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.)

I knew a guy who had an interview at delta and southwest and sent delta a TBNT 🤣 and showed the email to SW. Bold strategy, cotton!

Hired

Do it. They might offer you a higher starting salary. Don't leave the interview without making your expectations known. You have leverage. Use it.

*insert head nod meme
#winning

Yeah I’ve decided to not say anything unless otherwise asked. Thanks boys and girls lol

Maybe I missed it, but what would you “leverage”? The CBA is set in stone. They cannot legally offer you any extra pay, days off, bonuses, etc.

What would you expect to get?

Lets hope! It is ridiculous how behind this industry is from the rest of the world. When I worked in IT companies were throwing me car leases as incentive to join them. Long as I stayed, they paid for my car lease. Not to mention stock options and other perks. The less of us there are the more the industry is going to face what happened in IT leading up to the Y2K bug.

a CJO from them maybe xD
Thinking maybe they rather have me than to work for a competitor.

You are potentially 30 days from sitting in class at United. Unless you live in a base that we don't have like a Florida base it would probably come off poorly. You are competing against people that are through and through United die hards. When you interview it is 100% I have wanted to be here from day one. I know the applicant pool is thinning but if you play the game a little you will have a choice to make.

I wouldn’t unless they ask, then they’re not suspicious of you trying to pull anything.

My personal experience, I was asked in both my interviews with UAL and FedEx if I had interviewed with anyone else. I interviewed with United second and told them I had an offer from a great company, but United was my first choice, they asked why and that was it.

I think it helps if you’re not the one bringing it up. I would recommend only talking positively of your ULCC CJO.

If they ask about where you applied, definitely bring it up. Shows that someone else already wants you, like a married dude to the ladies. I interviewed at Delta and SWA back when you needed the type still and Delta asked why the type, you applying to SWA? Best reply in my opinion, “I did apply there and they already hired me but I want to work here.”

As others have brought up, don't offer the information.
If they bring it up, tell them you have a job offer but would much prefer to work at United. And be prepared for the follpwup question for you to explain why you want to work at United. More diverse fleet, larger route network, more positive public perception of United, etc.

Try using it as leverage when scheduling assigns you an undesirable trip?

If you’ve gone through this much trouble, it can be assumed you want to be here.

So the word “leverage” probably has nuance/context.

But as others have mentioned, only bring it up if asked, then leverage it.

And it’s just my advice, but use it as “leverage” that although you have an offer from XYZ and it’s a great job (don’t EVER say anything negative about an employer, current or potential future) but here is where I want to work” etc etc etc.

But that advice is ONLY worth what you paid for it ;)

Otherwise, ask your interview prep service (is using one, again my advice). That’s what you DO pay them for.

It was 6 years ago, but that’s what the nice ladies across the street was old me.

What an absolutely awful idea. The fact that you would even consider it is mind boggling.

I'm surprised nobody else has said this. Leverage?

United > ULCC

This is like putting on your application at Harvard (or Yale or Stanford) that you also have an offer at an awesome state school, and you'll go if they don't hurry up and admit you.

Do you really think they care? (They don't)

Don't screw around. If asked answer honestly but don't brag about owning silver when they are offering you gold.

Torque Knob. Is that you???

If you get the theCJO you'll get it next day... so it does not really make any difference in this fast moving hiring environment... i think its a little bit suicidal.

Before then interview we were given a small pep talk from a nice HR gal. She said they all know and expected everyone interviewing that day to have apps and offers from all other airlines and they just wanted to show you why they think united is the best offer for you and that the question “are you applying somewhere else?” Was not going to appear


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When was that?

My have times changed. Although a friendly process, it USED to be more of a “why are you best for United/what do you have to offer?”

It was this last November. And from other friends that went through the process at around the same time it was the same


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I gotta agree, I don’t see any ‘leverage’ there.

A large part of the interview includes ‘headwork’, some stuff shouldn’t be said, think before going in.

I know a handful that said stuff that sunk them, some thought ahead of time ‘should of’ prevented it.

“should of”……….the fact that educated people actually think that’s correct…….causes me physical pain.