Newbie here with a question! Would you folks recomend interviewing at several co. just to get the feel of things? Meaning if I saved my target company for last. I know theres no gaurantee that I would even get the call from that airline. I've never lost out on a job once granted an interview, and don't want to start now. I'm just wondering if a little practice on some airlines that I'm not really interested in would do some good.

Your thoughts?

Nothing is in the bag yet so I would interview with at least 3 companies (SkyWest, ExpressJet, Republic) that you could want to work for and then see who calls you back.

btw what are your times?

I say just go for it...If you've never failed an interview, you apparently already know how to prepare. IMHO, it's more dangerous to go to interviews without really caring whether or not you get the job...Why? Because you won't be under too much stress to perform well, so the "practice" you would be getting really wouldn't be very realistic.

Plus, what if your first choice airline doesn't hire you, after you turned down 3 jobs at other places? Your options would be drastically reduced.

It takes a while to go through the app/interview process, so making the interview circuit would probably eat up a couple months, at the very least, which is time in which you could be building seniority at the place you really want to work.

Also, several regionals don't pay for your trip to the interview, so you'd be costing yourself unnecessary money. My advice is to apply to all the places you wouldn't mind working, and give your first choice about a week's head-start with the app/resume/cover letter. From that point on, you can give each company a good look, and hope for good timing. Telling them that you need to give your present employer at least 2 weeks' notice before class may also buy you some time if you get an offer and are still waiting on your preferred job...

Here's what happened to me...Got 3 interviews, all at places I wanted to work. Went to the 1st and was put into a hiring pool for one of my "second choices." While wading in the pool, I was offered an interview at my first choice company. The day after that interview was offered, company 1 called me with a short-notice class-date (3 days). I told them that I couldn't leave my current employer on such short notice, and they understood, said I'd be the first to get the call for the next class. My first choice company offers me a class date 2 weeks later, which I accept. Company 3 calls to offer interview shortly thereafter, and I turned it down. When offered the class date with company 1, I was already in training at my first choice, so I turned that down as well...I got lucky with the timing, but given the chance, I'd do things that way again.

Good luck!

Historically, pilots would apply everywhere, take the first interview and job offer they got, and feel darn lucky to have a job.

However, since entry-level pilots are in high-demand right now, you can exercise some selectivity. I would apply to your desired airlines in order of preference, ie number one first. If you don't get called in a few weeks (maybe a month or two), then move on to number two...

You DO NOT want to interview at your last choices first, get an offer, and turn it down. Because then when your number one choice rejects you, you will be out of options!

Keep two things in mind:

1) Most 121 interviews are tough, it's normal for good pilots to get rejected. Your odds are better today because of the shortage, but expect to get rejected at some point in your career. Don't take it personally, but try to learn from it.
2) The first interview is always the hardest, after that you know what to expect.

If you want to do a "practice interview" that would be VERY helpful...pick an airline that you are sure you don't want to work for and go interview. Mesa would be OK for this, but their interviews might not be very rigorous at this point

Thanks a lot for the in put, that makes a lot of sense.

I just recently became a member to these boards, but have been have been a long time reader. Just lurking in the shadows learning as much as possible. In between some rants there is a tremendous amount of info passed through here. Kudos to all!

Hey guys, wondering what ya think of my plan...

Going to be going home in the first week of April. During this month I have until then, I plan to study study study. Will take my ATP written once home, and throw an app to mesa right away (to use them as a practice interview). I've never interviewed with any regionals before.

I plan on getting about 10 hours or so in the sim there at SNA, then applying with SKW and hoping for the best! I have someone to walk in my resume, I'm just really nervous about the interview itself!

SKW is my number 1 choice at the moment, but any other companies you guys might recommend to have as number 2 and 3 options?

My big deal is I have an interview with SKW and have a couple resume's out there at companies I'd like to work for as well. Should I find I like one of those companies more but was recently hired by SKW would I be screwing myself if I left? As we know I have an app in at XJT because I'd like to live in my home area of Houston as well as Republic. Should they pick me up I would heavily consider their offer. Would I be obligated to SKW. Nothing against SKW by any means I def. liked what they had to say and like the company. I just miss my family

Where is the interest out there for my favorite (growing) regional, MESABA.

If you throw an app in to Mesa, they might just offer you a class date in 2 days, without an interview. A friend of mine had that just happen to them. No, I am not kidding. Maybe they got tired of giving "practice interviews."

I wouldn't feel obligated to anyone in the least until I was sitting in class (if they pay during training). If they don't pay during training, I wouldn't feel obligated until I passed my checkride. That's just me, though.