United CPP
 

I am non-minority male pilot trying to get hired at United. I am in my mid-thirties with 8,000 TT and 1,000 TPIC. I have clean record and high GPA from aviation University(wouldn't do it again). I have close to 20 internal recommendations on file and I have attended countless job fairs in the past 4 years but I have not been able to get the interview.

I am getting a little desperate since I am not getting any younger and I keep hearing that United is looking for more youthful pilots as years pass by. I am currently employed at JetBlue but I am considering going back to the regionals in order to take advantage of the CPP.

For those that went through the CPP or other similar programs and landed the job with United, what are your experiences and would you recommend it?

Have you paid to have your app reviewed by checked and set or any of the like? That was the game changer for me. My app wasn't a mess but the tweaks that they made landed me a Hogan about 30 days later. Something to consider before you make a lateral or backwards move.

I had the app reviewed twice.

How frequently do you update your airline apps? I was told by a friend "on the inside" to update once every 5 days minimum, and again once I did that routine it didn't take long.

Well, I have been updating once a month. I will take this advice, thank you.

If it were a guaranteed flow, that could be a marginally reasonable idea. But it's not, which makes that the worst career idea I've ever heard.

Update at least once a week, even if nothing to really update. And wait, which is easier said than done I know. JetBlue is not a bad place to wait.

Never move backwards.

DO NOT LEAVE JB ! ! The biggest thing you lack right now is a little more patience. With the quals you have and the steps you have taken, you WILL be called by UAL. We are increasing hiring and there will be thousands of pilots retiring steadily over the next decade. You'll be called by UAL...probably sooner than later. IMHO.

Good luck.

Octa -

Yeah dude, I have a very similar background. I'm not sure what the magic is behind the curtain, but I can tell you based on my interview the other candidates were pretty balanced as far as demographics are concerned. All were regional or military. There was also a B6 guy there. Keep hacking away at it, United is only getting started.

Not to turn this into the NGPA thread, but leading with a reference to sex and race in the first sentence isn’t productive towards your goal. Over 90% of every UAL class is white males. United also hires people of every age.

Back to the question: Make sure you have applied at more than one airline. For some reason people just don’t get called. Maybe you spelled your email address wrong. Maybe the computer doesn’t like xyz on your app. I have had friends with ONLY a UAL app in for years get called by FDX a week after putting in their app. They make lots of money now.

Best of luck.

Thank you for saying that much nicer than I would have (50 year old white male that never got interviewed by UA)

I would spend your time in other areas. For starters don’t leave JetBlue to chase the CPP. Spend your time volunteering for an organization. Get involved in JetBlues pilot recruiting. Do ALPA ASAP safety work. Help out your fellow JetBlue pilots any way you can; via ERC/pro stands or even the training department. United loves pilots who give back to their fellow community/peers. It show mindful commitment and mentoring.

Publish all of this service type stuff on your app and resume. This may sound repetitive but I think United is looking for the “total package” not just professional skill sets. I had a similar background as you did via spirit and all that soft stuff helped crack United for me and I had zero recs. Just my 2¢

Good luck!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ReadyRsv (Post 2746063)

Not to turn this into the NGPA thread, but leading with a reference to sex and race in the first sentence isn’t productive towards your goal. Over 90% of every UAL class is white males. United also hires people of every age.

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I am only giving background information about myself. While most of new hires might be white males, the number of white male candidates is also the very high. My chances of getting the call as white male are somewhat smaller than minority candidate, simply due to the fact of being just one of many qualified candidates with similar background and qualifications.

Like I stated above, I am merely painting a picture of who I am as candidate. The application does ask for your race and sex.

I’m 40ish, 7000tt, almost 1000tpic, in the pool at JB.
Nine job fairs, two app reviews, update bi-weekly for all legacies, cargos, and SWA. Heavy international time. Solid GPA from an aviation 141 school, masters degree, multiple volunteer positions at my company, and outside of it.
I’ve spoken with two consulting firms. Both say, “keep at it, looks great!”
Years have gone by. JB is the ONLY major to have called.
I know the frustration, but I would NOT leave JB.

