What does it take?
 

I'll keep it short and simple.
I want to fly for Southwest in the future and as someone once told me, work everyday like you're preparing for your dream job. With that said, what did it take? Flight time, volunteering, internal jobs, right place right time, or did you simply know someone. All feedback is appreciated and I plan on going above and beyond in my current job and doing the most. Thanks.

For me it was all of the above, sans the internal jobs. Part 121 for 11 years with about 3,000 turbine PIC, check airman, volunteering time, prior military (non-flying) time. The internal recs help a lot, but only after you get an interview. That is the hardest part of getting on board for most of us. There are a ton of pilots on this forum who have had their apps in for years, through over a dozen hiring windows, attended the job fairs both in-house and at the big national functions, and still haven't gotten an opportunity to interview. I know guys who are better qualified than me that can't seem to get a call. Long story short, the right place at the right time was probably the biggest factor for me, I imagined.

Question of the decade. Nobody knows what it actually takes to get past the computer to score an interview.

Volunteer work, manager/check airman, turbine PIC time, type ratings, variety of experience, 121 time, 737 type, military, Bachelors degree, etc.

Of course, once the magic of scoring an interview is completed...you still have to pass it.

I wish I had the interview rubric but it’s a closely guarded secret.

If your are following a 121 track these are my suggestions and the path I took:

1. Study your tail off for every training event to make sure there is nothing to chance.
2. Upgrade as soon as possible when it fits your QOL. I did not not upgrade into a NY base but did commute for six months to get the upgrade.
3. Get into an industry leadership volunteer position. In my case, I was a new pilot mentor for my regional carrier that assisted new pilots in training and through the early months of being on the line.
4. Differentiate yourself with a Masters Degree (what I did) or 737 type (I did not), or some other significant strategy.
5. Keep a perfect log book. If your is not perfect now, make it electronic and make it that way.
6. Apply at every window and attend all Pilot events you can get to.
7. Be nice to everyone in the industry. You never know who will be the one to make your career. The person that helped me the most was just a casual acquaintance that just really liked me.
8. Stay in touch with everyone that goes to Southwest. I had over ten letters of reference.
9. Read the book NUTS. It is not current on the culture but it is still a ton of history on the company.
10. Plan to use an interview Prep. I would not have gotten the job without it. My first practice interview was a straight out “F”. I used a lady named Brenda who is not well known but probably made the difference in my getting the job.
11. Build your TPIC as quickly as you can to get over the 1,000. You can apply at 500 but to have any real chance, you need 1,000+. However, start to apply and attend events at 500.
12. Have your resume looked over by a professional resume reviewer or several Southwest pilots and/or your interview prep person.

I hope that helps. That is what worked for me.

Really appreciate the thorough feedback! NUTS is on the way. This helped a lot.

Get into some training position at current job. Remember FOs can still be instructors or work in the office writing manuals etc.

I also wanted to follow up with: why do airlines advertise that PIC is preferred but no longer required if PIC is really the one thing they usually look for when it comes to flight time and that captain upgrade everyone says is so important.

For nepotism so they can helped their kids cut corners without violating the minimums.

So knowing a CP helps?

Not at SWA. Don’t even think having family here helps. Not until you get the invite anyway.