Virgin Blue Interviews

[Helicopterman]

Hi there, Cloud Nine and Dreams.
we don't know each other, but i am a Sydney pilot while my sister is a Purser with Q/A / Impulse etc.
I have been reading the threads on here about V/B blah blah and well thought i might let you know if you are interested that Impulse Airlines are currently recruiting cabin crew.
I can provide you with a contact name for you to speak to should you desire.
please advise a email etc.
Oh and my name is Robert,,
cheers..

[Kem]

Robert Helicopterman, do you know which base Impulse/QF Link are recruiting for? Heard a rumour they're only recruiting for Launceston at the moment. Hope they've improved their interview process, interviewing two candidates at the same time at final interview stage is pretty nasty - tell your sis!
To all you VB interviewees, hope it went well. The long wait by the mailbox begins...

[ 30 October 2001: Message edited by: Kem ]

[Mr Seatback 2]

Been reading this topic with a great deal of interest - and yes, Impulse are recruiting for SYD and MEL bases. Here's the deal!

1) Gold Coast base closed down because QF wanted to fly there again. As a result, alot of OOL based crew resigning because of other committments (just bought houses, etc)

2) QF have dramatically increased flights to Hobart and just introduced Launceston to the schedule. This, with a double daily flight to Hamilton Island, and services to Townsville, mean they need extra crew - especially due to resignations occurring!

3) Interviewing a lot of ex AN cabin crew - they've actually had problems filling the training groups - can't get enough people recently!!

4) Don't be discouraged by age, experience, whatever! I flew with a girl the other day who got in with 3 yrs experience at McDonalds and joined us at 18! Just finished her HSC and - well - she started flying!

5) Those of you who are interested in applying should send your resumes to:
Michelle Lewis
Manager Human Resources - Flight Crew
Flight Attendant Recruitment
Impulse Airlines
Eleventh Street
Mascot NSW 2020.

or send them via email to [email protected] (her assistant)

Basic conditions at Impulse are much the same as Virgin Blue!! $35K per year for F/A, $42K for Purser. Plus overnight allowances, meal break penalties, drafting bonuses (if they call you in on your day off, it's $250 bonus plus your normal pay!!), and incentive pay day flying (when you nominate your standby days as overtime, and they have to pay you $18 p/h extra!)

Lotsa fun and the crews get along well - generally speaking!!!

Hope to see you all in the air!

[Spikeysteps]

So what happened with all the talk about the F*** me boots....I was quite enjoying it?

And I think you had a point. My partner (after much hinting from me) wore her highest stiletto heels to her interview, QF commented on them at the interview and is now pushing trollies!!

[cloud nine]

GUESS WHAT MY FRIENDS????????????????? WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!! i just had my 1st VB interview, I honestly would have put my life on that I wouldn't get a second one....I felt like I was too quiet, and sat at the back of the room ( bad move but front row was taken)Was on the way home on the train and they called me, and I have a second interview tomorrow!!!!!!! 12.45 tomorrow. IM SHOCKED!!!!!! Yipeeeeeeeee!!!!
I didnt wear F*ck me boots, i just wore my FA suit that I wore to QA interviews. Most were dressed like typical FA, but a few were night clubbish. Only one gal had the boots on....and to be honest I thought she looked horrible.
can anyone advise me what happens tomorrow?????

[Spikeysteps]

Well done CNine!!

Sorry I can't tell you anything but all the best.....and keep us informed.

[doohan]

Fantastic news Cloud Nine!!!

Proud of ya... I wish i could tell you what the second stage would be like, but i can't help you there, the only advise i could give you is.... whatever you did today, do tomorrow!!! though i gather it will be question time for you for tomorrows interview. Go over some of the questions they might ask you. I have a heap of QF questions, whether they will be of any use to you, i am not to sure...

If you need them, just let me know!!

Once again... congratulations!!!

