PILOT INTERVIEW note.pdf

AIRLINE PILOT WORK BOOKLET CHAPTER 1.

Introduction ………………………………………….. Pg 2

2.

Phone Interview ……………………………………..

3.

The Panel Interview

Pg 3

First Impressions …………………………….. Pg 5 The Format of a typical Panel Interview …… Pg 6 4.

How to Answer the Questions Three most important questions ……………. Pg 7 Other powerful questions ……………………. Pg 20 Overcoming negatives “I’ve been fired” …….. Pg 23

5.

Behavioral questions ……………………………….. Pg 25

6.

Technical Questions ………………………………... Pg 35

7.

Scenario Based Questions ………………………… Pg 39

8.

Group Exercises ……………………………………... Pg 41

9.

Helpdesk ………………………………………… …… Pg 42

copyright!2010 Flightdeck Consulting

AIRLINE PILOT WORK BOOKLET 1.

INTRODUCTION

Airline pilot pilot interviews interviews have evolved evolved dramatica dramatically lly over the last decade. decade. Gone Gone are the days of two check captains rigorously probing your aerodynamic technical knowledge. Nowadays the interview team will generally consist of at least one member of the human resources department and representatives of flight ops. The modern airline interview is now centered around the behavioral based concept developed by human resource teams around the world and can seemingly have very little to do with aviation. Behavioral based interviews work on the premise that how you have conducted yourself in the past is an indication of how you will perform in the future. There are three general categories of behavioral questions: 1. Example Based Questions 2. Negative or Difficult Questions 3. Open Ended Questions

Pilots are very good at what they do but tend to perform poorly when face with this type of job interview. This work booklet will give you guidance and examples on how to approach and prepare for your interview. This booklet has been designed to be used in conjunction with the Virtual Interview Program. Whilst not designed to provide you with the answers, they must be your own words, it will help you structure and deliver your responses in a clear and concise manner. We are here to help, so please do not hesitate to get in touch with us should you feel you have a question that we have not been able to answer for you. Best of luck!

The Team At Flightdeck Consulting

copyright!2010 Flightdeck Consulting Page 2 of 42


INTRODUCTION

Airline pilot pilot interviews interviews have evolved evolved dramatica dramatically lly over the last decade. decade. Gone Gone are the days of two check captains rigorously probing your aerodynamic technical knowledge. Nowadays the interview team will generally consist of at least one member of the human resources department and representatives of flight ops. The modern airline interview is now centered around the behavioral based concept developed by human resource teams around the world and can seemingly have very little to do with aviation. Behavioral based interviews work on the premise that how you have conducted yourself in the past is an indication of how you will perform in the future. There are three general categories of behavioral questions: 1. Example Based Questions 2. Negative or Difficult Questions 3. Open Ended Questions

Pilots are very good at what they do but tend to perform poorly when face with this type of job interview. This work booklet will give you guidance and examples on how to approach and prepare for your interview. This booklet has been designed to be used in conjunction with the Virtual Interview Program. Whilst not designed to provide you with the answers, they must be your own words, it will help you structure and deliver your responses in a clear and concise manner. We are here to help, so please do not hesitate to get in touch with us should you feel you have a question that we have not been able to answer for you. Best of luck!

The Team At Flightdeck Consulting



THE PHONE INTERVIEW

A pre-interview telephone screening assessment is is becoming an increasingly common tool used by Human Resource Departments around the world. It is essential to ensure your phone interview is a pre booked appointment and not an impromptu telephone call. If the phone call is taken and you are not ready, explain to the caller that you are not in a position to take the call, take their name and number and call them back at a time that suits you, or book in an appointment that is mutually convenient. This will not be considered rude nor will it jeopardize your chance of success. The phone interview is your first step in getting that dream job; it must be treated seriously and not dismissed as just a friendly chat with someone from the recruitment office. Remember to remain professional even if they don’t. TIPS: "

Make an appointment for the phone interview ensuring you can take the call at a time that will allow you not to be distracted and you are in a quiet location.

