Pilots Guide To The Successful Interview

A Pilots Guide to the Successful Interview
A Pilots Guide
to the
Successful
Interview
Author: Glen Solly
3rd Revision
Dear Colleague,
Welcome to the 3rd revision of The Guide, which contains information from my interview with
Captain Moses Padagaga F100 Fleet Manager, Air Niugini.
I cannot over emphasise the importance of being able to gain access to senior management
within the aviation industry and how relevant this access is with regard the content of the Guide.
A Pilots Guide to the Successful Interview is the result of my twenty-two years in a very
competitive industry. I wrote The Guide as I call it, after discovering that the company I worked
for back in 2006 had interviewed 11 pilot applicants and not one had been successful in
obtaining a position.
A lot of what you may think of, as basic stuff is often the reason the pilot candidate fails to
impress the interview panel in the first place, regardless of their experience. I would be the last
person to tell you that if this is typical of your main competition then your interview will be a
cinch, however, you dont have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that if you follow even a few
of the rules as outlined in A Pilots Guide to the Successful Interview then you will be streets
ahead of those that dont.
The concept of the USP is not new. However, when properly developed, it is a powerful
interview tool. Indeed I resisted the use of the word sell until it was used by the companys that
I interviewed. The pilot is being given an opportunity to sell him/herself was often stated by
the people I interviewed. If your on-line application and Resume/Curriculum Vitae is the tool
with which you pre-sell yourself, then your USPs are the tools that you use to close the sale.
By using this guide as a platform to build on your current skills and abilities, you are taking the
first steps down the road of becoming a walking, talking interview success by strengthening what
you already have as against what you believe other people think you should have.
Sitting at the pointy end of an airliner may seem sexy and a great way to earn a living however
never forget that the Captain leads a highly specialised and trained crew, they demand good
leadership. This is what the interview is all about your potential command-ability.
Lastly, some values which were highlighted to me by Captain Padagaga, during my interview
with Air Niugini. Be honest and true to your-self, they are admirable attributes (USPs) for any
pilot to have.
Thank you for your purchase. I sincerely hope The Guide will be of assistance to you.
Glen Solly
Monday 4th April 2011
The Concept
Table of Contents
1.
Aviation as a Career ......................................................................1

1.1.
1.2.
2.
3.
The Concept ..................................................................................8

Phase One - Realising Your Potential .........................................17
3.1.
3.2.
4.
Understanding your Unique Selling Proposition (USP) ................... 17

What can the Company offer me?................................................... 35
Phase Two - The Employment process.......................................39

4.1.
4.2.
4.3.
4.4.
4.5.
4.6.
4.7.
5.
Part 1................................................................................................. 1
Part 2................................................................................................. 4
Your Covering Letter ....................................................................... 40

The Resume.................................................................................... 42
The Basic Requirements of the Resume......................................... 42
Writing what counts ......................................................................... 46
Record of Resume and contact details pro forma ........................... 47
The Online Application .................................................................... 48
Ive got an Interview! ....................................................................... 49
Phase Three - Preparing for the Interview...................................52

5.1.
7 Ps of Pre interview Preparation .................................................... 53
5.1.1.
Company knowledge................................................................ 64
5.1.2.
Regulatory and Technical knowledge ...................................... 68
5.1.3.
Your Documentation ................................................................ 70
5.1.4.
Your USPs .............................................................................. 74
5.1.5.
Yourself Grooming and Deportment...................................... 76
5.1.6.
Prepare your interview questions ............................................. 79
5.1.7.
Closing the interview ................................................................ 82
6.
Phase Four - The Mechanics of the Interview .............................85

6.1.
First Impressions ............................................................................. 85
6.2.
Body Language ............................................................................... 86
6.2.1.
The Handshake........................................................................ 88
6.2.2.
The Jacket ............................................................................... 90
6.2.3.
The Mobile ............................................................................... 90
6.2.4.
Time Keeping ........................................................................... 91
6.3.
Interviewer Types ............................................................................ 92
6.4.
Interview etiquette ........................................................................... 95
7.
Phase Five - The Interview ..........................................................97

7.1.
Types of Interview ........................................................................... 98
7.1.1.
Behavioural Interview............................................................... 99
7.1.2.
Traditional Interview ............................................................... 103
7.1.3.
Group Exercise ...................................................................... 110
8.
A Positive Attitude (The right stuff) ............................................112

8.1.
8.2.
Mental toughening ...................................................................... 112

Visualisation .................................................................................. 113
9. Phase Six Your Checklist .......................................................117

10.
Quick Revision Quiz...............................................................119
11.
Resources ..............................................................................120
11.1.
11.2.
11.3.
11.4.
11.5.
11.6.
11.7.
11.8.
11.9.
12.
Manufacturers ............................................................................... 121

Web Resources - Australia............................................................ 121
Web Resources International ..................................................... 122
Web Resources Airlines ............................................................. 122
Online employment agencies ........................................................ 123
Other Useful websites ................................................................... 123
Government/Regulatory Aviation Departments - Australia ............ 123
Weather Websites ......................................................................... 123
Recommended Book Resources................................................... 124
Sample Interview Questions ..................................................125

12.1.
12.2.
12.3.
12.4.
12.5.
13.
14.
The Concept
Traditional ..................................................................................... 125

Behavioural ................................................................................... 126
CRM questions.............................................................................. 127
Company specific .......................................................................... 128
Aircraft Specific ............................................................................. 128
Dealing with rejection .............................................................129

About the Authors ..................................................................132
Note
Except for the acknowledgements, I do not differentiate between a Captain and First
Officer in this Guide. This means a pilot credited as a Captain at the time of writing may
hold the rank of First Officer.
All of the First Officers interviewed for this guide have previously held Captaincy, however,
seniority being what it is has deemed that they begin again with a new company as a First
Officer. At some point in the future, they will be checked as Captains once again. It is
because of this that I do not differentiate.
The Concept
Acknowledgements
would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the assistance given to me

by the following people without which this would have been much less of a
document.
To Air Niugini, Regional Express Pty Limited (Rex) and Eastern Australia Airlines I can only offer my thanks. Their desire to assist and proffer insights into the
interview process shows a genuine desire to help new hires and reflects a healthy
management style.
To the flight crew (they know who they are), and in particular Captain Mark Buttel,
who put up with my questions and gave answers so readily and honestly, and
without which the quality of information contained in this guide would have been
much less, and
To the staff at the Ansett Flight Simulator Centre in Melbourne for their comments,
assistance and preparedness to help their fellow aviators, a great big
Thank you!
e were all new hires at some stage. We know the pressure, the highs
and the lows that are experienced by all pilots in their search for a
decent, stable, employer who will meet not only our goals and future
aspirations, but also those of the companys in a way which reflects a corporate
image throughout the wider community and compels the pilot to say I am proud to
work for this Airline.
Glen Solly 2006
www.thepilotguides.com
Page 1 of 115
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Acknowledgements
Air Niugini www.airniugini.com.pg
Rowland Abajaih, Manager Operations - Support Air Niugini
Neville Edwards, Ground School Instructor - Air Niugini
Tom & Dianne Klinge, Proprietors - Klinge & Co
www.klinge.com.au
Captain Peter Fogarty (Retired) - Fogartys Aviation Academy
Captain Jeffery Synk - CRJ

www.flycrj.com
kaptin M
www.pirep.org
Captain Naomi Radke and Captain Craig Baker

Training Captains B737 Virgin Blue
www.howtobeacommercialpilot.com
Glen Solly 2006
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1.
The Concept
Aviation as a Career
1.1. Part 1
Flying is extremely competitive only a small number of participants will become
airline captains or co-pilots. Approximately one-third of commercial pilots continue
to maintain their licence, and only a small number of these are employed as pilots.
Over 14,000 commercial pilots are not currently employed as pilots.
CASA Pilot Booklet - 2006
used the above quote to introduce the first version of The Guide back in
2006. I went on to state, Im glad I didnt read this when I first began to think
about aviation as a career otherwise I may have decided against pursuing
flying.
By 2006 I had been a pilot for over eighteen years and later that year I decided
that I needed a break. I had become bored with flying and it wasnt giving me the
stimulation that it once had. I no longer went on leave and missed flying. In actual
fact, I dreaded going back. I no longer looked up when a plane flew overhead and
wondered who was flying it, where they had come from and where they were
going. I decided to do something about itI went back into the mining industry.
Glen Solly 2006
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(My last flight with REX - L/R First Officer Glen Solly, Flight Attendant Steven Thelander, Captain
Mark Di Rosso)
Over the next two years I completed a variety of tasks and held different positions.
Mostly they were management positions that required an element of working
hands on again (something I really enjoy and hadnt realised how much I had
missed.)
I started in Gove (Nhulunbuy) in the Northern Territory. I headed up a team of 25

boilermakers and trades assistants in cutting Pre Assembled Modules (PAMs)
from the deck of ocean going barges at a bauxite mine. Giant multi tyred trailers
were shepherded underneath and raised up to carry these giant, ungainly
structures off the barge and into an assembly area.
The two biggest PAMs
weighed 1800 tonnes each, and were 48 metres (158 feet) high. When all the
PAMs had been removed, the welding which had held the PAMs to the deck for
the voyage from Thailand was ground down and cleaned up before final inspection
and clearance for the return voyage.
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Six months later I changed jobs and mine sites. This time a very good friend and
mentor, Tom Klinge, CEO of Klinge & Co (Total Tyre Control TTC), employed me.
I had first worked for Tom and his wife Dianne in 1979 as a tyre fitter.
(Glen standing next to a CAT 994 loader - each tyre costs AU$40,000 there are four of them each one weighs 3,000kg, the chains are to protect the tyre from rock cuts)
I spent the next eighteen months working for Klinge & Co. One of the first things I
had to do was to get myself work fit for the duties involved, no mean feat after
sitting on my bum for the last eighteen years. My time with Klinge & Co was
invigorating and challenging, especially when I was given the extra challenge of
managing Klinge & Cos tyre bay and the mine sites fleet of earthmoving tyres at
the Handlebar Hill mine site near Mt Isa in Queensland.
I had, however, found myself taking sneaky peeks up to the sky and wondering
where the overflying aircraft was heading to, where it had come from and if I knew
the pilots.
Glen Solly 2006
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I managed to ignore these intrusions for some time until, at least here in Australia;
we began to experience a shortage of experienced pilots in late 2008.
I decided to test the waters and send in a couple of resumes with a covering letter
informing the recipients that, not only was I no longer current, I had only seen the
inside of a cockpit once in the past two years. To my surprise, I was given two
interviews and was successful in both. Not wishing to go back to the type of daily
grind that had burned me out in the first place, I chose my current employerAir
Niugini. I had previously interviewed for Air Niugini in 1997 but, although I had
been accepted and placed on a hold file, I joined a regional company in New
South Wales - Hazelton Airlines. (Hazelton merged with Kendell Airlines when
Ansett Airlines collapsed in 2001 and became Regional Express, REX). I always
felt that I had unfinished business with Air Niugini and that I should take the
opportunity the company presented. I joined in January 2009 and, to date (March
2011), it has been one of the most rewarding and stimulating jobs I have ever had.
Of course it has more than its fair share of challenges, as Im sure anybody who
has ever flown in Papua New Guinea will testify (and the scenery is WOW!), its
good for the soul and personally I have found it to be such a challenge that it is
only now, 26 months later, that I am beginning to feel slightly comfortable. I am
sure that I will spend the rest of my time in New Guinea learning many new skills
and increasing my flying knowledge. Its an awe-inspiring country.
Its great to be back flying again!
1.2. Part 2
Aviation, although global, can be a small industry when it comes to pilots. Not
long after I had started with Air Niugini I hopped in the crew bus and one of the
pilots called me by my name and introduced himself as Captain Keith Hopper. I
soon found out why he looked familiar to me. When I was Chief Pilot of Inland
Pacific, I had employed Keith as a casual pilot on our C-404/402 and Piper
Chieftain aircraft. Nowadays, Keith is a Training and Checking Captain on the
Dash 8 fleet with Air Niugini and has a deep interest in all things aviation. In
particular, his knowledge of WWII wrecks in Papua New Guinea is quite extensive
and he has searched for, and located, many wrecks (including Japanese,
Glen Solly 2006
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Australian and American) using his own resources and time. The location and
details of the wrecks are recorded and given to relevant authorities. Keith has
adapted to the lifestyle and has a 38-foot Riviera, the MV Wombat, aboard which
I have had the pleasure, on days off, of cruising Port Moresbys harbour on a
couple of occasions with him.
Obviously we are intent on catching fish, but
somehow it just seems to get in the way of enjoying a couple of quiet South Pacific
(SP) lagers and the view of Port Moresby. It is, however, a real treat to catch a
fish and, at the end of the day, take it up to the Royal Papua Yacht Club and have
the chef fillet it and cook it, before plating it and presenting it with a fresh salad and
chips (fries). Beautiful!!!
Aviation as a career?
Lets just say there are many ways to enjoy the
opportunities that are associated with flying for a living.
(Captain Keith Hopper (right) skipper of the Wombat just off Port Moresby. Standing next to him is
Captain Reece Molony - F100 training Captain.)
Glen Solly 2006
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My Interviews and getting back on the pony

When I interviewed for these jobs I used my own tried and true methods as
explained here in The Guide and, while its true that my simulator rides were
rusty, at each interview I felt prepared and ready.
It wasnt easy running the gauntlet of checks and exams but, with a lot of help and
a great ground instructor (Neville Edwards) who conducted my engineering ground
school, and introduced me to my first aircraft with alpha floor protection which the
F100 has through its AFCAS system, I made it through the ground school.
To Captain Matt Crawford, Julie Larseen and Rowland Abaijah who interviewed
me - they were relaxed and interested in what I had to say and, in doing so, made
me interview betterand they employed me - thank you.
To Captain Moses Padagaga F100 Fleet Manager, Check Captains Chris

Mileng, Barry Huff, Jeff Hartnett, as well as my Training Captains, Mike Perry,
Esmonde Yasi and John Aschman - thank you.
To my sim buddy Captain Felipe Sialis. Thanks for your help, and to Captain Ben
Lopa who was my Captain for my initial line check - thank you.
To Captains Andrew Wilder and Richard Underdahl, thanks for taking a quiet
country boy under your wing and showing me the ropes.
Gentlemen one and all
To anyone else I have so erroneously missed, my apologies and thank you as

well.
Footnote
At the time of writing this, there is word that a company is about to reopen the
production line for F100 aircraft with a revamped wing, cockpit and engines. I
certainly hope so. It is a great aircraft to fly and proves itself every day in the
testing environment of Papua New Guinea.
Glen Solly 2006
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If youve decided to purchase A Pilots Guide to the Successful Interview then,

like me, you are either looking to improve your interview technique, have an
interview pending or, possibly, youre one of the small number of pilots who are,
in some capacity, employed in the industry and are again looking at changing
companies.
Congratulations!
Your determination, courage and ability are to be admired and not to be taken
lightly.
Glen Solly 2006
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2.
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The Concept
o you thought you were prepared for the interview and had all the
answers.
When I first suggested the idea of writing The Guide - some in the industry
expressed the concern that I was trying to show pilots how to cheat at the
interview. I was bemused by this lack of confidence in their interview process. If
theres one thing that Ive learned from having participated in the interview process
from both sides, its that a good interview panel will quickly pick up on any
personality quirks or irregularities, and identify uncertainty and lack of compatibility
(both at the interview and during the probation period). Fooling the panel is a
pointless exercise and a costly one for you - the candidate.
Some thought that I was asking for the actual questions asked in the interview! I
told them the same thing I will tell you, giving away the interview questions is
pointless. That is not what A Pilots Guide to the Successful Interview is about.
It only takes one new question to unearth a falsity and show that you do not have
a good understanding of what the job requires of you, or of the company. Both are
interrelated.
In 1987, when I first began applying for work as a pilot, the norm was to ring the
companies you had targeted and hassle them until they asked you to come in for a
chat, or told you what you could do with your licence - when and why. If you didnt
have any luck with this approach, it was time to jump in your car and visit the
company. You would then hang around doing odd jobs until a position (hopefully)
became available and, if you were considered OK, you were eventually
employed. There was no formal interview, just a brief meeting with the Chief Pilot
or the Manager. This lack of a formal interview relied almost entirely on first
impressions to get you in the door. Throughout this guide Ill draw your attention
(again and again) to the importance of first impressions.
Glen Solly 2006
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Why?
The reason I wrote this e-book, and continue to update it, is after investing
twenty years of my life in Aviation and knowing first hand the amount of money,
sweat, tears and determination that is required to get into an Airline, I came to
realise that we pilots are probably the least informed about how the interview
process works. The reality is the airlines themselves are not the most forthcoming
(although Qantas is an exception with regards information specific to their
employment and interview processes, and have one of the best web sites
regarding their interview process that I have seen).
Think about it
what stands between you and the job you started out aiming for when you
decided to take up aviation as your chosen professionthe Successful
Interview.
after all your training and studying you now have 30 - 60 minutes to sell
yourself to the panel and convince them that you are the person they are
looking for.
Unless you have been able to attend a pilot interview preparation course, youve
probably never had any training for the interview.
A Pilots Guide to the
Successful Interview will explain how to prepare for the interview using a logical
approach, whether you live in Alice Springs, Boise - Idaho, Marykirk - Scotland or
wherever in the world you may be. Aviation is global and knows no boundaries.
A Pilots Guide to the Successful Interview whats the proposition?
The proposition is that there is a significant number of pilots who are not
completely aware of what the interview process is about, and the level of
understanding required in order to be successful in the interview. Similarly, for
those who are aware, this guide will assist in the preparation and revision for the
interview. All would understand the relevance of the interview process, but few
would truly understand how little it could take to have them removed from the
employ list. Basic items like suitable attire, a smile and a Thank you for your
Glen Solly 2006
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time today. Now more than ever I would like to work for your company, followed
by the statement, I want the job. can have a big impact on the success, or not, of
the interview.
Therefore, the cornerstone to the successful interview is that
preparation and knowledge is the key to success.
If you are properly prepared, with a sound working knowledge of the airline and its
requirements as well as an explicit knowledge of your own requirements/goals,
then you will significantly increase your odds of being successful at the interview
stage. This is because you have reinforced your decision to target the company,
and this reinforcement will have significant psychological benefits during the
course of the interview. You will be more confident in the outcome, which in turn,
will make you more relaxed throughout the interview.
You can do this by making a study of the company at nearly all levels of operation,
including company culture.
If you discover during the study process that you have misgivings
CAUTION
about the company then these should be addressed before the

interview takes place.
What A Pilots Guide to the Successful Interview will do

If youre prepared to put as much work into the interview as you have done getting
to this point in your career then I guarantee you that this guide will not only
improve your knowledge of the interview, it will, most importantly, give you an
edge in the interview room.
It will achieve this by
giving you a guiding hand along the way - reinforced by suggestions

provided by the people who sit on interview panels and pilots who
have themselves attended interviews, and of course my own
personal experience.
Glen Solly 2006
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giving you a structured approach to the interview covering areas

such as online application, preparation for the interview, resume
layout, the mechanics of the interview, what to wear and closing the
interview.
giving you practical exercises to work with along the way.
Even if you decide not to use all of the strategies contained in this guide, the one
thing you should be aware of by its conclusion is the vital, absolute and
complete necessity to prepare for the interview with a logical plan, and without
compromise.
Youve spent a lot of time, money and energy getting your licence and your
present job, whatever that may be. But thats only the start of your career. Like
your licence, your career is your responsibility.
With the advent of low cost
carriers, the up front cost of endorsements and the continuing lure of working
overseas, now more than ever before you are likely to work for several different
airlines in the course of your career. Take responsibility for it and you will be
rewarded. Preparing for the interview is paramount to achieving those rewards.
What A Pilots Guide to the Successful Interview cant do

It cant help you if you think it cant. The tragedy and reality here is if you fall into
this category then youre right, it cant, and its a good bet that nothing will ever
help you in your preparation for the interview.
Shakespeare knew the immense power of our thoughts when he wrote, "There is
nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." Negative thinking habits
can, in fact, have a devastating effect on our lives - simply by believing something,
whether consciously or subconsciously, we can make it come true. Just look at
the accidents involving loss of situation awareness. Pilots genuinely believing that
their position in space and time was something completely different to what was
actually occurring or about to occur.
Glen Solly 2006
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A Pilots Guide to the Successful Interview cannot guarantee you the job. I wont
insult your intelligence. Its about following a series of logical steps that will give
you a competitive edge to becoming one of those small numbers of pilots
employed within the extremely competitive aviation arena.
If you believe that it doesnt apply to me, then youre absolutely right, A Pilots
Guide to the Successful Interview is not for you and as long as you hold onto that
thought it never will be.
Contrary to what your mum may have told you, you arent special (unless you can
prove different) and just because you have a pilots licence and some experience
doesnt automatically mean that the job of your dreams will be handed to you on a
platter. Your achievements to date, whatever they are, have been achieved only
after putting in a hell of a lot of effort and study for all those exams and testing and
in return you received a pilots licence.... put the same effort into preparing for the
interview as you did in obtaining your licence and you will succeed at the interview.
Glen Solly 2006
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Before you start lets get one thing straight

Providing you have the minimum requirements set down by the airline - then forget
the hangar view that you need more experience (hours) to succeed! Or that
Your mate didnt get the job because there were others with better flight
qualifications than he had. This is not likely to have been the case.
If the industry only assessed you on your flight qualifications or technical skills, the
company would not bother to interview you.
Instead they would receive your
resume, look at your level of skills and say yes or no, and that would be the end
of it.
Obviously your current flight qualifications are the main reason you are being
asked to attend the interview, however, from the moment you start preparing for
the interview - until the day of your interview - the reason you will be successful on
the day (including any pre-employment testing) will be because of proper interview
preparation and subsequent performance during the interview.
What do they want?

