Selection Process for Virgin Atlantic

[Speedbird744]

What was or will be the type of selection process for direct entry pilots of Virgin Atlantic, is it the normal aptitude tests or do they look towards your flying experience as being more valuable?

[scroggs]

Virgin Atlantic are not recruiting, and will not be until the 160+ redundant pilots have been given the opportunity to be re-employed. At a conservative guess, I would suggest that you'll need to wait at least 2 years before Virgin would even invite CVs to peruse. So, I hope you have other sources of income..... .Should you be able to wait that long, Virgin's requirements are, roughly, 3000 hours TT, the majority of which should be on heavy metal of some sort (fast jets count), a current ATPL/IR (not frozen), and some recommendations from peeps already in the airline.. .There are no aptitude tests - with the level of experience required, they are somewhat irrelevant - but there is a simulator assessment. This was on the 747-200, but I would expect it to be on glass in the future, and glass experience may be a stipulation as well. There are a number of exams of varying degrees of seriousness, and an interview.. .The sim, interview, and personal recommendations are the important bits. However, as I say, don't hold your breath.

[lone eagle]

Just out of interest how do you get a personal recommendation??? Do you have to hang around street corners late at night in the hope of catching an off duty Virgin training captain? From the outside it sounds a bit like jobs for the boys.

LE.

[scroggs]

No, it's just a case of 'who you know', as it is in many fields. That doesn't mean that a good candidate with no contacts would be refused, but it just helps if you know someone in the airline.. .If you don't like it, tough!

[lone eagle]

Oh, I see. I hope my post did not come across too badly. I guess that I am lucky since my father flew for BCal/BA and has a few contacts on the inside. Would it be wrong for me/my father to use these contacts?

As far as Virgin are concerned, how many apply each year (when they are recruiting)and for how many places???

LE.

[MJR]

Can I say I know you Scroggs?

[A340Yumyum]

I know him and he gave me a leg up (he's a lager drinker). Mind you, I left after 2 1/2 years!! (Hi Scroggs)

[scroggs]

lone eagle. .No harm in using your Dad to get you an intro, if he knows anyone in the airline. However, the usual way of doing it is 'networking' - as in many other fields. Basically, you arrange to be in places at times where you will have the opportunity to meet people who may be of use to you in the future. Hopefully, you make a sufficiently good impression that they will remember you when our recruiting people ask them what they think of you. On our application form you are asked to name anyone you know in the airline - and they will be asked about you if you are being considered for interview.. .As for numbers, I think in 1999/2000 Virgin received some thousands of CVs for about 120 pilot posts. Many CVs are binned for being 2+ pages, unreadable, irrelevant, daft colours, insufficiantly qualified, etc, etc. So get your CV right! When we strt again, of course - remember, it'll be some years yet!. .A340YumYum What a bloody stoopid name! Especially as you're now a Boeing boy. How's BA? See you Thursday?

[ 20 February 2002: Message edited by: Scroggs ]</p>

[lone eagle]

Thanks for that Scroggs. Could you expand a little on networking as I am not quite sure what you mean? I do not see how I could ever get close to someone influential within an airline without stalking them, or do you mean just getting friendly with a member of the airline and then putting their name forward on the application form?

Sorry if I am coming across as a little ignorant but I have never heard of this practice before.

LE.

[redsnail]

Networking is vital in this industry. It starts when you begin flying. eg You hopefully make a good impression at the flying school. Your instructor gets a charter/airline job and remembers you. You mix with people at the flying school's social nights. You meet people at the PPRuNe bashes... The list goes on. The trick is not to make a fool of yourself or be a pain. Stay in contact!. .At the end of the day, the airline/charter organisation is looking for someone with not only the technical ability to do the job but some one with the personal skills to get on with a variety of people. They will get an idea about that from a personal recommendation. In a few companies, the final decision is down to "Can I sit next to this person for 8 hours? Could I do an overnight with this person?"

[dreamflyer]

hello everyone. . could anyone please help on this networking part.what would be some good opening questions to ask the pilots while hanging around the airport.any suggestions would be welcome

[redsnail]

Best opening line is "It's my shout". After that it's easy. Works for Scroggsy.

[scroggs]

Reddo, you haven't bought me enough to get into Virgin yet, girl! Another three or four Gatbashes-worth should do it! :)

[A340Yumyum]

BA as expected - good dosh but muuuuuuuuuuuuch less fun. Should I change my name to . .B744M.86insteadofM.82Yumyum?. . <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

[Dan Winterland]

Knowing someone helps, but isn't essential. A mate of mine in Virgin knew no-one in the company when he had his interview.. .. .Of course it helps to have some one in the company to drop your CV on the desk of the recruiter with the comment 'this is a good chap - hire him'. And there is a space on the application form to write in the names of people you know in the company. They will be contacted for their opinion of you.. .. .This could be construed as anti competative, but on an Ultra Long Haul operation, you do not want personality differences. A minor niggle at the flight planning stage can become a major problem 10 hours later over Siberia.. .. .On the Virgin CRM course (excellent, open to non Virgin pilots and a good opprtunity to drop off your CV!) the instructors state Virgin doesn't have much of a CRM problem due to personalities because this is sorted at the interview stage. IMHO, they have got it right.. .. .With regards to future selection, min of 2 years, prob longer. I have to be made redundant and then re-employed b4 anyone else gets a look in! But selection days used to have about 7 candidates and include:. .. .Tech test: Done as a group, not hard.. .. .Psycometric test: Usual anti nutter stuff.. .. .Reasoning test: Written, takes 30 mins-ish.. .. .Interview: You Vs HR person and 2 pilots. 40 mins - standard sort of interview.. .. .Lunch: Behave!. .. .PS.Change your pprune name if you want to work for Virgin <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />. . . . <small>[ 09 March 2002, 12:39: Message edited by: Dan Winterland ]</small>