"

Remain professional remembering this is an interview.

"

Refer to your your notes but don’t read from them, use bullet points for reference.

"

Stay upbeat, positive and passionate.

"

Use short, clear and concise answers.

Whilst the interview will normally last 10- 15 minutes, be prepared to clear an hour of your time so as not to be time pressured. There are several questions that must be asked and this will allow you to prepare in advance. During your preparation write your answers in point form. During the interview this will allow you to refer to your notes whilst still ensuring your answers are fresh, natural and unscripted. The opening questions will normally confirm information that they have about you is correct. Your contact information, licenses, ratings and flying hours. Know your CV and make sure it is up to date.


AIRLINE PILOT WORK BOOKLET QUESTIONS TO PREPARE FOR IN ADVANCE o o o o o o o

o

Tell me about your career to date? Why do you want to work for us? What do you know about our company? What do you have to offer us? What remuneration are you expecting? When are you available to start? Do you think you will be able to cope with the flexibility requirements of last minute roster changes? You will be flying with different people everyday, tell me about a time you have flown with someone very different from yourself?

Normally they will then explain the process from here and what to expect, when and how they will contact you should you be successful. In the chapter on Panel Interviews we have outlined in detail how to answer the above questions. Just remember, have your notes in point form, this enables you to sound natural and unscripted.

Notes __________________________________ ___________________ _______________________________ _____________________ _____ __________________________________ ___________________ _______________________________ _____________________ _____ __________________________________ ___________________ _______________________________ _____________________ _____ __________________________________ ___________________ _______________________________ _____________________ _____ __________________________________ ___________________ _______________________________ _____________________ _____ _______________________________ ___________________ _______________________________ ________________________ _____ __________________________________ ___________________ _______________________________ _____________________ _____ __________________________________ ___________________ _______________________________ _____________________ _____ __________________________________ ___________________ _______________________________ _____________________ _____



THE PANEL INTERVIEW

FIRST IMPRESSIONS From the moment you walk into the building your interview has begun. Everybody from the doorman to the receptionist is watching you and they will all form an opinion so the old saying about first impressions applies from the moment you walk in the door until you’re safely out of the building. Within seconds of meeting someone a first impression is made and that impression is virtually irreversible. That vital first few minutes of meeting the interviewers, your greeting, handshake, smile and body language will determine how your interviewers will perceive you and the tone for the day will be set. If their opinion of you is positive then throughout the day they will be looking at your actions and answers to confirm it, if it is negative they will be looking for negatives to confirm their opinion. Much of what is required to make a good impression is common sense. But with a little extra thought and preparation, you can hone your intuitive style and make that first impression not just good but great. Just remember you want to be the standout candidate, but for the right reasons! TIPS; "

Dress should be neat, tidy and appropriate. There is no such thing as over dressing in a job interview, however it is best to be conservative.

"

A confident handshake, but not too firm, making eye contact with your opposite.

"

Have a pleasant and warm smile.

"

Make positive small talk (even if your morning was awful)

"

Be courteous and attentive.

"

Have a positive, confident outlook on the day.

" You have worked hard for this day, don’t blow it by making a joke

that’s taken the wrong way. I have seen so many jokes back fire on the candidate, it’s not professional and has no place in today’s professional job interview.


AIRLINE PILOT WORK BOOKLET THE FORMAT OF A TYPICAL PANEL INTERVIEW Representatives from both the HR department and Flight Operations will conduct your airline interview.

Questions will be asked in order to cover the following topics; o

About your career

o

About yourself

o

About the company

o

Behavioral questions

o

Scenario based questions

o

Technical questions

o

Your questions to the interview panel



HOW TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS

Your answers must be well thought out and delivered in a clear, concise and positive manner!

SOUNDS SIMPLE DOESN’T IT! THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS 1. “Tell us about yourself?” 2. “What attributes will you bring to this company?” 3. “Why do you want to work for us?”

These are three questions that must be asked in any panel interview and they are also the three answers that you must nail in order to have any chance in getting through the interview.


