Now expand on these 5 words with why you believe you are like that, backing it up with an examples aviation related.

* “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 as a career. 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 heavy twins. 

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 rely on me. Recently we were short staffed at the last minute and 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, ever since 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 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 problems 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 a million 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 some of the qualities that I have to offer (name of company).”

* Know your opening and ending almost by heart, make them powerful so you become the standout candidate on the day!

You get the idea? Now put it in your own words !!

TIPS;

·       Be confident, if you believe it they will too

·       Talk slowly and emphasis the important parts

·       Be sincere, passionate and positive

·       It’s all about you, “I” should be used excessively

·       Don’t waffle on keep it short and to the point

·       Be clear, concise and use positive words

·       * Know your opening and ending almost by heart, make them powerful so you become the standout candidate on the day!

QUESTION 3. “Why do you want to work for us”

The answer should be 90% about the company and only 10% about yourself.

To help with your answer take a look at the companies website “about us” section.

This is a handy insight into how a company views itself and where they see their future. Reflect that information back at them. Wikipedia is a great tool for this.

Think honestly to yourself why do you want to work for the company, what is it about the company that you are attracted to?

What should be considered;

• Financial situation, business outlook and management style
• Type of operation of the company;
  • Type of aircraft they fly, type of flying and their destinations
  • What type of customer base are they aiming at
  • The type of people they typically employ, people you know.

Financial situation, business outlook and management style;

Is the company financially secure, what profit did they make last year? Are they expanding, what aircraft do they have on order and what new destinations will they start to fly to in the future?

Is the business outlook positive, are they introducing new in-flight products (internet access, entertainment offers, passenger services, flat beds in business class etc), new ground products (self check in, sms (Phone) check in, new lounges etc).

Is the management style innovative, prepared to take risks, listen to customers through surveys and are they at the forefront of technology?

What makes the company unique?

Type of Operation;

The type of operation will influence your answer. It will also clarify your understanding of the company and what you believe is important to make the operation a success. By highlighting your understanding of the company as a whole and then relating how you would fit in and grow within the company is your aim with this answer.

Low Cost carriers are there primarily to make travel affordable to everyone. They target holiday destinations, the in flight facilities are basic with the ability for passengers to purchase products. They target in flight sales, it is one of the most profitable areas of the business. They run on tight budgets and flexibility of their crew is crucial to their everyday operations. They normally have many basings and expect their employees to be willing to relocate anywhere. They typically have young, vibrant crew who are up beat and are there to have fun and enjoying the lifestyle. Time to command is usually low, 3-5 years.

Flagship carriers are airlines that represent their country (British Airways, Emirites, Singapore Airlines, Korean Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Cathay Pacific, American Airlines, Qantas etc). There is usually a mix of Domestic and International services and a variety of aircraft types and sizes. These airlines have a responsibility to treat passengers with full compliments. Tickets include, meals, drinks, comfort packs etc. There is minimal in flight purchasing, except for duty free. They target, safe, efficient reliable service to international and domestic destinations. They usually offer Business and First class, where passengers have the opportunity to be pampered. There is history and pride involved to not only represent the company but also the country. There is usually Ultra Long Haul flights involving large crew and long, multiple sector trips. Rosters are usually more stable. Respect, professionalism and maturity is important. The interview process us usually more formal and involved. Employees enjoy long term stable careers, with a range and mix of flying along with large benefits. You usually start off in a Second officer position and time to command can be 15 years and upwards.

Small regional carriers service small regional areas linking them to the major cities. They operate smaller aircraft. You will be part of a very small team, you will be given numerous responsibilities and be expected to show initiative. You are the forefront of the company and will be required to take on more responsibilities and be able to manage situations and make operational decisions on your own. Roster flexibility and on time performance is usually imperative to the success of the company. The company usually has a small family feel to it and employees have the opportunity to enjoy a long-term stable career within a tight nit company. They are wary of crew who will use this opportunity as a stepping-stone into the major carriers. Time to command is quick, usually 18 months.

VIP and Corporate charter usually operate small jet aircraft where there will be only one cabin crew if at all and that position may fall to you as part of your duties.  Your responsibilities will be numerous, including onward international airways clearances, flight planning, weight and balance, baggage handling, refuelling, immigration procedures, ordering catering, cleaning the aircraft and even stock taking. You will be part of a very small team and be the forefront of the company. You will need to demonstrate respect, privacy, confidence, and maturity. You would expect to enjoy exclusive travel, long-term stable career within a tight nit group. Flexibility on your behalf is paramount. Respect, initiative and being at the forefront of technology is key with this style of operation.

Tap into the key features of the company for which you are being interviewed. Reflect that back to them in your answer.

Example; Virtual Airlines, a flagship carrier;

“Virtual airlines strive to excel in everything they do. It is one of only a few airlines that produce superior financial returns. Your dynamic team provides the highest quality service so that your customers are happy to choose Virtual Airlines. Your vision is to put safety first and your airline is continually winning awards in many fields. It will personally provide me with a challenging and dynamic work environment along with fantastic support and some of the worlds best training facilities. You support the local community and are socially and environmentally responsible. It would be the most rewarding career and would provide me with the opportunity to not only promote professional growth but lifestyle and personal growth and this is something I would very much look forward to.”

