Horizon selection process?
 

Can anyone provide any insight to what Horizon's messed up selection process might be? Just got an email from them saying that they had other canidates that were closer to what they were looking for and that I would not continue forward in the process. I exceed all of their mins by a lot, so what gives? Any one have any ideas or insight?:mad:

Do you have internal recommendations? Horizon is big on those.

In what way are they messed up?

Did you interview already, or just apply?

Dash pilot is right, Horizon is really big on internal recommendations. They are also not super impressed by tons of flight time like some other carriers it seems to me. The have something specific they are looking for. What that is, who knows.

You need to know the secret handshake to get hired there.

If you have to ask what it is, you don't got it!

Just kidding. By the way, you now have 69 posts. Giggity.

you have to fit a certain mold.

A good start might be to not come on a public forum slander the company you're trying to work for. Just my two cents.

Just because you exceed the minimums to work here doesn't mean they are going to ask you to interview! I think on average most new hires who come here have between 1500 to 2000 hours and a four year degree, unless you come from UND then they will take you with less time.

All I can say is try again they really like it when people really want to work here. I f you don't mind me asking why do you want to work at Horizon?

Haha, good call! I shouldn't post anymore

I've said it once and Ill say it again. I was told by an ACP that I flew a trip with that they are only taking internal recomendations. Also there was a day when competitive was 4000 hours at Horizon. Again times are changing.

P.S. Just put in my notice 2 days ago. Theres another spot that needs filled.

I have no internal recommendations, I know that it is a good company with good equipment, that is why I applied there. Just trying to figure them out, that is all.

Internal Recommendations


--"I was your cousin's, sister's, dog's, owner's, mother's, father's former roomate."

--"And what does that make us?"

--"Absolutely Nothing!"

Me too brutha! Where r u going?

p.s. Ali is hot

In general, your opportunities for being hired by any regional are diminishing. There are perhaps a couple of regionals still hiring that meet the two criteria you've stated above.

BoredwLife and Flyin1500 - for the benefit of the original poster, can you tell us why you are leaving Horizon?

They really like prior 121/135. Alot of actual IFR, Multi time. The biggest is an internal rec and 4 yr degree. There are 4 rj pilots that just left this bid, there is a lot of attrition. I hope the best for you.

Bored/ Flyin-where you guys going? You might be getting out at just the right time. Best of luck with the future.

I was a CFI in the Portland area for 2yrs and QXE did their sim eval at Hillsboro Aviation where I worked. Obviously QXE was a favorite among many CFIs working there and they probably still are. I never looked at QXE but I know many who went through their application/interview process with mixed success. As previously mentioned QXE, just like any other employer, has a set of qualities they value.

I have seen folks go to the QXE interview that I knew would get hired and they didn't. On the other hand I have also done sim preps for folks who I figured had little to no chance and they would later call to say they were hired and thanks for the help...etc.

QXE is one of many potential employers sdpilot75 and just because you don't meet their screening today means nothing beyond the disappointment. If you really want to work for QXE look at Ameriflight. They are in high need of pilots and you could easily get PDX or BFI as a base. Word is QXE loves to hire from Amflight.

With hiring slowing overall it should come as no surprise that all employers can be more selective. It's supply and demand.

Cheers

How ambitious and smart are you. If have shown that "Go Get um" attitude and are intelligent, then your chances are low. They know you will leave them as soon as you get a better offer. Best to hire the "This is as good as it gets" guys.....

7.5 yrs QX
The artist formerly known as "DASH TRASH"

NICE!! I'm going to Spirit to fly a Bus! You?

As for the reason for leaving? Here is all I can say. Horizon is a pretty smart company and are extremely cautious. This can cause EXTREME frustration at the company. Since they refuse to expand or agressively compete when they easily could hammer most of the competition out there, many many people are close to going postal. LOL Mainly it seems lately that the company wants to do anything they can to Pi$$ the pilot group off. I.E. Getting rid of the Rjs, bringing in a third party, lowering the new hire matching in the 401k without permission, and as far as changing how far the seat backs can recline.

We will have to see what tommrow and the next few days hold to see how this turns out.

A Mel Brooks classic!

Those sound like the reasons I left a few months ago. I guess my username should be "Barbie Jet Pilot" now.

If anyone does happen to get an interview at QX, make sure to remember the Bible and model rocket kit when you are packing your briefcase. LaMar will probably hire you on the spot.

P.S. I second the comments about Ali :D

I was going to avoid that but ok... Third.:p

...it's just pure luck of the draw...or bad luck of the draw...either way, luck is in there somewhere...:mad:

I think that they like people with ties to the Northwest. They want to hire people that want to be in the area and want to stay a long time. If you are an East Coast guy, you will be at the bottom of the stack, and if you do get an interview, you had better say that you want to move to SEA/PDX for the rest of your life. It seemed that the part of the interview when they asked "Why Horizon?" was the most important question to answer correctly during the whole day.

Have prior 121 and 135 experience, have a four year degree, have worked at Ameriflight, about the only thing is I do not live in the Pacific northwest.:confused:

Where do you live? And When did you interview? How long did it take for them to get back to you after you applied?

I want to be a Virginal American!
 