AIRLINE PILOT WORK BOOKLET QUESTION 1.

“Tell us about yourself”? Or “Tell us about your career to date”? Or “Tell us how you got to be sitting here today”?

This question is normally the opening question of the interview. “Nice to meet you Mark, why don’t you start by telling us a little bit about yourself?”

Some may call it an “ice breaker” but in reality it sets the tone for the remainder of the interview. Your answer must highlight and concentrate primarily on your aviation career, you are there for an aviation position so keep it aviation related. Structure your answer using the following guidelines; 1. Start off by a quick introduction about yourself, your interests and the current position you hold. 2. Then go all the way back to the beginning of your interest in aviation, leading into your first job and subsequent career. 3. Bring your story to a close with a brief summary of your current employment. This is referred to as closing the “loop”. “My name is Jason Steven’s, I’m 28 years old, married and the father of two young girls. I am currently employed as a Dash 8 First Officer with Central Plains Airlines. I completed my commercial license in 2002 at Proflite Flying School in California and was immediately employed as a flight instructor. In 2004 I relocated to Phoenix to take up a First Officer position on a Brasilia with Phoenix Air Charter. Unfortunately shortly after my initial line check the company went into liquidation. To support my family I undertook casual waiting jobs at night whilst job hunting by day. In December 2006 I was offered and accepted a position with Central Plains Airlines in Arizona on the Metroliner and worked my way up to the position of First Officer on the Dash 8-400”


AIRLINE PILOT WORK BOOKLET Try an example for yourself _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________


AIRLINE PILOT WORK BOOKLET It is essential to rehearse this answer, however it must come over as fresh, interesting and unscripted. The best way to achieve this is by keeping the manner and grammar of your answer informal, as if you are chatting to a friend over coffee. It needs to come from the heart and have your passion and enthusiasm shine through. Stories about your time in a particular company will keep the interviewer interested as well as making your answer personal to you. The importance of this is that when the company has the “wash up” of all the interviewees for the week and they review the notes on your particular interview you will stand out through your stories, not by a scripted, perfectly worded answer that is impersonal. When you discuss employment at a company always talk about the positives of your time there. If you find that there are areas where you had difficultly in certain positions and times in your career the less said the better.

Telling horror stories about previous employers can be discussed at the bar, AFTER YOU GET THE JOB!!!!

Remember, everything is positive , all is good, that you are an upbeat and happy person with a fantastic outlook on life! If this persona is displayed then this is how the interviewers will remember you. If you come across as a negative person who has had a hard career and feels hard done by, then the interviewers will go away with a negative outlook on your performance and would think twice about employing someone with those characteristics.


AIRLINE PILOT WORK BOOKLET If you have areas of non-aviation employment then by all means mention it, however keep it brief. For example

“From 2002 to 2004 I was employed in various IT positions for two major communications companies based out of Sydney.”

TIPS; "

Be confident, if you believe it they will too!

"

Talk slowly and emphasis the important information.

"

Be sincere, passionate and positive!

"

Don’t waffle or repeat yourself, keep it short and to the point.

"

Be clear, concise whilst using positive words.

"

Never make a personal comment or opinion on someone or something.

"

Add in short examples of your time in particular companies


AIRLINE PILOT WORK BOOKLET QUESTION 2.

“What do you have to offer our company?”

Other variants of this question can be: o o o o o o

o

o

What attributes will you be bringing with you? Why should we hire you? How do you stand out amongst the other candidates? How would your current manager describe you? What are your strengths? We are interviewing 20 people for one position, why should you get the job? The candidate before you has an impressive resume, why should we hire you over him? What do you have to offer over and above the other candidates we are interviewing today?

This question is all about you and this is your moment to

SELL YOURSELF!


AIRLINE PILOT WORK BOOKLET There is a simple method to follow that helps anyone to answer this question. The best way around it is to write down 5 descriptive words that best describe you. Expanding the words into examples.

Description plus Evidence gives Credibility.

