Long story short.

Applied last year as soon as I went over 1000 Turbine PIC when it was still a requirement.

Email for an interview, did prep with CTO, interviewed, thought it went well but got the TBNT email.

Two months later, I got another "Select interview date" email, which I did, and then was called after I had shortened an overseas ISR rotation to make the interview to tell me I was ineligible to interview and was called back by a computer glitch. As I was on my way to Dallas.

Almost a year has passed, no calls from anyone else.

I've spent many a night sitting in Afghanistan (where I am right now) wondering what the heck I did wrong.

Only thing I thought that I could have answered better was when I was asked if I had any mobilization orders coming up, and what I would do if I was mobilized. I was honest and said I was on the list to possibly go but it was looking like a conflict of interest with my current job so I was not likely to go.

Not sure that was a "Legal" question to be asked, but I wasn't going to lie. When I was part of interview teams for an oil company (Non Flying) asking about Reserve or Guard status was a big hairy no-no.

What is SWA looking for in round two if I get called back? I prepped, I thought it went well, so other than being truthful when asked about a Mobilization, I don't know what I did wrong. Maybe pick the morning session vs afternoon?

What I don't want to do is to get called, and then get waved off for a second time. That cost me probably $10,000 in lost work. I was willing to go back home early for a second shot, but I can't keep on having that happen.

 

I had an opportunity to speak with a SWA Check Airman this week. A point he emphasized over and over was that they were looking to hire good people and good attitudes that would mix well with the SWA culture. He said it was painfully obvious when people used interview prep improperly with a canned response. It wasn't the content of the canned response - but the format of the sentences. He knew instantly which company you used and frequently which counselor. The only reason this bothered him is it caused him to question whether or not he was seeing the "real you".

Another point of emphasis he made was knowing when to stop talking. Answer the question with just enough words to completely answer the question and then stop.

His last point was to make sure to actually answer the question and not use the question to segue to a different question with a planned response...again he said they are looking for the "real you".

I did not ask questions about reserve service. He seemed to be enthusiastic about being an SWA Captain and Check Airman. He wants to fly with people that their #1 goal is to be a SWA Captain and enthusiastically be part of the SWA business model.

He mentioned the possibility of new pilot bases, red eyes and additional flying beyond the SWA AM/PM shift.

Unfortunately he made it clear that he had no clue on how HR selects interviewees.

 

I am going to piggyback on what flew said.

Many years ago when I was a young captain separating from the USAF WN was THE airline I wanted to fly for. I had never had a civilian job interview so I did the interview prep.

The two things I remember from it were even though this was SWA that I needed to tone myself down a little and that I absolutely should NOT wear cowboy boots with my suit.

Well, the interview went great as far as I could tell and as far as the interview prepper debrief could tell yet my friends were having their references called while I had to walk to my mailbox outside waiting for the form letter to come. (That tells you how long ago this was, we were notified of everything via snail mail.)

After that I dumped all the advice from the interview prep and was simply myself. Yes, I would gather intel if I could on what might be asked but the answer was ALL me in every interview after that.

I have had a lot of interviews since then and have been offered a lot more job offers than got TBNT emails. I would go so far as to say those I did get TBNT notices from were not good fits anyway.

Oh, to this day and in interviews I wear cowboy boots with my suits including interviews.

As always, YMMV

 

Appreciate the responses.

The funny thing was a year ago, I was told "use CTO or you only have yourself to blame if you don't get the job".

Now, not so much. I did know SWA hated Emerald Coast for whatever reason.

Well, at least I don't need the number for Truckmasters. I already have a CDL.

 

Check your PMs.

 

Just don't bust the hard deck or buzz the tower and you'll be fine.

 

If that causes me to fly rubber dog doo out of Hong Kong does that mean FedEx is going to call soon?

😀

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Not sure, but I'm sure Atlas will....

 

For the love of God...Don't ever tell "the people department" you've been offered a job by a couple majors, when you get interviewed. I can guarantee they hate that more than they hate Emerald Coast.

 

That was a Top Gun joke.



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