I thought it's a 2 year seat lock on the airplane and not the domicile unless ofcourse it's an upgrade from the CRJ to the Saab.

 

No the 200 only has a MSP base so the 2yr seatlock applies unless you upgrade to another aircraft that has more bases or wait the 2yrs and switch aircraft as an F.O.

 

I guess what I said needed a little more elabornation. You are seat locked as an FO in the airplane you are in until upgrade (which if your seniority number is up could be right away but right now is fall '07 seniority) or until 2 years then you can change FO seats. You can change bases freely as an FO as long as the aircraft you are on is in that base. The Saab and 900 are in MSP, DTW and MEM which means you can move around as much as you want on the same aircraft as long as there is a vacancy and your seniority can get it. But the 200 is only in MSP so you can't change bases without upgrading to an airplane that is in the base you want or 2 years and you can switch FO spots to the aircraft that is in the base you want.

 

Maybe someone can help me out with an explanation. I filled out my app with mesaba last week and recieved a thanks, but no thanks email today. I'm not sure why, I meet all the requirements. I have 730/130 and am furloughed comair (who is supposed to be getting preferential interviews). I would understand if I interviewed and then they said no thanks. Any insights, I was gonna try and call HR to try and get an explanation of what would make me more competitve.

 

I was wondering about that too. I think I saw some comments on another thread. I just received the same e-mail.

I'm not trying to sound like an ********* but I have almost 4,000 tt, 2,000 in a CRJ, ATP and furloughed from a major. I'm not suggesting that those numbers entitle me to an interview but I'm just wondering if anyone has an idea if there is anything I could do to improve my chances. I think Mesaba looks like a good place to work.

Some things I've wondered about are maybe they don't want a furloughed pilot, maybe they prefer lower time pilots, or maybe I inadvertently put something on my app that they don't like. I guess it really doesn't matter.

I saw they are going to be at the job fair in ORD on the 28th. I'm thinking about going so maybe I can get another look.

 

Does Mesaba have a "preferential interview" system ?

 

I don't have any insight into our hiring process being that it changes so often, usually based on who is looking at the apps.

In getting my job at Mesaba, it took me three interviews over a 16 year period before I got hired. I understand the frustration you are feeling.

You all probably would be great candidates. I also know that NO company will give you a reason why you weren't invited to interview. No company will tell you why you weren't offered a job after the interview if you got one. Legal reasons.

Being that Mesaba is one of the few places hiring pilots in the US, I guess we can afford to be more selective. You guys would have been snapped up quickly if you would have applied this time last year. Unfortunately the circumstances are different now.

While I know that your frustration is great and the pressure for a job is enormous, please don't take it personal. I think our HR dept is just overwhelmed with so many over qualified pilots, that they have a very narrow window that they are looking for. What that is, I don't know.

Keep trying. I left a non-aviation job making $60k a year to make $17k a year. While financially difficult and certainly not always fun with the Contract of '04 and the bankruptcy, I have never regretted coming to Mesaba. We are a good company with great people. The frustrations were worth it.

I would also like to say something else. Turning down a job somewhere is wrong. If you didn't want the job don't apply because the interview you got, someone else didn't.
If you didn't take a job because you thought you deserved the 900 and you were actually offered a SAAB, you missed your chance. Don't whine about not getting a second chance.
For those who didn't get an interview. There is no way HR can remember your name. Wait a week or two (or month) and reapply. Maybe the next person will like what they see. I know that works.

Anyway good luck.

 

All good points. Thanks for sharing that information. I'm not so much frustrated as just curious. I think things will loosen up before long. I agree that it must be difficult for the HR departments to narrow down the lists right now.

 

The comair furlough committee sent an email to all furloughees stating that mesaba would be granting preferential interviews to Comair furloughees. Thats pretty much all I was told, it was a MEC to MEC agreement so I'm not sure what page HR is on.

 

Your question is a good one, unfortunately, no one at the pilot level really knows what factors go into the HR decision making process. Your background sounds like Mesaba would have snapped you up last year in a heart beat but today, I don't know what they are looking for. I was hired early last year with a similar hours and experience so I do not think they are looking for low time pilots especially right now when there are many experienced pilots applying. Only thing I can think of is maybe the HR is concerned that you will leave as soon as another bigger offer shows up. That is happening a lot, apparently to Compass. I was told more than a few don't even show up for the first day of training at Compass. So this is what the HR might be worried about when they see your apps.

Like someone suggested, you should reapply online and then give them a call. Make sure you go through your apps to see everything is in order.
I am pretty sure if you really want to work at Mesaba, you will be given a chance because your genuine desire will show through your apps. Phone call can be effective if you get the right person.