“I am dedicated to my career, I worked part time in the hospitality industry for over three years in order to support my passion for flying and to maintain my interest in aviation. On completion of my CPL I packed my bags and headed North to Darwin in hope of finding work. After 3 months of cleaning hangars I was offered my first charter flight with the company. I was told it was in reward for putting in so much hard work and dedication. I stayed with that company for over 3 years, during which time I moved up through the ranks until I was flying RPT multi-crew operations on Dash-8’s. I am also very reliable. I am more than happy to help out in anyway that I can and my company know that they can always rely on me. Recently the company found themselves short staffed at the last minute so they called me on a day off, I was in the pre-flight briefing within the hour. In the past I have also helped out with extensions of duty when requested. I am very passionate about my flying career, from a very young age I have loved aviation. I still to this day collect model aircraft and am always excited to go to work and never think of it as a chore. I wear my uniform with pride and I am always striving to do the best job possible every flight. *I am also very honest and approachable. I am not afraid to admit fault, own up to a problem or speak up if I feel I need to. I believe my honesty and positive outlook on life also makes me more approachable. In the past I have often found myself being approached by the “new guy” who has numerous questions about our operation and I am more than happy to sit down and go over things to help out in my spare time. These are qualities I will bring with me to Virtual Airlines.”


AIRLINE PILOT WORK BOOKLET

Know your opening and closing statements by heart and make them powerful!

Below are some descriptive words to get you started.

Motivated

Passionate

Show initiative

Driven

Hard working

Positive

Respectful

Team Player

Focused

Responsible

Energetic

Enthusiastic

Calm

Approachable

Professional

Unfazed

Composed

Gentle

Active

Honest

Reliable

Dedicated

Flexible

Friendly

Integrity

Loyal

Patient

Relaxed

Emphatic

Leadership

Communicator

Choose five descriptive words to expand on.

1. __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________



2. __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ 3. __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ 4. __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ 5. __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________



Now try combining the five words into a complete answer. Q. How do you stand out from other candidates? A._____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________


AIRLINE PILOT WORK BOOKLET QUESTION 3. “Why do you want to work for our airline?” The answer should be 90% about the company and only 10% about you.

There are two great resources to help you on your way. 1. Visit the Airlines website. Click on “About Us”. Here you will find details on such things as the companies “ethos”, headquarters, personnel, destinations etc. This is a handy insight into how the company views itself. 2. Visit Wikipedia and search for your airline. Print it out and make notes to refer back too.

Make notes on the following. o

Company headquarters and key personnel.

_______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ o

Brief History.

_______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ o

Financial situation, business outlook and management style.

_______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________


AIRLINE PILOT WORK BOOKLET Alliances.

o

_______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ o

Aircraft type, Numbers and Orders.

_______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ o

Destinations, frequency and future destinations.

_______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ o

Key Markets i.e. Business, Leisure etc.

_______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________

o

The type of people they employ.

_______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ copyright!2010 Flightdeck Consulting Page 18 of 42

AIRLINE PILOT WORK BOOKLET o

And most importantly, what makes the company unique.

_______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________

Having now done your research now try and combine your information into a unique answer.

Example; Virgin Blue, Australia

“ Virgin Blue has an innovative approach to business with a very dynamic and forward way of thinking. I really like how they think outside of the square with their advertising campaigns. The company has a secure financial position with recent expansions internationally into the Asia Pacific region providing plenty of opportunity for advancement. They have a modern fleet of aircraft that are highly efficient, flying to interesting destinations around Australia and the Pacific. Everyone within the company seems to have an energy about them that is contagious, they are open, upbeat and friendly. On a personal note working for Virgin Blue would offer me a long-term stable career with boundless opportunities in an environment that is enjoyable, ever changing and one that I would very much like to be apart of.


AIRLINE PILOT WORK BOOKLET This answers shows:

o

You have done your research.

o

You respect their company.

o

You are enthusiastic about working for the company.

o

You can see yourself fitting into the culture of the company.

OTHER POWERFUL QUESTIONS; “What do you hope to gain out of employment with us?” “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” “What is your ultimate goal with our airline?” “What are your expectations of working for us?”

