airspeed1974

Gloopy,
I understand what your saying but I still don't see the need to go that far back. You mention some regional guys staying 10 years. Ok, so if the guy got a job at that regional at 19, and flew for 20 years, then what picture are they getting then as opposed to the guy who flew for the same regional for 10?

I think what matters most is 1. Skill, without it no matter how nice you are, it's not going to matter at 0200 over Western Africa when things are going south 2. A good attitude, everyone cares or should care about that and I don't mean a kiss ass. 3. Career progression it at all possible

Yes look professional, but if I was doing the hiring I sure wouldn't care so much about how shiny a guys shoes were. I would care a lot more about how shiny he is going to be to fly with on a 5 day trip.

As for foreign airlines, I've been overseas part time since 2003 and full time since 2007. I've flown for 2 airlines (been at my current one last 5 years) and the rest was doing VVIP in bizjets.

Outside of emirates (yes I had interviewed there) my interview at my current employer was extremely simple. There was none. If you passed the sim, written , and medical you got the job as long as you could pass training which is not very difficult. We have and have had pilots here from every major back home except brown or purple....

I don't see much of a diff between what I do now and delta. I fly the same equipment, make the same amount of money or more, and have to meet the same standards.

This is why I would hope if I was invited to an interview they would care more that I've been doing essentially the same job then if I shined my shoes, took an enema (U did mention this) or listed my job selling Girl Scout cookies

I know I might come off as a pompous ass, I'm totally not and I do appreciate your input. I just don't see why guys should be expected to do all these things when at the end of the day we are all doing the same job anyway

airspeed1974

Ok, so I'm curious do the other airlines also require an entire history?

airspeed1974

Albus,

It's not a question of why wouldn't I want to, it's a question of why would I have to? I think military guys have a much easier time listing their work histories than us on the civilian side.

Having worked for some great people and companies and some of the worst I can tell you that over 10 years ago I did goto indoc with a company for about one week, until I realized what am I doing here. And thinking back now I can't remember if that was 1997 or 1998 and what month? No idea.

I also knew I did some work for a guy that had a Sabre 60 and wasn't even typed (he later got his ticket revoked) I wasn't typed either but was never informed that he wasn't until he ran the plane off the runway at PNE and had to have one of his company cranes come to remove it.

Did I even get paid from him? I have no idea becauSe it was around 2003 and I don't remember.

Do you see where I am going with this? No one wants to lie on an application. But if one can't honestly rem when, and even if they got paid and then puts it down incorrectly.....

10 years is more than sufficient and again I don't know of any other airlines that ask you that far back

gloopy

Because they want you to, it's not that difficult, and it helps tell your story.

To your 19 years as a regional pilot example, you can't expect to make a great impression much less help them to get to know you by simply listing one job and saying "previously reported, no change" and then look around for a high five and a job offer.

You'll have to go further than that regardless in almost every case. Might as well do the minimal amount of legwork to put it on paper before hand. Its not that much to ask.

Its mind blowing that for a job of this magnitude people place more value on the ability to chillax in their prep. They want it, so do it. Or perhaps show up and successfully argue why you didn't want to. That could also work.

gloopy

IMO that is a HUGE red flag that you can't (makes it look like won't) come up with that info.

Late 90's wasn't that long ago. Almost 90% of current legacy pilots were hired during or before that time. It was an airline. You applied. You were hired. You showed up. You suddenly and almost immediately quit. You can bet they want to know about that, and if they find out about it and you didn't tell them about it, that is not a position you want to be in during an interview or even after you are on property at any airline.

I'm still not really sure what you're trying to learn from any of this. Are you looking for validation for potentially not complying with what they are asking? Would it make you feel better if instead they were like "nah dawg, its all good brah, 10 years or whatever you can remember, whatevesves, if you fly now all this is just a formality anyway buddy roe! Yuck yuck yuck!" *back slap*

Good luck with that I guess.

But for now they want it. They expect it. They require it. And that's not likely to change anytime soon.

You keep getting caught up in the why. People have tried to answer that for you, but you don't want to accept it because you don't want to do it. I don't know what more anyone can tell you at this point because you're either going to do it or you're not.

Unless you changed jobs weekly for 20 years, its really not that hard to get the info together anyway. And if you did change jobs every week for 20 years, well, lol nevermind.

They want it on the app. You would be well served to do it if you want the job.

Flying Elvis

One of my jobs listed was as a glorified janitor, and another a summer stint at a fast food joint in another country. Both a decade further back than you're whinging about. If you're unsure if exact dates or info, put your best memory down and clarify in the interview. I did the same for some 30-year old traffic tickets.

Boarding gates are usually on the left side. Why? If you go back I think it's because that's the way you get on a horse. If you want to get that changed, feel free.

Oh... And what Albie said.

Bergman

FWIW, I listed a burger flippin' 'job I had from 1987-1991...and they asked about it in my interview last month. I think the Captain was just razzing me a bit, but it showed that they definitely looked at it.

Justdoinmyjob

Airspeed1974,
It has to do with hoops. Some airlines require you to fly a sim. Delta doesn't. Why? They invite people who already know how to fly airplanes. They also require an extensive application. Why? Because it requires attention to detail and a tenacious attitude to complete it.

Don't want to jump through Delta's hoops? Feel free to not apply. My feeling is that if you have this much heartburn with just the app, you will not be at all happy with how Flt Ops runs things. They have been doing it this way for years, and it works for them. Untied and AA have a different app process. Might be a better fit for you.

MikeF16

I know you're trying to keep this positive, but you're thinking about things all wrong. Did I have a few internal 'omg why do i have to do all this' thoughts while going through the application process? Of course, I think we all do. The thing is you're getting all worked up over it, and it's something you can't change so why bother? You might find training to be the same, maybe there will be things that will bother you and you can choose to nod your head, smile and do it like you're told, or you can explain how they're teaching it wrong and why your way is better. Do you see where I'm going with this?

galaxy flyer

Just an outsider, who flies and hires for a manufacturer, if you can't remember an employer from 10-15 years FLYING an airplane for them, that's a HUGE red flag. Anyone applying here has to fill out a complete work history, included any umployed periods back to college. That's pretty standard US corporate ways now. Comply or you won't be looked at virtually anywhere worthwhile. Remember, no interview is going be able to judge " skill at night over West Africa"; they are going judge you by tests, interviews and possibly a sim.

Yes, interview skills counts as does appearances. I did a phone interview that went great; solid guy flying at Andrews, Presidential Flight, came to personal interview a week later and feel apart. Ten minutes after walking in, I couldn't wait for it to end for both our sakes. Painful.

GF