Not a career FO Captain for Twenty five years!!!
A relative applied to Ryanair and was bin'ed at the phone stage. Four resits but first time passes at CPL and IR. Interestingly my dad had to resit some his ATPLs and he retired as a respected TRI/TRE. He always said that university educated pilots always knew the book work backwards but had difficulty flying, the reverse of course of the not so well educated. You really need the pilots in between. Practically minded seem to be the best in my opinion and not book worms.