Be honest with your answer without sounding too selfish. At any opportunity bring in the positive aspects of the company within your answer. This answer is really a mix of the answer to “why you want to work for us”. Be honest with how you see your future unfolding with them. Example; “I hope to gain a long-term stable career with a company that offers a variety of flying, both domestic and international on a variety of modern jet aircraft. I hope to gain my Captaincy on the B737 and with my instructing background possibly move into a position of check and training. I would also look forward to going to work each day knowing that I would be operating with crew that are genuinely happy, upbeat and friendly with a great positive outlook on life.”


AIRLINE PILOT WORK BOOKLET “If you had a job offer from both us and XYZ Airlines, which one would you choose?”

This is obviously a delicate question and one that will require a lot of thought on your behalf before the interview. Stay upbeat and positive, Here’s an example. “If I am fortunate to be offered both positions I will stick to my original goals of working with Jetblue. Jetblue can offer me the opportunities to fly a range of aircraft both domestically and internationally and I believe has the right culture fit for me as a person”

Word of WARNING! Avoid at all cost any situation or answer that may be construed as being negative. Focus on the positives of the company and interview you are attending. NOTE: In the example above there was no mention of XYZ Airlines.

“What don’t you like about your current job?” This is an example of a negative question. Mention what you like about the position-- then move on to what the job doesn’t offer you. “I am currently a Captain on the Dash-8-400, I love the flying, the people and the company, however my career goal is to be a Jet Airline Captain and my current company is unable to offer me this.

When addressing negative questions it is best to keep the information to a minimum, short and to the point. Don’t labor the situation, you will sound like you are making excuses and that you are trying to convince the interview team of your point of view, this can only lead to a negative outcome. Short, to the point and move on.


AIRLINE PILOT WORK BOOKLET “Tell us about a time recently you have been under stress, how did you recognize it and how did you cope with it?” or “How do you cope with stress in general?”

This doesn’t specifically have to be about aviation. What they are looking for is how you cope with stress in general and how you analyze problems from the past. Be honest about the problem and how it affected you without going into too much detail. Remember to add in how you cope with stress in general. “A time recently when you were stressed?”

1. “My fiancé broke up with me completely out of the blue, moved out and back to her native country! At the same time I was studying for my cyclic simulator tests.” 2. “My wife’s family were struggling financially with their business and we had a lot of money tied up with it.” 3. “I accepted a new basing which came in conjunction with my upgrade to command on a new aircraft type. I had to move states, which involved renting out my own house, looking for a new house in a new city that I was unfamiliar with while studying for my command on a new aircraft type. “How did you recognize it?” •

• • •

I couldn’t concentrate on anything at work, all I could think about was the problem. I became quite irritable, people commented on my bad moods. I started to blame other people I wasn’t sleeping very well

“How did you deal with it?” • • • • •

I confronted the problem head on I organized a plan of attack to solve the problem I wrote out a schedule of “must do items” in order of preference I admitted fault and communicated this to the appropriate people involved I opened up the communication lines


AIRLINE PILOT WORK BOOKLET “How do you cope with stress in general?” • • • • • •

Make an effort to deal with the problem, I don’t ignore it Spend time with my friends, go to BBQ’s and take time out for myself I take the family dog for a walk I do exercise, go surfing, mountain bike riding I go to the movies, read a book, meditate I talk with my girlfriend/ wife about the problem and ask for their advice, opinion

OVER COMING NEGATIVES Most of us at some point in our careers have been let go of, had extended periods of unemployment or left a job on bad terms, everyone has that skeleton in their closet, including those who are conducting the interview! The important thing is how you deal with it in under the pressure of an interview. If you go into the interview carrying baggage from a previous situation the interviewers will most certainly pick up on it and probe deeper until your true feelings are exposed for the world to see. Don’t offer up any negative information but at the same time don’t avoid or lie about it. As a general rule if it’s not a problem for you it wont be a problem for them. TIPS: If you have had extended periods of unemployment highlight positively how you filled your time.

