Recent Calls for Interviews
 

Those who have applied recently, how long was it till you heard anything back from united?

I applied last week, and I'm getting anxious! No call yet.

I've been on file with them since they had an addendum on airlineapps.com and have heard nothing.

Since it opened, nothing yet.

Recent Calls for Interviews
 

Please let me know if you guys get called. I'm really trying to gauge this and manage my expectations.

I don't mean to be a curmudgeon, but . . .

I applied to UAL in 1989. I got a letter inviting me to a March interview in December of 1995. I have few if any facts related to this topic, but considering that there are thousands of applications on file ahead of you and UAL is about to get the ISL award which will radically alter the bidding and recall situation, I would be shocked if you hear anything before next spring at best and that is assuming you have several thousand hours of RJ Captain time.

The Wright Flyer had 2 pilots fighting over one seat. There are now thousands fighting over a few hundred. You can gauge your time to get called better by how well your networking is. It is a lot harder to get hired at a Major than just putting in an application that meets the times.

This.

It's the law of large numbers. At the risk of doing math in public, if UAL has 5000 aps on file (wild guess) and needs to call 120-180 a month for interviews (with 1/3 to 1/2 getting hired) that's only 2% to 3% of applicants called per month and 1% hired.

Those called first in that small percentile are gonna have some combination of PIC time, instructor/check airman experience, education, respectable work history, and strong references. And most called at this point will have all of those---although there will be a small number that don't just to keep things fresh. At the beginning of a hiring wave UAL can be very selective. That will gradually change when every other airline is also in a strong hiring mode.

Yup. I've worked at three major airlines and every single job was the result of who I knew (and who they knew) and not what was on my application.

Recent Calls for Interviews
 

Well that's all very helpful. I appreciate the non-sugar coated replies. I don't have thousands of RJ capt time, but the majority of my time is TPIC and a little over 1000 Jet PIC. All corp flying. Some folks I've spoken to who got class dates earlier this summer were full of internal recs with slightly more time.

I know one UAL 74 capt who said he'd help out in anyway he could. I've asked him to help get me in touch with other UAL guys to build a network.

Any suggestions would be awesome, guys.

Completely understand. Networking is slow, but I'm trying to change that. Any and all advise is greatly appreciated.

To be totally honest, I would expect it to be awhile. The only fast track way I know of is to have a letter of recommendation of a Chief Pilot Level type. Rec's from us line pukes help, but almost everyone who applies has those. I have a friend who I've recommended who has 16,000 hours, most of it RJ Captain, and he still hasn't gotten a call. Wish you the best, and just keep plugging. It'll loosen up soon hopefully

Old CAL way to get this was for a CAL pilot to walk in a resume and talk the candidate up. I can't remember if it was in a Chief Pilot update or from somewhere else, but I heard that the new way is to take the candidate in personally for a meet and greet.

Am I the only one who finds this amusing? A whole week and you haven't heard anything? I can see why you are anxious! <sarcasm>

#instantgratification :rolleyes:

One more call for one of my recs. He's doing the psych test this week. Total of 3 now. One not hired, one hired, and one soon to be hired hopefully. I don't have any special pull or know anybody special. Well, I know some special people, but they don't have any hiring pull. All of the guys are military. None of them are particularly high time. Good luck guys.

Congrats to your recs!

Can you share their general hours/quals? Are you a captain or FO? Looking for more ideas on how to draw attention to my app. As a 12 year AD AF pilot, guardsman, and brand new regional FO, I'm out of ideas. I know of several people who've been called recently. All had very senior recs.

Thanks for any insight!

Pancake

<<I know one UAL 74 capt who said he'd help out in anyway he could.
Any suggestions would be awesome, guys.>>

Tell him to retire. :p:D

I will once he gives me a rec ;-)

All Corp flying kinda makes you a little uncompetitive against Military and high time RJ/Turboprop 121 folks. Airlines like a very structured flying background---not saying that Corp flying is not "structured" but ranking against the other two puts you at the bottom.


Not saying it will never happen.....just being realistic.

I did (10) LOR's and 9 have been hired, all have 5000TT+ 1000TT PIC at least, and all were Check Airman. The one guy I am still trying to help lacks a College Degree....that may not be a factor in a few years but currently it appears to be a must. All have 121 backgrounds (few of them were ex-Military as well)

Most of them had more than 2 type ratings on large 121 aircraft.

If you could get some 121 time that would be a huge plus.

FWIW....

I've heard it both ways regarding corporate time, but your response has been my assumption with regards to how airlines view pilot time; corp time being less valuable.

Quality time: Wish I could have passed the MEPS physical way back when and Mil time may have been an option for me. No waivers were granted for me on a previous injury.