Well, aside from your flight skills and knowledge, they want a pilot who has a
strong, positive attitude and is able to lead an effective team to achieve safe flight
in line with the companys goals.
In other words, they want a future Captain who, in the short to medium term, will
prove his or her ability as a professional, competent First Officer (or Captain as the
case maybe).
Airlines look for evidence of command potential in your flight experience to date,
effective leadership and achievements, education, etc. They then seek to back up
the evidence you have presented in your application, through the process of
conducting an interview with you.
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They find further evidence of this during the interview by some or all of the
following;
how you present yourself
how you communicate your skills and knowledge
how you communicate your desire to work for the company
how you communicate your goals and ambitions
how you communicate your Command potential
your ability to hold a conversation and show them that you are an
interesting person who has interests outside of aviation
monitoring your choice of words and the clarity of your answers
They want someone who can deal with the day-to-day stress associated with
flying the line.
They want someone who performs under the stress of an emergency situation.
They want someone who can get along with their fellow human kind and spend
long hours together team players.
They want someone who is a professional, and who will become a Captain
and an ambassador for their company.
Glen Solly 2006
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ON A PERSONAL NOTE - 2011 UPDATE

Its now five years since I wrote the first edition of The Guide. One of the first
questions I am often asked when I tell a person about The Guide is, What makes
a good interview a successful interview?
Thats not an easy question to answer - and, I wrote a book about it.
Well more than ever, I believe being successful in the interview is an awareness
issue, one of being educated about the interview and the processes involved for all
the stakeholders. Nobody goes to an interview to fail. Its an expensive and timeconsuming process for all concerned and, in particular for the pilot, it can be an
extremely stressful process with a lot riding on the outcome.
The original Guide took 18 months of research and writing, during that time many
questions were asked and many people gave their time in an effort to improve the
lot of the pilot applicant.
Ive now spent a further twelve months working on this revision. Not long after I
started work on the revision I was contacted by Captain Craig Baker and Captain
Naomi Radke who expressed interest in using my book for their soon to be
launched website and business aimed at assisting pilots to achieve their dream job
in aviation. Craig and Naomi are Level One Training Captains with Virgin Blue.
After some discussion, it was decided that aspiring pilots could be better served by
a video that showed some of the good, and not so good, ways of approaching the
interview. It was pleasing to work alongside Craig and Naomi, as we share similar
views on the industry. What is even more pleasing is their genuine desire to assist
new pilots. Weve had some long discussions about the shortcomings and pitfalls
that are part of the career path for any new pilot.
It was also nice to be paid a compliment from Naomi who made the comment that
it would have been great to have access to The Guide at the beginning of her
own career.
Glen Solly 2006
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As with the original version of The Guide, this update has personal notes from me
along with the inclusion of the concepts involved with development of the USP.
However, most of it was written from the comments of the people I interviewed.
People that sit on interview panels as well as successful airline pilots.
Glen Solly 2006
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3.
The Employment Process
Phase One - Realising Your Potential
Be yourself, accept who you are. If you are naturally funny then that should be
part of your interview if you are serious then dont try to be funny because it
wont work. Whatever your persona is, be aware of it and work with it because
that is who you are.
Captain Andrew Wilder
s I mentioned previously, in the early stages of my career there was

often no formal interview, just a brief meeting with the Chief Pilot or the
Manager. Once you got in, the process of demonstrating that you were
worthy of employment began! In effect, you began selling what is known in the
new products industry as your Unique Selling Proposition/Point (USP). Even if
its only being able to drink a six-pack of beer without belching, we all have a USP.
3.1. Understanding your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)

Once employed, the process of logging enough hours to be able to meet the
minimum requirements of the airlines began.
Finally, when you had logged
enough hours and obtained an Instrument Rating as well as the ATPL subjects,
you started the whole process of contacting the next company you wanted to work
for all over again.
We called it the squeaky wheel being the one that got
attention.
The next step was to actually visit the holy grail. This usually meant a trip to the
big smoke to visit one of the major airlines. You fronted up to the reception to
introduce yourself, sweet talk the receptionist and enquire as to how your
application was going, and whether or not they were presently employing.
Today within the airline industry its normal for your application to be vetted first by
an online employment agency that has no other connection with the airline you are
about to apply to other than being the keeper of the database of applicants.
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The agency ensures that your application meets the current employment
requirements of the airline. It does this by applying filters to your application. The
filters, parameters identified by the airline, sort your details as they are entered.
The advantage of the online database is that it releases the airline from having to
keep a filing cabinet full of resumes in house, and provides a direct advantage in
the cost of employing someone to look after them. The disadvantage is that it
impersonalises the process.
If a company needs pilots it checks the already vetted applications and picks those
pilots for an interview who meet its current needs. The software that is written into
the database allows the airline to change the parameters depending on their
requirements at the time.
Nowadays, the job application process relies on technology to collate your

personal details, however, the requirement to know as much about the applicant
as possible before employment has not changed. If anything, because of time
and cost restraints (and cost is now a major issue with pilots, particularly if youve
paid for an endorsement) there is more pressure on all the stakeholders in the
interview process to get it right first time, every time!
Important tip #1
Identify your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)
The introduction of the computer and the Internet has changed the application
process significantly. But, as you are about to see, its still the determined and
prepared applicant who knows how to market their USP that gets the job at the
end of the day.
Our USPs are part of our character. They help us to overcome obstacles and to
approach our work and life in a positive manner. Properly developed, they are an
incredibly powerful asset in our endeavour to succeed in our career and personal
lives.
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The trick back in 1987 when I first began cold canvassing aviation companies for
work was, and still is, being able to identify your USP and then marketing it at
every opportunity. I suspect it hasnt changed since people began looking for work
of any kind.
Important tip #2
Do and Donts about your USP and you
The USP is something about you that you take pride in and can communicate
easily to others. It should be as familiar to you as, say, your engine failure brief. It
is important to note that your USPs may or may not be directly related to work.
Just be aware that, in the context of the interview, use work USPs when asked
about work and personal USPs when asked personal questions.
Do
make sure it is relevant to you
make sure it is something you know a lot about
make sure you can communicate it easily
practice it
make sure it is factual Chris Hine Chief Pilot of Rex offers the following statement, In
your desire to work for Rex you have to not only sound sincere, but
you have to be sincere. We are always wary of what sounds false.
(Authors bolding)
use the USP to demonstrate your value to the company
have a sense of humour where relevant
rely on it alone, it shouldnt be the only thing about you
make it over the top or be extreme (as is given later in the case of
Dont
the purple suit)
oversell it
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go to the interview and tell them that you have a USP (unless they
ask). The USP is a part of you that makes your work and personal
life a success
Important Tip #3
Why do I need a USP?
Your USP is unique because it is about you - You own it. I recommend using a
USP because it steadies you in the interview and allows you to concentrate on
some very positive vibes about you and to concentrate on your good points. I can
guarantee that the people sitting on the panel are waiting to see if you just might
be the one that can put it all together and, therefore, be able to offer you the job.
In doing so, you will justify their reasons for choosing to interview you in the first
place.
The USP Challenged

People have said to me that the USP is a load of rubbish. I will continue, as
always, to challenge that comment.
Ive come to realise that what they are
challenging is the name itself. Nobody can deny that they have something about
them that is different, something that is unique. Call it a talent if you will, just as
long as you realise that everybody has a reserve of strength of character in them,
and that being able to draw on it, to recall it in moments of pressure/stress, is a
good thing.
Those same people say that a USP is just another name for a strength.
It is true however that they are similar, but by being able to articulate why it is a
strength, you convert that strength into your USP. This gives you ownership of
your strength and, in doing so, gives impact to what otherwise would be an empty
statement.
For example, Im an excellent communicator, is a general (and
shallow) statement that will probably appear on every pilots resume.
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Lets have a look at an example based on a fictional interview scenario;
Interviewer)we all have our strengths and weaknesses. Jeff, if I was to ask your
best friend what he thought your greatest strength was what do you think hed
say?
Jeffs answer) Oh communication for sure!
Interviewer) Ok so can you tell us why you think you are a good communicator?
Jeffs response to himself) (Boy I should have seen that one coming!)
Er ah sorry my minds just gone blank (Jeff slides down in his chair)well there
was this time once when my Mum told me to tell my Dad that she didnt like the
way he was always going out surfing instead of working. So the next time we went
out surfing together I explained to him what mum had said and he said hed fix it.
Not long after that he went away for two weeks visiting all the coastal towns up to
Brisbane looking for a job he said, yeah he fixed it alright, didnt get any work
though.
Interviewer) Ah thanks for that Jeff I was really looking for an example of how you
have communicated effectively at work.
Jeffs not doing that well is he? Hes just spilled out the first thing that came into
his mind. And hes not alone. Perhaps theyre not as bad as Jeffs but from my
interviews with companies, poorly thought out answers are responsible for a
significant culling of pilot candidates. To help people like Jeff I developed the
concept of the USP. A USP is what is unique about you and although it can be
used to develop strengths and weaknesses it can also be used for just about every
facet of your interview if practiced.
Interestingly, when I ask people what their strengths were they listed all the usual
suspects In fact, I could probably have told them what they were going to list
before they even started. Thats how predictable it is. When I asked them to give
me evidence of that list of impressive strengths they mumbled and fussed and got
angry with me claiming that they werent prepared. I rest my case! If they could
rattle off a list of impressive strengths but fail to back them up, then how could they
possibly claim to have these strengths? To prove my point as to how effective a
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USP was, I then asked them why they felt they could claim these strengths, and
what made them strengths. That stopped them in their tracks and made them
think. All of a sudden they were being forced to look deeper into what made a
strength something more than just a memorised or written list.
Heres what I have learned about so called strengths and weaknesses,

(besides the fact that everyone has them)
Most people see in themselves what they want to see. Wouldnt you want
to be known as a self-starter, confident go-getter who always succeeds?
Most people (pilots in particular) are self-starters, and to a large part are
confident go-getters who nearly always succeed. (Give yourself a pat on the
back its not easy getting to where you presently are in your career)
Most people know they have strengths and weaknesses.
The problem is that most people - pilots in particular - do not sell those strengths
and weaknesses particularly well during the interview. They choose to believe the
Hangar view that their flight time and level of experience will get them through
the interview.
They fail to fully understand that the experience levels are
regulatory requirements (Company and Governing bodies) as well as a very

effective way of culling the market in times of high pilot numbers compared to jobs
available.
Dont get me wrong, there is good reason for pilots to be concerned at the level of
technical skill required but the simple fact is that you are not expected to ace the
sim ride or answer every technical question correctly, BUT, you do need to
demonstrate by communicating effectively, during the Successful Interview, why it
is you should be employed instead of the other candidates.
Hint: The most important thing I have learnt about USPs is that; pilots who are
successful in the interview deal with their strengths and weaknesses not as a list
of things that they should have (because every one has them right?), but as a
checklist of things that have a reason for being In other words that checklist
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(like your aircraft checklist) has a history behind it, and it has been established by
experience, practice and most important of all knowledge - knowledge that it is
part of their character which they understand and continually use to their
advantage.
You dont have to take my word for it. Here is what Todd Chapman, Manager
Operations Support with Eastern Airlines had to say about strengths and
weaknesses when I interviewed him in 2006.
We want to know that you have a good understanding of yourself. One way we
may question how well you know yourself is to use the information gained from
your psyche profile in the pre-testing and then to ask questions from your profile.
An example Todd gave was that he tells the candidate about three areas of the
profile, two areas they performed well in and the third area they performed not as
well. Todd will then ask the candidate which area do you think that might be and
why.
Todd went on to say that this type of question allows them to analyse the
individuals self-awareness he put it this way. It allows us to corroborate the

psyche test by giving the candidate the opportunity to demonstrate his/her
knowledge of themselves and if the candidate is aware of his/her weaker areas.
Todd adds, This one question has established the validity of 3 things - the psyche
test, that the candidate knows his/her weaker areas and that the candidate can
build on the weaker areas or at least mitigate the weakness by being aware of it.
Rather than marking them down Todd said that it is seen as a positive for the
candidate his final comment was telling.
Self awareness is integral to knowing your limitations and capabilities.
Ill say it againall of us have strengths and weaknessesby recognizing

them and then using your USPs you add value and elevate your strengths
and weaknesses to a higher, more positive level.
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Here is an example of a weakness developed into a USP.
A weakness can be I dont know (the answer)

A weakness elevated to a USP is I dont know but when Im finished here today
Ill put some time and effort into finding the answer and give you a call back.
(Now in effect that response is saying to the interviewer I will go to these lengths
to find the answer, because that is who I am and Im confidant enough to admit I
don't know in the first place.)
The concept of the USP makes pilots feel uncomfortable because they think that
they need to have answers that are made up. Their comment is you should
answer the question truthfully. I agree 100%. That is why I advocate using a
USP. The USP is something that is directly related to you that supports your
values and your ideals. It is about you so therefore it must be true.
I recently talked to Captain Richard Goodman. Captain Goodman is a successful

airline pilot and understands the importance of interview preparation and how he
sells himself during an interview. I told him about USPs and the principle behind
them. He told me that he had used a company, which specialized in preparing
candidates for the interview. One of the comments Richard made was that the
coach had told him that he must have answers prepared and that these answers
must not sound false. At the time Richard thought that sounded false...how could
he have a prepared answer that didnt sound false, and didnt sound like it was
preparedhe went on to say that he thought that the coach was full of himself.
What is really interesting is what Captain Goodman said next...I realise now that
what the coach had said was right. I guess I didnt relate it back to me at the time
and my own life experiences. Unless you have some sort of response formulated
its too late to think about it during the interview.
I hope you are also beginning to realise the importance of your interview
preparation and understanding your USPs.
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I think this is what has happened to our friend Jeff when he was asked the
question why is it that you think you are a good communicator? He didnt have
anything prepared... in fact he said, my mind has gone blank. When he did come
up with an example it wasnt a very good one.
Lets ask Jeff the same question again. This time Jeff has used the concept of the
USP to help him answer the question.
Interviewer) Jeff, why is it that you think you are a good communicator?
Jeffs response) Im a good communicator because I realise theres a difference
between addressing the cabin crew to be seated for takeoff, which needs to be
directive in tone to when I make a PA to the passengers during the flight which
needs to be informative and authoritative. I mean, its all communication but its
what you say, knowing when to say it, and how you say it that makes all the
difference between good and bad communication. (Succinct)
I believe good communication is an important key to a safe, effective work

environment. Good communication is also about being a good listener.
So when it comes to a USP, understand you are using your USP to establish your
credentials and thus sell your unique set of skills as well as the fact that: I hold an
ATPL and have x amount of hours and my last employer was blah, blah, blah.
Dont forget that all the other applicants will have a similar level of experience
or higher than you presently hold.
Your USP should be as familiar to you as your favourite song and like your
favourite song it should bring out the best in you.
Important Tip #4
Can I have more than one USP?
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Can you have more than one USP?
The answer is yes most people have
several. I would encourage you to seek out as many as you can as it gives you
depth of character.
For example: Not only do I enjoy instructing, I also enjoy being around people, I
get along with people. This example has two USPs within it. Just make sure you
apply the principles of Important Tip #2 to both.
USPs can be based on all facets of your life but they should be identifiable as
something that is over and above your requirement to hold that skill for your job.
E.g. I hold an Air Transport Pilots Licence and a Bachelor of Aviation ergo I can
fly a plane as required by my employer and I have a higher level of education in
the business of aviation - which may or may not be important. This does not make
you more employable over any of the other pilots sitting in the waiting room for
their turn to be interviewed. They too hold an ATPL; and they too can fly the
aircraft as required by the employer. (Some may also hold a Bachelor of Aviation)
If you now say I hold an ATPL and in 2003 I completed my Bachelor of Aviation
and - My major was Human Factors which is something that I am interested in
and I have the good fortune to conduct the in-house CRM courses for my present
company, you have turned a boring statement into something which pricks the
interview panels collective interest and demonstrates you not only know the value
of your Bachelor of Aviation but that you are capable of turning your studies into
practice and an advantage for the employing company.
I deliberately bolded the words which describe how you feel. At their deepest
level, a USP is how you view not only your job but also what you get out of the job
in order to make it worthwhile for the employer to say, Congratulations youre
hired!
Note: A USP is how you use what is unique about you to sell your strengths and
weaknesses.
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Exercise 1
Write out a list of your USPs
Dont be too concerned if you dont get many just now. You get to have another go
later in The Guide. (Let The Guide do just thatguide you) e.g. demonstrate a
positive attitude because I know it helps me succeed at what I do and by
practicing what I preach I have ended up here today in the interview room.
Self confidant I am able to make this statement because I apply myself to my

studies and knowledge of my current aircraft and read extensively. I also seek
advice if required. (Shows you understand that no matter how hard you try you
will never know everything and that you have the confidence to ask)
Effective communicator Well for a start I am here today in the interview because
I was able to communicate my desire to work for you. Other examples are.
Team orientated Each and everyday I work with a team of great people and
understand the importance of every person involved in the safety of my flight; from
the refueller to Air Traffic Control.
Handles all types of people easily I learnt very early in life that everybody has
different views from my own and because of that I believe it actually makes life
more interesting - not more difficult. (Thats a positive attitude as well)
Now its your turn
Professional approach -
Able to make decisions -
Good sense of humour (Always an asset at the right moment-even better

if you can have a laugh at yourself)
Enjoy meeting people and working with them -
Puts team success before individual recognition -
Hint: Think about what makes a good Captain.
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Hint: Dont just leave it there; try to imagine how you could word them into
responses to some questions you may be asked and how you could use your
USPs to sell your strengths.
Why should we employ you over the other candidates?

