I’m not defending what he said, if you find what he said to be stupid, then that’s your business, but somehow inferring that what he said was racist? GMAFB! That’s the very definition of breathless, hysterical BS being manufactured to support your agenda. To say it isn’t a weaponized response is simply untrue.

STOP the BS.

They don’t ask what company you used for your prep... stop the ridiculous theatrics. Get some prep and it will improve odds of passing the face/face.

I appreciate the response. I don’t believe I inferred anything about what AH wrote, and I don’t have any agenda. But maybe you do? Your opinion that it wasn’t racist apparently isn’t universal, which is to be expected when you’re broadcasting your ideas out to a potential audience of millions. If I’m correctly assuming that you’re a white guy, maybe it isn’t your place to determine what a black guy might find racist. Empathy and being a righteously posting social media addict don’t seem to to be compatible personality traits.

they asked me how did I prep for my interview.. not specifically the company

They asked me as well. Not directly, but the HR lady kept steering me back to my prep. "What did you do to prepare for this interview?" So I read my laundry list of typical prep BS. "What else did you do?" Me - "Lady, I just gave you the list, do you want it again?" She did....and then, "Anything else?"

At this point, she had me a bit flustered. She told me 5 mins earlier that she didn't want to have to ask follow-up questions and here she had asked the same Q three times. So I blurted, "Oh, do you mean did I go see Cheryl Cage? She smiled and said yes. "No, I didn't do any of that (crap)". She frowned. The Captain smiled. That was the only question I wasn't really ready for.

Of course, that was a million years ago. Good luck to all who wish to toil for Mother U.

^^^Uhmmm....:rolleyes:

As mentioned above if you have an interview you’ll most definitely want to prep, get with a professional service and do it.

We agree! :) I am an Emerald Coast customer, and there’s no doubt I am where I am today partly because of their fantastic service.

Just so you know, different versions of reality for different races is expert level segregation.

Just so you know, the “life is so unfair for a white guy” conversation is happening over on the “United Diversity” thread.

Yes, they do. But not because they want want to know, they already do. They want to see if you will lie about it. I know the people that do hiring at every major airline and they all say the same thing. They can always tell exactly what company you used for prep. They can even on rare occasion know the exact employee of a company that did your prep. With the number of interviews they do it is not hard to pick up. SWA years ago for a short time was not hiring anyone that used ECIC. No explanation was given as to why, but it was short lived.

Best advise I was ever given when preparing for an interview was... Don't lie!

I'm curious why they care? From what I have seen, a vast majority of folks who interview (at any airline) have prepped. So isn't it assumed that you have? I'd agree though - no need to lie! So why stress on admitting to it if asked?

Lots of reasons. First and foremost is they are doing these interviews to get to know you, not your prep company. Imagine hearing the same scripted answer/format day after day from people wearing the same color suit and tie. It get boring and frustrating. Want to see their faces light up, tell them a different kind of story, talk like you really want to get to them and they really want to get to know you, because they do.

Yes, prep companies to not teach you to give scripted answers, but it comes across that way in execution. It bores them and frustrates them, so they give you some rope to hang yourself with.

They know everyone preps and expects you to prep. They just don't like the product these companies are putting out. There is a reason they can always tell what company you used. They also don't like when their exact questions are leaked making them have to do work to come up with new ones. They would rather you just practice, be comfortable, and be yourself.

I interviewed in the first few months of Aviate and was given a TBNT along with countless others. Aviate is, unfortunately, one and done so unless the stars align and I get another chance off the street, I'm done with UA, though I still fly their passengers safely every day.

I didn't prep because the Aviate documentation suggested this is not expected or warranted. Because UA HR elects not to disclose why they did not select me I have no idea what I did wrong and therefore no realistic chance to identify and correct any weaknesses.

I recently had the pleasure of flying on the line with a couple mainline guys who came back to my regional while on a COLA, and I just recently had a mainline FO as my seat support in training for upgrade. Got accolades from all of them and even managed to pick up an unsolicited recommendation from the examiner for a training department position before I got out of the sim. Yet UA said no to me.

One of the mainline guys asked if I was going to UA and I had to tell him what happened. He admitted UA HR got their hand slapped for the excessive number of TBNTs during the early days of Aviate. I only wish that came with another chance to interview. Guess I'm going to a LCC or, if I can pick up that LCA credential, the place with the double-breasted suits. Would have been nice to hang out with you guys...

My advice is to prep if you think it will help, but from my perspective it's all a roll of the dice....and I rolled snake eyes.

Interviewees, There is some terrible advice on here. If you can prep, do it. Interviewing is a skill that very few of us naturally have. No matter how personable, genuine, charismatic and humble you think you are, an interview prep company can explain to you why the answer you thought it was great actually could be terrible.

unless you have been on the other side of the interview table, I think it is hard to understand exactly what the questions are getting at. Most of us tend to think that they are trying to figure out if we are a competent pilot… But the majority the interview is to see if you are a self-aware, decent human being who is willing to learn.

If left to their own devices, most pilots will take a TMAAT question as a chance to show that they are a quick-thinking, good teammate. But a better story (for UAL) is one where you learn something… Not one where you save the day.

basically, most people are think they are better at interviewing than they actually are… I suspect that 90% of people will have a better interview after prepping. Not to mention, that the approach to take with United is 180° different than one at FedEx or Delta. A good prep company can help polish you for different expectations. This isn’t to say that some people can walk into either and nail it… But one environment expects a stiff, respectful candidate, the other is looking for a more humble, cheerful person. Some people can pull off all the above, others need to be careful to not be overfamiliar or overly stiff

Biggest things I got out of my interview prep was what NOT to say, and that some stories will tell the opposite of what you are trying to say.

