zyzz

airlineapps.com ? I didn't bring a cover letter to the interview. I don't know if it is a good idea to bring one or not though.

PSA Recruiter

A cover letter never hurts, but in all honesty, it doesn't really help with us. I would say that less than half of the people we interview have one. It would be different for an interview at a legacy, but we are a little less formal when it comes to such things.

If you do include a cover letter, please be sure to reread it and ensure that it is not for another job. If I had $1 for every cover letter that I have received that said their goal is to obtain a job as a first officer at Atlas/Spirit/JetBlue/Envoy/Piedmont or some part 91 job, I could go on a nice vacation. Same goes with your resume. If you have a "goal" on the resume, make sure it is for the job that you are applying for. If you show up with a cover letter talking about you wanting a job at Spirit, I will show it to you and you will be embarrassed. Although it is funny, I wouldn't suggest doing it.

With all of that said, be sure that you are prepared and bring what we ask of you. Have the documents copied and the logbooks totaled. Fill out the logbook form that we will send you, and make sure that we know that you really want a job with us.

If you show up in a suit and tie, we notice it.
If you have all of your documents copied and presented in order that we ask for them, we notice it.
If you are professional to others during the interview process, ask questions, and show interest, we notice it.

About documents - we ask that they are copied and legible. You will receive emails about this. Make sure that we can read the details on the copies (license, medical, radio permit, etc...). If we can't read it, then we have to call you out of the room to take a look at your originals. Just include what we ask for. We do not ask for bank records, social security cards, marriage licenses, or elk lodge membership certificates, so there is no need to copy those and give those to us.

Please just make the copies and put them in some sort of folder. We prefer that you do not professionally bind them, put them in page protectors, or anything like that. We have to pull them all out and scan them for your digital files. It looks great and we appreciate people taking the time to do so, but it does create more work for us. (A legacy carrier got into some social media trouble for this... but it is accurate. Just a normal folder is fine). At the interview, we do not ask for originals documents. It is a great idea to bring them in case there are issues with the copies, but with 12-20 people interviewing every day, we don't want your originals to get lost.

Otterbox

^This is good info...

I know folks involved in airline hiring who will issue TBNT letters the same day if they discover that their airline isn’t an applicants first choice. Methods for discovery can include cover letter SNAFUs, comments on social media and communications with pilots already on property with the company.

I’ve had at least two buddies shoot themselves in the foot by commenting about how X or Y airline are their first choice but will to settle on an interview with Airline Z and use it as a fallback until they get an offer from their #1 or #2 and not knowing their audience. This has happened at both the major and regional levels.

PSA Recruiter

Another funny anecdote - had someone sign their offer letter with the pen that is given out at another airline when you get an offer. I jokingly commented on this, asking them if they signed two offer letters with the same pen. The person got a little red in the face, but didn't lie and said yes and he had interviewed with the other airline earlier that same week. I respected the candidate for that. He works at PSA now, and I joked with him when I saw him in the airport to see if he still had that same pen in his pocket.

We understand that the times have changed. In the "old days", aka a few years ago, people interviewed at one regional airline and then went to work there. If they didn't get the offer, they would then hope to interview elsewhere. Now, advisors tell people to interview at 4 or 5 airlines and pick after that. It causes some major problems, but unfortunately it is the new normal in the industry.

I would guess that 90% of people that we offer class dates end up in a class with us. Not sure what the exact statistic is, but the number is very high. It isn't a big problem for us, but occasionally there are issues. If you are going to go to multiple interviews, consider the following. (Not just about PSA, but for any airlines that you are going to apply to.)


#1 - It is best not to interview at several different places, but if you do, be honest. I will often ask how many places you have interviewed with, or why you are interviewing with just us because you live in Seattle (or Phoenix). Don't lie. Tell me that you interviewed at X, Y, and Z. I have no problem with that. But if I know that you interviewed with 3 other regionals and you lie, it doesn't look good.

#2 - If you don't think that you want to work here or are not sure, tell me that you are not sure and do not accept a class date immediately. Again, be honest. The best thing is to say that you haven't made a decision and want to talk it over with family/friends to be sure it is the best thing for you. We will still give you a "pool" offer. You have a class if you want it. If you take a class date, you are saying that you really plan on coming here. If you need to cancel, or decide not to come to us, then let us know ASAP. We require at least 2 weeks notice. Our classes are full, and we often have waitlists for classes. If you don't cancel until 48 hours before, we don't have time to get that waitlist person into that class. You are not only being inconsiderate to the company, but also to a fellow pilot.

Repeated for importance - if you interview at any airline and decide to not take the class date that you agreed to, cancel at least 2 weeks before, or earlier if possible. Consider it like a job and you giving 2 weeks notice. The HR people that you call to cancel the class are not going to get mad at you if you tell them that you changed your mind. If they ask why, tell them. Be honest. If you decide later that you want to go work for that company, leaving on a good note will ensure that you are welcomed back. This industry changes. One airline may not be the best fit for you right now, but 3 years later it may be the job that you really want/need. Don't burn that bridge.

There is a story about a candidate that had class dates at 2 airlines on the same day (most airlines start every other Monday on a similar schedule). He just "no-showed" for one of them without calling and went to class at the other. The HR people at the company found out that the candidate did this, and he was walked out of class. He lost 2 jobs, including the one that he really wanted, because he didn't have the courtesy to cancel his date at the other airline. Don't be this guy.

Paid2fly

Ben [email protected]

rdavid2792

I have an RTP interview on January 14th. If hired, can you tell me how long it will be until I can start training at SkyWarrior? I'll be a full build, zero fixed wing time. Thanks.

I live 30 minutes from SkyWarrior so no housing needed.

PSA Recruiter

Sorry, I do not deal with the RTP program very much and am not sure what their timeline is. I would suggest emailing one of the RTP recruiters if you have their contact information. If not, you can send it to [email protected]. That is the generic email, but they can get it to the correct people.

I get lots of RTP questions, but I am unable to answer anything about RTP.

inevitableneb

Will PSA be matching Endevour?

PSA Recruiter

Officially speaking, there has been no announcement of this. The company and union have been meeting, but nothing has been announced. I think most everyone is expecting all of the AA WO to match it, but I really can't comment on rumors or speculation.

I will just say that nothing has been announced formally. I am sure lots of other people will jump in with their thoughts or rumors, but I try to be sure to only give 100% factual information on here so I won't comment any further.

BizJet

No one knows. Historically speaking, AA WOs wait a few months before one of them blinks. At that point all three will get roughly the same deal.

The Union said they are talking and the company knew this was most likely coming. So that could mean we hear something next month or Dec '18.