“During the downturn of 2008 I found myself un-employed for a period of six months. Whilst still actively job hunting I filled in my extra time by starting a fitness regime of cycling, swimming and yoga. For mental stimulation every Friday I worked as a volunteer at the local school library.”


AIRLINE PILOT WORK BOOKLET If you were let go by your last employer state what you learnt from the experience.

“Following a disagreement with my chief pilot over …… I was let go of my position. It was a good learning experience for me. After much self-analysis of the situation I came to the realization that by listening more carefully to my chief pilot I would have avoided the conflict and the end result.”

In the above example we have not avoided fault, haven’t made excuses and have turned the situation into a learning experience. When addressing negative questions it is best to keep the information to a minimum, short and to the point. Don’t labor the situation, you will sound like you are making excuses and that you are trying to convince the interview team of your point of view, this can only lead to a negative outcome. Short, to the point and move on.



BEHAVIOURAL QUESTIONS

TELL US ABOUT A TIME …..?

These type of questions are known as behavioral questions and the theory, rightly or wrongly is that how you have behaved, reacted, managed, conducted yourself in the past is an indication of how you will behave in the future. They are a feature of the modern job interview and can be quite daunting to the unprepared. Behavioral questions generally fall into three categories. 1. Example Based Question 2. Open Ended Questions. 3. Difficult or Negative Questions. In preparation for these questions we recommend putting together a list of at least five scenarios that you have PERSONNALLY been Involved with. They must be aviation related. Once you have thought out and planned your examples you can adapt them to virtually any question that is thrown at you. If the interview is purely based on behavioral questions (No Technical questions) it is advised to come up with at least eight scenarios. The following areas must be covered; o Planning o Teamwork o Conflict o Communication Error making and recovery o Write down a short example for the following. 1. When have you been involved with a task that had a deadline? (Hint; ATPL’s or aircraft conversions are good for this example.)

_______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ copyright!2010 Flightdeck Consulting Page 25 of 42

AIRLINE PILOT WORK BOOKLET 2. An occasion when you worked in a team environment. (Hint; A team can consist of yourself, ground staff, loaders and other crewmembers.)

_______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ 3. A time you worked with someone you didn’t get along with. (Hint; Be honest, say what was difficult, don’t offer excuses, end on how you dealt with it.)

_______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ 4. When you had to change your communication style to suit your audience. (Hint; Someone where English was their second language, or a non aviation person.)

_______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ 5. When have you let yourself or your boss down? (Hint; This should be early on in your career when mistakes are expected to be made.)

_______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________


AIRLINE PILOT WORK BOOKLET Now that you have your examples, when structuring your answers follow this three-part process using the acronym:

S. A. O. S

=

The Situation.

A

=

The Action Taken.

O

=

The Outcome.

“Give an example of a time you had to act quickly and on your feet?” This is an example-based question. The Situation. I was operating a charter flight from Moree to Brisbane in a Cessna 310 with four passengers on board. On reaching the circuit area and lowering the landing gear I received both visual and oral cues that the left gear was not fully extended. The Action Taken. I silenced the warning horn by retracting the flaps, which both calmed the passengers and allowed me to focus on the task at hand. I actioned the appropriate checklist which included manually extending the landing gear. This gave me the required three green lights indicating the gear was down and locked. To further confirm the gear was down I requested a fly by of the tower. After confirmation by the tower I extended the landing flaps to ensure there was no warning horn. The Outcome. I completed my landing checklist and made a normal approach and landing. On disembarking the group leader commented on my calm demeanor and professionalism during a tense situation.


AIRLINE PILOT WORK BOOKLET Now use your examples to answer the following questions. Describe a time you used logic to solve an unusual situation? The Situation

_______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________

Your Actions

_______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________

The Outcome

_______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________


AIRLINE PILOT WORK BOOKLET Describe to us a time you led a team to a successful outcome? The Situation

_______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________

Your Actions

_______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________

The Outcome

_______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________


AIRLINE PILOT WORK BOOKLET Tell us about a time you have had a personal conflict with a work colleague?