A great example of a classic question and good reason why you need to know
your USP.
The reason for conducting interviews is to find not only the most suitable
candidate(s) for the job but also the one that is most likely to be suited to the
company and its culture.
So why is it that a company should employ you? If you havent given this some
serious thought then now is a good time because the airline will certainly want to
know why, either through a direct question or throughout the process of the
interview.
Why should we employ you over the other candidates? is the perfect
opportunity for you to highlight your USP (s).
I am glad you asked me.
Ive spent some time looking at xyz airlines and,
because of that I believe I have an insight into your company. Its certainly a
company that I would be proud to work for. One of the things Im interested in is
the fact that you use a simulator to facilitate your crew Training and Checking
requirements. Because I enjoy instructing and get a lot of satisfaction from it,
sometime in the future I would like to become part of the Training and Checking
department should the opportunity arise. In the meantime, I know that your pilots
have a lot of contact with the passengers. Meeting new people and making the
flight a safe and rewarding experience is one part of the job that I really look
forward to and I know I can continue to do that here.
I have spent some time looking at xyz airlines Is a statement to the panel that
you have done your homework.
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that I would be proud to work for. Lets face it everybody likes to think that
they are looked up to and admired. It backs up your research into the company.
Because I get a lot of satisfaction from instructing. Your USP is not that you
are an instructor (it is possible that there are several other candidates who are
also instructors). Your USP is that you get satisfaction from your experiences as
an instructor! You could expect the next question to be, Tell us what the most
satisfying thing about being an instructor is?
Meeting new people. Again your USP is that you enjoy meeting people and
that you are capable of making it a safe and rewarding experience.
Expect
another question about your experiences with people and be prepared to

demonstrate with an actual example of how you showed the passenger a
rewarding experience. An example could be a person who had never flown before
and you worked hard to make sure it was special for that passenger.
is one part of the job. This statement within the sentence shows that you
realise that its not all about just flying an aircraft.
a safe and rewarding experience that I really look forward to. This is
telling them why they should employ you.
I know I can continue to do that here. This is an affirmation of your intentions

to bring your USP to the company.
Notes:
The fact that you want to become part of the companys Training and Checking
Department has relevance as to why they should employ you. But at this stage,
having just met you, they have no idea if you would be suitable. However, all of
the other examples highlighted are ones that you have a track record in. You are
using your experience and USPs to communicate the reasons why the company
should employ you.
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Your Resume/Portfolio should be able to back up the claims you made in the
above statement.
Here is Captain Mark Hess way of answering the question, Why should we
employ you over all the other pilots here today?
Because I realise that although I am only a small cog in a larger, more

complicated set of cogs that go into making the company work I know that if I stop
working it can bring the whole flight to a standstill. I know therefore that I have a
place and value within the company. I will bring this value and understanding of
myself to the company and will use it to apply myself professionally at both a work
and personal level.
Captain Mark Hess
Captain Hess has communicated his reason for being chosen above all the other
candidates perfectly and in his own inimitable style.
Now what was that quote aboutIndividual commitment to a group effort, that is
what makes a team work, a society work
Captain Hess also makes the point that when you are being interviewed You
should be confident, but never give the people who are interviewing you the
feeling you are overconfident. You dont want to come across as arrogant.
Note: If I were to make the same statement as Captain Hess in an interview it

wouldnt work for methats because its not meit wouldnt sound right and yet
when Mark says it, it seems completely natural. Hence the importance of knowing
thyself!
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Important tip #5
Emotion and your USP
People of all nationalities identify with emotion. Emotion is used universally to sell
goods and services. Emotion plays an important part in how you describe your
USP. It is not always enough to say, As well as being a pilot, I hold a trade
certificate in sheet metal working. While it certainly points out your technical
skills, it says nothing about what you get out of your interaction with your work as a
human being.
A better way of saying it would be, As well as realising a childhood dream of

becoming a pilot, Ive always enjoyed working with my hands so when the
opportunity of an apprenticeship in sheet metal work came along I jumped at the
chance. Doing the apprenticeship had the added bonus of letting me live at home
while I studied and paid for my flying lessons.
This has turned a boring statement of fact into something that your interviewers
can respond to.
Its a positive statement.
Its a goal statement holding a goal since childhood and then achieving
that goal speaks volumes for your ability to not only set, but also realise
your goals.
Hint: Your ambition now is to kick that goal all the way into the left hand seat.
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Exercise 2
Fill in your response to the question below.
Why should we employ you over the other candidates?

(Even if you dont get asked you need to know the answer to this question)
Hints:
try to keep your answer to under one minute
always try to find a USP which you can relate back to the company you are
applying to, or that you believe may be of value to the company
always try to find a personal USP that brings out the best in you
Your response will vary depending on your experience and the airline you
are applying for.
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The Pilots perspective

It is a common mistake for pilots to believe that the airline will employ them based
solely on their skills (i.e. they hold a pilots licence) and personality (i.e. extremely
great person) alone, rather than how they present themselves (first impressions,
will they suit the company image), and how well they articulate their skills and what
advantages (USPs) they will bring to the company. The requirement to hold a
pilots licence is a regulatory function and a privilege. In itself it is only the fuel that
allows you, the pilot, to fly the aircraft. What makes the aircraft perform, and how
well it performs, is entirely up to the pilot - i.e. you.
The Airlines perspective
Important tip #6
Be Positive and use your USPs to your
advantage!
The company has a requirement to carry out certain tasks in order to meet its goal
of making a return on its investment, i.e. fly paying passengers between certain
ports. In doing so, it will be remunerated and earn profits for its shareholders.
So why does the company need flight crew? Safety? - definitely. Expeditious
operation? - certainly. Somebody to fly the planes? absolutely.
Without pilots, none of this could be achieved. However these are functions of the
job. Its main reason for employing you is to get an end result. Transporting
paying passengers from A to B is what they require. The end result is the airline
receives financial reward and so do you. It is vital you recognise that, should you
be employed, you will become an integral part of the organisations efforts to
achieve its goals.
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Think of it this way - you buy a product to get a result. For example, you buy a
blade for your power saw. However, the blade is not really what you need, what
you really need is to cut a piece of timber with the blade. The blade is the
implement to achieve the goal. How well it achieves the goal is dependant on
the quality of the blade. Quality is what the company looks for. Quality is not
easy to quantify so the company uses the interview to gauge your store of
quality, how great a magnitude of quality you have.
Ill leave the final word to kaptin M from the website pirep who puts it better than I
ever could
A pilot is responsible for delivering the final product. The SAFE transportation of
passengers to their destination. Kaptin M (Thanks CR)
Note: Visit the website at www.pirep.org
Pirep is an Australian bulletin board and
a source of information for pilots.
Stop worrying about the other Candidates!

Dont compare notes as to who has what experience level. It is pointless and
often sets the seed of gnawing doubt as to your level of experience if it is lower
than the other candidates. As I stated earlier and I will state again later - simply by
being invited to attend the interview you are considered a potential employee.
They would not have wasted their time if they did not think this. The primary
purpose of the interview is to assess your personal qualities this includes how
you answer technical questions and anything else they may throw at you.
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3.2. What can the Company offer me?

To understand what an airline is looking for, you have to know what you want from
them because, believe me; they have a very good idea of what they want from
you.
A good way to identify this is to write down what they can offer you. (See example
below).
What can they offer
Airline Name
Simulator
Yes
T&C
Yes
Award Wages
Yes
Positive working
environment (talked to
staff)
Yes
Overnights
Yes
Insurance paid
Uniform
supplied/allowance
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Exercise 3
What do I want (does it match with what they can offer)? Ive started the list for
you. Try to identify as many of your wants as you can.
Airline Name
A job (interview)
Award conditions
Stable roster
Simulator
Opportunity
advancement
Expansion
for
Good maintenance
Good equipment
Is this company where I
want to be in five years
time?
Ten years?
If not
where do you want to
be and why?
(Add your own)
Always, always, remember the company is employing you to achieve a goal
Hint: If you can rattle off a list of positive reasons for joining the company during
the interview it shows that you have done your homework and you continue to
demonstrate that you know what you want.
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Realising your potential Summary
Remember: A USP is what you use to sell (or promote) yourself, including your
strengths and weaknesses in the best possible way.
The most important aspect of your USP, besides your USP, is that you can
communicate it easily and with conviction. This means you can back it up with
examples.
Understand that everyone has his or her good and bad points. Your job is to
make the most of both your good and bad points through your USPs.
Identify what it is that gives you your strengths and weaknesses.
What gives you your strengths may be the ability to cope under pressure, it
may be a positive attitude, and it may be an ability to get along with people,
or good communication.
You may have all of these. Or yours may be
different again.
Remember you can have more than one USP.
Understand that a USP is a strength that can used to put the best light on a
weakness.
Use your USP to elevate your strengths.
Use your USP to elevate your weaknesses.
The successful interview will be helped by understanding your USPs and

communicating them during the interview.
Dont worry about the other candidates level of experience. (Id be more
interested in their ability to sell themselves during the interview)
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You must be able to back your USPs.
Dont just say I am good at
communicating anyone can make empty statements. Make sure that you
can back it up with examples of your good communicating skills.
Are your goals and the companys the same or at least similar.
Think about what makes a good Captain and then look at your list of USPs
to see if you have some of these qualities.
A USP is how you use what is unique about you to sell your strengths and
weaknesses.
Converting a strength or weakness to a USP during the interview will

always demonstrate to the panel that you have an excellent understanding
of yourself.
Important tip #7
The three items of a successful USP
1. Know yourself strengths and weaknesses

2. Communicate the USPs practice your ability to communicate your
strengths and weaknesses in a positive way by using your character
3. Evidence of your USPs - ability to demonstrate evidence is crucial to
and effective USP
CAUTION
Before you move onto phase two Please do not grab hold of the
concept of the USP as if you were a used car salesman. The idea
of a USP is a whole lot more subtle and should have way more substance. By all
means use it to your advantage in the interview but do not beat it to death.
Use the USP to flesh out the positive aspects of your life.
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4.
Phase Two - The Employment process
Usually consists of some, if not all, of the following

1. Resume and covering letter
2. Online database application e.g. staff cv
3. Invitation to attend an interview
4. Psychological test, psychometric test or pre interview questionnaire
5. Skills testing
6. Simulator
7. Medical
8. Interview(s)
9. Result of interview (whether or not you were successful it is paramount that
you go over your interview and critique yourself).
At the time of writing I know of no airlines in Australia that will give any information
or feedback about the interview. If you know of any airlines that do, wherever you
are in the world, then email me at info@thepilotguides.com
Eastern Australia Airlines Insight
Here is Eastern Australia Airlines breakdown of the employment process;
Staff CV application
Initial Selection minimum criteria
Psyche and skills testing
Interview and Simulator on the same day
An important difference with Eastern is that they interview blind to the sim score.
Eastern Australia Airlines Todd Chapman puts it this way, If the candidate got 9
out of 10 (in the sim) you would have rose coloured glasses when you interviewed
them, if the candidate got 5 out of 10 you would deal with them in an entirely
different way which meant the interview was not serving its intended purpose of
being completely subjective. It is not until after the interview we look at the sim
score and add it into the total process which will give us an overall weighting.
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One of the most important things about an online application OR the covering
letter and resume is that they are what get you the interview in the first place.
They do this by telling the reviewer that you meet the airlines minimum
requirements and by pre-selling who you are.
Important tip #8
Covering letters & Resumes
4.1. Your Covering Letter

Always send a covering letter with your Resume.
The covering letter should
include the basics of an introduction, the position you are applying for, your
contact details and availability, as well as your USP(s).
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Charles K Smith
25 Cobblestone Parade
Old Sydney Town NSW 8000
Tel: 08 333 000
Alan Wright
HR Manager
Airlines of the Future
PO Box 23
MELBOURNE VIC 3100
13 March, 2010
Dear Mr Wright,
I am writing to express my interest in working as a Pilot with your organisation. I enclose
my resume as a first step in exploring the possibilities of employment with Airlines of the
Future.
My qualifications to date are as follows:
ATPL Australian
Command Instrument Rating 3 Renewals
Multi Engine endorsements- PA-31, Baron/Travelair
My most recent experience is flying as a Captain for a small city link operation out of
Sydney (Fly-Me Airways). Because it is a smaller airline there is opportunity for
interaction with our customers, which I enjoy immensely. In addition to my pilot duties, I
am responsible for OHS policies and procedures; I assisted in the implementation of these
procedures at the two other bases. I also conduct DG training for the company as per
CASA Regulations, Subpart 92C.
As a Pilot with your organisation, I would bring my existing knowledge and skills, as well
as continue to develop a professional approach to my flying.
Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to further contact with you and
possible future employment with you.
Sincerely,
Charles K Smith
Enc.
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4.2. The Resume

The purpose of the resume is to provide a more detailed summary of your
qualifications and work experience. Your resume should be one to four pages in
length (although if experience warrants it more pages could be added). It should
be clearly set out. Fancy artwork and party balloons dont tell them anything about
you, other than you know how to use the software package you created the
resume with, so leave the fancy stuff at home. Your resume is a document that
contains important information about you!
You are the USP.
Stop looking
elsewhere. Wouldnt you rather the airline know about you rather than have them
hang your resume on the wall as a piece of artwork or, worse still, place it in the
waste- paper- basket filing system?
Simply by following the example resume (see Appendix 1) included in A Pilots

Guide to the Successful Interview, you will have a killer resume that will help
you sort out what is relevant to both the industry and you.
4.3. The Basic Requirements of the Resume

There is a continuing argument within the industry about what makes a good
resume. In my experience there are two groups of people - one says that the
resume should be kept to one page; the other says that you should have more if
required.
I tend to agree with the second group, however, I would add to this that you should
make your first page a checklist of the most important items as follows;
your personal details name, etc
full contact details if transient then send details of a permanent contact
flight qualifications this is the linchpin to meet the requirements for an

interview so you want it right there in front of them
flight times rounded down to the nearest whole hour
education
availability
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This way if they want more information they can then turn to the other pages as
required.
On a Personal Note
My own experience was that if I wanted more info then the best way was to divide
the acceptable resumes into two piles; one consisting of the brief one-pager and
the other pile would consist of two or more pages. What I found was that the
resumes which had a good summary of their flight details etc on the first page
followed by other important info was most likely to be read by me and thus most
likely to receive a phone call asking them to come in for an interview.
Sure, I needed to know their technical details but I also needed to know something
about the person. The covering letter and resume are an opportunity to pre-sell
you.
Hint: From British Airways Make first impressions count.

http://www.britishairwaysjobs.com/baweb1/?newms=info45
We can only proceed with your initial application on the basis of the information
you provide us with. The following tips are offered to give you the best possible
chance of succeeding to the next stage:
Ensure your CV is well-organised, logical and easily understandable. Your

experience, education and qualifications should be listed in reverse
chronological order.
Don't pad out your CV unnecessarily. Include everything that is relevant, but
keep it brief.
Keep a clear picture in your mind of the job for which you are applying, and
the skills you have that most closely match the requirements.
Take some time to think about your accomplishments. Include volunteer

activities, jobs, projects, assignments, travel and team activities. Identify the
personal qualities they brought out in you.
Make sure your CV is up to date.
Do a final check of your CV for spelling mistakes and errors.
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The basic requirements of a resume are

Personal details
name
age*
address
telephone/Mobile and e-mail
highest level of education
interests and hobbies
A prcis of
flight training, hours and aircraft flown
flight qualifications
instructing experience
chief pilot or other directly related information e.g. degree in aviation related
studies
work experience in reverse chronological order
Contact details of the two most recent references should be included.
Your Resume should be a personal brief about yourself and your work career to
date. Within the framework of the resume find out what your USP is and add it in.
It may be that you enjoy instructing. So what you may ask, lots of other pilots are
instructors. Well for a start some do it without enthusiasm because to them it is
simply a way of gaining hours and a wage at the same time before their next step
to the airlines.
Enjoying what you do is not a crime and it shows enthusiasm.
Some airlines like to employ pilots with instructing experience because they
believe it gives them a good grounding in the theory and, more importantly, may
make them ready candidates for a future training role within the Airline. Other
airlines see it as just part of your general experience and do not give it much
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regard believing that, when the time comes, they will choose their Check and
Training pilots from those that show an aptitude and a good understanding of
company procedures, as well as being effective role models and ambassadors of
the company.
Similarly your USP may be that you enjoy being around people. Big deal, so
what? you ask. Well being people orientated is a big deal. Usually it means you
get along with other members of the human race and getting along, although not
essential, makes for a pleasant and (in my opinion) more effective multi crew
operation.
We are looking at a pilot not only from the technical aspect but the human aspect
i.e. how well you get along with people. Cockpits can become very small places
with nowhere to hide if you dont get along with each other. We need to know that
the person behind the resume will fit with our requirements and our culture and if
you can get along.
Chris Hine - Chief Pilot, Rex Airlines
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4.4. Writing what counts

To write successfully you must
1. write sufficient volume of document - the volume, or quantity, should

exceed what is required (so that you have plenty to choose from)
2. write it as you would say it
3. format the document into headings, paragraphs and tables
4. critique the document for readability
5. rewrite as required
6. reread and ensure what is written on one page affirms what is written on all
the others
7. add references/bibliography and ensure they are up to date
8. print the document and read it aloud
9. edit as required and read it aloud again
Hint: There are plenty of templates and information about resume writing on the
net, or through books, and there is no end to businesses willing to write you a
resume for a fee.
Hint: Spell check your documents and have somebody else read them. They will
often read it differently and pick up any ambiguity or mistakes.
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4.5. Record of Resume and contact details pro forma

Airline:
Contact Name:
Contact Details:
Online Application completed:

Resume sent:
Application form:
Received
Returned
Resume Update:
Online Application updated:
Interview:
Result:
Follow Up:
Critique:
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4.6. The Online Application

Does the online application mean the end of having a resume? Definitely not! In
fact it places an even more important emphasis on the value of having a well
written, concise and to-the-point resume.
Your resume provides important
information for the prospective employee that may not be covered in the online
application. Its another opportunity to Pre-sell you and, because its part of you,
its easy to do!
Having all the necessary information at your fingertips is the key here. This is
where a current and up to date resume is of value.
Online applications usually incur a fee. Be careful when filling in
CAUTION
drop down boxes as information can change if you do not first

come out of the highlighted section.
For example Do you have an ATPL?,
Yes/No if you answer Yes and then move on without clicking out of the box and
use your mouse to scroll down the page it may inadvertently change the Yes to a
No. This has happened!
Example of what may be required:
personal details
military experience
e-mail address
Education level
password
aircraft type(s) and experience
lost password question
log Book
employer details
licence
reason for leaving your last
medical details (current)
passport to confirm validity
total flight time
believe may be important to
instructing experience
your application? (USP)
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on type
employer?
any other details which you
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As you can see the online data required is similar to that of a resume, which is
all the more reason to keep your resume up to date, and an accurate reflection of
you.
4.7. Ive got an Interview!

