Using offer from another Airline as leverage
 

Hi all,

I recently obtained a CJO from a ULCC and was wondering if it needs to be brought up in the interview? Since I haven’t officially started training for that airline yet, Is that something I’d have to make them aware of? Or is it pretty irrelevant?

I wouldn't mention it at all. It would only affect your United interview negatively (possibly).

bring it up in the interview, I’m sure that will go over well telling them you are thinking of going somewhere else. Even better if you give them an ultimatum in the interview. (S)

Do NOT bring it up on your own.

If they ask "have you applied or interviewed anywhere else" you can say "yes I interviewed at ULCC but I would much rather be here."

Wow just wow...Who would ever think bringing that up as leverage!!! But on second thought go for it 😬

I don't think this is as crazy as it might sound. I think this is incredibly new and rare for the airline pilot hiring world, but it's not unusual in other career fields.

I have had interview candidates in my previous career tell me they had offers from other employers. And honestly it was a good move for them. Assuming we liked them, we were a little more aggressive on the offer just because we knew we were in a competitive hiring environment.


This is a competitive hiring environment now in the airlines. I'm not saying it translates from the business world. And frankly airline pilots are probably vindictive enough to hold it against the candidate even though they're basically just saying "hey I really want to work here, but I'm a qualified sought after candidate and I have other options. So don't waste any time if you want me."


The pervasive airline pilot attitude is that you have to take a blood oath to the company you're interviewing at and forsake all others. That's a quaint idea IMO that will be gone soon if the current hiring market continues.

It won’t be long before someone walks in to an interview and says “I’ve got offers from American and Delta, why should I choose you?”

I don’t see how it leverages the company.
They’ve already decided that they like your resume/experience. That’s how you got the interview. If they like you at the interview, they’ll offer you a job. If they don’t like you… why would they care if you go elsewhere?

At other job interviews you may be negotiating salary or title. That’s not relevant here. It’s just CJO or no CJO.

I say don’t bring it up unless asked about it directly.

HR might appreciate your approach, but very unlikely the captain will.

I agree. That's where my corporate example falls apart. It's not like you're going to leverage your way into an extra week of vacation.

Seems like you have a higher chance of coming across as an entitled @$$hat than actually improving your hiring chances. I would maybe just use that knowledge to be especially natural and "yourself" in the interview....knowing that if they don't pick you it probably wasn't a good fit (and you have another job anyway.)