The Situation

_______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________

Your Actions

_______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________

The Outcome

_______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________


AIRLINE PILOT WORK BOOKLET When have you had to change your communication style to get your point across? The Situation

_______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________

Your Actions

_______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________

The Outcome

_______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________


AIRLINE PILOT WORK BOOKLET Tell us about a time your performance was lacking? How did you recognize it and what did you do to resolve the situation? The Situation

_______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________

Your Actions

_______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________

The Outcome

_______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________


AIRLINE PILOT WORK BOOKLET More examples of behavioral question you should be prepared for. •

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

Describe a situation in which you were able to use persuasion to successfully convince someone to see things your way. Describe a time when you were faced with a stressful situation that demonstrated your coping skills. Give me a specific example of a time when you used good judgment and logic in solving a problem. Give me an example of a time when you set a goal and were able to meet or achieve it. Tell me about a time when you had to use your presentation skills to influence someone's opinion. Give me a specific example of a time when you had to conform to a policy with which you did not agree with. Please discuss an important written document you were required to complete. Tell me about a time you had to do a monotonous task, how did you keep motivated Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to get a job done. Tell me about a time when you had too many things to do and you were required to prioritize your tasks. Give me an example of a time when you had to make a split second decision. What is your typical way of dealing with conflict? Give me an example. Tell me about a time you were able to successfully deal with another person even when that individual may not have personally liked you (or vice versa). Tell me about a difficult decision you've made in the last year.


AIRLINE PILOT WORK BOOKLET •

•

•

Give me an example of a time when something you tried to accomplish and failed. Give me an example of when you showed initiative and took the lead. Tell me about a recent situation in which you had to deal with a very upset customer or co-worker.

•

Give me an example of a time when you motivated others.

•

Tell me about a time when you delegated a project effectively.

•

•

•

•

Give me an example of a time when you used your fact-finding skills to solve a problem. Tell me about a time when you missed an obvious solution to a problem. Describe a time when you anticipated potential problems and developed preventive measures. Tell me about a time when you were forced to make an unpopular decision.

•

Please tell me about a time you had to fire a friend.

•

Describe a time when you set your sights too high (or too low).

•

•

A time you had to complete a task that was well below your skill level, how did you keep motivated? A problem on the aircraft for which there were no Standard Operating Procedures to follow.

•

A time you had to deal with a change in your work environment

•

What is the longest duty you have had and how did you prepare for it.



TECHNICAL QUESTIONS

Most airlines will ask technical questions during the interview. The types of questions will range from Instrument Flight Rules, General Aeronautical Knowledge, Meteorology, and Aerodynamics etc. The best information available on these questions will be found in your own notes, manuals as well as forums or pilot chat websites. As the range of technical questions is vast it is not the intention of this work booklet to provide answers to all the questions but to provide you with guidance on how to structure your answers. You will be asked questions on your current aircraft type, routes and destinations you serve. Be sure you study up on these items. When structuring your answers be sure to keep your response short and to the point. Don’t allow yourself the opportunity to get confused and tangled up. If the interviewer requires more detail let them ask for it.

Describe to us what TCAS is?

Question; This is an open-ended question.

“TCAS is an acronym for Traffic Collision Avoidance System. It provides co-coordinated maneuvers to the pilots of aircraft that are transponder equipped in order to avoid a collision”.

Now wait for the interviewer to ask further questions. copyright!2010 Flightdeck Consulting Page 35 of 42

AIRLINE PILOT WORK BOOKLET Another example.

Why do some aircraft have winglets?

“Winglets reduce drag by preventing the mixing of the upper and lower airflow”

What type of drag does it reduce?

“Induced Drag”

OK, When is induced drag at its greatest?

