It’s like a self-fulfilling prophecy. When so many people with similar flying backgrounds apply, something has to be a delineator. So people get a college education to that end. Then pretty soon only those with college degrees get hired. This ignores the military folks (with the exception of the Army) who have for nearly a generation all showed up with an undergraduate degree and likely one or more graduate degrees.

They have to split hairs somewhere.

Yep. Companies at the top of the pay food chain will always be able to pick and choose after applicants jump through their hoops. They have always placed an exceptionally high value on a degree, and they will most likely continue to do so. It still amazes me that people know this, don’t check the box, and then act like they’ve been cheated when a company picks someone else. We may not like the rules of a game, but if we want to win, we have to follow them.

They are clearly and unambiguously - as a corporate decision and posted openly on the corporate website - indicating that gender and ethnicity are major factors in those they desire to hire. Don’t be evasive, don’t quibble. If you want to be ‘woke’ you need to own it, not pretend it’s trivial.

I’m far from privy to UALs end game goal. That said, just got back from CQLOE. 3 days because I had to travel day prior due to start time. 5 or 6 interview candidates on the van to TK each day from the DT. All dressed in their interview suits…..

Every one of them was a white male coming from the military…..

Again, as I’ve stated on other threads, I don’t care about your “identity “ just that you are qualified. Your status as a ???? doesn’t matter to me.

Seems the company hires in segmented fashion. A block of military, block of civilian, throughout the interview process. Looking for a diverse pilot group in that regard. At least that’s what some of the guys there to interview explained to me at the Ball Ceremony……God Save the Ball.

For all you old folks like me, google God Save the Ball. You’ll see a link to the website. The ceremony operates on donations providing a location, beer, pizza etc. Think of it as buying dinner for your half wing FO.

https://godsavetheball.com/

edit added link

Flying airplanes well does not require a college education. But flying airplanes for a major usually does. I suspect that will change in the future, but I wouldn't bet a career on it.

That being said, I've seen hundreds of lousy pilots with degrees.

;)

I’ve also seen hundreds of dumb@sides with degrees, and quite a few brilliant people without. Having said that, I went online and finished my degree for the SOLE purpose of getting hired by a Legacy carrier. It would have been willful negligence not to. I’m not the slightest bit smarter for getting the degree.....but my financial security has grown considerably. #getthedegree

Is there a CAL logo somewhere on that ball too?

I think this kind of illustrates my point. I talk to a bunch of folks who got some random online degree. They hardly remember what the diploma says, nevermind actually retaining any information. In my case the only thing I "learned" while getting my "degree" was how to write check. Paid my money, regurgitated some info on a test, data dumped all of it and went flying.
Anyway, it's moot.

That basically sums it up. I was flying with one of the pilots that was doing the interviews and he used the term deliberate noncompliance. A degree doesn’t make one a better pilot, but the lack of one will close the door in your face. There’s always that one exception, but if you want to work for United, consider the degree mandatory.

If you refuse to get a degree it seems like Atlas is always hiring. Then you can build time in a heavy and complain about United not hiring you. It’s really about that simple.