If you can score a chief pilot rec, that’s about the only other thing I can think of. It’s a new year, maybe one of your united recs can get you a meet and greet with a chief pilot.

Good luck!


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You are mistaken. The demographics survey is not included on the part the company uses for hiring. You don’t have to answer those questions

You resume sounds pretty average with the exception that you are at JB vice a regional. It is about points. You are probably maxed out on job fairs, recs etc. Find other boxes to check...find something to separate yourself from the non-military pack. The entire applicant pool is doing job fairs and collecting recs. Are you a Chief Pilot, Director of Ops, Director of Safety? Have you tried to become a DPE? If you are a CFI have you asked to be able to use it on the outside to promote aviation with Young Eagles etc? Have you given anything back to the community or volunteered to represent your company or further their brand? Have you been recognized by your company for any specific accomplishments? Other than fly the line...how have you helped JB make money or increase their competitiveness?

I'm not suggesting that you haven't done the above...but it has to make it into the application. UAL wants to feel as though they already know who you are 100% from your application and the Hogan/Interview process is a confirmation check on what they have seen in the application.

Additionally, what happens if you leave Jetblue for a CPP regional and you get unlucky with the Hogan or have a bad day in the interview? You’ve now given up a great career at a major airline and the earning potential and DC retirement that comes along with it.
I’d stay at JB and keep working hard towards your goal and to echo what others have said try to get involved in whatever capacity you can. If at the end of the day it just wasn’t meant to be at UA, you’re still going to have a great career at JB or any other major that might call you.

Depending on which regional’s CPP, it means in 15 months he’ll get a second chance, as well as hoping for 2 OTS chances.

Ok I didn’t know that. How long does it usually take for a new hire at one of these CPP airlines to go through the process and start at United?

Depends.

You’d have to look at the threads for each carrier.

XJT’s most recent are about 11-12 years on property. Although by this spring/summer that will drop to about 6 years.

But there was no hiring at XJT from 2008 till 2011.

Why wouldn’t you do it again?

Some classes have an 8 ball (youngest) that is your age and although we do hire some random lower time people it is rare. It discouraged me to hear about younger or less qualified hires when I was applying but I didn't fully grasp how rare it was. I would WAG less than 10% of each class is under 30 with an average age around 40. I would network through your schools alumni, chase down a fresh recommendation or two, and get involved with ALPA at B6. There are a ton of B6 guys here now and I don't think I have met a single one that regrets coming here but if they had to make a career out of JetBlue they could have. I would never leave JetBlue for anywhere that wasn't the big 4 or cargo. You are right at the average time for a civilian so the hogan could come at any time. The rat race to get hired here is a marathon but it is worth it in the end. Good luck.

DO NOT LEAVE JETBLUE!!!!!

Take a deep breath. I worked for Jetblue and made the jump. I have worked in four different areas of aviation. Flight Instructing, Corperate, Regional, LCC (B6), and UAL. Jetblue is a career, maybe not the one you want, but it pays good enough. Jetblue was better than regiona, corporate, and instructing. Going a regional will feel like the biggest mistake of your life. I could go on and on but if you want to be at united just be patient and if they don’t call you will be just fine but think about this what if you get furloughed, loose your medical and now are on disability anything like that will be better at Jetblue. And what if everything goes great and you don’t get hired through the CPP program?

Don’t do it!

That's because he didn't go to any road shows.

Need more "data points" you silly goose.

This is spot on. Outside of flight times for say


-Captain, (take the first one)
-LCA/instructor work(apply apply apply)
-management and or union jobs.

Fill in those addendum/appendix boxes with everything possible from volunteering to foster child. Think outside the box, awards work in and out of aviation. UAL has to read these boxes, not a computer. Do not leave jet blue. Upgrade yesterday if u can. Always trying to progress upward.

I work with some people on a union committee and these two young guys punched tickets on everything imaginable from management work at regionals to union work at regionals

Yeah, probably I get triggered too fast. Wasn't trying to attack you, good luck getting in!

