It was almost seven years ago, but ECIC *specifically* mentions NOT using canned answers...

I’m of the opposite mindset. I though RST was unnecessary and didn’t use it. There was enough gouge about the technical that I didn’t feel that I needed it. Some regionals were using the similar/same technical portion.

The face to face portion and the SBI I felt were the hard parts and a prep company got me prepared for them. They didn’t give me answers. Just refined my story telling and process.

In the end it depends on your comfort level in certain areas.

Go figure. For me day one was by far the hardest, day two was very easy, very relaxed.

Just out of curiosity, does this page change once your app has been pulled?

It does not. I have an interview in March and it shows the same as above.

Both days were easy for me. Don’t get me wrong, I was anxious but I think that is normal. The reason is because of ECIC and RST. ECIC specifically said not to use canned answers and their SBI prep is invaluable. Along with RST unlimited practice of the aptitude tests. Both of them allowed me to prep to the point that looking back, both days one and two, I was completely prepared. For the amount of potential earnings from this job, the cost of both of them are small. I didn’t want to be that guy that wondered, if only I had paid $XXX...

RST does the technical and aptitude, the SBA portion is covered by ECIC.. Without that prep, you're going to be hard pressed to pass the interview..

I am not bagging on either of these posts, I am opining. Using interview consulting and having canned answers are not congruous. Of course, one must assume a canned answer is one that someone else has packaged for you or possibly isn’t your own experience. Don’t make that assumption, I used a lot of canned answers. Each can contained one of my own experiences. I spent a long time reviewing my past, remembering things that had happened, and deciding which question that experience answered. That way when I was asked a question I had a legitimate response.

Here is a an example. Tell me about a time you changed a rule or policy at your company. I had a heck of a time coming up with a legitimate answer to this question. However, I had submitted many reports via an online reporting tool at my previous airline. So the truthful answer is, “I’m not sure if I have ever directly changed a rule or policy, however I often provide the meaningful feedback that leads to rule and policy changes.” From there you can continue your answer as you see fit.

The reason that answer is canned is because it can be used to answers similar questions about the same topic. Tell me about a time you went beyond the scope of your duty on a flight. “After the flight I provided feedback via a meaningful process to enhance the operation blah blah.” That was an obvious paraphrase however don’t assume canned equals bad. Bad is when they ask you questions to which you don’t have good answers, or you don’t answer the questions at all. Don’t get me going, wisdom is often canned for the purpose of recollection....

I once told a colleague that I didn’t think interview prep was worth the time and money since there was so much information out there to consume. The colleague gave me one reason and then another, neither swaying my opinion. Then they said, “If I fail to get the job, I don’t want to think back and wonder what I could have done differently.” That one persuaded me.

If you believe interview prep will preclude you from getting the job, then the answer is easy. There are many people who have used interview prep, got the job, and are telling you it’s great. Any decent prep service is designed to help you be authentic, provide truthful answers, and make you successful. Therefore I think it’s a false attribution to put consultants and negative characteristics or low value together.

I paid all of that off with the first airport standby I picked up on first year pay. It was all worth the price.

How far to the left of listed availability dates are people getting calls? I've set a date of 1 June. Just trying to understand the rate of hiring/how early to expect a call.