FedEx Hiring
10-03-2014, 06:29 AM
#31
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Posts: 124
Originally Posted by Nitefrater
Albie,
They're hiring PILOTS. If they were hiring managers, then the process would be one trip. But since they're hiring pilots, they don't care if it's a hardship. In fact, it's good training for the Fedex management/pilot experience.
And for applicants: the hiring process is a good indicator of what FedEx management thinks about you... It's not what they SAY, it's what they DO.
They're hiring PILOTS. If they were hiring managers, then the process would be one trip. But since they're hiring pilots, they don't care if it's a hardship. In fact, it's good training for the Fedex management/pilot experience.
And for applicants: the hiring process is a good indicator of what FedEx management thinks about you... It's not what they SAY, it's what they DO.
10-03-2014, 07:10 AM
#32
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2006
Position: 767 FO
Posts: 8,047
Originally Posted by Braniff DC8
Most likely what base(s) and fleets will new hires be going? Uprooting and having to move to Cologne or Hong Kong (If you've been watching the news) might be an issue fir quite a few applicants.
10-03-2014, 07:49 AM
#33
Freight never complains..
Joined APC: May 2011
Position: Middle of nowhere
Posts: 21
Originally Posted by Dragon7
Plan for success.
1. Do the Emerald Coast Seminar. Now is better than later.
2. Buy "Everything for Professional Pilot" and "Aero for Naval Aviators". Read them over and over. Know it cold. General knowledge test is hard. Really really hard. No other gouge but Delta Test gouge is decent prep on top of two books.
3. Not sure how to prep for cog or personality. Don't get frustrated and focus until your done on Cog. And be consistent on personality and do not mention the voices you sometimes hear.
4. Sim is interesting question. They still have the Bus sim which they used in the past.
5. Interview is straightforward with two retired Captains. See number 1.
Good luck. Patience....
1. Do the Emerald Coast Seminar. Now is better than later.
2. Buy "Everything for Professional Pilot" and "Aero for Naval Aviators". Read them over and over. Know it cold. General knowledge test is hard. Really really hard. No other gouge but Delta Test gouge is decent prep on top of two books.
3. Not sure how to prep for cog or personality. Don't get frustrated and focus until your done on Cog. And be consistent on personality and do not mention the voices you sometimes hear.
4. Sim is interesting question. They still have the Bus sim which they used in the past.
5. Interview is straightforward with two retired Captains. See number 1.
Good luck. Patience....
Also- for cog test prep: a daily dose of LUMOSITY. Get the app and get to work on as many games as you can.... Made that portion of the testing much easier- hands down. Don't wait- it will all come very quickly!
10-03-2014, 09:34 AM
#34
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: 767 Captain
Posts: 3,988
Originally Posted by Fly FDX
If they were hiring pilots don't you think they might want to validate their flying skills? If they're getting rid of the simulator... they're hiring managers...
99% of the guys we hire are coming from a mil cockpit or a 121 gig. That probably tells you about as much as the sim snapshot - i.e. they can fly an airplane and they're trainable. Looking at past training/recurrent issues via training records is probably a much better indicator than 20 minutes doing climbs, turns, holding, etc.
Don't get me wrong. If there was a good way to validate someone's skills, I think that would be important. Doing it effectively would probably be cost and time prohibitive. Unfortunately, since the sim is such a brief look, I think the occasional "toad" could prep enough to mask his deficiencies. On the other hand, someone we would benefit from hiring might have a bad day and get shown the door after a "false positive".
Or.......maybe it's just another wicket the hiring gurus can use as an excuse to can someone they just didn't like.
10-03-2014, 09:54 AM
#35
Part Time Employee
Joined APC: Jul 2006
Position: Dispersing Green House Gasses on a Global Basis
Posts: 1,918
Originally Posted by Adlerdriver
I have a hard time believing that 20 minutes in a sim validates much (other than the guy got the profile from Brand X prep course and practiced it on his own dime a day or two before he came in).
99% of the guys we hire are coming from a mil cockpit or a 121 gig. That probably tells you about as much as the sim snapshot - i.e. they can fly an airplane and they're trainable. Looking at past training/recurrent issues via training records is probably a much better indicator than 20 minutes doing climbs, turns, holding, etc.
Don't get me wrong. If there was a good way to validate someone's skills, I think that would be important. Doing it effectively would probably be cost and time prohibitive. Unfortunately, since the sim is such a brief look, I think the occasional "toad" could prep enough to mask his deficiencies. On the other hand, someone we would benefit from hiring might have a bad day and get shown the door after a "false positive".
Or.......maybe it's just another wicket the hiring gurus can use as an excuse to can someone they just didn't like.
99% of the guys we hire are coming from a mil cockpit or a 121 gig. That probably tells you about as much as the sim snapshot - i.e. they can fly an airplane and they're trainable. Looking at past training/recurrent issues via training records is probably a much better indicator than 20 minutes doing climbs, turns, holding, etc.
Don't get me wrong. If there was a good way to validate someone's skills, I think that would be important. Doing it effectively would probably be cost and time prohibitive. Unfortunately, since the sim is such a brief look, I think the occasional "toad" could prep enough to mask his deficiencies. On the other hand, someone we would benefit from hiring might have a bad day and get shown the door after a "false positive".
