Age
Best not be over 50.....all the ratings, hours and good references from bmi and the like counted for naught I'm afraid. I applied at 50, in their time of need (for A340 F/O's). Just 1 e-mail acknowledgement from Beardies Brigade.
Now 52 years of age, 1300 more A330 hours, and nothing further from VS.
Yet Janine was very pleasant, but non-commital, and no personal abuse/or incorrect verbiage involved.
But hey, this is aviation, and my experience can be quite typical, so no major-league whinge from my quarter, just disappointment. The time has passed, and on with my career elsewhere.