THAT PORTION OF THE APPLICATION DOES NOT GO TO RECRUITING. full stop.

You are not competing with any minority candidate. That conversation is pointless and way beyond your control. And not getting you closer to the goal. You are competing with the 95% +++ of AWDs (average white dudes). So build points, update frequently, talk to every person you meet on the jumpseat or Starbucks line and have a business card with your name, cell, and email ready. This is a full court press the whole game until you get hired. Yes it is not easy.

That thing you think you do not need/want/have to do?

Do it.

Worth it.

Best advice I got was to double check the small things that most guys forget about (i.e. updated medical, passport, license etc.) The algorithm knocks you out if those are expired from what I was told. FWIW I would stay at JB (we had 2 JB in my new hire class).

I’d stay at JetBlue. Right now it’s probably the low TPIC that’s the block, but eventually they’ll get to you.

I would stay at JB. We just started the CPP at Mesa but few guys are making it all the way through.

I would agree with what All have said above . Stay at Jetblue . I was there for 4 years and left 2 years ago and am glad about my decision. (34 when I left )I am a firm believer in job fairs . Having been on the recruitment team I saw both sides of it . Do not let it discourage you , keep going to them and hopefully you meet the same guys who will remember you from the previous job fair . Make them remember you (in a good way).

When I was doing recruiting it was actually tough at times to look at 600 guys in suites and good resumes and having to pick only a few who get a chance to interview , it’s tough but man the ones who really wanted it showed it to me via their conversation . They were enthusiastic about a chance to interview. Really show the recruiter that in your own way.

I was always surprise how many guys with perfect resumes couldn’t hold a dam conversation at jobs fairs. It’s painful sometimes , I mean the same old story of we’re just looking for good guys we want to be with on a 4 day trip. Some guys really forget that . Sure nerves kick in and you only get 10 mins at best to talk to a recruiter but man make the most of it.

Best of luck , and remember plenty of people would take your place.

Where would you prefer to get “stuck” jet blue or a regional? I’d pick jet blue.

I am in the same boat. Lot's of good feedback in this thread. I am coming up on my 3rd year at JetBlue and I am still updating my app every week.

Never put all your eggs in one basket. Apply to any airline you'd be willing to leave JB for and keep applying until you wouldn't make a move any longer.
Like looking for a new girlfriend when your truly single, it becomes the focus and it seems harder, once you have a girlfriend, many more seem unusually interested.

Do anything but the internal job fairs even matter anymore?

Are you insane? Or just trolling?

1) United barely hired anyone last year thanks to the Kirby effect.

2) CPPs completiom rate is pretty low (like less than half low) thanks to the Hogan and the United interview and the final CPP employee review.

3) There’s a good chance if you pass the Hogan and make it to the CPP United interview that they’ll find it diffult to believe you left JetBlue of your own accord and intentionally went to a regional.

4) When do you upgrade on the 190 or 320 at JetBlue? When can you become a LCA?

5) Regardless of official company position, JetBlue is for sale. IF United buys JetBlue you’ll come our way ahead already being on property at JetBlue than you would by leaving and trying the CPP route.

You’d show some very questionable head work leaving JetBlue to go to a regional. In recent history there was a gentleman who had flown at SWA then went back on AD and let his mil leave return rights expire. He had problems getting picked up by regionals afterwards because he couldn’t get the recruiters to believe the ludicrous idea that he willingly left SWA and chose not to return... and this was when regionals were interviewing everyone.

Leaving JetBlue for a CPP regional may likely be the biggest mistake you make in your professional life. You’ve been warned. Goodluck.

1) United barely hired anyone last year thanks to the Kirby effect.


United hired over 600 pilots and brought in ~150 furloughs last year. United is hiring 70-90 a month right now...

The rest of your points are fairly accurate though. Don't leave JetBlue for a crappy regional.

See below.

Exactly.

Compared to 2017, with just barely over 200 off the street, 2018 was huge.