tango hotel

So I've read the book and am very impressed, but I'm wondering if any of you would share your opinions of how the company has changed in the two decades since it was written.

If you're a longtime employee I'd love to hear your direct experience with any changes you've seen, but also if you're a new-hire you might have had some experiences that either reinforced or contradicted what you read, that would be fascinating to hear about.

In addition to general observations, I'm wondering about two specifics:

1) Do most employees still feel a sense of ownership, as in a sense that their contributions matter and are appreciated?

2) Is a sense of humor still valued? I've now had two interview prep companies tell me to NEVER use humor or jokes in an airline interview, Southwest included. Yet "Nuts" advises that humor is one of the PRIMARY qualities that Southwest is looking for. So would joking in an interview advance or doom you? (Tasteful jokes of course! )

Doctor K

Fire in the hole!

tango hotel

I suppose I'm guilty of kicking the nest, however...

Of course it's to be expected that things will have changed, and a company that is more than twice as big now can't have retained all of that "small company" feel.

But is it still a great or even good company to work for, culture-wise?

e6bpilot

I have been here almost three years and read the book.
It is hard to explain, but it is almost like two separate companies. The front line employees in ground ops, flight ops, and the ramp are, for the most part, hard working and take care of each other. Due to protracted labor negotiations and some bad faith from Dallas, many of these employees feel disenfranchised from the rest of the company.
The corporate offices are very rah rah spirit party, luv and hugs, manufactured culture. It is very strange.
I tend to focus on how I can make a small impact to better the lives of my coworkers and customers, and I generally enjoy work and leave with a smile on my face.
Every now and again you get a crew that just clicks and you can have a fabulous time on an overnight. I generally go to the bar when I get in on a PM trip and enjoy a couple of cold beverages and relax with the crew members who choose to go down there.
So...long story I know but I think the Nuts days are, for the most part, gone. That isn't to say work can't be fun. It is. A large part of that depends on you, though.
Be yourself at a SWA interview. More than anything that is what they want. It's ok to make a joke or two, but in the end they are hiring a professional pilot, not a comedian.

Smokey23

^^^^^^^^This^^^^^^^^

tango hotel

Thank you very much, that was very helpful.

Are there other opinions of the company out there? Do some of you buy into the corporate spirit? Are you all at least working for the success of the company as a whole? I say this in comparison to quite a few other airlines, where large numbers of employees, in many different departments, have the attitude of "screw the company." It looks to me where this is an area where Southwest is very different--tell me where I'm right or wrong.

PotatoChip

This is starting to sound suspicious...

Albief15

Nuts was written in what...1996?

Anything major happen in the 20 years since then?

shootr

I would caution against using humor in an interview. Pleasant, relaxed, and a genuine smile? Yes. Jokes or funny stories? Might not go over how you think it might.

Bwipilot

Here's the changes in bullet points:

- Herb retired (leader)
- Gary Kelly took over (accountant and manager)
- GK hired all of his minions and sychophants for important decision making positions.
- Flight attendant hiring was taken over by LGTB crowd

Summary: LUV was castrated--no more "Nuts". The new title of the book would be "Taking it up the ass and liking it."