Failed to get past initial selection
 

Hi all, I recently applied to SkyWest and got rejected just off the initial online app and I just wanted to get input from y'all. I'm totally baffled as to how when my colleagues with less time have gotten the interview and CJOs within the past two weeks. Here's a summary of my experience:

Large Pt 141 School Check Airman
Meets all the reqs for R-ATP
1800 Total Time, including 229XC (so I can't get an ATP and immediately bounce to Spirit)
1 Cert Checkride Fail - CFI SEL Flight
No Accidents/Incidents
No DUIs/speeding tickets etc

Can anyone provide insight as to why?? I want to make sure my app is better for next time...short of me making a mistake on my app. I can't review it at all so I don't know if I did.

Doesn't make sense to me, but I don't how OO may have changed their hiring preferences for FO's recently given that the shortage is now on the CA side.

I would go over the app with a fine-tooth comb and check for any errors, wrong box checked, numbers off by a decimal place, etc.

There is a natural tendency, when we are not invited for an interview, or not given a job offer, to feel we did something wrong, lacked something, didn't measure up. This is not always so.

Not everyone who applies gets an invite, every time. Not everyone who interviews gets a job offer. It may be that enough qualified applicants were already booked. It may be that a daily, weekly, or hiring phase cutoff was reached. It maybe that on a given day, the applicant met all the other criteria, but wasn't competitive.

Simply because you have enough time for the minimums doesn't mean you'll get called. Simply because others had less time and got hired, doesn't mean you will. There is no automatic process that says you're a warm body, so they will hire you, nor are they obligated.

While the hiring minimums are met, the only minimums that really matter are the competitive ones. That's how the applicants stack up on a given day, or at a particular moment. if you had a failed checkride and no one else applying that day or that hour did, perhaps you weren't competitive. Or perhaps you were, but they had enough qualified applicants. A few hours more or less means nothing.

Apply again. See what happens. Apply everywhere else.

Places put the brakes on at unexpected times, a bit like driving in traffic. Training backlogs and quotas, sim issues, whatever. I wouldn't sweat it too much. Regroup, apply once more.

I got invited for an interview yesterday, with even less qualifications than you.

I have 850hrs and a couple more checkride failures. I am eligible for the 1000 hr R-ATP.
I am an ERAU Alum, maybe that played a role, but otherwise I can't see why they would deny you when you're a great candidate

What is your education level? It doesn't really matter in this industry, but like the above post said, maybe you weren't competitive in your applicant pool because of it.

Double check me, but I think for the ATP any flight between two airports counts as cross country. You might be better than 229

Also, I think there’s increasingly a good argument to be made The Regional’s are not where you want to go early on. Just too stagnant for fo’s right now.

Yes you're right, two airports is XC, but for certification purposes, XC has to be at least 50nm away to count. Check out: https://www.boldmethod.com/learn-to-...y-flight-time/


As for the regional comment: All I know is: anything is better than sitting around in a piston burning holes in the sky. That turbine time is the most important number for airlines (other than total time).

Plus, 121 time is better than 135. And correct me if I'm wrong y'all, but the regionals have to be the best, and easiest, way (for piston guys) to jump into 121 ops.

So get 271 hours of time flying isotopes and lab samples.

https://www.airlinepilotcentral.com/...go/ameriflight


https://www.airlinepilotcentral.com/...st_diagnostics

It’ll take you about 5 months, counting training, and either Frontier or Spirit will hire you.

What’s your multi time? Also do you have a passport and FCC permit?

It’s nothing about you, SkyWest is just in absolute shambles currently. Someone I know interviewed in February, got the TBNT, and just two weeks SkyWest called and offered a May CRJ class date. To someone who did not get past the interview…..who knows what’s going on over there

You appear to be well qualified. The main sticking point would seem to be your relatively low amount of cross-country time. As John Burke noted, a company's hiring decisions can seem mysterious and sometimes there's no good reason why a qualified applicant gets turned down. Don't take it personally. There's a couple of ways to proceed from here:

(1) If you like your current job, stay there and reapply to Skywest again in a few months. This might also be a good time to consider where else you might want to work if Skywest isn't interested in hiring you. Apply everywhere you meet the minimums.

(2) If you want to build up your IFR and cross-country experience, consider working for a Part 135 operation for 6-12 months. I found that my Part 135 experience was great preparation for my later airline flying. It's never been a better time to get hired at an airline, but training is still challenging and will require a 100% effort. Every bit of instrument, cross-country, and multiengine experience will help.

Good luck.

They're probably afraid you have too many hours and won't stick around. We're losing FOs as soon as they hit 500 turbine to a lot of different airlines including Southwest.

Word on the street is they had to tighten up the hiring standards, conducting actual interviews. Too many were not successful completing training.
And yes 300hrs later will get you a call, including WN.