What does this say about me?
What type of person is the Airline looking for? The simple answer is quite possibly
you! By being invited for an interview indicates that you are already considered
suitable. It is now up to the interview process to sort out the person from the pilot
and the pilot from the person. (I.e. level of experience, does he/she suit the
company image/culture etc).
Significantly, you are being given the opportunity to show the company that what
you have written in the resume is:
1. About you - (i.e. not some fictional character you would like to be, leave
him/her at home).
This means the panel gets an opportunity to ask
questions about you - Tell us a bit about yourself. They will expect
responses along the lines of what you have written in your resume.
2. Factual - By producing your logbook, licence and medical along with
original copies of references etc.
3. Knowledgeable - You are able to underpin your licence with theoretical
and practical knowledge - e.g. when can you descend below your LSALT?
Can you give us an example of when you have been under pressure and
how you dealt with it?
4. Relevant - Your USP is matched with enthusiasm, sincerity and
examples of how you have applied your USP.
Where possible,
demonstrate how it matches those of the company.
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What does it say about the Airline?

Essentially, it says the airline is satisfied that your application meets their
immediate requirements. It says they are in the market for suitable pilots, and that
they will have certain parameters in mind for the new hires to meet.
These
parameters are usually established to meet the minimum requirements of

organisations such as the Aviation Regulatory Authority (CASA, FAA, JAR etc)
and insurance company premiums; to meet in-house preferences and to assist the
function of supply and demand of flight crew availability (hold files).
The company will also have a good idea of the parameters and characteristics that
they believe the ideal employee should have in order to fill the position. You want
to exceed these parameters and the best way is through the use of some well
thought out USPs.
Whatever the requirements, the value of your experience has been accepted by
the company and they believe you have the necessary experience relevant to their
operation.
Importantly, this is also an opportunity for the airline to show you what they have to
offer you. Ensuring they will meet your needs, as well as their own. They can
establish this in the interview process by the following
Putting a face to the name (first impression) and establishing your character
Asking questions to establish your knowledge base
Testing.
Personality,
psychometric,
hand-eye
skills
and
technical
knowledge
Giving you the opportunity to ask questions
Finding out what your USP is and how it will benefit the company
Simulator
The next step is to test your compatibility via the interview process.
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The Employment Process Summary
A covering letter should always be sent with a resume
The covering letter should be addressed to a specific person if possible
The Resume should be 1-4 pages in length
The first page of the Resume should contain the critical points required to
confirm your eligibility to meet the airlines requirements
By ensuring your covering letter and resume are first class and relevant
you elevate your chances of an interview
What you put in the covering letter and resume must be 1) Factual & 2) able
to be proven (evidence)
An up to date resume compliments your online application
Take care when using the online application forms. Although tedious they
are just another way of vetting - or weeding out unsuitable applicants
Always keep a record of resume and contact data base
Understand that the initial employment process should be viewed as a

prime opportunity to pre-sell yourself
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5.
Preparing for the Interview
Phase Three - Preparing for the Interview

hink back to all your training - your first solo, earning your wings, the long
hours spent studying, never ending exams and countless numbers of
tests. How much practice did you put in before each test, exam and each
step forward towards your eventual goal of flying for a living?
As a current airline pilot I know exactly how much effort, and money, goes into
building a career in aviation, but when I think back to my early attempts at being
interviewed I cringe. At best they were mediocre. I relied almost entirely on the
panel recognising what a great person I was. I achieved this, or so I thought, by
smiling a lot and by telling them what a great person I was.
In general, interview panels were good to me.
They realised that I was
unprepared, and so they let me down graciously. Eventually, after yet another
mediocre interview, one of the panel members asked me how much preparation I
had done for the interview. I twigged that something was wrong, and the penny
dropped.
OK, so how much preparation do you do for an interview? How much time and
effort have you have put into studying, practicing and preparing for the interview?
The answer is probably no-where near as much as you have put into getting your
pilots licence. Yet providing youve passed the battery of other tests, this (the
interview) is the only thing that stands between you and the job of your dreams.
When I learnt to fly one of my favourite mnemonics was one about flight planning.
In those days you took your flight plan down to the briefing office and submitted it
to the Flight Service Officer for approval and stamping. If he or she gave it the OK
you were free to go. Some Officers pointed out your mistakes quietly, while others
saw it as an opportunity to have a joke at your expense, and point out to all and
sundry that you were new to the industry and that you didnt flight plan properly.
Needless to say, it was an uncomfortable feeling being singled out in front of your
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colleagues and peers. And so it became a mantra as I walked down to the briefing
office, with my flight plan clutched in my hand, to recite the 7 Ps of flight planning Proper Pre-flight Planning Prevents Poor Performance!
I soon learned that showing up to interviews poorly prepared was even more
embarrassing and costly so I invented the
7 Ps of Pre interview Preparation (CReDUSEC)

Proper Pre-interview Preparation Prevents Poor Performance
and ensures a Positive review!
5.1. 7 Ps of Pre interview Preparation

Prepare your 1. Company knowledge
2. Regulatory and technical knowledge
3. Documentation (Log book, copies of resume, licence, references, portfolio)
4. USPs
5. Self (clothes, hair, smile, grooming and deportment)
6. End of interview questions and statement of interest
7. Closing for the interview - thank the panel and smile!
CREDuSECTM
Remember: Even if you think you performed poorly - there have been
cases where a successful candidate declined the job offer and thus left an
opening for one of the unsuccessful candidates - YOU! (It aint over till its
over.) Keep fighting until the very last moment. They will let you know
when enough is enough.
The Dictionary is the only place that success comes before work. Hard work is the
price we must pay for success. I think you can accomplish anything if you're willing
to pay the price
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Vince Lombardi
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Lets start interview preparation by looking at the two questions you should ask
yourself before any interview
Why is the interview important; and
What can I do to improve my performance and in doing so increase

my chances of a successful interview?
It is important to state here there are no right or wrong answers to questions, there
are simply answers and better answers better answers are the ones that make
the difference. Better answers rely on research and understanding yourself, and
your USPs.
Lets start by having a closer look at the first question 1.
Why is the interview important?
This can be broken down into 2 parts:

(i) What does the company want from you, and
(ii) What do you want from the company?
By answering these two questions you will see that the interview is important
because it helps both parties validate each others requirements and credentials,
level of interest, and credibility.
Heres an example of a question that is often asked by companies to find out your
level of interest and what they may expect from you. In effect this one question
covers both parts.
In this scenario the interview has been going for several minutes
Interviewers Question) Mark, when we were talking earlier you mentioned that
you had been applying to us for some time now. Obviously you are interested in
working for us... can you tell me why it is that you want to work for SkyBlue
Airlines?
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Marks Answer) Well, I had a mate who worked here and he said you were a
great company to get experience with, and I just want to get out of GA. You
know?
Interviewers Response)..(laughing) Yes, weve all been there with regards GA

Mark and we also realize that we are seen as a step up to the major airlines. Who
was your friend who worked here?
Marks Answer) Greg Smith.
Interviewers Response) Oh! (looks down at his notes before continuing) I noticed
on your resume that youre a training captain on the Metro with your present
company. Is that something you would like to pursue further?
Marks Answer) Yes, but the present company I work for know that I am applying
to other airlines, so I dont think they will ask me to become a Check Captain.
Interviewers response) Thats unfortunate. Besides us, what other airlines do you
have applications in with?
Marks Answer) names a couple of other companies
Interviewers response) Yes its a good idea to have a few irons in the fire. What if
you were successful with us and xyz who would you choose?
Marks Answer) You of course!
Interviewers Response) (Laughing) Good answerwhy?
I think the interviewer is handling Marks responses in a professional manner.

Mark is fortunate in that he has a good interviewer who understood that the ill
thought out response of I just want to get out of GA was probably just nerves
(and it was an honest answer). Its worth noting that this response has actually
been given to an interview panel.
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Mark has made a mention of his mate that used to work at SkyBlue. Be conscious
of the fact that this can sometimes be a negative thing, as you can gauge by the
interviewers response he may be the one staff member they were happy to see
leave. Make sure you do your research before name-dropping.
The Interviewer is working hard to get a satisfactory response from Marks initial
answer, so he continues with his questions and is given an opportunity to again
ask Mark why it is he wanted to work for SkyBlue more than he would like to work
for the other airline. This time Mark will have to come up with the goods. If Mark
had answered the question more fully in the first place he wouldnt be in this
situation of having to prove that he really wanted to work for this company.
Lets give Mark an opportunity to answer the question again, this time, I think you
will agree he gives a much better response.
Interviewers Question) When we were talking earlier you mentioned that you had
been applying to us for some time now. Obviously you are interested in working for
us... can you tell me why it is that you want to work for SkyBlue Airlines?
Marks answer) Sure.
I see working for SkyBlue as an opportunity to join a
Regional Airline that is expanding and will allow me to grow with it. I also like the
idea of serving the rural areas, coming from a farming background myself. Im
currently a training captain, which I find very rewarding. If Im successful today
and the opportunity presents itself, Id like to continue in a similar role hereeven
become involved more with Checking. Also SkyBlue is based back in my
hometown and it would be great to come back.
Interviewers response) Ok. Well thats certainly answered my question. Naomi

that sounds like a cue to hand over to you now. As you know Mark, Naomi is a
Training Captain and has a few technical questions for you.
What a difference a well thought out, researched and prepared response makes.
Instead of having to pursue the question further the interviewer has his answer.
The response Mark gave shows that Mark has done his research into why he
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wants to work for SkyBlue and his reasons are valid and he is offering to take on
an extra role within the company should the opportunity become available..
It proves an axiom A good interview panel deserves good answers.
&
A good applicant deserves the opportunity to answer good questions.
You might take a moment to ponder this statement. It takes a lot of preparation
and effort to put together an interview. Below are some of the issues the panel
have to consider
Content of questions to be asked - this has to be driven by the

companies requirements, e.g. are their needs driven by the fact that
they are shortly to lose some Captains to other airlines, in which
case they may need to consider pilots who are available at short
notice. Employing a pilot who has to give 2 months notice will be of
no value to them in this case.
Which person on the panel will ask what questions
Will the questions be behavioural, traditional, group or a combination
How many people will be on the panel and from which division of the
company will they come from, flight operations, HR, senior
management
Where will interviews be conducted
Will the interviews take place before or after the sim ride
How long will the interview be

And so it goes on
How many pilots do we need? Should we be interviewing some for a hold file for
expected vacancies in the future? What experience level do we want?
I just want to get out of GA. is not a good enough answer to give as a
response. Especially when you consider the amount of time, money and effort
that the company puts in to preparing and conducting an interview.
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The Real Pressure behind the Interview

An interview is not unlike public speaking, and public speaking can sure be a
stressful experience.
It seems that we become very self conscious when we have to speak in front of a
group of people we do not knowwe are outside our comfort zone.
This is the scenario when we present for an interview. However, in the case of an
interview not only do we have to speak in front of an interview panel, but we also
have to answer questions posed by people who are experts in many different
areas of aviation. Man, I can feel the pressure starting to rise already!
Lets have a look at what the company can do to do lower the stress level for the
candidate. It begins with the way the interview is structured.
In my view the best interviews have the following four points;
conversational in nature
follow a predetermined series of questions
contained within a predetermined time frame (with a nominal overrun

allowance)
environmentally professional (by this I mean the interview room is clean,

comfortable and safe) it also means that the room it is held in is quiet with
no interruptions, the chairs dont squeak each time you move, glass of
water available, etc
It follows from this that the best interviewers are able to engage the pilot candidate
in a conversational manner.
One of the reasons for engaging the pilot candidate conversationally is to take the
edge out of the interview factor. We are all social animals... we like to be liked
and we perform better when we are confident. This is not to say that the interview
panels function is to be liked, they have a job to do and finding the right pilots for
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their airline is that job, but if they can put the candidate at ease as much as
possible then both parties will benefit.
Heres an interesting experiment to try. Start by measuring your resting heart rate.
Now count backwards from 500 to 0 in increments of 13. You must complete the
exercise in 2 minutes. When youve completed the exercise, measure your heart
rate again.
Now, unless counting backwards is your thing, you will most likely find your heart
rate has increased. My point here is if this simple exercise is enough to raise your
stress level, have a think about the effects a 30 60 minute interview will have.
If you wrote the numbers down and memorised them (like you did with your times
tables at school), the fact you know what the answers are would ensure lower
levels of stress and, most importantly, allow you to focus on controlling your
emotions during the test.
The same will happen in the interview.
By preparing and researching for the
interview, you will lower your apprehension and, in doing so, will perform better.
So what can we do to lower our stress levels and, by doing so, increase our
chances of a successful interview?
Well there are two things I always ask people What do you do to prepare for
the interview? and How much effort do you put into your interview preparation?
This leads us into the second question.
2. What can I do to improve my performance and in doing so increase

my chances of a successful interview?
Lets take a look at a concept that I use before any interview and one, which I
believe, will help you with your interviewing technique. It was developed from the 7
Ps of flight planning. as in, Proper Preflight Planning Prevents Poor
Performance.
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The concept I am talking about is called CReDUSEC.

CReDUSEC is an acronym based on the 7 Ps of Successful Interview
Preparation.
Prepare your;
(i)
Company information
(ii)
Regulatory and technical information
(iii)
Documentation
(iv)
USPs
(v)
Self. Deportment, grooming and body language
(vi)
End of interview questions
(vii)
Closing of the interview
The first 3 parts of CReDUSEC is CReD as in credibility.

Credibility plays a significant role in the successful interview and is one of the key
items that both parties are trying to establish during the interview.
Part 1 - prepare your Company information.
By doing your research of the
Company you establish the reasons why you want to work for the company.
Part 2 - prepare your Regulatory and technical knowledge. Your knowledge

and study of the regulations and aircraft technical data is often queried during the
interview. In some cases you may be asked to complete a 20 to 30 question
paper prior to the interview which will then be used as a basis for further questions
asked during the interview. A sound knowledge here shows the interviewer that
you have the goods when it comes to this area. (It takes the pressure off.)
Part 3 - prepare your Documentation. This includes your logbooks, licences,

references, and education certificates. These provide evidentiary proof of your
qualifications.
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These first three items of the 7 Ps of Successful Interview Preparation Company
knowledge,
Regulatory
and
Technical
knowledge
and
Documentation establish your on paper credibility.
Part 4 develop/identify your Unique Selling Proposition(s).

Part 5 think about your Self. Self as in you means deportment (how you carry
your self, your body language and dress sense) and grooming, hair neat and tidy,
nails trimmed, shaved, etc.
Part 6 prepare your End of interview questions. At the end of almost every
interview I have attended I have been asked the question, Do you have any
questions for us? Your questions should be time relative and specific.
Part 7 prepare for Closing the interview. Remember that it aint over till its
over. Have a think about how you will prepare for thatI suggest standing tall,
with a smile, a firm handshake thanking them for the opportunity and telling them
that you want the job.
Lets hear what Captain Naomi Radke (B737 Training Captain) had to say when I
asked her the question What do you do to prepare for an interview?
Captain Radke: I like to start with a snapshot of my career up until now. The
good bits and the not so good, and what I have learned from both. This reminds
me of what I have achieved and that there was a reason for this - my personal pep
talk and confidence booster. Once you're feeling confident then the rest will flow.
For me I work through systematically general knowledge on the airline (history,
current issues, fleet info), review my current aircraft to prove at any stage I will
continue to learn and general aviation knowledge. I also try to imagine some of
the general type questions that they may ask and have thought about some
scenarios that demonstrate my professionalism and values. This helps get me
into the right mindset. I know when the right amount of effort has been put in
when I feel confident and ready. I also just run through in my mind the first few
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minutes to help reduce the effects of nerves. You are better to accept that there
will be some nerves and use them to your advantage to get you focussed.
Company knowledge. Preparation. Thinking up responses to answers that may

be asked. Understanding her USPs - Captain Radke has her bases covered.
I asked the same question of Captain Craig Baker (B737 Training Captain). Here
is what he had to say.
Captain Baker: For airline interviews I have always prepared in a positive manner.
I have a good general knowledge of the airline, history, fleet and key people. I
believe the process is a "snap shot" of you so you need to present well.
Irrespective of what the dress code of the airline is, you should be well
groomed/dressed, have all the required documentation to provide the interviewers
on request. All log books and licences should be up to date for presentation.
I have never been one to get into the nuts and bolts of the process. I remember
many years ago, for Cathay there was a book that "had" to be read. I managed to
purchase a copy of this book and whilst it was a good read, had absolutely no
relevance to the interview proceedings or questions. Even when in HKG it was
being touted as the gospel for Cathay interviews. Another was Handling the Big
Jets which some of the theory came up in a test, but this would be known from
aerodynamics.
I also believe that mindset has a major part in success of any particular interview.
So that said, mindset and visualisation of the situation has been a major key to my
success in the aviation interviews I have completed over the years.
Company knowledge. Documentation. Self deportment and grooming (first
impressions). Visualisation. Captain Baker spends time in preparing for his
interviews.
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Company knowledge, Regulatory and technical knowledge, Documentation,

USPs, Self deportment and grooming, End of interview questions, Closing the
interviewCReDUSECTM.
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5.1.1.
Company knowledge
This will mean a bit of investigation on your part
The most obvious place to start is the World Wide Web where you can get
instant information, and therefore instant knowledge, in your preparation for
the interview. The background information you collect will help you phrase
relevant questions for your initial telephone contact with the airline.
Another great place to get information is straight from the companys staff,
even if that means waiting outside the office to ask them - what its like to
work for the organisation, etc.
Try looking at the Stock Exchange (if the company is listed) for any
company announcements. A copy of the companys prospectus will also
contain vital information.
There may even be books about the company, as is the case with Virgin
Blue - Richard Bransons story. Or Southwests Herb Kelleher
Ring the person responsible for media releases and ask them if they would
mind answering some questions about the company.
Knowledge gained should include
General company information - size of company, location of head office
Technical information such as aircraft type(s) and quantity.
Services such as route structure, timetables. Passenger numbers.
Number and location of bases. This is important, as sometimes its harder

for the company to attract crew to work in their remote bases. If you like the
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idea of a country/regional base then let them know during the interview, but
make sure you stipulate which one otherwise you may end up with an offer
that will put you in a position of having to refuse.
Company structure such as who heads up the company (CEO), who is the
Chief Pilot, who is the Training and Checking manager, Flight Attendant
manager, Fleet manager, etc?
These are important people within the
structure of the company and be aware that if you are armed with this
knowledge and they are on your interview panel they are likely to ask you
questions based on their area of expertise.
Try to gain an understanding of the company culture; will it suit you?