I'm leaving to be a bus driver as well. Flying a red tail logo, but not Northwest. It's a huge gamble for me. I'm not leaving because I don't like where I'm at. I love it. But the mood at QX has been dark. I've been here for 8+ years and it is darker now than before we signed our first contract! I think part of it is our schedules are crap, and of course the unknown. Don't get me wrong, I love QX. I've enjoyed being here. But it aint everything. If you commute, you can do better. If you live in Seattle, or Portland. Well, it makes things a lot better. I'm not sure what direction the company is going, so stay tuned for that, but for the most part it's ok. Air Grope growth has always been fairly stagnant compared to other airlines. After almost a decade with the company I see a lot of areas where they could have decimated the competition and did not. All that being said, QX has had the best training program in any 121 program bar nun. That is changing because it costs money. But it is still good. Would I do it all again? Absolutely! If you live close. If you don't mind a long upgrade. This is your airline. Good luck. Good bowling. God bless. I certainly do not begrudge my time served here. It was the best of times.............last call.........

I also heard a key ingredient to the interview recipe was some previous dash 8 time. Any truth to that?

Prolly not gonna matter now...

April 24, 2008 Alaska Air Group, parent of Alaska Airlines, reported a wider quarterly loss on Thursday as revenue could not keep pace with rising fuel costs.
Fuel costs for the first quarter rose 45 percent, or USD$89 million, to USD$282 million. Fuel is the company's largest expense, and Alaska Air's problems mirror the rest of the industry.
"Given the magnitude of this increase and the softening economy, we're taking aggressive actions now to improve our business and profitability," said Bill Ayer, chairman and chief executive.
The company announced cost cuts and revenue enhancements that it hopes will boost full-year pre-tax income by about USD$150 million.
First, it said it would further reduce the size of the fleet at its regional Horizon Air subsidiary, which will result in "some job losses." It hopes to address those losses through attrition.
Also, within two years, Horizon Air will go from a fleet of 65 aircraft and three aircraft types to a fleet comprised of only larger, 76-seat Bombardier Q400s, the company said.
Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are evaluating routes to remove frequency in underperforming markets and redeploy in more profitable areas. The airlines anticipate shifting 3 percent to 5 percent of existing network capacity to generate new revenue in the fall schedule.
Alaska Air Group also will raise various fees later this spring and summer, including charging USD$25 for a second checked bag for most passengers.
Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air will fly more direct routes, establish procedures for using only one engine during taxiing, and use more ground-based power systems rather than aircraft auxiliary power while at the gate. Alaska Air Group hopes to save 1 million gallons of jet fuel per month through these procedures.
The company reported a first-quarter net loss of USD$35.9 million, compared with a net loss of $10.3 million a year earlier. Both periods include adjustments resulting from mark-to-market fuel hedge accounting.
Excluding the impact of these adjustments, the company would have reported a loss of USD$36.3 million, compared with a loss of USD$15.8 million a year earlier.
Revenue rose to USD$839 million from USD$759 million a year earlier. Mainline passenger traffic increased 11.3 percent on a capacity increase of 6.8 percent. Load factor increased by 3 percentage points to 74.4 percent.

(Reuters)

I heard there are still some classes scheduled for the near term down there in PDX. I think if I was starting class in the next couple of weeks I'd be a little nervous...

Nervous
 

Yep, a bit nervous. I start class next week.

HOLD ON THERE! Do you still have your old job? If so I'd probably suggest you keep it and NOT start class at QX.

If QX is your dream job and you want spend your career there, then sure, go to class. You will probably get furloughed but at least you will have a seniority number so you won't have to re-interview when they start hiring again.

Fly Half-
I talked to assistat chief pilot this morning and the decision to continue classes will be made this afternoon or tomorrow. There still is a bunch or attrition going on. Best of luck to you and all of us.

If they still offer it I'll probably go to the class. I'm from Seattle and am planning on moving back. I'm still employed at my current job, so we'll see. Fingers are crossed.

I live in Seattle and I wouldn't touch that class with a 10 foot pole.

Good luck.

I worked at Horizon for two years before I left. Horizon was a very stable regional that paid pretty well. If I had a class date starting in May I would NOT GO! At best you will be lucky to have a reserve line for the next two or three years. That is if you are lucky enough not to get furloughed. On reserve your pay sucks at Horizon and the stability is no longer there. Plus can you imagine flying with the RJ Captains that will be forced to fly the 400 now. If Horizon is looking for ways to make money they should film a reality show on that transition. The next few years in this industry will be so rocky that you might as well go to a place with faster upgrade time and hope for the best that they stay around. Finally, if you think Ali is hot you need to leave now. You must move south immediately. You have lived in the northwest for way to long.

Boredwlife I am taking away your membership to the double D’s

HAHAHA I dont rmember typing that. MUST HAVE BEEN AFTER A BOISE OVERNIGHT!!!

Time to move south.

Horizon Interview
 

I think that a good interview tactic at Horizon Air is to go through it with mild disdain and an overall lack of interest. (It also seems to work at Alaska Airlines too.) If they get the feeling that you really want to work there then they begin to wonder what is wrong with you.

I also think that companies hire people if they can visualize you in the position. As an eager, interested and happy applicant you do not fit the picture of a typical Horizon Air line pilot. Try going into the interview with your eyes to the floor and shoulders hung low. Mumble your answers and try not to look at the interviewer. It is also better to go in after being up all night so that you are tired and lack focus.

Skyhigh

Why yes barkeep. I AM A SOUTHWEST PILOT! Giggity!

Just passing on a little wisdom...

If your buying drinks by the glass in Boise your a southwest pilot. If you decide to go by the pitcher your a Horizon pilot. Its a better deal.