Regional Choices, Piedmont Interview
 

"Career Questions" doesn't have enough traffic so I'll try and make this thread appropriate.

This is my list, in order:
1. Piedmont
2. Endeavor
3. Envoy
4. PSA

Now, on to my real questions. I submitted my app last night and received responses from all four airlines before lunch today. Piedmont called and just ran through a few, very basic questions before sending me the interview offer via e-mail. They're the airline I'm most interested in. In fact, they're the only ones I want to fly for right now.

I have my interview set for Tues of next week. Bought a couple of suits and shoes. I'll have all of my paperwork in order by the end of the day tomorrow. I'm reordering the ATP ShepardAir test prep for the 25-question test. I had previously passed with a 93, but it expired. Oh well. I meet all of the requirements for the unrestricted ATP. I have 600 hours of SEL turbine PIC with about 40 of that being MEL turbine PIC. I have read the gouge and all questions. No big issues there. Never got any CFI tickets. No big red flags, just a couple of failures early on (PP oral and flight). All of my prior experience in 91.

I can add more but I really just want to get to the point (as I'm sure some of you reading this do, as well). I'm really nervous about passing my first airline interview for the company I'm most interested in. What are the biggest "do's" and "dont's" as far as this initial interview in concerned? Things I should really, really avoid that aren't general. I'm hoping to minimize any mistakes and am trying to relax but I'm hoping my previous experience (PC-12 PIC & BE90) shines through anything I might goof up on.

I don't want to be the idiot that forgets the answers to the most basic questions.

Edit: I'm not comfortable with checkrides or interviews if I don't know 100% of everything about everything. I'm just trying to organize what's most important for this initial interview before I go in.

Be yourself. Be honest. Act like you really want to work there, and make sure that they know that you do.

Know about the airline, but have good questions for them. Show that you took time to research the airline.

Read all of the gouges on AviationInterviews.com. Spend the few dollars. It is worth it. The companies put the written test and oral questions online on purpose. They want to see who is going to put forth effort and study.

The interviews are very easy if you are prepared. The AA WO are being somewhat selective right now. I have heard at PDT and PSA that we are turning away quite a few candidates, and I am sure that Envoy is as well. The idea that the interview is just fogging a mirror is incorrect.

Know why you want to work there. If you are just looking at money, dig deeper. Work rules matter. Know the differences in the companies and what sets each apart.

PDT is a good company. Good luck at the interview.

Better start hitting the books and preparing for HR questions. Less than a week for an interview is going to be thight in time. I don't know how many parts pdt interview has, but don't undersestimate any of them.

Good luck, be yourself and you should be fine. Gather as much info about the company, why you want to work there, how do you see yourself in 5-10yrs etc.

Smile big, eye contact, firm handshake, and make a decent grade on the written and the oral will be a lot less scary. Expect a couple tell me about a time questions, maybe a question or two about your pink slips from back in the day. Also, be able to coherently breif a jepp approach plate. Good luck!

Piedmont's pilot group is small, and generally very professional. The new CEO used to hire pilots for US Airways/American, so he knows what he's looking for, and the recruiters know it. The fact that you were scheduled for an interview says a lot. So do make sure you take the interview seriously. This is on the PDT website, if it helps- tips for the pilot interview.
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Bone up on the technical aspects the best you can in the limited time. As far as the HR questions, I think just responding to those truthfully and candidly goes farther than trying to come up with or memorize the responses you think they are looking for. People interviewing others for jobs learn to look beyond/through all the bullcrap. Don't be a robot, just be you. You aren't the person interviewing before or after you so don't try to be. They ask questions, you give answers. If you don't know something, say so. If they are your first choice, tell them that and tell them why they are your first choice, even if all the reasons pertain to your particular situation. You'll be fine.

Thanks for the replies so far.

I'm slowly making my way through my "to-do" list but this is cutting it closer than I would have liked. Rescheduling is not an option.

I'm definitely going to go in there and be myself. It's where I'm most comfortable and I'd like to think I'm a very personable. The fact that I want to work there should shine through, but I guess I'll look up subtle ways to make sure it's known. Maybe I should just tape paper on my chest and back saying, "I WANT TO WORK HERE. PIEDMONT IS #1"

I have read all of the interviews on AviationInterviews.com and found it helpful, but no necessarily clear on specifics.

I've sent out a request to a career development service with great reviews. I'm hoping they can get back to me in time.

I'll definitely be sure to know what sets PDT apart from the rest.

From what I was told on the phone, it start with a 25-question test from the ATP bank and then, if you pass, you will proceed into an interview where you will brief a Jepp chart. Aside from that, I don't know much. I can definitely brief an approach chart. I just need to rewire myself for the Jepp layout.

I'm not at all nervous talking about my failures. To me, they're in the past and I've definitely learned from them. I put too much reliance on my instructor and practically none on myself. Haven't made that mistake since.

I've always tried to run a professional, safe, and enjoyable cockpit or "flight deck" and I'm hoping I can convey that to their satisfaction.

Back to preparing. Thanks again, everyone.

Good luck!

Be yourself, be humble to critism, admit any and all faults in your past. Have an idea about how you would answer questions like, tell me a time you had conflict in the cockpit, a time you failed how did you deal with it, what would your enemies say about you...etc

Passed the interview. I'm working on the at-home tests and then waiting to be sent out for the CTP program. Thanks for your input, everyone.

The gouges were spot on. I'll write up my experience and if you would like it, PM me. It should be done sometime today or tomorrow, depending on what pops up.