Ignore the dinosaurs Bearcat, they probably insist on a man walking in front of their cars with a red flag, you know, to improve road safety and all that.
I won't need to tell you that basic flying skills are important; I also won't need to tell you that if and when you go on a sim check for whatever airline, they won't give you a stop watch and a chart and tell you to crack on. In fact, you might not even get a sim check if you haven't got experience on modern tech such as glass cockpits etc.
You've probably realised that you can gain some really useful knowledge and tips on this website, but sadly, it's also full of people who will insist that unless you do it their way, you're obviously an amateurish idiot. Often, 'their way' will be how it was done in in the 1950's.