[Kem]

Well done Cloudy you star! Fingers crossed for you for tomorrow. Sounds like you're there! Just remember to chill and smile baby smile. Don't forget to fill us all in on what sort of hoops they make you jump through, sounds like they've changed their recruitment practices lately. Mr Seatback, thanks for the Impulse info. Do they still do the two stage interview process with the first being the usual group thing and the horrid second interview being two candidates interviewed at once or have they wised up to their evil wicked ways?

[dreams]

Hey cloud nine thats so cool, i'm so happy for ya? Good luck for tomorrow its just customer service questions, so you'll be right.

[ 30 October 2001: Message edited by: dreams ]

[puff]

Ahh well I missed out on the ground job, got the dear john letter today! Interview was Friday, letter dated Monday, so if you don't hear for a while it's obviously good news!

[cloud nine]

Hi everyone,

A big thanks to all that have congratulated me and also thanks for all you sweety's that sent me private messages. Honestly...you guys are the BEST!!!!Ive been out celebrating and just got home, so now I have more time to tell u all exactly what happened at VB today.
I got there 40 mins early, filled out forms, and chatted to other applicants whilst waiting. Then we were moved inside, I had to sit up the back,much to my dissapointment as I felt like I was hidden and could not "strutt my stuff" so to speak. Anyway it was VERY relaxed, they did their speil about VB, showed us the uniform...OH MY GOD!!! Its pants. great...Im a pants gal...loved it!then they asked the group only 2 questions...what does VB stand for, and also who is the CEO...I answered neither. Then it was question time. I only asked 1 question....when do we start. She said they have a school starting at the end of November, and another starting in January. Then we had to break up into 2 groups and with props preform a stint. I had a black curly wig on, and talked about letting your hair down cause youll be having so much "fun" ( I think they like that word) on board VB. then we were in pairs with another prop and had to think of another use for the prop we had. We had a skull mask, and said it was not a mask...it was a beauty rectifier ect ect...just basically went on with garbage about this ugly looking mask. then we were sat back down and told that we would not hear for 3 to 4 weeks, so dont stress. About 2 hours later they called me for interview 2. They also called my girlfriend that happened to be interviewed with me at the same time.2 other girls that I swapped numbers with have not heard a thing. Honestly as I said before, I was totally shocked to get called back. I felt as though I did not stand out AT ALL. I was very quiet ( unlike me) and when I left the interview was kicking myself for not being louder more chatty ect.Although i was smiling alot, laughing, and doing the good old head nod when they were talking. When i did all 3 qantas interviews I was happy when I walked out, and had a gut feeling that I made an impression. But with VB both me and my girlfriend walked out and said...Sh*t we just blew that, they hardley noticed us, we just blended into the freaking carpet!!!!!!!!!!! Well obviously we did something right.
The conditions and wages....
we do traing on the ground for 4 weeks during this time we get $26.000...yeppy I know you are all saying "peanuts", that crossed my mind too. But once in the air it is just over $36,000, plus $80 for each nite that u have a layover. The layovers are only in Adelaide( yum..do some wine shopping) Melbourne ( great check the funky clothes shopping out) and Sydney ( fab!! see my family-friends)Whilst on layovers, accomadation is paid for and the $80 is foor food ect. Cruisy huh?
Anyway after tomorrow if Im succesful, they will check my refs, then send me to the Virgin doctor for a mediacl...if all goes well.....I'll then be departing Sydney and kicking my heels up in sunny Brizzie. Im very keen....but will have to just wait and see what happens tommorrow. Ive learnt with QA to not count my eggs before they hatch...worst senario is I dont get in, but hey it is another step closer to getting another airline....tis all experiance. I wasnt even nervous with VB.....thanks to my QA interview experiance. If its meant to be....it will happen if not...I'll just wait for another interview. Anyway, all i wanted was at least 1 more interview b4 Xmas to keep me going on this FA thing.
I'll chat to u all tomorrow , hopefully with some fab news.....

[Mr Seatback 2]

Congratulations and tribulations my friend! Fingers firmly crossed for you!!!!