Believe it or not but some companies just arent going to work/be
compatible with you. When I think back to the companies I enjoyed working
for the most they were the ones who had a family connection and were run
by the person who owned the company. That is just my idea of the ideal
company yours may be the hallowed halls of an international airline.
Whatever it is, dont spend all your time getting into a company youre going
to hate working for.
I believe if this were given more consideration by both parties, the end result would
be a much more satisfied workforce.
Nearly all surveys show that active participation, benefits earned or awarded
(USPs), and a feeling of being valued by your company rate higher than actual
rates of pay. See the exercise and the table on the next page itll get you
started.
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Exercise 4
Background information to your company knowledge
Airline Name
Company
Information (add
as much as you
can)
Size of Company
Head Office
Base Location(s)
Public/Private Co
Chairmans name
CEO
Chief Pilot
Training & Check
Manager
Fleet Manager
Flight Attendant
Manager
HR Manager
Airports Manager
Route Structure
Aircraft Type(s)
Aircraft Nos
Award Conditions
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Company
Information
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Airline Name
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5.1.2.
Regulatory and Technical knowledge
This is an opportunity to revise what you already know, and if you already know it how easy is that! Some examples are listed below.
Flight and Duty times (CAO 48)
Terminal section of Jeppesen
Own company regulations
Current aircraft. E.g. speeds, weights, performance
Engine failure brief - if your present company doesnt have one then find
one that is relevant and learn it (you should know as much as possible
about the take off phase of the flight that includes CAO 20.7.1B).
CARs/FARs/JARs as they pertain to your operation. E.g. CAR 217 Training

and Checking organisation
Hint: Try to think up scenarios that will help you remember the information rather
than trying to memorise the relevant sections. I find this far more helpful, and it
takes some of the pressure off.
Hint: A picture is worth a thousand words

Get yourself a workbook that has blank pages on one side and lines on the other.
Then cut and paste pictures or diagrams that are relevant to your study notes.
E.g. copy the circling diagram from the airways manual. On the lined side write
out in your own words (or verbatim) how to fly the circling approach.
Remembering the pictures and your own words will be a lot easier than learning
the section off by heart.
Hint: Positive reinforcement

In the same book cut and paste photos of the aircraft you want to fly and those
that are relevant to the company that you are applying to.
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Exercise 5
Write a list of the regulations and technical knowledge you think will be relevant
and what sections/parts to study up on.
e.g. CAO 48.0 flight and duty
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5.1.3.
Your Documentation
Licence. Make sure you take it! The interview cant proceed without it.
Check your charts and documents are current and amended.
Make sure your log book is up to date. This means to the date of your last
flight!
Make sure your medical certificate is current. If it is due then at least make
sure you have an appointment to renew it so if you are asked you can
demonstrate that you are on top of it.
Ensure you have enough copies of your resume so that all members of the
panel have access to one. Make sure you have the original/master copy
with you
Prepare your portfolio (see important tip #6 below)
Now heres another one for first impressions - carry the documentation in
your Nav Bag. If the Nav Bag has seen better days then consider updating
or if you cant afford that then give it a clean and polish, or consider leaving
it outside the interview room and carry a compendium type bag with you
into the interview room that is smaller and easier to carry. The company
will be looking for professionalism.
Important tip #9
How to organise your portfolio
Carry all of your personal and company information in a specially prepared

portfolio.
If you follow the format on the next page you will build a killer portfolio that carries
all the documents you need.
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Portfolio
Here is my suggestion for building a portfolio that is relevant and able to be quickly
referenced.
Section 1
This should contain the master copy of your current resume,

including enough copies for the entire panel.
Section 2
This should contain references beginning with the most

current and up to date. Behind these in another envelope
should be copies of each reference.
Section 3
Information on the company you are seeking employment

with. Use the table, which you did previously just make sure it
is only about the company that is interviewing you. Include
photos of aircraft flown as well as those that the company
flies.
Section 4
Copies of relevant sections of logbook and licences and

education certificates/Degrees.
Section 5
This section can be for awards and recognitions.
Include
copies of community awards, as well as any employer

recognition and customer letters of praise.
Hint: Make sure that what you put in your compendium is relevant. The idea is
that if one of the panel members takes a quick look through it they are able to do
so in about five minutes. If they want to know more then you can fill in the rest.
Hint: Use a pocket in the portfolio to carry pens/pencil/ruler and breath mints etc.
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Exercise 6
Preparing Your Portfolio
Prepare your sample portfolio by writing notes as to what you may include and
then gathering copies and originals of those documents into a folder.
Section 1:
Section 2:
Section 3:
Section 4:
Section 5:
Hint: For easy access, use dividers to tab the relevant sections
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Exercise 7
Gather your own documentation together and make sure it is complete, amended
and current. Make photocopies of documents as required.
Nav bag or compendium
Licence and medical certificate
Log Book
Jeppesen or similar airways documents
Resume
Passport
Birth certificate
References
Awards
Education/degrees and other documents you may think are of importance
Hint: make sure that

what you tell them is
reflected
in
your
documentation,
for
example if you have

a
pressurisation
endorsement
make
sure it is noted in
your
log
book
(if
required) and that it

is also noted in your
licence.
Note: Interview panels love finding inconsistencies in documentation. It allows
them to turn up the heat - and I dont mean the air-conditioning.
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5.1.4.
Your USPs
Now we come to my favourite part of the 7 Ps of interview preparation, the fourth

part which is USPs. USP stands for Unique Selling Proposition/point. A USP is
used when trying to establish a new product or re-establish an old one on the
market place. In effect the marketing boffins are trying to find out what it is about
that product which makes it stand out over and above its competitors. Think of it
as you marketing yourself to the company. In actual fact it was often stated by the
people I interviewed when I wrote The Guide that in effect the pilot was selling
him/herself to the company. The company is trying to figure out what it is that
makes this particular candidate the one that they want to employ, the one that
stands out over and above his/her competitors.
Now that you have established some background information on the company
think about your list of USPs and make sure that,
The USP is not something that is overboard and it is not something that
should make you look weird or psychotic.
You practice your patter about who you are and what you want out of your
career as well as the company you are about to be interviewed by and,
They offer something to the company that is of value to them.
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Exercise 8
Now that you have researched the company(s) that you are interested in or have
been offered an interview with, have a second look at the USPs from Exercise 1
and add any extra ones that you believe will be of value to you in your preparation
for the interview.
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5.1.5.
Men
Yourself Grooming and Deportment
If you do not already own one then go out and buy, or hire, a suit. If
this is not possible then at the very least wear a pair of business
trousers, a business shirt (and jacket/coat if appropriate), matching
tie, belt and polished leather shoes.
This is the minimum for an
interview.
Heres an example of what not to wear! (and a bad USP)
An interview a friend of mine attended many years ago illustrates the
importance of first impressions. One of the pilot candidates turned up
in a purple suit. This wasnt a conservative colour purple suit, it was
LOUD! A member of staff at the airline came out of the interview
room, took one look at him, and told him he was at the wrong place
and directed him to a nearby room where they were holding
Receptionist interviews. Needless to say, by the time he had figured
out that he was in the wrong room he was in no fit state of mind to
complete the interview satisfactorily.
Just because political correctness was invented in the early nineties, it
doesnt protect you from human nature.
***
Although it may be obvious, make sure you attend the interview with
your hair combed or brushed, recently trimmed and clean shaven.
Use a deodorant and cologne - but dont overdo it!
No beards.
Women
Dress conservatively - dark coloured knee length skirt, and blouse

with jacket. Court style shoes (no stilettos). If you can find out what
the corporate dress is, a good idea is to base your outfit on that.
Dont wear too much make up, if hairstyle suits wear your hair up or
back.
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Both
where possible, cover up your tattoos and remove your nose ring in
fact any excess jewellery should be removed. Most companies have
a policy detailing what jewellery can/cant be worn.
If your personal hygiene isnt up to scratch then seek advice and consider not
eating those curries or garlic for a week before the interview. Visit the dentist and
have your teeth cleaned. Believe it when I say that personal hygiene is often
covered in the companys policy and procedures manual, and senior staff will
contact you if your breath smells or your body odour is offensive.
So what chance do you have at the interview stage if your personal hygiene isnt
good?
Are they going to employ you and then go through the hassle and
embarrassment of calling you in for tea and bikkies to discuss your personal
hygiene?
If you are too embarrassed to ask your friends, then heres one way to find out
how your breath smells. Wash your hands in water only and dry them. Lick the
top of your hand and let the saliva dry, and then smell the top of your hand. If you
pull away and screw up your nose, chances are you have bad breath. Go to your
dentist, have your teeth cleaned and scaled, and ask for general advice on oral
hygiene. They will thank you for it.
Important tip #10

First impressions are vital!
This means well groomed, neatly dressed, firm handshake and smile!
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Exercise 9
Prepare yourself - checklist
Clothes
The web is great for fashion/colour advice. Go windowshopping; window displays are great for fashion ideas.
Hygiene
Cologne, perfume, etc. Dentist, if required.
Grooming
Hairdresser, Manicurist, even the beauty salon for a full

makeover you wont just look great youll feel like a
million dollars and that will do wonders for your confidence.
Stature
Dont slouch. Stand and sit up straight (it makes you look
interested). Try not to sit cross-legged, cross your ankles
instead.
Mannerisms
Video cam yourself being interviewed by a friend and youll

see any annoying habits you may have fidgeting, touching
your ear/nose/hair, etc.
Voice Tone
Try taping yourself in a mock interview and listen to your

voice tone, pitch and pace. Youll also pick up the fill in
words that are a dead giveaway for nerves umm, but, OK,
right, etc.
Body Language
Be aware of your body language the video will be good to

see how you present. Smile, relax and be aware of your
breathing.
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5.1.6.
Prepare your interview questions
Hint: As a rule these questions should be time relative and specific, they show
that you have a good understanding of what the job is about and an interest in the
position.
Its Ok to ask about rates of pay, but dont take it to the nth degree. A better
question may be to ask whether or not the company has a training wage. If
it does, then enquire how long it lasts and what the pay rate changes to
after completion of training. Then ask about terms and conditions if that has
not been covered. It is a good idea to leave it at one question on the
subject at a time. Dont give it the third degree otherwise it may appear as if
thats the only reason youre interested in the job.
Ask how the company assigns pilots to its bases if it has them.
Take a look at the following examples; they are time relative and specific
I know that you are listed on the stock exchange and that fuel prices have
recently been going through the roof. How much of an impact has this had
on your operational procedures?
This shows that you are aware of the commercial pressures placed on the airline
by the recent spike in petrol prices. It also shows you are aware that as a pilot you
may be in the front line of the airlines efforts to save on fuel consumption through
any variations in operational procedures. This may also lead into discussions on
what impact it (the rise in fuel prices) has had on the share price, so be aware of
what the current share price is.
I have been looking at the ports that you fly to and I notice you have
recently added a new one to your schedule. How is it performing?
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Again the above question is time relative and specific. It demonstrates that you
have researched the company. The addition of a new port is often the reason an
airline employs new pilots.
I read that you received IATAs prestigious Airline of the Year award this
year. That must have been quite an effort, congratulations. Is there any
one thing you felt that contributed to the award, OR, what is it about this
airline that makes it stand out above all the others? (Be prepared to back
this question up with your own responses/opinions)
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Exercise 10
Prepare your interview questions based on the research you have done so far
E.g. Ask the panel what it is they like about working for the company
Remember time specific and relative (How long to a command - although
important - is not really time specific because it depends on so many factors and it
is often covered in the interview by members of the panel)
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5.1.7.
Closing the interview
Thank the panel for providing you with an opportunity to introduce yourself
to their organisation, and to tell them why they should employ you.
Tell the company that you want the job.
Leave the room as you entered; confident, well-groomed, neatly dressed,

firm handshake and a thank you with a smile! (You have nothing to be
ashamed of; you gave it your all!!)
Closing the interview correctly is important. Perhaps just as important as the start
because it is an opportunity to show that you are keen to come on board and
participate as a willing and valued team member.
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Exercise 11
Write a short paragraph of what you might say at the end of your interview.
Hint: Two or three should be enough

Practice standing up and saying it in front of a mirror, then with a friend.
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Preparing for the Interview Summary
The Successful Interview is one that is prepared for
Use the 7 Ps of Interview Preparation and CReDUSEC to break the

interview into smaller parts to make it easier to prepare and study for
Company knowledge is vital
Documentation forms an important part of the Successful Interview make

sure it is presentable and up to date
Portfolio preparation assists with document presentation
Regulatory and technical questions are not easy to study for, so make sure
you use a variety of good resources to assist there is no excuse however
for not knowing the basics
Use scrap booking and cut-and-pasting to help you build up a solid

knowledge base and to help you memorise technical details
USPs are the one thing YOU can control they are worth the effort
Your grooming and deportment set the tone to your professional image a
good sense of dress/fashion isnt a bad USP either
End of interview questions should be time specific and relative they show
that you have a genuine interest in the position
You want the job? Then tell them! After all - you know they wont regret
choosing you.
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6.
The Mechanics of the Interview
Phase Four - The Mechanics of the Interview

he first few seconds of the interview are very important You never get
a second chance to make a first impression at an interview, EVER! Once
the moment is over it is history. Dont let yourself be consigned to history -
you want to be part of the companies future.
Look at it this way - A person seeing you for the first time immediately after your
football team has won the grand final would get a completely different perspective
of you if they were to see you at the end of a long day at work, having just been
given the bad news that you didnt get the promotion you believed you were a
sitter for. These are examples of emotions at the extreme end of what would be
considered normal. They will affect your persona and how the recipients of your
on-the-day persona view it.
Similarly if you turn up wearing a really loud purple suit, as against a conservative
business suit, the panel will form a completely different opinion of you, and I would
suggest the latter will result in the more favourable opinion.
6.1. First Impressions

This first impression sends a message to the interview panel about you.
Arthur Caruana agrees with this and adds, Get that right, along with a smile, and
the panel can relax a notch or two.
I find it interesting to note what Arthur said, The panel can relax a notch or two.
Sure the interview is hard for you, and stressful, but it also places a certain amount
of stress on the panel. There is a lot at stake. Arthur says, Helping them tick the
boxes, even the mental ones that they are making about you, can be the
difference between a job offer or not!
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Address the person you are meeting by looking at them, not at your shoes or the
picture on the wall behind them. Try to remember their name; even interview
panel members like to think that they are somebody.
If you dont remember
apologise and ask for it again (dont forget this time).
6.2. Body Language

Latin, its all Greek to mebut everyone understands body language.
Nowadays we have more ways than ever of communicating. Radio transmission
verbal, e-mail, mobile phone, text, satellite to mention a few. There is one way of
communicating that hasnt changed. Its a silent type of communication skill that is
equally important. In fact a lot of this particular way of communicating hasnt
changed in hundreds perhaps thousands of years.
language of course.
Im talking about body
One of the leading proponents of body language, Allan
Pease, really speaks to me when he puts it this wayCharlie Chaplin and many
other silent movie actors were the pioneers of non-verbal communication skills;
they were the only means of communication available on the screen.
Allan Pease
Luckily when you attend an interview you dont have to do mimes/charades to get
your point through. So what part does body language play in an interview?
Plenty!!!!
Before a word is spoken your clothing, grooming and body language send a
powerful message to the interviewer. Your posture, smile and handshake are
part of your body language and are an important factor in your overall first
impressions.
My body doesnt mean what I am saying (incongruency)

It is possible to say one thing while sending a completely different message to the
interviewer with your body language. For example telling the panel that you are a
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motivated individual while leaning forward with your head on the table and
yawning is probably not going to convince them. Similarly, sitting on the edge of
the chair wringing your hands while telling them that you are a serene, meditative
person may send the opposite message to what you are saying.
For this reason, it is important to realise that what you say with your words should
be matched with what you say with your posture. Make sure you lean slightly
forward on your chair and look interested.
If you dont believe body language is relevant, then consider the Cathay Pacific
cocktail party where your interaction with each other and company management
during the course of the evening is observed.
Drawing the interviewer to you

By leaning forward slightly and nodding as you speak you support and add
meaning to your words. By tilting your head slightly and looking at the person
talking to you, you show interest in what the person is saying.
These two
techniques are very effective in drawing the interviewer towards you. In day-today social conversation your interest level will wax and wane. The same occurs,
to a lessor degree, during the interview. Using this technique will help you stay
focused and in control of your listening and response skills.
Be aware that body language also applies to the interview panel. If they shake
their heads, sigh or fold their arms, this may be a sign of their displeasure at your
response.
If you are nervous and feel that your body language is conveying that then tell
them, After all the study and effort that I put in I am surprised I am so nervous.
By telling the panel that you are nervous will often make them more empathetic
towards you. Be prepared for a statement, thats OK its really just an opportunity
to get to know you and then ask a couple of tech questions, following this
statement there may be a question along the lines of, its good to hear youve put
some work into the interview can you tell us briefly what you did to prepare?
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There is much more to body language but if you understand the importance of
good posture, being interested and alert then you are on the right track and for that
reason I will not spend any more time on it. Just be aware that it can be a factor
for not getting the job if you do not pay attention to it. If you want to know more
see the recommended book resources (page 101).
On a Personal Note
In an interview I attended, I experienced first hand the importance of body
language.
The interview room consisted of four panel members who were seated behind a
table. Beside them seated at a table were two psychologists. Their table was
placed at right angles to the front table and formed an L shape. The candidate
was seated between them facing the four panel members. In effect you were out in
the open. This layout was deliberate and allowed the psychologists full view of
you and your body language (because there was no table present at the
applicants chair) while the interview was in process.
6.2.1.
The Handshake
Does a handshake really matter? Think back to the last time you got a limp
handshake or a bone crusher. What impression did it make on you? Was it
distracting? Disgusting? Shocking? Whatever your reaction, you probably weren't
feeling positive about the other person.
What a sloppy handshake says about the person behind the hand is that he or she
just doesn't have things together. And if you're the sloppy shaker, you're telling the
client, boss, or interviewer that you have problems. That conclusion can lead him
to make a subconscious decision that he doesn't want to do business with you
or that you won't make a good representative of his company.
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The handshake is the physical greeting that accompanies a verbal greeting.

