As much as I was criticised by many, the reality is that HR dominates the recruitment process. Those of us who have worked for airlines in the operational side know that there is a chasm been operational and corporate BS. What is being witnessed at QF is HR dominance of process. The process won't improve, it is captured.
There are other airlines! Qantas long ago ceased to be a premier carrier, its withdrawal from international routes and an exponential growth of the very opaque JQ model, is, despite their narrative, very poorly performing. The good news for those pilots who have witnessed the 'recruitment' process with mainline first hand, you are not alone. Qantas is merely a huge bureaucracy, with a small airline attached who destroyed itself fighting internal wars. A student of the corporation knows that no nothing management, usually abandons proven business models divesting away from core competency. Growing back office overhead is a sure sign a company has lost its way.
Demographics enforces the notion that pilots are a strategic asset, QF are yet to learn this, their HR/IR model is is control presently. Those airlines who are focused on the core, which has always been the flying operations, recognise that attracting a high calibre pilot is a vital cornerstone of their strategic plan. Fortunately demographics will help those cast aside by QF recruiting practice, that there are plenty of viable options.
Adversarial industrial relation models and high back office overhead, the likes of which QF focus on, will not serve them well attracting 'talent'. Quite often now the only advantage QF has left is Australian residence. Foreign airlines, as demographics really bite them will provide commutable options for Australian pilots.
Qantas focused its whole attention on JQ, losing a decade on a business model that relies on high volume to make anything. It's architecture was IR, to undermine arbitrated outcomes.
Whilst it may appear cold comfort now to those struggling with the dreaded email, Qantas is anything other than 'transformed' there are plenty of other options that do not mean sub standard conditions aggressive management and a stalled career path that many pilots at Qantas suffered. Cast a wider net it will provide lots of good options.
https://aircargoeye.com/why-airlines...-their-pilots/
Long after little Alan and Clifford, along with Oldmeadow are taken to the woodshed, perhaps QF will catch up and realise people collectively are a business. That is still a way off. Best wishes to all