Kem - I don't know what they're doing with the interviews - they're interviewing like crazy right now, and the people I would normally expect to see round the joint interviewing (some from interstate) aren't there...so who knows?? I'd just apply, and since you know the form from previous interviews, just run with it!

They've taken on a lot of ex Flight West girls and interviewing Ansett people too - with the Coolangatta base closing down (and some crew resigning) this has left vacancies over natural attrition (those who go to Virgin Blue, or Emirates for example).

[cloud nine]

Hello friends,

Well today I had my second interview with VB. It was a 1 on 1 interview, only lasted for 15mins as she was doing interviews every 15mins. It was just all the usual customer service questions. I felt like I went really well, but who knows what VB are looking for. I was told that I would be notified between 1 and 4 weeks either way. So now it is just sit back and wait time.

Dreams....have you heard yet???

[Wirraway]

VIRGIN BLUE ANNOUNCES MAJOR EXPANSION PLANS
AUSTRALIA'S SECOND AIRLINE KEEPS MORE OF THE AIR FAIR

Virgin Blue today announced its further expansion, solidifying its position as Australia's number two airline and only true low fare carrier, highlighting the airline's long-term growth plan.

The commitment follows last week's Perth announcement and further demonstrates that Virgin Blue is taking on more aircraft, opening new destinations and increasing frequency, establishing itself as the only airline with a sustainable business strategy to check the looming Qantas monopoly.

The expansion includes:

1) A new direct daily service between the Gold Coast and Melbourne from December 13. The flight will commence in time for the busy Christmas holiday period and will complement the existing Gold Coast service to Sydney. One-way fares from $119*, Fully Flexible fare of $289 one-way compared with the Qantas walk-up fare of $523 one-way, a saving of 45%.

2) New direct service between Melbourne and Canberra as of November 30. Special Launch Offer $50 for 50 seats on every flight for the first 15 days (book by 6 Nov, travel from 30 Nov to 14 Dec). The direct daily service will be the second route out of Canberra following the introduction of Brisbane-Canberra flights 4 months ago and the sixth route out of Melbourne (including the new Gold Coast and Launceston services). Virgin Blue will increase it to two daily services early next year. One-way fares will start from $77* one-way. Virgin Blue will offer $179* one-way Fully Flexible fares compared to Qantas's $286 Fully flexible fare, a saving of 37%.

3) Doubling Sydney-Gold Coast services with a second daily flight to help support this key tourism route serving communities in both Queensland and Northern New South Wales. Virgin Blue will continue with its current every day low fares between Sydney and the Gold Coast starting from $77* one-way.

4) Doubling the soon-to-be-introduced Melbourne-Launceston from one return flight a day to two direct flights a day from December 1 with a third daily flight being scheduled during the holiday peaks.

5) Increasing flights on existing routes to help meet the demand from both tourism and Virgin Blue's growing share of the top 500 corporate market and small business customers:

-Melbourne-Sydney route to 8 daily in November and 9 daily from December 13, up from 7
-Melbourne-Adelaide to 4 convenient daily returns from October 29, up from 3
-Brisbane-Sydney to 9 daily from 26 December, up from 8

6) Improved schedules on the twice-daily Brisbane - Townsville service as well as an improvement in the Mackay schedule that allows tourists to take advantage of low fares to access the stunning Whitsunday Region at a convenient time of day.

The airline also reaffirmed its view today that it did not believe Government handouts to the airline industry was the best method to sustain competition in Australian skies.

While criticising this policy, the airline did suggest that if the government wanted to pursue this course in order to level the playing field, they should at least focus on communities that are trying to break out of a one airline environment.

With this view in mind, the airline has suggested the Government consider routes from Brisbane to Darwin, Cairns and Mt. Isa for support instead of simply throwing money at two airlines competing directly on the same route.

The airline believes such a proposal would help some of the regional centres that have been overlooked and are now being prevented from having jet services by the "turboprop only" policy put forward by the Government this week.