Example; Virgin Blue, Australia

“ Virgin Blue have 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 and ever changing that I would very much like to be apart of.

The answers show;

·       You have done your research.

·       You respect their company.

·       You are enthusiastic about working for the company.

·       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?”

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 your answer to “why you want to work for them” with your honest reasons as to how you see your future unfolding with them.

“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.

Question “Tell us about a time recently when you were very stressed, how did you recognise it, how did you deal with it and 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 analyse 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 recognise 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 organised 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

“How do you cope with stress in general?”

• Make an effort to deal with the problem, I don’t ignore it
• I hang out 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, zone out, 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.”

• 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 realisation that 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.

Most of the time there is so much involved in someone being fired that you probably wouldn’t have time to go into all the details even if you wanted to. It is best to keep the information to a minimum, short and to the point, don’t go on about it, you will only sound like you are making excuses and that you are trying to convince them 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 behavioural 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.

We recommend you use the acronym “SAO” to structure your answer.

S = Situation

A = Action

O = Outcome

Detail is the key. Don’t forget the mention all of your professional actions that would have included;

• Aviate, navigate, communicate
• I took control of the situation
• I completed the QRH, Checklist, FCOM, Manuals
• I made the decision to …..
• I contact ATC, the company and briefed the passengers
• The outcome was …… the aircraft was found to have ABC fault……or we completed the flight however we were ultimately 2 hours late.
• What you learnt from the experience.

The stories you talk about do not have to be major incidences or life changing events. It can be as simple as the typical day at work. Very simple examples are the key and DETAIL. If you are stuck, have a look back in your logbook to help jog your memory.

They must be aviation related.

There are so many of these questions however most of them come under certain categories.

Categories that are typically covered are;

• When you have been part of an effective team
• Let yourself or your boss down (think of a time when you couldn’t work on a day off or extend a duty of simply made a mistake that cost the company. Mistakes should be examples from early on in your career).
• Changed your communication style
• Had to think outside of the square (changing SOP’s to suit a situation such as aircraft defects or delays)
• Completed a monotonous task
• Had a conflict at work (remember to state you kept it calm, moved away from passengers, let the other person have their say, calmed the situation down and expressed your opinions and the outcome)

TIPS

• Must be aviation related examples
• Keep them simple
• Detail is the key
• Repeat the question within your answer
• Be positive, leave out negatives
• Answer should be 3-5 minutes in length

TECHNICAL QUESTIONS

Some airlines will ask technical questions, these will usually be asked near the end of the interview. These will include questions from Instrument Flight Rules for your country, general aeronautical knowledge.

The best information available on these questions will be found in your own notes, manuals as well as forums or pilot chat websites.

You must know your current aircraft knowledge and any other aircraft you are endorsed on, expect to be asked questions on what and where you currently fly.

                             “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 gave wing tips and the B777 doesn’t?

                             “Describe to us the coriolis effect?”

                             “What do you know about typhoons in the Asia Pacific region?”

                             “What is TCAS?”

When answering open ended questions (those that ask you to explain something) keep your answer brief and 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 with your answer. Some of the topics that can be asked have so much information to them it is hard to know where to start or finish and therefore can open you up to digging yourself a hole.

“What is TCAS?”

“TCAS stands for Traffic Collision Avoidance System, whereby transponder equipped aircraft communicate to each other in order to avoid a collision.”

"Is your aircraft equipped with TCAS?

"What do you see when you get a TA and then RA"

"What are your actions"

Getting the interviewer to ask further questions, helping you define the initial question.

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?

                             The best way around awkward situations is to point out the basic facts and the company procedures when in such situations and then put the onus back on the Captain.

                             “Your Captain breaks a rule in flight, what do you do about it?”

                             “I would bring it to his attention, maybe he didn’t realise he made the mistake.”

“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, that my understanding of the Standard Operating Procedures was ….. if it progressed to a point that was dangerous and a flight safety risk I would take over.”

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 while we fly together do you mind just following the normal procedures.”

                             “How far will you go?”

                             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 give him 2 days to report himself to the chief pilot otherwise I would.”

                             Always give someone the opportunity to own up to an incident before you go and tell the chief pilot, always inform the person you are going to report them.

                             Q. “Your captain turns up to work and you suspect he is under the influence of alcohol, what will you do?”

7.                                 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.

What they are looking for is a variety of characteristics. These can be summarised 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, kindness towards your work colleagues
• Your overall personality

The facilitators on the day are looking for an overall behaviour that will suit the airlines own cabin crew profile. Always be upbeat and positive. Be quietly confident about your own experiences yet humble about your achievements. Don’t be afraid to speak up if required, however remember to follow orders and respect others in the group. Balance if the key.

