BMI News

[BigAir]

Has anyone else just had a nice call from Oats?

[JetPac]

Certainly Have! Thought it could have been a sick mate playing a joke on me. Good luck everyone!

[Barney]

Well done folks! I'm still waiting to hear from them. If I don't hear today, I guess it may not be good news. When did they say the next interviews will be? (end april)

Good luck at the next round - hope to see you there!

Barney

[VTOL]

Yep, I got the magic call yesterday too :)

Best of luck everyone...

VTOL :)

[Perfect PFL]

I haven't had a call yet, so I guess it's about time to ring up BA again. http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/frown.gif

[customflyer]

Hi everyone

Well done and good luck to those who made it through, to those who have not heard anything check out OATs Web site.

"The final selection of candidates to go to British Midland International is now complete, many of those successful through the Oxford process have already been informed by telephone of their success and we wish them well through the next stage of selection."

Keep your fingers crossed!

[schooner]

Phew !!! Got the call today. Had the same thoughts as Jetpac....got to be a mate winding me up.
How many are through for how many places ?

Cheers.

[VTOL]

I asked at my interview and there are about 60-70 going to BMI for 24 places (2 courses of 12) at OATS, first on starting in August this year. Not bad odds, considering!

VTOL :)

[Barney]

Hi folks! Yep, I had that lovely call last night too!

That's about what they told me - 60/70 for 24 places. I can live with those odds.

Good luck folks.

Barney

[ATPLORBUST]

Hi Folks,

No phone call yet! Imagine how I felt this morning on receiving a letter with the Kidlington postmark on it.

"Thank you for your recent enquiry into training with OATS - please call us to arrange a time to come and look around Oxford"

Come on OATS - have some compassion!!!!!

ATPLORBUST

[AffirmBrest]

Odds are a little worse than that guys - maybe that'll help you remember that this has always been a competition, only now even more so!

May the best men(or women!) win...

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...proceeding below Decision Height with CAUTION...

[BigAir]

Affirm Brest,

What do you mean "Odds are a little worse than that..." again I was told 60 to 70 people for 20 to 24 places. If you know something different, then please tell. Anyway, as you say it is a competition, but it is down to each individual, so good luck to everyone. As soon as anyone hears a date for interview, then please post. It strikes me that they might be bringing the scheme forward a bit - after all, we were told to hear beggining of March with interviews April/May, still two months notice for an interview date should be ample to read up on all things BMI!!!

Anyway, the search option isn't appearing for me currently, but if anyone has had a final interview with BMI then please do tell, otherwise if anyone knows a link to one of the archived threads with this info, then please post.

Here's hoping for a letter / phonecall from Derby!

good luck all


Bigair.

PS. Oats still sent me some info today, even though I got a phone call - oh well, I can relish on what I will hopefully be starting come August.

[birdseed2001]

Whats with the "BMI"! Isn't it supposed to be "bmi"?

Good luck to you all!

bird

[Need For Speed]

Hi folks just wondering, as regards BMI sponsorships at OATS, how much of the course fees are you expected to stump up for the course on successful selection for a place, and how can you pay it? do any of you know?
Ive heard it was 15K, is it correct?
Also what qualifications do you all have that are going through the selection process at the moment; (ie degree PPL etc)

cheers

[travelkev]

Dear All

Yes I also heard this week and was given the figures 70/75 for about 20 places which (let's face it) is a lot better odds than we've been accustomed to so far. So good luck everyone and please lets post up any helpful information when we have it. All I have heard so far is that this final stage is very technical and they are recommending people to have personally obtained their Class 1 medical (at a storming £400).

[travelkev]

Need for Speed - to answer your question I believe that BM are looking for a contribution from students fo about £14K - with the understanding that the part they pay will be deducyed in installments from your pay over the first 5 years or so of employment. I think this is a pretty standard arrangement these days. For my won part I have a Physics degree and a PPL but am on pretty low hour (65).

[BigAir]

Points taken about bmi (not BMI)!

I have been looking on the search facility, but can't find anything specifically relating to what you get at the next interview stage. From what I understand, the following might occur!

--------------------------------------------

A couple of weeks before the interview, you will get three topics to write a 10 minute presentation on each, and then they will select one on the day for you to present to them.