That, and I got hired at UA

TMAAT is the format for sure. Too many years ago, I interviewed. Asked what kind of prep I did and forthcoming about what I’d done in prep. Seems prudent to me. I was coming from the military and had limited experience in the process. Explained that fact and that my goal was to get the exposure to that process to ensure I was able to overcome the nervous aspect of the interview and be able to present an image of who I am.

Why do we practice V1 cuts, RTO, etc…..to be better at them.

My 2 cents.

TMAAT when you sat down in an interview room and were told that the interview will be conducted in the STAR format.

I was invited to interview at United Airlines for the position of First Officer. I was told the interview would be conducted using the STAR format. I prepared by reviewing the STAR format and complied by answering the questions they asked in the requested format as required. I now work for United Airlines and in my spare time, I read forums where people debate on whether or not to prepare for a task.

Leadership Inventory
 

Can someone please tell me if this the Hogan Test?

Yup - filler...

Thought so but wasn't sure.... Thank You!

Does Anyone have experience with readysettakeoff.com to share? Also why such a big price difference between Emerald Coast and Lori Clark? Thanks for any help.

From the looks of it Lori Clark is all 1 on 1, whereas EC has a bunch of different formats (videos, groups webinars and 1-on-1 topoffs). Personally, I only used EC, so I can’t comment on others, but certainly felt prepared for the HR & tech portion.

I think RST probably has diversified their offerings, but when I did it, their program was tech prep for FedEx and Delta. RST for that purpose would be a waste at United.

and where can one find info on this STAR format?

I’d recommend Google.com. Way of the future. Enter “STAR format.”

Situation
Task
Action
Result

STAR

What About Spitfire?
 

Long time lurker... First time account creator/poster...

I have been hearing from a lot of my military buddies about another option to the interview prep game, Spitfire Elite. They have been using them since they started about six months ago and have had an incredible success rate across a whole bunch of airlines (FedEx, UPS, United, Frontier... you get the point). From what I've been told they have a different approach that not only prepares ya for the interview but also to transition to being at the airline. I just wanted to spread the word and give guys another option as hiring across the industry picks back up. My unsolicited advice is check out all your options prior to putting down what for most is a sizable amount of money.

[Edit- link removed - BLS]

FLY SAFE!

Well this screams advertisement!

Okay… Highflyer35… yep you got me, total advertisement, for a company that I know has helped a bunch of good dudes land their dream job. But I guess I shouldn’t mention it on the thread about interview prep. Take it or leave it, doesn’t matter I just thought it would be helpful to pay it forward to those that may be overwhelmed by the options and may not have access to all the insider info that us mil guys constantly share to ensure a leg up throughout the whole application and interview process.

Thanks for the warm welcome!

FLY SAFE!

Any prep is good prep, and generally well worth the price.

But “I've been hearing” and “incredible success rate” trigger plant warnings amongst a pretty savvy population. Have you used them, or can one of your buddies give some testimonial? That will certainly increase the odds of people on here seeking them out. Or even, “friend of mine now at Airline X has started up a new prep company specifically designed to transition mil guys from single seat to 121 FO cradle-to-grave with resume build, interview prep, app review, CRM study, PBS/schedule builds, pay and benefits overview, etc., for a monthly subscription fee.”

I’d call it Prestige Worldwide though.

And welcome. Hope it’s successful.

Investors? Possibly you!

I hear ya and that I guess was just my forum inexperience showing through.

I have squadron mates from both active and reserve who have used Spitfire and have been hired at FedEx, UPS and United. Another guy that was in my reserve squadron has an interview with Frontier and I would be absolutely shocked if he doesn’t get the offer. If folks are interested they should check them out and make a decision for themselves. In my mind it’s like airlines, ya gotta find the right fit and there are options for everyone out there.

FLY SAFE!

Because all of us lowly civilians didn’t have this exclusive “insider info” and NEVER share anything regarding interviews and interview prep :rolleyes:

Seriously, that’s great whomever takes a different approach.

But so far, the shop across the street has it right, as does Albie, et al.

Not what I meant but the “lowly civilians” definitely don’t circle the wagons to help one another like the mil guys.

So why not share the options and let guys prepping decide?

In all reality, we’ve all been in this game long enough to know who to go to, and for where.

You must wear a ring.

Bug if you really want to go “there”....

......I don’t think mil or civ has a leg up on networking and helping each other out.

Over 20 years, 4 airlines, 6 interviews (all successful). Mostly, due in part to my civ AND mil friends that interviewed before me.

But YMMV.

that actually made me literally laugh out loud. Thank you.

Maybe a bit off path but any recommended literature? History of the company type stuff etc.

Shareholder reports have lots of good info if you know someone who owns a share or if you buy one yourself. For books I would recommend The Age of Flight. It’s a solid history of United in an easy to read format.

I used centerline wasn’t a fan felt like we were just going through the motions.

Ive heard that before as well. Glad somebody else said it! I haven't used them, but have heard that before.

Annnd the red flags just keep coming….