8.                                             simulator

Airlines conduct simulator assessments of their pilot candidates for a number of reasons. Certainly one area they check is the ability to fly an aeroplane with reference to instruments only but this is only part of the assessment. Other areas that the check captain will be paying close attention to are:

·       Your ability to recover from errors.

·       Your accuracy in regard to recalling power settings and attitudes provided to you in your brief.

·       Appropriate use of checklists and standard calls.

·       Situational awareness.

·       Adherence to regulations i.e.: minimums and tolerances.

·       Personal traits.

Assessments are generally conducted in full flight simulators with motion selected off. The session will be hand flown with minimal input from the facilitator. It is essential that all parameters such as attitudes, power settings and calls provided to you are committed to memory.

The Assessment will be conducted in a light-weight configuration. The flight will take place in the local area of a major airport and usually there is no radio work required.

The Check Captain will occupy either the left or right hand seat (as desired by the candidate) and his assistance will be limited to operating the landing gear and flaps, and changing avionics selections. He will not provide monitoring or assistance during the instrument flying exercises or approaches, so the assessment will be more akin to a single pilot operation.

Normally there is a group briefing before the simulator session. Then candidates are taken individually for their assessments which will take approximately one hour. A precision and non-precision approach would normally be flown in addition to other instrument flying exercises and a holding pattern. Some airlines fail an engine on the second round.

The following table has been prepared to give candidates some idea of power settings and attitudes required to fly the various sequences. B737

Careful home study of this table and of the approach plates is recommended.

Please note:

·       N1 gauges are used for all thrust settings.

·       The above attitudes must be accurately flown in order to fly the simulator to the required standard.

·       Flaps will be set at 5^o for take off and remain at 5^o except when descending on the instrument approaches.

Certain items that must be assessed are:

• Take Off and maintaining a set heading.
• Levelling off followed by level flight.
• Accelerating and decelerating to a set speed while maintaining or simultaneously turning onto a HDG.
• Changing speed whilst simultaneously climbing, descending or levelling off.
• Changing HDG while climbing, descending or levelling off.
• Climbing and descending at a set speed.
• Climbing and descending at a set ROC/ ROD.
• Steep turns.
• Nav aid intercepts inbound and outbound.
• Capture of a LOC.
• ILS accuracy and corrections.
• Go Around.
• Certain airlines will assess engine out sequences.
• ILS/LLZ/VOR/NDB.
• Landing optional and not normally assessed.

Example;

Take off and climb to and maintain 4000’ at 180kts

Steep turn left and right

Climb to 6000’ at 1000’fpm at 180kts

Descend turning left to 4000’ level off and intercept a heading at the same time.

Intercept inbound radial

Intercept outbound radial

Cleared to track to an aid and take up the holding, including the sector entry

Cleared for Twin Locator approach

Go around

Climb to and maintain 4000’ and 180kts

Increase speed to 200kts while turning onto a heading

Engine failure (if engine failure run the normal drills and secure the engine or attempt a relight)

Vectored downwind for an ILS (either one engine or you may be given the engine back)

Land

TIPS;

• Accuracy is of the utmost importance. If required to fly at 180kts, then flying at 185kts is NOT good enough, It is essential to be seen to be trying to correct the airspeed. The same goes for ALTITUDE and HDG. Continually work at finessing your performance and accuracy.

• Handling a jet with large inertia requires that you make an adjustment and wait for the change in performance. Small adjustments can make large changes to the aircrafts performance. Remember POWER + ATTITUDE = PERFORMANCE

Wait for the power and attitude to settle down before making further adjustments.

ARMCHAIR FLYING is probably the most valuable tool to succeed in your employment check ride. Set yourself up in a comfortable position and close your eyes. Picture the instruments and the environment. Run through the complete exercise in your mind paying particular attention to Attitudes, Power Settings, Scans and Checklists. You will be amazed how much this can help.

A study in the U.S. a number of years ago pooled thirty basketball players of similar ability and split them into two groups. The first group practised shooting balls with a coach for two sessions of two hours.

The second group were taken to a quiet environment and seated in comfortable chairs in a dimly lit room. Over four sessions of fifteen minutes they were asked to close their eyes and picture themselves shooting the perfect ball.

Can you guess the outcome? Both groups improved their accuracy at almost identical rates!

PRACTICE SIMULATOR SESSION

Purchasing a practice simulator session is well worth the time and money. There are numerous organizations around the world that offer this service. Be sure to take your simulator profile with you.

Ways to reduce cost can be as simple as enquiring whether there is another pilot in a similar situation that you could be teamed up with. This effectively doubles your exposure for the same price. You can gain as much by watching another candidate as you can by actually flying the sim.

If your employment check ride is to be flown motion off advise the sim contractor as this can further reduce costs.

Flight Experience is one company that offers simulator training in Australia.

9.

HELPDESK

Should you require any further help with your interview preparation please do not hesitate to contact us through info@flightdeckconsulting.com

We offer one on one coaching which has an amazing success rate.

Best of luck with your airline interview.

From the team at FLIGHTDECK CONSULTING.