Because the handshake is used universally in business, knowing when to shake
hands and how to shake hands confidently is vital.
CAUTION
Getting the right form
What is a proper handshake? The act seems so simple, yet people get confused
over how to do it.
Important Tip #11

To shake or not to shake
Not shaking hands is a very clear form of rejection and is extremely insulting to the
other person. In Australia and most western cultures, you're expected to offer a
firm handshake and make eye contact at the same time. A firm handshake with
good eye contact communicates self-confidence.
Be mindful that different cultures have different boundaries.

Middle East the grip is much gentler.
In Asia and the
A firm grip could be interpreted as
aggressive.
An appropriate handshake begins at the introduction:

1.
Extend your hand and grip the other person's hand so that the webs of your
thumbs meet.
2.
Shake just a couple of times. The motion is from the elbow, not the
shoulder.
3.
End the handshake cleanly, before the introduction is over.
Important Tip #12

Name Tags
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If you're wearing a name tag, place it close to your right shoulder because that's
where a person's eye naturally wanders when shaking hands.
If you want to count, a good handshake is held for three or four seconds and the
hands gently pumped two or three times; no more.
Shaking hands can be
awkward in some situations. Should you be introduced to someone when your

hands are full, carrying files or other packages, don't try to rearrange everything.
Simply nod your head as you respond to the introduction.
Understanding the protocol of handshaking

When someone makes an introduction, always remember to stand (if you're
seated at the time) so that you can shake hands on an even level. That goes for
women as well.
6.2.2.
The Jacket
At the commencement of the interview I was often told to feel free to take your
jacket off.
Important tip #13

Coat on or coat off?
Arthur Caruana, former Sydney Flight Operations Manager for Regional Express,
suggests that you take a moment to notice whether the panel have their coats on
or off and to follow suit. (No pun intended)
6.2.3.
The Mobile
Important tip #14

Mobile Telephone Turn it OFF
Yes people actually do answer them during the interview. (They dont get the job)
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6.2.4.
Time Keeping
Important tip #15
To be or not to be late
I havent mentioned it yet, so now is a good time. Make sure you know where you
have to go and allow plenty of time. It is OK to turn up 15-20 minutes early no
sooner (waiting can be a daunting experience).
As a pilot you are expected to have a good grasp of the importance of time. Not
only because of the requirement to meet your position reports, but also its effect
on your passengers and meeting company scheduled flights.
The bottom line is DO NOT BE LATE!
Research shows that this goes against the candidate.
On a Personal Note
At one interview I was particularly nervy. I really wanted the job and was really
keen. After I answered each question, I would ask the panel, Does that answer
your question? Needless to say I didnt get the job and, as much as I hate to
admit it, they were right on the money. When I had allowed myself twenty four
hours of misery, I collected my thoughts and gave myself an honest appraisal. I
realised that, had I been on the other side of the interview panel, having the
candidate ask Does that answer your question? each time would have had me
wondering if the candidate was uncertain about either the context of the question
or the suitability of the answer maybe lacking in confidence. I could have said
anything and they would have agreed with me!!!!
CAUTION
A good interviewer will let you hang yourself. Theyre not trying to
be nasty or mean, they simply want to get a look at the person they
are seriously considering employing and then spending tens of thousands of

dollars on training. If they can save themselves a costly mistake they will.
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CAUTION
Dont talk yourself out of the job. (Control the urge to let out too
much information. Answer the question and only the question.)
Note:
You are a major investment. Spend some time and have a think about what it
costs to train you. Try to look at your employment from the companies point of
view.
All good interview panels will make allowances for nerves.
Remember that simply by the airline asking you to attend the interview you are
being give the message, We consider you of such a standard that all that stands
between you and employment with us is... you!!
Ill leave the last word to Captain Andrew Wilder. If you want something badly
enough you will be nervousaccept that, if your not nervous you probably dont
want the job.
6.3. Interviewer Types

As I have already said there are many different personalities involved in the
interview process. Here are two examples:
The first is the astute, sharp-as-a-tack type. They are confident and aware of
their presence. They know themselves, their capabilities, and are very much up
front and in your face.
They will dig deeper and deeper if they think you are trying to bluff your way
through or show signs of uncertainty.
Important tip #16

What you dont know is just that what you dont know.
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If you dont know the answer these are the magic words I dont know! By
definition because you dont know (the answer), bluffing or trying to B*S* (lie) your
way through should never be attempted.
The second type is the friendly affable person who just wants to talk to you, they
make you feel as if youve already got the job, and this just is an opportunity to get
to know you before any one else in the company.
Eventually you tell them everything that you promised yourself that you wouldnt.
Too late you realise that you have said too much and youre going to walk out
empty handed.
Both types need to be treated in the same way, and that is deal with them on a
professional level, answer the question and only the question!
Whatever other types of interviewers you come up against they should be dealt
with in exactly the same friendly professional manner.
What to say when you dont know the answer

You have a number of options here. When I started with the Northern Territory
Aerial Medical Service I was given this piece of advice by my Check Captain about
how to deal with unreasonable or unsafe requests from customers. Tell them that
it is not possible to do as they have asked and then offer an alternative solution
that will satisfy both yours and their requirements. This piece of advice can be
applied to the interview.
As I have already said above, tell the interviewer that you dont know
(Honesty is appreciated)
Tell them you dont know but you can give an example of a similar situation.
Tell the interviewer you dont know (the answer) but you do know where to
find the answer. e.g. CAO 48 Flight Time limitations
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It is usual for the panel members to ask questions that are relevant to their
respective expertise. It is a good idea to ring the company and find out who the
Chief Pilot is, the CEO, Check and Training manager, Fleet Manager, Human
Resources Manager etc.
Hint: Some interviewers will test you by placing your chair at a distance from
them. They want to see if you will take the initiative and bring the chair forward into
the conversation zone.
A good rule of thumb is to place the chair the same distance from the table as the
interviewer is.
Todd Chapman from Eastern Airlines offers this insight into a candidate who tries
to B/S their way through an answer. Any good interviewer has a lie detector, you
just do. There are subtle give-a-ways a lot of people do, such as fidgeting or
looking down when answering.
Todd continued on by saying that, What we will do if we suspect the candidate is

not being truthful is re-ask the question in a different way get them to corroborate
their answer again. This information may then be checked against the references.
If the information is not in the candidates references then we will say something
like, actually I noticed that Bill Blogs is one of your referees do you mind if we
ring him to confirm that with him?
Todd finishes with the comment that - Not being truthful will never work. I am
keen to get the message out if you are a good person you dont have to lie to
succeed.
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6.4. Interview etiquette
Dont chew gum
Dont interrupt an interviewer
Dont argue or debate a point simply to prove your point
Dont play the fool a sense of humour is OK
Dont look at your watch
Dont fidget
Dont fold your arms
Dont point your finger
Never ask how the interview went
Never try to brown nose your way into a job by sucking up to the interviewer
Dont give smart alec answers
No matter how much an interviewer tries to bait you, dont respond by being
hostile (otherwise the interviewer has won)
Dont wear sunglasses they should be in your briefcase or nav bag
When introduced wait until being invited to sit before taking your seat
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The Mechanics of the Interview Summary
Once more with feeling First impressions are vital
Body language goes hand in hand with what you are trying to communicate
Address the person who asks you the question first, then address other
members of the panel during your response
Master the handshake
Dont be late
Being Nervous is normal accept it and deal with it, voice your nerves if it
helps then get on with the interview
Be honest
Professional interviewers deserve professional responses
Professional responses are a USP
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7.
The Interview
Phase Five - The Interview
Ask not what your country can do for you rather what you can do for your
country.
President John F Kennedy
If you cannot communicate your personal commitment and drive through your
words during the interview then all you have is what every other pilot attending the
interview has, the minimum requirements to be asked to attend the interview,
and if that is all you have then it is a fair bet that is all you will have when you
leave the interview the minimum requirements to have almost gotten a job. You
will leave as you came, empty-handed
here are many facets to the interview, and the number of personalities and
personal preferences of the interview panel are infinite.
Similarly, the
same can be said about the pilot who is facing the interview panel. I am
the first to admit that not every eventuality that may be faced at the interview stage
can be covered.
However, after countless discussions with both pilots and interview panels, I am
convinced that a well prepared candidate will show up on the interviewers RADAR
and, in doing so, will ensure the best possible opportunity of a successful
interview.
As I said earlier I spent quite a bit of time at my early interviews telling the panel
what a great person I was. Well, it didnt work back then and it wont work today.
A good interview is one youve prepared for. If you are prepared, and have a
depth of knowledge about the company, about yourself, your experiences and how
they relate to you, then they will begin to merge with those of the company.
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The Interview
After all, the company itself consists of a group of individuals who apply their
individuality within the framework of a team in order to achieve a common goal.
The company needs to know that your skill set, your temperament and your
individuality, will fit their temperament, their individuality and their goals.
To
achieve this you must have your own set of clearly defined goals.
Important tip #17

Answering the question
Engage brain before tongue. Consider your answer before responding. Give
clear concise answers.
Use your most important points first all interviews are time critical and you want
to make the most of your time available.
Vary the tone of your voice you dont want to come across as if your answers are
canned.
7.1. Types of Interview

There are several types of interviews that can be used to assess a candidates
suitability, however, in aviation these are the three most common interviews:
1. Behavioural Interview
2. Traditional Interview
3. Group Interview
All have different ways of finding out the information that the company requires to
know about the candidates suitability.
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7.1.1.
The Interview
Behavioural Interview
In nearly all of the pilot recruitment interviews I have attended there has been a
component of the behavioural type interview included in the process.
What is a behavioural interview?

A behavioural interview is one where you have to demonstrate your competencies,
(knowledge, skills, and abilities), by giving examples from your past experiences.
Behavioural interviewing asserts the most accurate predictor of future
performance is past performance in a similar situation. It is important to note that
the experience can be considered as a success or as a failure. What you did to
respond to the success or failure and how you addressed the failure in particular is
as important as the experience itself. Make sure that you can show that you learnt
from the failure and in doing so show that you can make it a positive experience.
As I have already stated, every interview has its unique focus and requirements,
however some questions are asked so often, it makes sense to do all you can to
prepare for them. In order to be successful, you need a strategy - not scripted
answers. Your goal should be to emphasize the experiences in your background
and by the use of your USPs that best fit what each interviewer is looking for.
Take a look at some common questions and think about you should consider
when formulating your responses. Work through each potential question, creating
your own responses based on your research for your own guide to the successful
interview, and you will be in great shape for your next interview.
Hint: Practice aloud with someone.
Behavioural interviews are interviews conducted along the lines of
Describe a situation where you have had to use CRM
Give me an example of the last time
Tell me about a time you had an ethical dilemma
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The Interview
Fill in the blanks with one of your competencies (knowledge, skills or abilities).
Draw from an experience which highlights your USP. You can then expect to have
follow-up questions seeking further responses and clarification of the depth of your
knowledge.
Note: A good pneumonic for behavioural interviews is S.A.R. (easy for a pilot to
remember)
S
is for Situation
stands for Action which you took to solve the problem
stands for the Result of your actions
Tell me about a time you had an ethical dilemma? is a good example of a

question with which to use SAR.
Intent: The interviewer is looking for evidence of your ethical standards and
honesty.
Context: I picked this question because I found it difficult to answer, and because
On a Personal Note
I believe that no matter who we are, we all have our ethics tested at some point.
Response: Without naming names, describe the situation and how you dealt with
it. The response may focus on you, or it may involve other people. Remember,
your political acumen is being tested.
Situation: Early in my career I was rostered to fly a camera crew out to their
shoot. After loading their equipment I went across to the briefing room and
updated my weather I was gone for no more than 15 minutes. The flight out to the
destination was uneventful. As I was unloading I noticed three extra boxes in the
nose locker. I queried the film crew and was told they had turned up while I was at
the briefing room and that they had loaded these extra boxes themselves.
Because I was concerned about the aircrafts maximum take-off weight I
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The Interview
rechecked the weights and although I had not taken off overweight I found that
because of the short sector and low fuel burn I had landed overweight.
Action: I checked the company paperwork for information on overweight
landings. I then notified the company and gave them all the details as required.
Result: The aircraft was subsequently inspected and returned to line. I met with
the Chief Pilot and discussed the incident. He phoned the film company and made
sure that they were aware of the requirement to not load anything without flight
crew permission. At my suggestion we added the possibility of overweight
landings occurring due to short sectors and low fuel burn in the company route
manual.
Note: It would have been easy just to pretend that I had never noticed the extra
boxes and ignored the possibility that I had exceeded a weight limitation. The
moral of the story is that although I was sweating bullets at the time I look back
now and understand it was a learning experience and that I did the right thing
notifying the company.
Behavioural Interviews are an opportunity for
You to demonstrate your knowledge and to showcase you and your USP
and thus your store of quality. As given in the example above, honesty and
integrity are quality attributes, and the ability to demonstrate them is an
excellent USP.
The panel to interact with the candidate in an almost normal conversational

process that allows them to have a look at the candidate and to delve into
his or her character. It allows them another means of assessing the quality
of the candidate. It allows them to find the magnitude of quality by seeking
an understanding of the depth of the candidates responses to the
questions asked and to find the candidates USP.
Note: Good interviewers will take it all the way to the limit of your knowledge in an
effort to gain an understanding of how you respond to what you dont know or
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The Interview
dont have an answer for so be prepared to tell them that you dont know the
answer.
My way of viewing the point where I hit the wall is, I know what I know, now is an
opportunity to expand on that and grow my knowledge.
CAUTION
Extremes in character are signposts to the interviewer of possible

problems, so dont go to the interview ready to show them what an
extremely great person you are, rather what a normal everyday great person
that you are and that you are the candidate who has the skills and the positive
attitude they are looking for and at some point in the future you would like to take
on a Captaincy or possibly a management role.
In other words you have a
component of quality which they will benefit from. You have this component of
quality because not only do you meet their minimum requirements but you also
have a USP(s) which you know and understand thoroughly and can easily relate it
to others.

The Eastern Australia Airlines interview is based around the Behavioural interview
style. As Todd puts it it is not a gotcha type of interview. They want to know
that you have a good understanding of yourself. One way they may question how
well you know yourself is to use the information gained from your psyche profile in
the pre-testing and then to ask questions from your profile. An example Todd
gives is that he will tell the candidate about three areas of the profile, two areas
they performed well in and the third area they performed not as well. Todd will
then ask the candidate which area do you think that might be and why. Todd
says that this type of question allows them to analyse several things like the
individuals self awareness, it allows us to corroborate the psyche test by giving
the candidate the opportunity to demonstrate his/her knowledge of themselves and
if the candidate is aware of his/her weaker areas. If the candidate can then state
that they are aware of these weaker areas, rather than marking them down Todd
says that it is seen as a positive for the candidate self awareness is integral to
knowing your limitations and capabilities.
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7.1.2.
The Interview
Traditional Interview
The traditional interview can be prepared for if you know yourself and what makes
you tick, what it is about you that drives you and what you are looking for in your
career and the company you are applying to.
Traditional job interview questions
Tell us about yourself
If your interview today is successful where do you see yourself in five years
from now? Ten years?
What are your strengths?
What are your weaknesses?
We have a room full of excellent candidates waiting to be interviewed, why

should we hire you over them? (puts the pressure on)
What makes a good pilot?
What has been the most rewarding part of being a pilot (besides your pay
packet)
We have bases throughout Are you willing to work any where in our
network?
Why do you want to work for our airline?
Why do you want to work for our airline? is another prime opportunity to sell
yourself. Its almost the same as asking you to tell us what a great bunch of
people we are and how good we are at doing what we do best i.e. operate an
excellent airline in an extremely competitive environment.
It also has an element of whats in it for me (WIIFM.)
Why do you want to work for our airline? Is yet another opportunity to highlight
your USPs.
Within the industry it is well known that your airline has well maintained aircraft
and excellent crew training. I have spoken to several people/pilots/staff and they
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The Interview
back up what is said about your company. They also told me that the company is
great to work for and treats its staff well. The people I spoke to were positive
about the companys future
Now that you have massaged their collective company pride it is time to tell them
where you fit in and why you want to work for them.
Note: if you make a statement like the people I spoke to ensure that you are
able, if asked, to tell them who it was that you spoke to. Remember you must be
able to support your comments.
Hint: It is not always a good idea to name drop sometimes your contact in the
company may be the person they wished that they had never hired however if
asked then tell them who it is that you know in the company.
In my current employment within the ranks of G/A-Military-Regional airlines I

recognize that it takes a team effort to make all the parts of the airline work.
During my preparation for this interview I came to realise that, more than ever, I
would like to be part of your team and become one of those members of staff who
value this company and the opportunities that it provides. Your company offers
excellent career prospects - I also am aware that the company is about to expand
and that as a consequence there may be opportunities for promotion. I believe my
present employer will back up my enthusiasm, commitment, professionalism and
dedication to the job which I will bring with me when I join this company, should I
be given the opportunity.
In my current employment tells them that you are a success and, if given the
opportunity, will continue to be so.
recognize that it takes a team effort you understand CRM and that you are a
part of the total sum.
In my preparation for this interview yes - keep telling them that you have done
your homework.
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The Interview
that more than ever I would like to be part of your team yes - thats right you
are telling them again that you are prepared to be part of a team. Your USP is that
you actively seek out the opportunity to become part of not just any team but
their team.
become one of those members of staff (pilots) who value this company and the
opportunities that it provides. this is why you want to work for them. It is
also another USP. Every company has staff that does not want to belong and take
every opportunity to rubbish the company. You not only want to belong but you
also place a value on being in the company by realising that it provides you with
opportunities.
offers excellent career prospects and is about to expand and that as a

consequence there may be opportunities for promotion. This is the whats in it
for me statement. (WIIFM)
my
present
employer
will
back
up
my
enthusiasm,
commitment,
professionalism and dedication, It is not uncommon to be asked by the interview

panel what your company/chief pilot/best friend would say about you.
This
statement is saving them the time and trouble.
which I will bring with me when I join this company, should I be given the
opportunity. This statement is an affirmation that you will continue your present
standards if given the opportunity.
Note: The trick with answering these types of questions is saying it in such a way
that you believe it! If you dont, then the interviewer wont, so make sure you word
it in such a way that you are comfortable with your answer, and can give it the
plausibility it deserves. (Remember dont be a used car salesman)
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The Interview
Exercise 12
Why do you want to work for our airline?
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The Interview
Tell us about yourself is yet another opportunity to highlight you and your
USPs.
Dont tell them where you were born or how many brothers or sisters you have.
The company has just invited you for an interview so they consider you a possible
employee, dont disappoint them.
Focus on what you want them to know about you and the fact that you are a
success. (See Exercise 13)
Have a look at the following examples to gain an understanding of why questions

are asked and what they are designed to show the interviewer about you (or not).
Tell us about yourself.