Chief Executive Officer, Brett Godfrey said "By creating an incentive which only offers support to the regions if they use small aircraft, the Government is limiting capacity to these areas. Instead, they should be nurturing tourism and economic growth opportunities that our high capacity low fare jet services have, and will bring to more communities like Townsville, Mackay, Launceston and Mt. Isa."

On the bigger issue of government underwriting, Brett Godfrey reaffirmed "We stand by our view that we would gladly give up every cent of what is being offered if the Government backed the ACCC in doing something about uncompetitive practices in the airline industry. After the collapse of Compass 1 & 2, Impulse and Ansett, the country clearly needs a competition policy with teeth instead of just throwing money at a problem. Airline policy should be developed through a consultative process and not just random initiatives."

Virgin Blue operates the most modern, technologically advanced aircraft in Australia today, with an average age of less than 4 years, compared with Ansett's average fleet age of 11.7 years and Qantas with an average fleet age of 10.8 years (Salomon Smith Barney 2001 Fleet handbook)

[dreams]

Hey cloud nine..well done..I hope you hear soon.
No word yet!! But still have hope, how did your friend go?

[cloud nine]

Thanks dreams, I just emailed u too.
My friend also got a second interview, hers was at 10am today. She said the same as me, it was very relaxed. And she was also told between 1 and 4 weeks before she will hear back.
I have another freind going for her first interview tomorrow, so I shall let you know how she goes too.
I hope we all get in, including you, so we can all move to Brizzi together.

[dreams]

Cloud nine, how cool would that be all the new Vb girls living together in Brizzie...Now that could become very interesting!!!
Hey smile how r u? Haven't heard from ya in a while, hope ya well...and everyone else
Take care

[ 31 October 2001: Message edited by: dreams ]

[Kem]

Fantastic Cloudy! Is that it then? No third interrogation? Time to get those bags packed methinks. Does anyone know if VB recruit older wannabes?
Seatback guy, thanks for your Impulse advice. Not sure whether to re-apply so soon as tried the same thing with another airline only to be told off (in a very nice diplomatic F/A kinda way). Heard you Impulse guys have brutal shifts - five sector days with no breaks, is that true? Many overnights?
Does anyone here work for VB? How about telling your HR department it would be a nice thing to advise people who've submitted written applications (in response to a press ad) for ground positions to aknowledge receipt, or at least send the reject letter. Nasty keeping us hanging on for months, bad PR!

[ 31 October 2001: Message edited by: Kem for spelink misstaks]

[ 31 October 2001: Message edited by: Kem ]

[Mr Seatback 2]

Congratulations to all of you who've got this far!! Examples to us all!

As for Impulse, with the reduced schedule we're now doing something like 3-4 sectors a day (sometimes less!). True, we don't always get our breaks (we're SUPPOSED to, but we're usually so busy we don't get a chance to) - either way, we're paid a penalty for going without one!

Recently, I've yet to do more than 2 sectors in one day (SYD-HBA-SYD, and SYD-LST-SYD the norm)...overnighted in Melbourne the other night after going SYD-HBA then HBA-MEL...EASY! It can get brutal, and with Christmas coming most definitely, but hey, what job wouldn't be at this time of year??!!

[Sweet N Innocent]

Hi everyone, just a quick post to wish you all luck with your positions and for those that are waiting to hear back from VB I have my fingers and toes crossed for you.
I had my 1st interview with VB on Tuesday ( what they call round 2 ) and was invited back the next day for another. I ended up being asked to stay for the final interview an hour later and am now booked in for my medical ( which VB pay for! )
As far as I know there are 3 training dates for November which they are wanting to fill... The team was all very professional and a pleasure to deal with.
For those of you that have given VB a bit of stick in the past, give 'em a break... the more I hear and know about them the more I grow to love the company. I felt an undeniable buzz throughout the whole recruitment procedure and never felt like a "number" like I did in the QF interviews - I am still on their shortlist, but I can tell you right now my choice is made.
Once again, best of luck Cloudy and Dreams... fill us all in on your news