There are 3 people on the board - 2 pilots, 1 HR.

Very technically orientated interview, also questions about bmi, history etc. Also on the spot maths type questions, speed/distance/time etc.

You are asked to write an essay on a topic given on the day in 30mins.

CRM issue type questions.

--------------------------------------------

Can anyone clarify what we can expect, I am not asking for details, just a general overview of the structure of the process.
Is this the last stage, or do you have say group exercises or a company medical if you pass this stage.
Do you get paid an allowance by bmi whilst training at Oxford (I know it isn't a deciding factor, but it will help for planning the loans etc).
Also, Does anyone know who their chief pilot is?

Finally, do cadets only get based at Heathrow, or are some sent to the regions, or maybe even to British Midland Commuter?

thanks in advance


BigAir

[AffirmBrest]

Don't know about BMC, though it has been discussed (and I for one think it would not be such a bad idea!) - you would need to re-write the contract if that were the case and it would be BMCs responsibility to recruit etc.

I doubt there are likely to be any cadets based at EMA (do a search!), and they won't even let existing LHR pilots move to GLA, EDI or MAN at the moment so they better not let the cadets! Likelihood is LHR for the foreseeable future...

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...proceeding below Decision Height with CAUTION...

[travelkev]

BigAir

Sounds similar to what I'd heard - as for the medical side, OAT were advising me to go and get my Class 1 medical myself (and pay for it myself) before I attend the bmi stage 3

[TrimTab]

Well done to all those who got through to the final stage!

The last stage of interview at BM (bmi)is usually as follows:

You will probably be sent a couple of topics to prepare a 10 minute presentation and answer questions on.

Obtaining a class one medical before you attend for interview is a really good idea - it shows that you are serious and that you are fit to be trained - the last thing they would want is to offer you a place and then you not be able to go because of failing a medical. They would then be a place light on the training course.

Expect the obvious questions on why you want to be a pilot / change career etc. Know everything about bmi and Star Alliance etc. Also tell the truth - sounds daft but shows honesty and itegrity.

Good luck to all!

[This message has been edited by TrimTab (edited 20 February 2001).]

[Token Bird]

Yesterday I received the 'Sorry, but...' letter from OATS, which also of course told me that my tests had shown that I had the aptitude to follow 'an alternative career path within aviation' and incidentally, have some glossy brochures. Now why would I want to spend my own money at Oxford when I can get the same thing cheaper elsewhere.

Now that it's all over I think it's time I let off some steam about my horrific interview from hell.

There were two sets of interviewers and I was interviewed by Clive and a woman who didn't actually bother to introduce herself, so I have no idea what her name was.

She then proceeded to attack me in the most vicious way. I had expected them to try and intimidate me from what other PPRuNers said, but I was still surprised at how bad it was.

At one point she asked me a really ambiguous question. When I asked for clarification she repeated the question in exactly the same words. I tried again for clarification at which point she snapped "Oh, it doesn't matter!" and moved onto the next question. Highly professional.

At another point she asked me to expand upon my answer to the communication skills question on the application form. I started to speak, got about 5 words into a sentence at which point she butted in and actually shouted at me "This says you have good communication skills. Why would you say something like that!?!".

All in all, I think I handled myself very well. I wasn't intimidated because the whole thing was so OTT it was impossible to take it too seriously. It's amazing that someone can be so misguided in their interviewing technique.

Just to add the icing to the cake, at the end of the interview, rather than standing and allowing me to leave the room, they said "Well thats all then" and made to leave the room before me! I had to jump up and shake their hands as they evidently weren't going to bother. I thought that was the polite thing to do at the end of interviews.

The whole thing has put me off OATS a bit. Their ridiculously high prices combined with the rumours I've heard about how they treat their self-sponsored students, is going to make it very enjoyable for me to take my business elsewhere,

TB
(not at all bitter)

[VTOL]

Token Bird, I'm sorry to hear you had such a nasty and unprofessional interview. I have to say that my experience was the total opposite. I was interviewed by Peter and a lady who did introduce herself :) but for the life of me I can't remember her name!

The interview was conducted in a thoroughly professional manner but was by no means easy. The questions asked were very searching and found the limits of my knowledge!