You are wrong. Let me correct you

Regionals are jammed up currently. Look elsewhere to anything with a turbine

2000 hours and unrestricted atp you can go to a career job.

I'll be the one to double check you.
61.159 requires 500 hours of Cross Country flight time to obtain an ATP
Looking back at 61.1(b) for the definition of Cross Country flight time, subsection (vi)(B) for the purpose of obtaining an ATP, "That is at least a straight-line distance of more than 50nm from the original point of departure,"

61.160(e) allows for the exemption to that rule by adding a limitation on to the applicant's ATP.

I'll add in there that you do not even need to land at another airport. So really, it only involves one airport.

Knew it was something. They put it in there for military crews who would fly 16 hour missions to and from the same airport.

Are you a check airman? Did you conduct certificate granting check rides? Could be that you did stage checks and need to uncheck that check airman box?

Just keep in mind that accidentally ticking the wrong box on the app will send you back a rejection automatically within 12-24 hours of applying. I would reapply and go over each section very carefully and if something doesn’t make sense or you aren’t sure, get clarification before continuing.

Also be sure to join the Cadet program, that seemed to have made the difference for at least one person I know in a spot like yours.

Most airlines do look beyond just flight quals. How did you stack up against those who got offers on life outside the airport? Do you have any college? How did you perform in High school? What is your job background outside of flying? Did you have any management experience?

Hi all, I know it has been sometime since my initial post, but I just wanted to thank everyone who replied. It was tough to take but as some of you pointed out, it is not the end of the world and other options do exist out there. I'm happy to say I'm more than halfway through training at an WO and couldn't be happier. Thank you to everyone for your constructive comments and encouragement. Much appreciated.

That is good news to hear and a great reminder to all out there that getting passed up by one company is not the end of the world.
Were you able to identify the reason for the immediate denial of your application? (if you are open to sharing, of course)

I was once a Skywest cadet, interviewed earlier this year and didn't get the job. I am eligible to reapply in a few months (6 months from the rejection). Would I be okay with reapplying right now as a cadet again (to get the guarantee interview) or should I wait the 6 months and apply as a off the street FO?

get on anywhere you can. Industry is about to enter a down cycle and some of the musical chair games are coming to an abrupt end.

Is this a fact or another "sky is falling* comment?

Predicting the future in this industry is a fool's errand. However, all three ULCC's have revised forecasts downward for the remainder of '23 citing reduced bookings and higher fuel costs. Considering they were a huge generator of pilot hirings from the regionals, if that avenue of career movement wanes or shuts off completely, you better hope you're parked someplace you're ok being at for a while.

a seniority number in a major - damn near ANY major - is preferable to a seniority number in a regional for almost anyone under age 65.

It's a fact. The industry runs in cycles. There is no pilot shortage, nor was there ever one. There was a temporary increase in hiring, which isn't over, but it certainly slowing. This can be seen across a number of industry sectors, and it is not unexpected.

if you were in the business long enough, you’d know it was a fact. Airlines always go down harder than up when the cycle turns, and the use if bankruptcy is just a normal business tool as part of the cycle.

You shouldn't be waiting to "hopefully" get on with SkyWest. Apply and move onto any airline that will take you at this point.

Are you applying anywhere else? Are you getting any nibbles? SkyWest seems to be one of the only ones calling people back right now.

did you try Republic? Two friends just interviewed and got class dates.

I never even applied there. I wouldn't be willing to sign their open ended contract, so it was a moot point to me. I am waiting for some slots to open up to get an interview with SkyWest scheduled.

didn't want to sign it either but it pays the bills and my other cjos have been delayed over and over and are coming up on a year. also it's not open ended. the max is 5 years but you could do it in 3.5 if you hustle to make CA. or pay the penalty and leave early.

anyway GL!

I got TBNT as well this week after applying, no interview. Just shy of 1800 hours, a little over 300 turbine since I was in the time frame of all regionals stopping hiring of FOs and I took a turbine job to get out of the CFI world.

Double checked my app and there were no errors. I guess they think I’ll bounce quickly and not worth hiring me?

Apply ulcc

The regionals are back in the normal universe where they have more applicants than spots. Wouldn’t take it personally.

300 hours turbine? Dude apply to United, they’re hiring guys/gals with 1,800 and no college degree from Frontier every class. When you get 500 hours turbine apply to Southwest.

FYI I spoke with someone recently who was around your stats, got the TBNT at SkyWest but hired at Southwest. He’s at Delta now.

I should have added in it’s all single engine turbine and no ATP. I’m still short on XC hours and only qualify for restricted.

Rejection Email
 

I just applied a few days ago and got the rejection Email as well. I meet and exceed all the ATP mins (1,500, night, and XC). I also have the CTP and written completed

The regionals are back in the normal universe where they have more applicants than spots. Wouldn’t take it personally

See regional vs fractional thread

How did you do in school grade wise and did you have any college. What was your work history outside of flying? Any checkride failures?