Intent: To broaden the limited picture that the company presently has of you.
Context: Reinforces what you have written in your resume with a personal tilt.
Response: Use your resume as the foundation for your response in terms of your
successful aviation career to date but make sure that you also fill them in on some
personal details hobbies, interests etc. The Tell us about yourself, should
demonstrate that you can mix with a group of people you have never met and at
the same time give them enough information so that they would genuinely want to
catch up with you again. Your interests arent just all about aviation.
Hint: Tell them only what you want them to know about you.
What is your greatest strength? (USP)

Intent: To find out if you yourself recognise your strengths. If you havent figured
out what your strong points are yet, neither you nor the company will reap the
benefits.
Context: Everybody has strengths. They want to know what yours are and will
they be of use to the company and to you as a pilot or person.
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The Interview
Response: Dont just talk about your strengths relate it to the position.
What is your greatest weakness?(USP)

Intent: To find out if you know the areas you need to work on. If you know your
own weakness it stands to reason you are trying to make improvement and they
will, most likely, support you in this.
Context: Everybody has a weakness. Although you may prefer to keep it to

yourself, it can be a positive in the interview.
It gives you an opportunity to
demonstrate that you are in control of your own personal and professional
development.
Response: Say something along the lines of, I have difficulty with , and
these are the strategies I use to get around it. E.g. I tend to be a bit
disorganised, however, I use a diary now which keeps me on track. Just make
sure it is not something that could be a career killer.
Tell me about a time when you failed?(USP)
Intent: You cant succeed all the time, so the key here is to discuss what you
learned from a situation that went awry. The interviewer also may want to hear
how you handled any resulting fallout.
Context: Failure comes in different forms: taking the wrong action, omission, not
doing enough or taking action soon enough. Some failures are big, most are small.
Response: Tell a story that isn't a career killer but shows you learned something
from the experience. Talk about the lesson you learned from the mistake.
1. What your failure was
2. What you did to fix it
3. What you learnt from the failure
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The Interview
Exercise 13
Tell us a bit about yourself?
Hint: Gather enough information to talk for about 7 minutes then edit it to 2-4
minutes for the interview.
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7.1.3.
The Interview
Group Exercise
Another common type within the context of the interview is the Group exercise.
Usually you are divided into groups of three or four or the entire group and given
an exercise, for example;
Our company has to select a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) what are
the attributes that you believe would be necessary for your candidate to
have and why should he/she be selected?
Another example of a group exercise that has been used before by a major airline
All the candidates are seated at a table. In front of each candidate is a

profile of some astronauts and the mission that the astronauts have to
complete. The groups task is to select the most suitable astronaut for the
mission.
(The mission is the same for all the astronauts)
Minimum
requirements for the most suitable astronaut are given.
Because the airline has as much knowledge as you or I about what makes a
suitable astronaut - choosing the correct astronaut is not as important as how you
go about choosing the correct astronaut. What is important is how you interact
with the group to choose the astronaut.
Some important points to consider when participating in group exercises (skills

they want to see you demonstrate)
Leadership - identify somebody to facilitate/moderate the group.
Collaboration work together as a team.
Communication - be clear and clarify information.
Objective (open minded) - at some point in your career you may be placed
in a situation where you have to consider all the options.
Participation dont hang back, input.
Risk in all decisions there is an element of risk. Your task is to minimise

risk while being aware that it is always present to some degree.
Team team players swap roles readily from leadership to follower ship.
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The Interview
Win/Win - Realising that making the correct choice and accomplishing the
mission goal is more important than having their astronaut picked above all
others.
Feedback Both ways - give it and take it.
It is an important part of
effective communication.
Decision Making Sometimes its hard for a person to make the final
decision. Are you capable and will you take ownership of your decision?
Conflict Resolution This can be a positive thing in a team.
Can you
identify conflict and manage it?
Important tip #18

Group exercises
Group exercises such as the ones given above provide the airline with a CRM
snapshot of how well you work together in a group and in doing so give them an
insight as to how you will work in the cockpit with your fellow crew members.
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8.
The Interview A Positive Attitude
A Positive Attitude (The right stuff)

f you have read everything that is required of you up to this point, completed
the exercises, and are not feeling just a little concerned at the amount of
work in front of you, then I would suggest you either suffer from denial or
you are clinically dead. Neither are desirable qualities of a pilot so I will assume
that if you have read this far then you are going to tough it out, roll up your sleeves
and give it a go. Good for you!
Work is only opportunity dressed in overalls.
8.1. Mental toughening

It is time to look at how you can best deal with the actual interview and its effect on
you and your emotions. Its time for a little bit of mental Toughening.
It can be quite daunting walking into the corporate atmosphere of a major airline.
One of the first things that always strikes me is the never-ending symbolism of the
corporation. It is everywhere. It seems impenetrable. It should also make you
realise the importance of what message the company is trying to portray in its
efforts to be dominant in the market place. It is about image, it is about the first
impression that leaves a lasting impression! A lasting impression is what makes
their customers want to returntime after time.
Are you beginning to see, from the companys point of view, the real importance of
the first impression yet? So what has this got to do with mental toughening I hear
you ask? The answer is plenty! If you are not prepared for the interview, if you do
not have a good understanding of the company image and the company culture,
and where you fit into it, then you are already behind the eight ball.
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CAUTION
There are positive impressions and there are negative impressions.

Its your choice and your choice only as to which impression you
want to make but if you want the job I suggest you make it positive.
8.2. Visualisation
Coaches who can outline plays on a black board are a dime a dozen. The ones
who win get inside their player and motivate.
Vince Lombardi (Authors bolding)
What sort of mental picture do you have of
The room you will be interviewed in

Perhaps a training room or boardroom with photos or models of company
aircraft, whiteboard and table with single chair in front for you. Some note
pads for the interviewers and a jug of water with glasses for each person.
The room will have a business like feel that makes you want to be part of
the company.
You meeting the panel for the first time

Standing tall, smiling, enthusiastic and genuine with firm handshake.
Who will be on the panel

Knowledgeable professionals who can appreciate the amount of hard work
and sacrifice you have put into your career (they were you once). People
you would be proud to work with and be mentored by.
How the interview will go

Accept that it will have its ups and downs. Nobody answers all of the
questions correctly and in many cases there are no right or wrong answers,
just your experiences and how you respond(ed) to them. Your preparation
will make it a positive experience and a success.
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How you might recover from a poor answer or a tough question

Get over it. The interview will move on. You need to concentrate on the
next question.
What you want out of the interview

You want the job. Tell them!
How the interview will finish

Standing tall, smiling, enthusiastic and genuine with firm handshake
thanking them for their time and the opportunity to show them why they
should employ you.
Interviews can be conducted in the boardroom, hotel conference rooms, training

room-in fact just about anywhere.
Have you considered?
How you will feel waiting for the interview to start (dry mouth, sweaty palms)
What you will do watching the other candidates come and go and how you
will feel watching their entry and exit personas
How you will combat your nerves as your initial confidence slowly melts
away while waiting for the interview to start
Mental toughening involves picturing all of the above in a realistic and

positive way.
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On a Personal Note
Interview stress - Here is my way of dealing with the pressures involved in the
period before the interview starts. How I deal with those negative self-doubts that
worm their way into my thoughts while I am waiting for the interview to begin.
The enemy is in front of us, behind us, to the left of us and to the right of us. They
cant escape us this time!
Lieutenant Lewis B. Puller-US Marine
The above quote is the penultimate definition of a person who sees a positive in
everything. It always comes to mind whenever I attend an interview. Of course I
dont think of the panel as the enemy, instead I imagine that in effect I will have
their complete attention for the next 30-60 minutes or so. Finally, after all my effort,
all my work I have them right where I want them; they cant escape me this time.
How good is that!
It never fails to give me a surge of confidence and an understanding that no matter

what lays ahead I have prepared myself fully and will give a good account of
myself.
Hint: A lot of effort and serious stuff has gone into your preparation to this point.
On that note it is a good time to remind you that a sense of humour never goes
astray. Dont forget to use it when appropriate.
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The Interview, A Positive Attitude Summary
The interview panel genuinely want you to perform at your best
Listen to the question carefully
Engage brain before tongue when answering questions even if that

means a short pause to gather your thoughts
Once considered answer naturally and spontaneously
Answer with the most important points first
3 types of interview 1) Traditional 2) Behavioural 3) Group
Prepare for expected questions based on your USPs e.g. Tell us a bit
about yourself?
A positive attitude is a winning attitude
If you find yourself in a difficult place during the interview draw yourself up
inwardly and fight, dont give in its only a question
Your reply should answer the question and only the question
Visualisation can be a powerful tool to help you with how you view the
Successful Interview
Remember, your interviewers were on your side of the table once
If you have done the hard yards in preparing for the Successful Interview by
using the concept of the USP and CReDUSEC then you have given
yourself a tool to deal with the stress
Glen Solly 2006
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9.
Your Checklist
Phase Six Your Checklist
So now you have come to the end of what has been a very comprehensive brief
on the interview, the techniques used as well as comments from those that
actually do the interviewing, and along the way picked up a fistful of important tips
and hints. It is time to follow up with a checklist to ensure your Proper Pre
Interview Preparation will Prevent Poor Performance and ensure a Positive review!
To summarise you need to know and be aware of;
What you look like (presentation)
Who you are (Strengths and weaknesses)
How you fit the company and what advantages you will bring them (USP)
Do you
Know the companys history
Know who the senior management is
Know why the company should employ you over every one else
Know why it is that you want to work for the company (besides the money
and the fact that you just have to get out of GA)
Fit the company image
Mirror what is written in your resume
Know your current aircraft
Fill in youre your own Do you knows?
Common traps:
Poor preparation
Poor knowledge of the company
Not listening to questions carefully
Being too enthusiastic (can be viewed as false)
General statements (stick to answering the question and only the question)
Being too friendly
Slouching, mumbling and trailing off at the end of the answer.
Derogatory remarks about your present or past employer(s)
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Your Checklist
One Week Prior
Confirm travel, hotel, and car reservations as required
Get outfit dry cleaned, shoes shined
Conservative haircut
Stock your portfolio with pens, notepad, resumes, and breath mints
Further practice answering interview questions, refining your answers

Memorize ideas you wish to share, not worded answers
One Day Prior
Visit interview location - if possible
Confirm appointment time and directions to interview site
Have a backup plan for any transportation problems
Get good rest
INTERVIEW On the day

Be the consummate professional
Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early
Pop in a breath mint if needed (No gum)
Smile and offer a firm handshake
Show energy and enthusiasm
Make eye contact
Listen to the question
Do not exaggerate
Answer questions concisely, provide examples
If you dont know an answer, dont try to bluff your way through
Note: I dont recommend arriving earlier than fifteen minutes but if you are very
early then find a caf, have a cup of coffee and relax.
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10.
Quick Revision Quiz
Quick Revision Quiz
Place a yes or no next to the statements listed below. If there are any that you
dont know or feel you need to revise go back over these notes or conduct your
own research.
I have suitable attire to wear to the interview and I have ensured that my
grooming and deportment is excellent.
I have invested much time in reviewing my career to date- where Ive been
and what it is that I have accomplished.
I have examined what I want to do in my career, my personal and work
areas of interest and the job and company traits that are important to me.
I understand myself, my strengths and weaknesses and I believe in myself
and my abilities.
I know what kind of environments I can thrive in and am successful in.
I know what behavioural interviews are and how they work.
I know how to deal with behavioural interviews.
I know what traditional interviews are and how they are structured, and
how to deal with them
I know what group interviews are and how they are structured and how to
deal with them
I have a thorough understanding of what my USPs are and how they
relate to my work, career and personal life.
I have practiced my answers to common predictable questions out loud but
I do not sound as if I have rehearsed them.
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11.
Resources
Resources
The list of resources that I have listed here is just a drop in the ocean when
compared to the amount of information available however it forms a recurring list
of those that not only do I personally use but it also appears on a regular basis on
other web sites such as those listed below.
Gouge (a web term, peer-to-peer collective wisdom.
In this case other pilots interview experiences)
Gouge is a useful part of your research. Beware of using it exclusively or of

placing all your interview preparation and faith in this form of information. It is
believable because it is written first hand by a Pilot who has experienced the
interview however the information could be outdated (companies have a habit of
changing their interview questions and requirements).
Use gouge to give you background knowledge then apply it to your own research
and use A Pilots Guide to the Interview to thoroughly prepare for your interview.
CAUTION
During the course of my interviews with panel members, it was

made quite clear to me that, although most of the airlines follow a
set format for the interview, new questions may be introduced or questions may be
changed around at any time.
The airlines are all aware of the amount of
information available on the web, and that pilots who have completed the interview
make notes after the interview that they then pass onto their colleagues.
For this reason I cannot stress enough that the only effective way to prepare for
the interview is through proper pre-interview preparation and to know yourself
to have your story straight as it were to know your USPs, your career to date,
your current aircraft and what your goals and aims are.
The two biggest killers of the successful interview in my company are lack of
knowledge about their own aircraft and not knowing themselves e.g. being caught
out trying to be something they are not.
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Resources
11.1. Manufacturers
www.boeing.com
www.airbus.com/en/
www.saabaircraft.com
www.bombardier.com
www.atraircraft.com
www.cessna.com
www.raytheonaircraft.com
11.2. Web Resources - Australia
www.airniugini.pg
www.rex.com.au
About Rex This page gives information about the
Company and its History, Subsidiaries, Major Policies (good for those end
of interview questions) and Career Opportunities. This page details the
minimum requirements for pilot applicants. This section also has the
companies mission statement - make sure you read it.
www.qantas.com.au
About Qantas - this web page is a gold mine of
information and provides information on the companys - History, Subsidiary

companies, Fleet developments, Flight Operations Training, Engineering
and Maintenance, Corporate Governance, etc. It is here that you will find
details about pilot employment. Obviously a must read for those interested
in a career with Qantas.
Under Subsidiary Companies you will find information relevant to Sunstate,

Eastern Australia Airlines, JetStar, and Australian Airlines
See also (on the same page) under Company Information Qantas Facts.
On this one web site there is enough information to give you a broad
overview of the company and a substantial amount of information for the
interview.
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www.virginblue.com.au
www.nationaljet.com.au
www.skywestairlines.com.au
www.pearlav.com.au
www.airnorth.com.au
www.rfds.com.au
www.wagenet.gov.au/wagenet/search
Resources
For pay, awards and conditions - Australia
11.3. Web Resources International
www.icao.int/
www.jeppesen.com check out the chart clinic (search)
FAA http://www.faa.gov/
FARs http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/c.../14tab_00.html
http://www.faa.gov/ats/aat/ifim/ FAA International Flight Information Manual

- You can go to specific countries & often check the direct link for their
respective AIP (& other essential data)
http://av-info.faa.gov/ USA FAA Flight Standards Service
http://www.faa.gov/arp/ FAA Airport Information and Services
www.caa.co.uk/ United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority
www.jaa.nl
The Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) is the associated body of
the European Civil Aviation Conference.
www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/menu.htm Canadian Civil Aviation Authority
www.cad.gov.hk/english/home.html Hong Kong Civil Aviation Authority
www.gcaa.ae/en/
General Civil Aviation Authority for the United Arab
Emirates
www.uae.gov.ae/Government/ports.htm General information about air and

sea ports in Abu Dhabi
www.caa.govt.nz New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority
11.4. Web Resources Airlines
www.cathaypacific.com Cathay Pacific
www.dragonair.com Dragonair
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Resources
www.emirates.com/uae/index.asp Emirates UAE
www.airnewzealand.co.nz/aboutus/default.htm Air New Zealand
11.5. Online employment agencies
www.pilot.staffcv.com.staff
www.parcaviation.com
http://www.directpersonnel.com/
http://www.aviationjobsearch.com/
http://www.findapilot.com/
11.6. Other Useful websites
http://www.pirep.org/forum/index.php?c=3 Aviation Australia & worldwide
www.willflyforfood.cc/Interviews.htm an unfortunate but sometimes true title
www.pprune.org/forums/ interviews, jobs and sponsorship or search.
www.avianation.com website for aviation jobs worldwide
www.futureairlinepilot.com useful info for work in the UK
www.ljaero.com/links.html Great web site for USA
www.checkride.com
www.grapeshisha.com Information and insight on the UAE
www.expatwoman.com Thinking of working in the Middle East This is a

great site for your partner
www.infinidim.org
Information on working in actual airline based in the
UAE, including rostering etc
http://213.132.44.184/emiratestoday/
www.gulfnews.com/home/index.html Local newspaper for UAE
http://www.xe.com/ Currency converter
11.7. Government/Regulatory Aviation Departments - Australia
http://casa.gov.au/rules/orders/index.htm For Civil Aviation Regulations.
www.airservicesaustralia.com
check
out
approach
charts
(site
map/publications)
11.8. Weather Websites
http://www.pilotweatherbriefing.com/
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Resources
http://aviationweather.noaa.gov/
http://www.bom.gov.au/reguser/by_prod/aviation/
http://www.landings.com/_landings/pages/weather.html
http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/afs/afs
400/awsac/
http://www.weather.org.hk/tc.html Limited info on typhoons
http://www.hko.gov.hk/contente.htm Hong Kong wx agency
11.9. Recommended Book Resources
Beyond Aviation Human Factors- Daniel E Maurino, James Reason, Neil

Johnstone and Rob Lee (Ashgate Publishing Limited, UK)
Human Factors in Multi-Crew Operations- Harry W. Orlady and Linda M.

