Originally Posted by
9VGZH
Hi everyone,
I’ve recently went through the whole interview process about a month ago.
Having scoured this thread and other information sources online to prepare myself for it, it's time now that I give back to the community as well. I will try to be as detailed as possible, this is from my personal experience and talking to others who interviewed before or on the same day as me.
But if you have questions do ask! So, here goes!
From date of Application:
- Invitation +2 weeks
- Initial Interview & Aptitude Test +2 weeks
- Final Interview: + 4 weeks
- Medical: Friday of Final interview week
- *Medical results: +2-4 weeks
- Application results: Pending
Some preparation tips in general:
- Practice speaking your answers! What sounds like a perfect answer in your mind, may come out sounding terrible if nerves get in the way. This will also help in trying to remember your points for answers you've prepared.
- Prepare Prepare Prepare! Think of every possible question they might ask and prepare an answer, I prepared a long list of questions and answers which really helped me in the interview. That way you won't be scrambling for a coherent answer in the interview room. Even then, there will still be surprises!
- Smile! It helps to ease the tension in the interview, the interviewers are quite friendly (in my case)! Even though it is a job interview, they are not there to make you fail on purpose.
Also, to aid in your preparation, here's a list of questions & information I prepared for the interview:
Personal questions:
1. What defines you?
2. Why be an airline pilot?
3. Why should you be chosen?
4. How will you contribute to the airline?
5. What did you do to pursue your dream to be a pilot?
6. Why SIA?
7. What challenging situations have you faced before, and how did you do?
8. What are your strengths/weaknesses?
9. What is an example of when you have displayed leadership?
Technical questions:
*While you can’t be expected to know everything in detail, it does help to show your interest and understanding
1. How does an airplane fly
2. Flight controls/FBW
3. Basic flight instruments & how they work
4. Navigation aids/ILS
5. How Jet engines work, basic types
6. Electrical systems
7. ETOPS/EDTO
8. Fuel systems & planning
9. Knowledge that explains recent flight incidents/accidents
Company Questions:
1. History of SIA (Malayan -> MSA -> SIA)
2. Subsidiaries/divisions (SQC,SLK)
3. Fleet types & numbers
4. News & developments in the airline/industry
Initial Interview Day:
The process of each day is the same as most have already mentioned, so I'll just note a few things down.
The initial interview seems to be a first-come-first-serve order, once you get your documents processed by HR, you'll be asked to wait at another area until you are called. There are 3 interview rooms with 2 interviewers each, you'll be assigned to a room and wait for the interviewers to invite you in. Your bags will be left outside the room, and you go in. Standard things, shake their hands, don't sit till you are asked to, and try to remember their names. The interview took about 30 minutes.
The first interview was a broad range of questions. Be very prepared to answer all sorts of questions.
- Have a good introduction. That will hopefully lead the interviewers into asking questions that you are prepared for, if not they can ask anything under the Sun.
- Questions will be tailored each individual. If you are currently studying, there will be questions on what you are studying. If you are currently working, you will be asked why you are changing jobs.
- Keep up with current events/airline news. Know the company's history, any new flights/aircraft, know the entire fleet preferably. My interview was on the morning after the inaugural SIN-EWR flight, so that was asked!
- Technical knowledge, each answer you ask will be the basis for the next question. Be careful with your answers, if you use an aviation term to explain your first question, you can bet you will have to explain that term for the next question. Anticipate these and prepare for them.
- Decision making thought process. Don't rush into an answer, think through your decision and articulate your reasons, which might be questioned, so be confident!
- Work on your weaknesses, they have your CV and can ask questions accordingly. Eg. if you scored badly for Geography in school, expect a question on that.
Here are the questions they asked me:
1. Introduce yourself
2. What do you know about SIA and why join SIA
3. Engine out scenario
4. ILS, ETOPS, EDTO (Extended diversion time ops)
5. How an Airspeed indicator works
6. How is a flight planned/flown
7. SIA fleet
8. Recent SIA news (A359ULR)
9. Give up Degree for flying?* (I’m in my final Semester in Uni)
10. Why didn't join SIA earlier / Why not try for the air force
11. Where do you get knowledge from?
After the interview, you'll be waiting at yet another area for your results. Once HR has collated the results for a certain number of people, they will come by to announce the results. It was rather brutal to be honest, the names were called out, and only after that did they say that these names, did not make it through.
