Wuzatforus

I have it on high authority that one of the interview questions is this:

"You're walking in the terminal and you see a fellow pilot not wearing their hat. What do you do?"

Apparently, candidates are struggling with this answer. One was recently turned away because he hemmed and hawed and tried to qualify his answer about his rank (FO) and that of the pilot in question (CA).

Apparently, this highly qualified pilot was scored negatively on his answer and he lost the job offer by one point.

One point!

The correct answer (according to the interviewers) is this: "I would politely tell the other pilot to put on his hat".

Seriously? Two pilots passing in the terminal and we are supposed to tell each other to put on the hat?

If anyone in management is reading this, you need to fire the person who decided this is a worthy interview question. I mean it.

And, worse yet, this was the rationale for denying a candidate with a family a job offer they otherwise qualified for.

Get over yourselves.

ps. I wear my hat. But, it's not my job to challenge every pilot who isn't wearing his or hers. I'll never make it to the gate.

Cruise

If they want uniform police, hire someone for that job. My job is getting aircraft from where we are, to where we're going.

Shove the hat where the sun doesn't shine!

Purple Drank

Yet another reason for top-tier candidates to blow off the interview and/or class date.

Although to be fair, I sat there with a **** eating grin in the jetblue interview several years ago and took them I'd love to clean the airplane. Got to get the interview "shine" on.

But that's neither here nor there. I don't recommend anyone work here unless they plan to resign as soon as the next offer rolls in.

Hacker15e

If he lost the CJO "by one point", there was more than just the hat question answer that the panel didn't like. There were apparently several answers on several other questions the panel didn't really like either.

So, it isn't at all accurate to say he was "turned away because he hemmed and hawed" about a hat.

scambo1

Delta has done a good job of hiring good dudes and dudettes. APC spats aside, this has held true in my experience. IMO, that is far more important than any interview question. If you arent good people, please apply elsewhere. If you are, say you would politely approach the pilot and remind him to put on his hat when you are interviewed.

Wuzatforus

Questions for you:

1. Were you there?
2. Do you know who I'm referring to?
3. Do you think the hat question is appropriate?

Thanks.

I would like to see Delta hire the best and brightest. It would disappoint, but not surprise, that the company is asking these sorts of questions.

Wuzatforus

So, Delta expects the candidate to lie (because they know it's a bull**** question in search of a bull**** answer).

Got it.

That's some twisted HR thinking right there.

Wuzatforus

To all Delta candidates. Remember, Delta expects complete honesty. Except when it comes to hats.

I hope the hat question goes away.

Good luck.

Timbo

Exactly right. This question is not about the hat, it's about your reaction to the question. I remember thinking W. T. F. was that about? After my interview due to a couple of odd questions but after some days of thought and discussion with others, I realized those questions were designed to get a reaction from me. I just smiled and nodded my head on most of them.

Oh, and all that "Answer with Honesty" is nonsense too, they don't want you to be honest when you talk to the FAA or the media after an incident, or when making a MX Delay PA, they want to see that you can come up with something plain vanilla that won't raise any eyebrows.

Take a look at what that United guy just said about Hillary Clinton. That's exactly what they DON'T want!

Bluto

Questions for you:
1. Did your friend claim the interview panel told him he didn't qualify by one point?
2. Have you ever heard of the interviewers explaining to a candidate (or his friend on the inside) specifically why he wasn't offered a job before this?

*Of course I'd hope no newhire does this in real life. We have bigger fish to fry. Interview questions are what they are. It's all part of the game.