“During Take Off & Landin ”

This is a far better way to structure your answer and avoid confusion than,



“Some aircraft have winglets to reduce drag by preventing the mixing of the upper and lower airflow therefore reducing wingtip vortices therefore reducing induced drag resulting in decreased fuel burn and therefore increase range. Induced drag is at its highest during take off and landing BLAH, BLAH, BLAH”

Get the idea ! When answering open ended questions (those that ask you to explain something) keep your answer brief and answer as if you are explaining the topic to someone who has no aviation experience. The idea is that you answer the question in brief and expect to get the interviewer to ask further questions, therefore helping to guide you through your answer. Some of the topics that can be asked have so much information to them it is hard to know where to start and finish and therefore can open up the opportunity of digging yourself into a hole! One more example; “What is GPWS? “GPWS stands for Ground Proximity Warning System. It is a system built into the aircraft in order to aid the pilots to avoid controlled Fli ht into Terrain”.

How many alert modes are there? It consists of seven modes all of which have a voice announcement to bring the pilots attention to the immediate threat. Such as “Terrain, Pull Up”.


AIRLINE PILOT WORK BOOKLET Ok, What is enhanced GPWS? “Enhanced GPWS uses a built in terrain database which combined with GPS allows the system to look forward rather than just vertically as is the case with traditional GPWS, ultimately giving the pilot’s more time to react.”

Examples Of Commonly Asked Questions

“What is the missed approach obstacle clearance?” “What happens to stall speed as load factor increases?” “What are your actions in the event of windshear on take off?” “Why does the B747 have wing tips and the B777 doesn’t? “Why does the airbus A330/A340 carry fuel in the tail?” “Describe to us the carioles effect?” “What do you know about typhoons in the Asia Pacific region?” “What is ETOPS?”



SCENARIO BASED QUESTIONS

Building questions can play an important part in an interview, some airlines like to place the candidate under stress by asking a “no win situation” question. They want to see how you handle the stress and whether or not you will dig yourself a hole and if so how will you handle it?

“Your Captain breaks a rule in flight, what do you do about it?” “I would bring it to his attention, maybe he didn’t realize he made the error.”

“Ok now that you have brought it to his attention, he tells you he is a senior check Captain and to mind your own business, what will you do now?” “I would say that I was new in this position and that my understanding of the Standard Operating Procedures was ….. I would explain that I have a command to look forward to and that I would like to keep a clean slate with work and not have any incidents on record, so whilst we fly together do you mind sticking to the normal procedures.”

“How far would you take the matter?” “If it become a flight safety risk such as an unstable approach and no corrective action was taken I would be obliged to take over” “If it was a blatant act of breaking rules and he continued to do it on the following sectors I would advise him that if he didn’t stop that I would be forced to submit a flight safety report”

The best way around awkward situations is to point out the basic facts and the company procedures and then put the onus back on the Captain. Always give someone the opportunity to own up to an incident before you go and report it to the chief pilot, always inform the person you are going to report him or her.



“You smell alcohol on the Captains breath, what are you going to do about it?” “I would take the Captain aside. I would explain that I can smell alcohol on his breath and that I was concerned. I would strongly advise him to report unfit for duty”

“And if he refused or denied it?” “I would ask him not to put me into a position where I would have to report him”

Explain the facts, the consequences and offer a solution.



GROUP EXERCISES

During the group exercises you will be separated into groups of 8-10 and assigned the same task as other groups. There is normally a time limit and there is some form of a problem to solve. Sometimes you will be given a problem to solve without all of the information and other times it may require using your own experience and knowledge to complete a task.

You will be observed from a distance by all facilitators. They will observe how you behave in a team environment.

The facilitators are looking for is a variety of characteristics. These can be summarized below. • • • • • •

Team interaction and participation. Ability to speak up and voice your own opinion in front of the group. Leadership skills without being overbearing. Ability to follow orders. Friendliness and respect towards your work colleagues. Your overall personality.

The facilitators on the day are looking for an overall behavior that will suit their airlines own aircrew profile. Always be upbeat and positive. Don’t be afraid to speak up if required, however remember to follow instructions and respect others in the group. Balance is the key. An example of a typical group exercise can be found in the online program.


PILOT INTERVIEW note.pdf

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