Side note to all applicants. Been flying with quite a few new-hires lately and to say I'm disappointed with some would be a grave understatement. After being hired, check your old Captains hat, 4 stripes and ego at the A/C threshold. You are no longer ensconced on an RJ in the left seat and are one of us now. Not sure why, but with a solid portion of the guys and gals I'm ending up with, their inflated self importance has left me speechless. Yes you have three, count them three stripes now and yes that dude to your immediate left whose been on the property for some 25+ years is now in charge.

Haven't done it yet but am so ready to fill out a sub-standard probationary report on some of these peeps that my pen hand is getting an itchy trigger finger. Through the lost art of mentoring I have headed most of these cases off at the pass and let the fellow Captains in my base know about the perps as follow-up.

Be humble, do not lecture or start doing things that aren't in the F/O purview and for gods sake don't start any phrase or speech with "in training we did it this way".

Sorry for the rant but I can't figure out why some of the the latest batch of millennial new hires seem to be so full of themselves when starting out anew?

For the majority who do play the game properly and aren't full of unearned bravado, thank you and welcome. Beers and food are always on me for the half-wingers, (even if they do fit the mold of the guys I'm mentioning above), and I'd like to think that you've joined us knowing full well of your position and seat and are receptive to the mentoring process that so many of us have benefited from.

 

It's worth mentioning, and you may have already tried it, but this is the kind of issue that is perfect for ALPA professional standards. They can deal directly with exactly this sort of issue. And as you say, maybe all it takes is a come to Jesus talk, it's worth it to save a career. Again, as you know, but not to scare the new hires on this board, your career hangs by the proverbial thread. Don't be a dik. No matter how hard it is to do, listen to that jerk in the left seat.

The company should be the last resort to solve this problem. At least in SFO, the flight office is not a pilots friend.

 

I agree Dave and trust me when I say, I'm way more patient than most out there. Not trying to scare anyone and I completely agree, pro-stands is the place to take most things like this. Some left seat "jerks" might disagree with you and claim that this needs to be nipped in the bud early as no new-hire should be behaving like this. I disagree and do believe that perhaps with a little guidance, these types will eventually straighten themselves out.

All I'm suggesting is that when you get hired, try the humility tact. We're very pleased to have new-hires roaming our halls at an increasing rate but the rest of us probably been there and done that as far as your experience goes. It will go a long way with most guys and really improve your career.

 

Excellent advice.

 

This was specifically addressed to the millenials in my new hire class. The BI group is trying to address it, and they have heard you guys loud and clear. The BI instructors closed the door and were very directive, but it may take more than a 20 minute lecture to change an entire generation that was handed trophies for participation.

 

Kind of sad that they actually had to do that Butch. Hopefully some on here, who will actually become UAL new hires, will listen and learn.

As I said above, couldn't be happier that we're actually hiring but if I would have behaved like that 25 years ago I'd a had my ass kicked by several line Captains as well as holding a nice shiny pink slip as they showed me the door.

 

Thanks to all for your interview experiences! This is great insight, please keep the info coming

 

having flown professionally for over 20 years and in all kinds of jobs, I can't, for the life of me, understand how a new hire at UAL finds it anything but flattering that they have been selected to fly at a major and act accordingly. I just got my CJO and with all my 121 experience I still feel like a have a ton of stuff to learn and would count on anyone of you to mentor me through that process.

IMO, I believe the second chances for this you of behavior should be given very sparingly. If you don't get where you are at and recognize your position and the associated behavioral protocols then maybe you don't belong there in the first place. It's like teaching someone how to walk at this stage of their life.

 

Of the 18 new hires in my class, I can think of one who might get pulled aside and given a talking to.

After 22 years of flying I can't believe I've made it to my dream job! It's like winning the Super Bowl and flying the jet to Disney World.

I landed a gig with the right company, and am flying out of a base with like minded personalities.

Captain on my last trip said, "And if you REALLY don't like what I'm doing and I don't respond, just take the controls. Let's have fun and not get violated." He was an amazing pilot, and I could never imagine being in a position where that would actually happen, but it was a huge ice breaker.

And for the record, "Don't call me sir" doesn't work on me. If I'm concentrating on a task (or set of tasks) "Sir" will unconsciously come out of my mouth if asked a question. This isn't Yes Man speak. In fact, if I'm plugging in a new runway assignment as we taxi away from the gate without final numbers, the response to, "Are you still happy with a single engine taxi" might be, "No sir."

 

Kind of sad to hear this. On the 756 in EWR we just don't fly a lot on reserve. I always brief that I'm new, don't fly a lot, and I welcome any tips or techniques the captain wants to share. Everyone has been great so far, and in fact on my last trip the captain offered both legs just so I could get the reps.

Everyone here is very welcoming and I see the captain as a resource to learn from. Helps pass the time and add different techniques to my bag of tricks.