Orlady (Ashgate Publishing Limited, UK)
Redefining Airmanship- Tony Kern (McGraw Hill)
Body Language- Allan Pease (Camel Publishing Company)
Handling the Big Jets- D.P. Davies
Fly the Wing- James Webb
Mechanics of Flight- AC Kermode (Pittman Publishing) or (Prentice Hall)
Flight without Formulae- AC Kermode
Preparing for your Cathay Pacific Interview- Captains X,Y,Z
Preparing for your Emirates Interview- Captains X,Y,Z
Any books on IQ testing and psychometric testing will assist. Any good
book shop will have them.
Charles Kingsford Smith- Pedr Davis (Summit Books published by Paul

Hamlyn Pty Limited)
Kingsford Smith Peter Fitsimmons
Note: Be careful of placing too much faith in just one resource. As I have tried to
point out all the way through this guide the only way to be successful is to have a
broad depth of knowledge through targeting what you already know, both
technically and personally and expanding on that.
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12.
Sample Interview Questions

he following are samples of interview questions which you may be asked.
They are broken into categories: Traditional, Behavioural, CRM, Company
specific and Aircraft specific.
12.1. Traditional
1.
Tell us a little bit about yourself
2.
Are you enthusiastic and easy to work with?
3.
Can you work under pressure?
4.
Can you manage your time effectively?
5.
Can you handle constructive criticism in a productive manner?
6.
Are you objective in evaluating yourself and others?
7.
Where do you see yourself in three to five years time? Ten years?
8.
Why do you want to work for us?
9.
Why should we hire you (over the other applicants)?
10.
Have you had any interviews with other companies?
11.
Why did you become a pilot?
12.
What do you think about being a co-pilot for three years? Five years?
13.
How do you think your sim session went? If you had to give it a rating out
of ten (ten being the highest) how would you rate yours?
14.
What do you think makes a good captain? A bad one?
15.
Tell me about the CRM training you have had?
16.
If you had to give a definition of CRM what would it be?
17.
Have you heard of the Swiss cheese model? What is it about?
18.
Have you had any accidents or incidents? Tell us about it?
19.
Have you had any in flight emergencies?
20.
What is the biggest mistake you have ever made?
21.
What is the most rewarding thing about flying?
22.
What are/is your strongest point? Your weakest?
23.
What do you do outside of work?
24.
Why do you think goals are important?
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25.
What is your engine failure brief? (If you dont have one then make sure
you get one before any interview occurs)
26.
We see your flying various types of aircraft for different companies, how
will you feel about coming to work here and flying just one type of
aircraft? Do you think it will become monotonous or boring?
27.
Whats the best thing about charter/instructor work?
28.
Can you brief this approach for us? (after handing you a chart)
29.
How did you prepare for this interview?
30.
What do you want out of us?
31.
If you fail this intake will you try again? (Yes)
32.
If you fail to get in here who would you target next? Why?
33.
As a pilot what is your most important task?
34.
To date which company have you enjoyed working for the most? Why?
35.
The least? Why?
36.
What was your worst flight? Why?
37.
Will you work in any of our bases?
38.
How would you handle a situation where your Captain didnt seem to like
you or talk to you?
Hint: Beware of the interviewer who repeats the last few words of your answer
and then remains silent whilst looking at you. They are looking for you to respond
further, checking to see if you are confident in your answer.
12.2. Behavioural
1.
What mistakes have you made in pursuing your aviation career and what
have you learned from them?
2.
Have you ever set yourself a goal? Did you achieve it? Tell me what
your goal was and how you achieved it?
3.
Give me an example of a time when you were able to build motivation in

your co-workers or subordinates at work.
4.
Describe a time when you have had to adapt and fit into a situation
different to the one you are used to.
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5.
What are your achievements and what have you learned from them?
6.
I am sure you have been involved in a team, either at work or on the

sports field. Can you tell us about your role as part of that team and what
team works means to you?
7.
What was the biggest challenge you ever faced? How did you handle it?
What was the outcome?
8.
Describe an incident in which you disagreed with a supervisor? How did

you resolve it?
9.
Give me examples where you have demonstrated leadership, teamwork

problem solving and conflict resolution skills? What were the results?
10.
Describe a time when you have been under great pressure to achieve a
deadline? How did you cope? Would you tackle the situation differently?
11.
Describe a situation where you have been totally un-motivated? How did
you re-motivate yourself?
How have you avoided lack of motivation
since?
12.
Tell us about a time you were unfairly criticised? How did you react?
13.
What was the greatest difficulty for you to overcome to be where you are
today?
14.
What is your greatest achievement outside of aviation?
15.
Have you ever had a conflict on the flight deck? How did you resolve it?
16.
Tell us about a time when you thought you made a big mistake? What
did you learn about the whole situation? Surely it would have been better
to do? (Whatever they can come up with. They are trying to get you
to justify/defend your decision)
12.3. CRM questions

1. The flight attendant comes up to the cockpit and tells you that he/she is
having trouble with a passenger and they wont do as she asks.
The
passenger is beginning to worry the other passengers. The Captain looks

at you for a response. What would you suggest? How would you handle
the situation if you were the flight attendant? What would you say to the
passenger?
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2. The Captain continues an approach below minimums; he tells you that hes
shot the approach a thousand times. What will you do?
Hint: The pregnant pause is sometimes a deliberate ploy to see if you change
your answer. Its a mini stress test. The antidote is to remain calm.
12.4. Company specific

1.
What do you know about our company?
2.
What sort of aircraft do we fly?
3.
What engines are fitted to (aircraft) that we operate?
4.
Where do we fly to?
5.
Who is the CEO of our company?
6.
The Chief Pilot?
7.
Manager Training and Checking?
8.
Fleet Manager?
9.
What other companies do we own?
12.5. Aircraft Specific

1.
What aircraft are you most familiar with?
2.
What is its maximum take off weight/landing weight/zero fuel weight etc?
3.
What is the generator voltage?
4.
In the event of a complete hydraulic failure how would you lower the
gear?
5.
What type of engines does it have?
6.
Does it have ni-cad or lead acid batteries? What are the differences?
7.
Describe the fuel system?
8.
The list is significant but the bottom line is making sure you know your
current aircraft.
Hint:
Sometimes a question is repeated or worded differently.
This may be
because they want to -1) check the truth or consistency of your answer & 2) get
more information from you. The important thing is to not let it frustrate you.
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13.
Dealing with Rejection
Dealing with rejection
Stand tall. The difference between towering and cowering is totally a manner of
inner posture. Its got nothing to do with height, it costs nothing, and its more fun.
Malcolm Forbes
ets face it nobody enjoys being told that they were unsuccessful.
No
matter how nice the letter or phone call it still bruises your confidence. In
fact it can be quite soul destroying if the rejection letter comes from the
company you had set your sights on working for since you first decided to make
aviation your career and livelihood.
How do you deal with that and not let it show in your next interview? What doesnt
kill you makes you stronger.
Look at it this way the next airline may be the one where you really shine. After all
they are giving you another chance. In effect they are saying to you, we consider
you acceptable welcome aboard! Who cares about the airline you really really
wanted to work for. This company is prepared to recognise your ability and skills
and give you a go; grab the offer with both hands.
It's not whether you get knocked down; it's whether you get up.
Vince Lombardi
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On a Personal Note
When I decided that I wanted to work for a regional airline within Australia, I did so
with a number of goals in mind. One of them was that it had to have a simulator
and the other was that, if possible, I wanted to live back home in Queensland.
This meant that Sunstate Airlines was top of my list. Not long after applying I was
pleasantly surprised to be given an interview. I then waited to find out if I was
accepted.
When I received the phone call from them telling me that I was
unsuccessful I was devastated. To make matters worse, I had just started a two
week driving holiday from Alice Springs through to Townsville, Queensland. My
family was magnificent and wallowed with me in my misery (for about ten
minutes) before deciding that the ever changing scenery was more interesting and
I was left to dwell on where I had gone wrong (see on a personal note page 91).
In my worst moments, I briefly considered throwing in the towel and returning to
my trade.
During the holiday we stayed in Sydney for the night. The next day I visited
Hazelton Airlines and talked briefly with the woman responsible for resumes, as
well as being introduced to some of the other staff members, before departing
Sydney to continue the drive through to Townsville. The following day as we
passed through Coffs Harbour my phone rang.
It was Hazelton Airlines.
Someone had pulled out of an interview and they wanted to know if I could make it
the following week. After the interview, and as I was checking out of the Hotel, I
was again contacted by Hazeltons. This time it was to congratulate me on my
successful interview, and to ask me if I could start the following Monday.
I now live in Northern NSW and Queensland is a one hour drive away.
What did I learn from this? Never give in, never give in and never give in!!
Footnote
I still live in Northern NSW however I now work for Air Niugini.
Glen Solly 2006
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Dealing with rejection - Final Word

Ill leave the final word to Peter Fogarty of Fogartys Aviation Academy.
He
recommends that if a student fails any part of the training or exams then they are
allowed 24 hours of misery before it is time to get over it and get on with life. Pretty
good advice! And still as relevant today as it was when I first heard it over 25 years
ago.
24 hours = Get over it and get on with it.
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14.
About the Authors
About the Authors
Glen Solly (tell us bit about yourself)

I have been involved in the business end of aircraft since starting to learn to fly in
1985 and have logged over 11 000 hours flight time. I was 27 when I began flying
for a crust in 1988. At 27 I was considered old. My first ever charter flight was
from Alice Springs (Northern Territory) to Weipa (Queensland) in a Cessna 210.
My first full time employment was flying tourists around Ayers Rock and The
Olgas. Aircraft endorsements include Beechcraft Baron, Cessna 401/411 series,
Piper Chieftain (PA31), Cessna 421, Beechcraft King air (B200), Metro 3/23,
SAAB 340, F100 as well as the usual handful of Cessna and Piper single engine
aircraft. During my career I have lived and worked in Queensland, Western
Australia, Northern Territory and New South Wales and held Chief Pilot, Training
Captain (Metro 23) and Operations Manager positions. I have flown charter, mine
commute and Aerial Medical operations and was fortunate enough in 1996 to have
completed a crossing of the pond in a Metro 23, over the following route; San
Francisco-Hilo (Hawaii)-Tarawa (Kiribati)-Brisbane. In doing so I completed a long
held goal of mine to pilot an aircraft across the Pacific Ocean, which was crossed
for the first time in an aircraft by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and his crew (Charles
Ulm, and Americans Captain Harry Lyons and James Warner) in 1928.**
Along the way I have been interviewed by, and was successful in either being
employed by or placed on a hold file for the following companies; Skyport (Now Air
North), Mining and Executive Air Charter (no longer operating), Island Link (Now
Inland Pacific), Air Cairns, SkyWest Aviation (Now Pearl Aviation), Hazelton
Airlines (Now Regional Express) and Eastern Australia Airlines. In between these I
managed to fit in a three-day interview with Air Niugini for the position of F/O on
the Fokker Jet (F-28). A position for which I was successful and placed on the hold
file for the next twelve months before deciding that Regional Flying was where I
wanted to be.
I hold a current Australian ATPL and PNG ATPL. I owned and operated PACES
Auto Gear from 1980 to 1982. From 1979 through to 1988 I was involved in civil
Glen Solly 2006
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About the Authors
construction works building bridges throughout NSW and Queensland. Between

1984 and 1986 I took a couple of years off and went to Groote Eylandt (a mining
community in the Gulf of Carpentaria which is on Aboriginal land) as Site Manager
for a tyre company, (Klinge & Co) which serviced the mine site. Groote Eylandt is
where I took my first flying lesson and soloed in VH-RWQ a C-172 operated by the
Gove Aero Club.
*
** Smithys route was San Francisco-Hawaii-Suva-Ballina NSW. Total flight time

was 88 hours. He had to fly at low altitudes (200 feet) often through tropical
thunderstorms with only basic instruments, no autopilot and except when within
radio range they used a compass and sextant for navigation
In stark contrast I flew at 20,000 feet for each of the three sectors and carried two
GPS receivers as well as ADF and VOR and except for a layer of scattered
cumulus at 5000 feet I never saw a cloud. As well as this I had a complete
emergency kit in the event of a ditching, HF communication throughout the entire
flight and was often in contact with overflying commercial airliners. My flight time
was 26 hours
My USPs
Writing is one of my favourite USPs. I enjoy it because of where it takes me,
who it introduces me to and because it forces me to confront and challenge my
own beliefs.
Dealing with the day-to-day stuff is my favourite work USP.
Why do I rate this as my favourite work USP? Because each day is different and
because it makes the day fly! (Excuse the pun)
Being a successful member of a great team of people is a close second.
Why do I think I am a successful member of a team? Because something that
feels as good as shooting an approach to the minima and landing from it, or
receiving praise from the passengers for a good landing or simply offering
encouragement to other crew members on the last sector of a long hard day is a
success in my book. (about 4 minutes to read aloud) Did you find it informative?
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About the Authors
Jo Solly
Born in Dumfries, Scotland.
Started a career in Hospitality (Perth, Scotland).
Moved to London and worked in the Real estate, Advertising, Recruitment and
Hospitality industries (the obligatory evening bar job in Earls Court) before (on the
advice of the Aussie patrons) shifting to Australia to escape the cold. Within two
years she was living in the Northern Territory where it often gets above thirty-five
degrees Celsius (she definitely succeeded in escaping the cold).
Her work in Australia, essentially, has been the development and delivery of
professional development training in areas such as Effective Communication,
Customer Service, Time Management, Conflict Resolution, Negotiation, Dealing
with Negative Attitudes in the Workplace, Dealing with Difficult People,
Supervisory Skills, Business - Frontline Management and Cert IV in Training and
Assessment. Jo is an accredited Senior First Aid trainer and also teaches in IT MYOB, MS Office, desktop publishing and graphic design. Over the years, Jo has
held a variety of senior administration, management and HR positions.
Each move to a different town and State (a necessity in aviation career

progression) brought a new role
Ayers Rock
Executive Assistant to the Resort Manager
Townsville
Established and managed Disability Access Support Unit
Katherine
Established and managed Job Skills Centre

Co-ordinated Young Australian Student Access Program
Alice Springs
Co-ordinated IT training support unit for NT Health Services
Ballina
Established and managed an Adult Community Education

facility
Lismore
Executive Manager for a peak industry body

Contracted to rewrite position competencies for Local
Council
General Administrative Officer, Richmond LAC, NSW Police
Force
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About the Authors
Jo puts up with all my paper, manuals and notebooks being strewn around our
house while I write. As well as editing and pointing out the obvious, she has
serious input into the concepts of what makes a person employable.
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Appendix 1
Appendix 1
Use the following sample resume as a template to write your own
Name
Charles K Smith
Personal Details
Address:
Contact details:
25 Cobblestone Parade, Old Sydney Town, NSW 8000

P-08333000 M-02153642
e-mail cksmith@pacificflyer.com
Pilot Qualifications and Flight Time

ATPL
Total Hours
Pilot in Command
Multi Engine
ME IFR Procedures
Instrument
Night
Australian
1650
1520
500
400
185
200
Aircraft Endorsements
Piper Navajo Chieftain
BeechCraft Baron
Cessna 210/206
Cessna 150
Tertiary Qualifications
1999
Trades certificate NSW Tafe - (Mechanic)
1996
Higher School Certificate (HSC)

Kings State High School
Up-Skilling
2002
2002
2000
1999
OH&S Course
Dangerous Goods Course
Senior First Aid
Certificate IV Business (Frontline Management)
Objective
To secure a position with a major/regional airline which has opportunity for growth
and a Training and Checking department with access to a simulator so that I can
continue to develop my skills.
What I have to offer
Dedication, enthusiasm and a desire to be part of a professional team.
Availability
Immediately
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Appendix 1
Aviation Experience
Line Pilot/OH&S coordinator and DG trainer
Fly-Me Airways
2005-Present
Bankstown
Fly-Me Airways is a RPT and charter operator at Bankstown Airport in Sydney with
a fleet of four Piper Chieftain and a Cessna Caravan. It has an extensive route
network throughout NSW as well as mine commute contracts. It has two bases in
Western NSW, one at Coonabarabran and one at Dubbo.
Position
As the coordinator and trainer for OH&S and DG I report directly to the General
Manager.
I oversee all the training and implementation of these requirements including;
Ensuring compliance with CASA regulations

Following up on incidents
Effectively managing the renewal of each pilots DG
Liaising with company clients for contractual purposes
Maintaining the companys DG and OH&S library
Achievements
Introduced on-line self paced learning and exams for DG (Cost saving as
pilots at remote bases no longer need to brought to Sydney for training)
Designed wrote and Introduced OH&S documentation for company
computer network then conducted roll out at all bases.
Charter Pilot
Crackerjack Airways
2003-2005
Darwin NT
Crackerjack Airways is a charter company based in Darwin and operates general

charter flights throughout the Northern Territory and the top of Western Australia.
It also operates a mail service from Darwin to Alice Springs five nights a week.
Position
Reporting to the Chief Pilot. Responsibilities included;
On time delivery of the mail

Assisting the Chief Pilot with crew rosters
Aircraft cleaning
Answering telephones and assisting the operations manager with quotes
Achievements
Helped to implement a spreadsheet for rostering
Completed my ATPL subjects by correspondence
Introduced company to a new, less corrosive, aircraft detergent
Glen Solly 2006
Page 137 of 115
Flight training Blue Sky Aviation Academy
Appendix 1
2001-2002
Maroochydore QLD
Completed Blue Skys CPL Aviation degree, including 50 hours charter on the
Academys BeechCraft Baron.
Career Summary
At present I am a line pilot with Fly-Me Airways which employs eight full time and
four casual pilots. I have extensive experience in DG training and OH&S within
the aviation industry and have proven strengths in the following areas:
Technical Skills
I have gained a comprehensive knowledge of my present aircraft systems by
involving myself in maintenance of company aircraft in my spare time. I also
have a trade background as a mechanic.
Communication
My experience with delivering DG training and OH&S policy has meant I
have had to develop effective communication skills (particularly necessary
for multi-crew operations). I am required to liaise with our customers through
my DG & OH&S duties in order to meet contractual requirements, and I
enjoy the interaction with both internal and external clients.
Planning and Time Management
My strong organisational, planning and time management skills ensure I
successfully manage my time to enable me to complete my often very full
complement of work duties.
IT
Computer skills in MS Word, Excel and Web Development
Awards
Lions youth community award 1998
Interests
Surfing, Baseball and Basketball
References
Bill Crackerjack- Crackerjack Airways 06 333 253
Sam Knight- Blue Sky Aviation Academy 07 555 2
Glen Solly 2006
Page 138 of 115

Pilots Guide To The Successful Interview

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A Pilots Guide to the Successful Interview

A Pilots Guide to the Successful Interview

Monday 4th April 2011

A Pilots Guide to the Successful Interview

Aviation as a Career ......................................................................1

The Concept ..................................................................................8

Understanding your Unique Selling Proposition (USP) ................... 17

Phase Two - The Employment process.......................................39

Your Covering Letter ....................................................................... 40

Phase Three - Preparing for the Interview...................................52

Phase Four - The Mechanics of the Interview .............................85

Phase Five - The Interview ..........................................................97

A Positive Attitude (The right stuff) ............................................112

Mental toughening ...................................................................... 112

9. Phase Six Your Checklist .......................................................117

A Pilots Guide to the Successful Interview

Manufacturers ............................................................................... 121

Sample Interview Questions ..................................................125

Traditional ..................................................................................... 125

Dealing with rejection .............................................................129

A Pilots Guide to the Successful Interview

would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the assistance given to me

Glen Solly 2006

A Pilots Guide to the Successful Interview

Captain Peter Fogarty (Retired) - Fogartys Aviation Academy

Captain Jeffery Synk - CRJ

Captain Naomi Radke and Captain Craig Baker

Glen Solly 2006

A Pilots Guide to the Successful Interview

Glen Solly 2006

A Pilots Guide to the Successful Interview

I started in Gove (Nhulunbuy) in the Northern Territory. I headed up a team of 25

The two biggest PAMs

Glen Solly 2006

A Pilots Guide to the Successful Interview

Glen Solly 2006

A Pilots Guide to the Successful Interview

Its great to be back flying again!

Glen Solly 2006

A Pilots Guide to the Successful Interview

Obviously we are intent on catching fish, but

Lets just say there are many ways to enjoy the

opportunities that are associated with flying for a living.

Glen Solly 2006

A Pilots Guide to the Successful Interview

My Interviews and getting back on the pony

To Captain Moses Padagaga F100 Fleet Manager, Check Captains Chris

Gentlemen one and all

To anyone else I have so erroneously missed, my apologies and thank you as

A Pilots Guide to the Successful Interview

If youve decided to purchase A Pilots Guide to the Successful Interview then,

Glen Solly 2006

A Pilots Guide to the Successful Interview

Glen Solly 2006

A Pilots Guide to the Successful Interview

A Pilots Guide to the

Glen Solly 2006

A Pilots Guide to the Successful Interview

Therefore, the cornerstone to the successful interview is that

preparation and knowledge is the key to success.

about the company then these should be addressed before the

What A Pilots Guide to the Successful Interview will do

It will achieve this by