It was rather scary for myself and a few others because we were not sure if we had heard our names being called out, so we had to double check with HR later on. For those that passed, we were given some time to have our lunch before commencing with the aptitude test in the afternoon, which lasted for about 2 hours, and was quite mentally draining. After the aptitude test, you are free to leave the building, and just wait for the email on your results, which came in 2 days for me.
Aptitude Test Preparation & Tips:
- There are about 12+ different tests as mentioned here (will post link later when I can)
- For most tests, there will be adequate time to finish and sometimes be able to go back and check your answers. However, don't take too long or you'll end up not completing all the questions.
- Regarding the IQ tests, these would involve Shape/Number Patterns, Unwrapped Cube faces and possibly more that I don't recall. Just try out some of the free online IQ tests to get a feel of the common ways they set such questions, and the pattern of answers where they try to throw you off in the wrong direction of thinking (looking for shape, colour, number of shapes etc.)
- For the multi-tasking tests, sit back and use your peripheral vision to track changes on the entire screen, do not become fixated on any single instrument/point on the screen
- The tests to test your psychomotor skills & reaction times are difficult, things move VERY QUICKLY. Be very alert.
Final interview Day:
The reporting time was 12.30pm in the afternoon, make sure you have a heavy lunch because you won't be eating until the tea party! There were 8 interviewees that day, when everyone was present HR led us into a small meeting room to process our documents. You'll also be briefed that the Medical (should you pass), would be on Friday the same week, so try to keep that day clear!
After that would be the short essay writing, on "Why do you want to be an airline pilot". They're not strict on the 50 word-count rule, just approximately 50 words is fine. After the essays are collected, there was a short break before the interviews began. This time, there was a fixed order on who goes in first, so bring some notes or a book to read in case you're the last person to be interviewed, you'll be waiting in the meeting room for about 3 hours!
When the previous person returns from their interview to retrieve their bag, the next person goes out to wait at the chair outside the interview room. I swear this is one of the most nerve-wrecking situations I've ever been in, I could feel my heart jumping out of my chest! Once the interviewers are ready, they will open the door to invite you in. Same etiquette as before in the initial interview, although in my case I guess they were rushing a bit to finish all the interviews on time because when I reached over the table to shake their hands, they asked me to take a seat straight away and didn't introduce themselves either, leaving it for the Tea party later.
The final interview was mostly about your motivations to become an airline pilot. They will have your written essay with them, from which they can ask further questions. There were still a few technical questions, but it was much less focused on than in the first interview. This time it was also slightly shorter, maybe around 20-25 mins.
- Know yourself. Why are you there, why do you want to be an airline pilot, and not something else? Why do you choose to change careers?
- Showcase yourself. They have your CV on hand, and will know if you held a leadership position before, had bad grades, had 2 jobs before etc. They will ask about them. If it’s a good point that they picked out, show your capabilities BUT be humble! If it’s a bad point they picked out, show what you learnt from it and how you improved yourself from it.
Here are the questions they asked:
1. Why are you here, why do you want to fly?
2. What is your favourite aircraft, why, elaborate something about it
3. Family background, why not pursue a different career?
4. Studies background, NS background, Leadership background
5. Why do airplanes fly at high altitudes? Specific fuel consumption
6. How you can contribute back to SIA
I think showing your long-term commitment is probably useful, since the airline doesn't want to spend $150,000+ to train you, only to have you leave for China/UAE after the 7 year bond.
After the interview, I retrieved my bag from the meeting room, and gathered with the earlier interviewees at the waiting area. You're free to move around and refresh yourself, until the last guy comes out from the interview. The Tea party was really an informal chit-chat session with the interviewers, you get to ask anything you want that's related, there's snacks and drinks but most of us just stood there holding our drinks in one hand throughout the tea party, hard to ask questions with your mouth full! After the tea party, you are free to leave the building, and the results will be emailed the next day.
*Medical:
SIA requires both Class 1 & 2 Medical, both will be reimbursed at a later date. For the CAAS Class 1 medical, I paid for my own medical before sending in my application to SIA. I was still required to go for a class 2 medical (basically the same tests), as well as the company's pre-employment medical.
Reason being I was worried that if I managed to pass the final interview but fail the medical, then as SIA does not allow re-applications for final interviewees, then my chance would be wasted, if I manage to resolve the medical issue eventually. This is not necessary, entirely up to yourself, if it gives you a peace of mind like for me!
Costs were $115 application fee to CAAS and $500+ to Raffles Medical for the actual medical examination itself.
TL-DR – Read the bolded parts, and prepare prepare prepare! Hope this comes in useful!