How did other people find it? Are there more experiences like TB's? I hope not, as this type of behaviour in an interview does nothing to engender the level of trust that is necessary to get the relevant details from the candidate.

Good luck in the future TB - I hope that the next interviews you have are a more pleasant experience (at least as pleasant as being grilled for 45mins can ever be!!)

Best of luck,
VTOL
:)

There's my century!

[This message has been edited by VTOL (edited 22 February 2001).]

[Barney]

I am of the same view as VTOL. I also had Peter (and I think the ladies name was Jackie - may be wrong, though!). Totally professional about the way the interview was conducted. I was escorted into the room by Peter himself, introduced to the other interviewer, had a severe grilling, and was then, following departing handshakes and pleasentries, shown my way out. OK, I got a bit of a grilling, but I feel that to be part of an interview i.e. they have to find your level. However intense I found it, I actually came out thinking that I had found it quite enjoyable (only afterwards though!). Sorry to hear that you didn't have the same chance in that you were made to feel uncomfortable by the whole affair. Whatever you feel, don't give up!! OK, you had a crap time, next time may be completely different.

Barney

P.S.
I got a letter from OATS yesterday saying that I would hear directly from bmi in the near future. Anyone heard from them yet? Poor mum nearly had heart attack - she opened the letter for me, and saw the total course costs on the back of the brochure (ca £60K!!!). She 'phoned dad and said I had spun them a yarn about how much I had to contribute.

[PFO]

I was interviewed by the man and lady who carried out the aptitude testing.

I was surprised to be rejected as they commented on my excellent aptitude test results.

I found the whole interview to be of a far friendlier nature than all the others (!) I have attended.

My only concern is that after we got a couple of minutes into the interview they realised they were talking to the wrong person!

So what with this and those from the aptitude testing stage who were called later following the "errors", maybe there has been some mistake in sending my rejection letter.

There is no way I can find out though!!!!!!!

PFO

[kalik]

You can find out by calling marketing at OATS - they hold the rejection / acceptance lists . Ellen Clark was one of the interviewers ( OATS HR ) .

The interview process is designed to put the candidate under pressure - you are being assessed on how you react in a difficult situation . It works .

[Perfect PFL]

I was also interviewed by Peter. I thought that the interview was very professionally run throughout, and was friendly but of course under pressure.

I thought I did quite well in the interview, but I am assuming I have not got through to the final stage as I did not have a phone call, although I have not had the no letter yet either. Anyone else not heard anything yet?

[Token Bird]

Kalik,

I accept that the interview was designed to put the candidate under pressure. However, refusing to clarify questions, shouting at candidates and generally treating them as subhuman is not the best way to go about this.

Other people here say that their interview was friendly but the questions they were asked where tough and searching. This is fair enough, but was totally different from my experience. I don't remember being asked tough and searching questions - just that I was treat like **** .

Perhaps the loony female who interviewed me had just had a bad day, but it is very unfortunate that I will not now get a chance to try and prove myself to an airline on which I was very keen,

TB
http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/frown.gif

[GJB]

Sorry to hear about the bad experience. There are other ways of putting a candidate under pressure. I think that you have been treated in an appalling manner.

Perhaps you should have suggested that 'they' were not fit to be interviewing, considering they exhibited all the traits that airlines DON'T want in pilots....ie showing temper, impatience, no manners, non-cooperation.

I think, had I been in your position, I would have spoken to one of the interviewers outside and suggested that, haven come so far and spent so much money, you were dissapointed not to have been given a fair chance to represent yourself.

Pick yourself up and brush yourself down. There IS life after OATS.

[This message has been edited by GJB (edited 23 February 2001).]

[travelkev]

Token Bird, sorry to hear about your interview trauma - I also had a fairly professional and trauma-free experience co maybe you caught someone on a spectacularly bad day.

Does anyone know when the next round of BM interviews are likely to take place then?

[Perfect PFL]

Has everyone who went through the interview at OATS heard back now whether they are through to the final interview or not?

I only ask I have still not heard anything yet, and as others said they heard a week or more ago, even with the letters to say they didn't get through, it's a bit worrying.

I have written to them to ask what the situation is, and to tell them, just got to keep waiting at the moment though.

Anyone else in the same position, let me know.

Thanks.