Or.......maybe it's just another wicket the hiring gurus can use as an excuse to can someone they just didn't like.
10-03-2014, 11:04 AM
#36
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2006
Posts: 164
Originally Posted by globalflair
I'm non military and didn't do the Emerald Coast prep and slipped through the cracks. However, from what I've heard it's worth the $$
Other than Emerald Coast, what preps are recommended for FDX?
10-03-2014, 11:48 AM
#37
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2006
Posts: 2,889
I helped develop the sim prep and probably bought more DC-10 sim time than anyone else in the country for several years. The idea originally was to help the "toads" like me who came from a fighter background or that young RJ pup who never flew a round dial jet to work on a basic cross-check and get the feel of the a heavier aircraft.
In 2004-06…most guys did a sim prep. One. The evaluators were supposed to be able to tell if a guy had a good cross check, and I think they probably graded on a subjective scale based on a guys background…but I cannot be sure.
The issue was as everyone started doing preps…even the heavy drivers, I'm sure the "average" performance started to creep up. I know the evaluators probably tried to be objective, but when 9 out of 10 guys have gotten some practice I'm sure the 10th guy who didn't' probably stood out.
When the 2011 hiring came back, after a 4-5 year hiring wait, most guys said "screw it" and did 2 (or more) prep sessions. I think the bar was progressively inched up higher and higher. A few did 3. One guy--out of the cockpit a while--did 10. I think getting hired without doing a sim prep became a big crapshoot, and I don't think that was the company's intent. It certainly was never mine…I just wanted to help a few fellow toads. But change is inevitable, and nobody wanted to be left behind, and thus I think a sim prep became dang near a requirement to effectively get hired.
So--the elimination of the process…while eliminating one of my business interests, was not all bad news to me. We want a fair process, and I think a guy having to spend 2-3k to prep for the sim ride was a tough nut. Would I have done it in 2001? You bet! Its been worth it. But the price of admission to FedEx just went down a couple grand, and that's not all bad. Honestly, with the legacies hiring I also think a few good pilots out there when faced with a Delta or American interview without a sim and a FedEx sim with one might even skip the prep these days… For more than a decade FedEx could pick who they wanted. They are now going to see a more 1998 type environment where a few guys hired never show up for class but instead go elsewhere. I also expect we'll see a few guys leave their first year after some A reserve in the 757 when Delta or AA give them an offer…but that's a different subject.
What does need to happen, however, is that schoolhouse IPs need to call it like they see it and if someone isn't capable of flying then use the probation period for what it is designed for. Nobody wants to see another pilot lose a job, but none of us here--especially those of us on the cusp of captain--want to see another mishap on our watch. Even a good pilot can have a bad day, but we don't need anyone who cannot get the job done putting the rest of us at risk or into the spotlight again. The consequences of any mishap are bad, but in our situation it could be even more detrimental to our long term careers.
In 2004-06…most guys did a sim prep. One. The evaluators were supposed to be able to tell if a guy had a good cross check, and I think they probably graded on a subjective scale based on a guys background…but I cannot be sure.
The issue was as everyone started doing preps…even the heavy drivers, I'm sure the "average" performance started to creep up. I know the evaluators probably tried to be objective, but when 9 out of 10 guys have gotten some practice I'm sure the 10th guy who didn't' probably stood out.
When the 2011 hiring came back, after a 4-5 year hiring wait, most guys said "screw it" and did 2 (or more) prep sessions. I think the bar was progressively inched up higher and higher. A few did 3. One guy--out of the cockpit a while--did 10. I think getting hired without doing a sim prep became a big crapshoot, and I don't think that was the company's intent. It certainly was never mine…I just wanted to help a few fellow toads. But change is inevitable, and nobody wanted to be left behind, and thus I think a sim prep became dang near a requirement to effectively get hired.
So--the elimination of the process…while eliminating one of my business interests, was not all bad news to me. We want a fair process, and I think a guy having to spend 2-3k to prep for the sim ride was a tough nut. Would I have done it in 2001? You bet! Its been worth it. But the price of admission to FedEx just went down a couple grand, and that's not all bad. Honestly, with the legacies hiring I also think a few good pilots out there when faced with a Delta or American interview without a sim and a FedEx sim with one might even skip the prep these days… For more than a decade FedEx could pick who they wanted. They are now going to see a more 1998 type environment where a few guys hired never show up for class but instead go elsewhere. I also expect we'll see a few guys leave their first year after some A reserve in the 757 when Delta or AA give them an offer…but that's a different subject.
What does need to happen, however, is that schoolhouse IPs need to call it like they see it and if someone isn't capable of flying then use the probation period for what it is designed for. Nobody wants to see another pilot lose a job, but none of us here--especially those of us on the cusp of captain--want to see another mishap on our watch. Even a good pilot can have a bad day, but we don't need anyone who cannot get the job done putting the rest of us at risk or into the spotlight again. The consequences of any mishap are bad, but in our situation it could be even more detrimental to our long term careers.
10-04-2014, 07:27 AM
#39
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2012
Position: alpa member
Posts: 100
I still believe that 20 min in a sim with immense pressure to perform to a standard is a better measurement of skills than knowing the order of the planets. Every part of the FedEx interview is rehearsed before hand weather it's a sim or face to face.
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