Interview? Post your times
#221
Line Holder
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 767
Likes: 221
SWA says they look for three things…
Leadership
Education
Flight Experience (don’t confuse w/ flight hours)
The military offers a tremendous amount of opportunity for these three buckets. In fact, you’ll get lots of these three buckets full whether you want to or not. I hesitate to speak many words about the civilian experience because I didn’t live it but I would suppose filling these buckets would require a guy to actively pursue them… and some don’t.
Those three buckets get you the interview. From the interview, the type of person that you are, or better the type of person they perceive that you are, gets you the job. I’m sure good guys slip through the cracks for a multitude of reasons. However, I still have confidence that our company has been pretty good at this. Of course, I’m an FO and I’m not experiencing flying with the newer guys. All I know is that my class was full of good dudes and the captains that I fly with are mostly fantastic.
All of this ebbs and flows based on supply/demand. We’ve seen the extremes! However, I think this is still the foundational principle always in play.
None of this applies to M/A guys. You get what you get with them. There’s no way they would get hired by a Texas airline driving Miatas. We all know that! 😂
Leadership
Education
Flight Experience (don’t confuse w/ flight hours)
The military offers a tremendous amount of opportunity for these three buckets. In fact, you’ll get lots of these three buckets full whether you want to or not. I hesitate to speak many words about the civilian experience because I didn’t live it but I would suppose filling these buckets would require a guy to actively pursue them… and some don’t.
Those three buckets get you the interview. From the interview, the type of person that you are, or better the type of person they perceive that you are, gets you the job. I’m sure good guys slip through the cracks for a multitude of reasons. However, I still have confidence that our company has been pretty good at this. Of course, I’m an FO and I’m not experiencing flying with the newer guys. All I know is that my class was full of good dudes and the captains that I fly with are mostly fantastic.
All of this ebbs and flows based on supply/demand. We’ve seen the extremes! However, I think this is still the foundational principle always in play.
None of this applies to M/A guys. You get what you get with them. There’s no way they would get hired by a Texas airline driving Miatas. We all know that! 😂
#222
Line Holder
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 848
Likes: 26
SWA says they look for three things…
Leadership
Education
Flight Experience (don’t confuse w/ flight hours)
The military offers a tremendous amount of opportunity for these three buckets. In fact, you’ll get lots of these three buckets full whether you want to or not. I hesitate to speak many words about the civilian experience because I didn’t live it but I would suppose filling these buckets would require a guy to actively pursue them… and some don’t.
Those three buckets get you the interview. From the interview, the type of person that you are, or better the type of person they perceive that you are, gets you the job. I’m sure good guys slip through the cracks for a multitude of reasons. However, I still have confidence that our company has been pretty good at this. Of course, I’m an FO and I’m not experiencing flying with the newer guys. All I know is that my class was full of good dudes and the captains that I fly with are mostly fantastic.
All of this ebbs and flows based on supply/demand. We’ve seen the extremes! However, I think this is still the foundational principle always in play.
None of this applies to M/A guys. You get what you get with them. There’s no way they would get hired by a Texas airline driving Miatas. We all know that! 😂
Leadership
Education
Flight Experience (don’t confuse w/ flight hours)
The military offers a tremendous amount of opportunity for these three buckets. In fact, you’ll get lots of these three buckets full whether you want to or not. I hesitate to speak many words about the civilian experience because I didn’t live it but I would suppose filling these buckets would require a guy to actively pursue them… and some don’t.
Those three buckets get you the interview. From the interview, the type of person that you are, or better the type of person they perceive that you are, gets you the job. I’m sure good guys slip through the cracks for a multitude of reasons. However, I still have confidence that our company has been pretty good at this. Of course, I’m an FO and I’m not experiencing flying with the newer guys. All I know is that my class was full of good dudes and the captains that I fly with are mostly fantastic.
All of this ebbs and flows based on supply/demand. We’ve seen the extremes! However, I think this is still the foundational principle always in play.
None of this applies to M/A guys. You get what you get with them. There’s no way they would get hired by a Texas airline driving Miatas. We all know that! 😂
That's a simplified version but pretty true.
For the Civ guys, Leadership/Responsibility can break down to Check Pilots/ Assistant or Chief Pilots, Director of Operations, Safety Officer, etc. They look for volunteer work as well. "Are you more than just a pilot?"
They can be much more selective now due to the applicant pool but it usually helps to have some or all on the resume.
#223
On Reserve
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
I am going to be one of the least experienced pilots on my interview date and it’s an honor to even be considered by a company like SWA. I stand by what I said about SWA seeming to be more selective on interview days compared to at least DL and UA. Flown with guys that did interviews ant both and they both said it’s normally about a 75% CJO rate on interviews and it’s kinda yours to lose at that point. Now obviously they go in cycles of being more selective. Doesn’t mean I think I’m entitled to a SWA CJO by any means. I was shocked to not receive the TBNT. Hope to share a cockpit with you some day
I'm in the same boat and feel extremely lucky! 2200 total 1000 turbine (10 tpic) all part 135. Interview scheduled in Jan...
#224
On Reserve
Joined: Oct 2025
Posts: 24
Likes: 7
Anyone else get the TBNT today? Stings, but I was almost expecting it with the actual number of CJO’s that are being given right now. Sucks that you have to wait 12 months to reapply, but we will stay persistent.
#225
Line Holder
Joined: Dec 2023
Posts: 398
Likes: 31
Long time listener first time caller in these parts.
Any insights on whether Southwest will open an app window in 2026? At the time of the last window I only had 650 turbine so did not bother applying which was honestly.. well.. Stupid. I was also in the middle of a move. Def hoping to apply next time around! Seen some guys recently get interviews at ~1100 turbine SIC which I'm not far from. Will be keeping an eye out.
Any insights on whether Southwest will open an app window in 2026? At the time of the last window I only had 650 turbine so did not bother applying which was honestly.. well.. Stupid. I was also in the middle of a move. Def hoping to apply next time around! Seen some guys recently get interviews at ~1100 turbine SIC which I'm not far from. Will be keeping an eye out.
#226
On Reserve
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 39
Likes: 27
Long time listener first time caller in these parts.
Any insights on whether Southwest will open an app window in 2026? At the time of the last window I only had 650 turbine so did not bother applying which was honestly.. well.. Stupid. I was also in the middle of a move. Def hoping to apply next time around! Seen some guys recently get interviews at ~1100 turbine SIC which I'm not far from. Will be keeping an eye out.
Any insights on whether Southwest will open an app window in 2026? At the time of the last window I only had 650 turbine so did not bother applying which was honestly.. well.. Stupid. I was also in the middle of a move. Def hoping to apply next time around! Seen some guys recently get interviews at ~1100 turbine SIC which I'm not far from. Will be keeping an eye out.
#228
Line Holder
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,370
Likes: 147
#230
On Reserve
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 39
Likes: 27
I think they will need to re-open it since once they give the TBNT, they have a 12 month wait before they can get another interview. A lot of people who got in this last window are going to be put on hold, so they'll have to re-open the window just to get some new people in to look at.
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