Thanks for giving me some perspective on who's getting hired. Again, I'm trying to manage expectations. From what I gather so far, it may not be out of the question for me if I receive internal recs, but the outlook is somewhat dim.

There is still a good ratio for Corporate guys too.

Yeah 130drvr mentioned that there he has seen several corp guys in class. Keeping my hopes up, attempting to network, and keeping airline apps up to date.

Here is the primary goal of hiring. We recruit and retain quality individuals that possess a lot of skill sets. It isn't a perfect system and has some flaws but we are trying to really make it 99%. Yes, we want good pilots. We are not looking for the ace of the base but solid skills gained through several avenues of flying and not just one path. Bottom line...we really want individuals who have great personalities and will contribute to this company. People who will choose the right thing all the time. The Hogan screens for personality but there is still good people that can't get past it (remember statistics and deviations). The sim is there just to check a proficiency base line but really to see how you think and act under a little pressure. The interview is the place where you can shine and show the panel that the call to bring you in was the right call. Hiring rates are good and getting better. Does this mean good people don't get called to interview or bust the interview? You betcha. However, we are currently capturing great people and adding them to the ranks and that is a good thing.

We had 3 corporate pilots in my class, one was a CP. All left seat with internal recs. FWIW, I had 4 internals, one of whom was on good terms with his CP and walked my résumé in.

One of my corporate classmates has had 2 folks from their corp gig gets calls in the last month. Not sure of times quals, but CV did tell our class they are looking for a diverse mix of backgrounds. We had exactly 1/3 mil, corp and 121 in my class.

I would disagree with the poster above that said being all corporate would place you at the bottom [below 121 and Mil]. I was all corporate [actually charter, fractional, & contract] when I got hired (2007). I spoke with Mike Bowers a couple of months back and he said they love corporate pilots.

Don't be discouraged, just understand as others have stated that the selection is VERY selective at them moment but there are currently a pretty equal division between corporate/Mil/121.

Keep plugging at it.

all the best

Thx brotha... That's very encouraging.

I thought the meet and greet/shake and bake was done away with (beginning of summer) a while ago?

A very good source said that there are currently 11,000+ qualified applications on file. Adding at a rate of 1 new application per hour.

Maybe so, but I heard this somewhat recently. I think the old method guaranteed an applicant would enter the interview process if the chief pilot recommended. I think this power was taken away from the chief pilots. But, I suppose depending on the chief pilot, there is no rule against a pilot taking a candidate in to meet the chief pilot simply as a part of networking. The chief pilot can send an email saying he recommends the applicant be pulled from the stack to be considered (no guarantees).

Skyjunky, I've had my app in for over two years. 121 Check airman, 5 letters of rec and 8000+ TT. Phone is silent. Just keep updating your stuff, network and pray.

I believe this is correct. The new way is for a current pilot to set up a meet and greet with the chief, and based on that and the recommendation of the guy setting up the meeting, the chief will add a LOR to airlineapps. Don't know how much, but you'd think that his LOR would weigh pretty heavily with the scoring system they use to select applicants for the interview.

The pilot shortage is here! :rolleyes:

Of course this is misleading. When you just add up the number of regional pilots, there are far more than 11,000 of them.

So remember that these pilots as they are hired at United or elsewhere are going to need to be replaced at their current job by a pilot with 1,500 hours.

These aren't 11,000 out of work pilots sitting waiting for a job.

Ouch.

wilco, T-Trash8er. Are any of your Recs internal?

This has to be one of the funniest posts.....I appreciate you for providing some humor at your expense......but seriously, unfortunately we're all pretty much in the same boat and have been waiting many moons for a call. Actually It would be pretty funny if after we give you crap you get a call and hired....Now that would be some karma.....:D...and if you did, all kidding aside we would wish you the best and ask for a LOR...lol....

I swear when I wrote that, I didn't mean to sound that desperate. lol. I was just excited about the prospects; feeling positive and eager. I suppose I'm anxious about knowing what peep's results have been.

Glad I could make a few people laugh.

I hope applicants can keep us informed on this thread or on other threads about their interviews and timelines.

If I could give any words of comfort.. Just be patient and be yourself! It was an amazing experience.. Both the interview and training. :) Everyone has been so helpful and nice! I am still pinching myself to make sure I'm awake..

Can you tell me your time experience, timeline and rec situation?

I'd be pinching the hell out of myself if I got hired, but wouldn't we all? I'm stoked for you, hope to join you in the future.

Remember this feeling in a year when you come on this board and complain like all of these other folks.

I agree with you. I have been at CAL since 2005 and I still think that this a great job and the current contract is awesome!!

Actually the honest truth is that most if not all of us feel just like you, I don't know how many times I check my phone for e-mail or a call each day......

There is no CAL. Only Zuul.