeat a few times a year and IMO one's chances go up significantly. Not to mention numerous volunteer opportunities that make a big difference while taking up a minimal amount of one's time.

Getting a 2.9 in feelings from State U. while marking time in the right seat flying your sked and nothing else and doing nothing extra to differentiate yourself won't be generally successful until deep into the upcoming hiring wave.

 

University of Illinois, double major in Electrical Engineering and Aviation. I know he got a 4.0 his freshman year, I am uncertain what he graduated with, but probably somewhere in the high 3s.