I'm going to Emerald Coast in December. Then all I'll need is an interview invite

It never ceases to amaze me the number of people try to skimp on the preparation for an airline interview - this is a job you will have for anywhere from 20-40 years and people are willing to forgo a few hundred dollars investment in interview prep. There are plenty of people on here who will point you in the right direction for interview prep for each airline (some do well with multiple airlines). Find out the dress code, match it (no matter how much it costs and even if you will never wear it again) and do all the other little things necessary to get hired (organize your paper work, check, double check, triple check everything on you to make sure it is 100% accurate). Congrats to those who have already made it (it is still a better job than 99.9% of the jobs out there) and good luck to those still working on getting hired.

Did Emerald Coast last month, and it was well worth the money. I was a bit skeptical before going, but after having done it I'm totally in the "you're a fool not to do interview prep" group. My class was all military/C-130 pilots, FWIW.

Good post. This is the true self selection bias. No one is so cool, polished, and informed that they can breeze through an interview. They self select to be possibly unselected.

Totally agree! People who skimp on a life changing possibility truly do self eliminate. Think about it....interview prep, a nice suit, a good nights sleep in a decent hotel = two weeks pay as a new hire. Good Lord.

You know what? Even that bird is prettier than the A380.

Carl

A couple of counter points:

1) I would say close to half of your own pilots (former NWA, Republic, Western...) have also not been through your interview. I am sure if every Northwest pilot would have had to interview, the pass rate would be very similar. Most of the Delta pilots I know are not exactly current on their logbooks either. Does that make them bad pilots? If I gave them the written or cognitive test from the interview, I doubt they would do much better.

2) Some people flat out don't interview well. The people you have been quick to judge as poor pilots are just the opposite. I would put my family on their plane way before some of the Captains I have experienced in Delta jumpseats.

3) As far as Bucking Bar's post; it makes me wonder what is wrong with his or your attitude? If you were turned down, what exactly would we have expected from you?

The people I know that were not selected went back to work, had a positive attitude, and continued on with their lives. It isn't the end of the world.

I guess their ego isn't quite as fragile as yours.

Exactly! ^^^^^^^^

Another way of thinking about it…doing the prep will show HR that you are not only a good pilot (they assume that from resume) but that you are humble (very important…kinda like your dad who kindly mentioned to you not to wear your HS letterman jacket to college on day 1) , adaptable, and willing to use all available resources (hmmm..where have you heard that before?) to secure a position at DAL.

Good Luck!

Quote:
2) Some people flat out don't interview well. The people you have been quick to judge as poor pilots are just the opposite. I would put my family on their plane way before some of the Captains I have experienced in Delta jumpseats.


I heard Bernie Maddof interviewed quite well when the clients visited at the office. ALL CON MEN interview quite well. Airline interviewers should take note.

Interviewing is a skill. It takes practice. Con men usually have that skill. Everyone that is good at interviewing is not a con man.