Qantas Link Trainee First Officer Level 1&2
Join Date: Mar 2016
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Hi all,
Just thought i would share my experience to date for those interested in the L1 and L2 process. I recently spoke to one of the people at Qantas People Services overseeing the applications for the Traineeship (not D/E), querying what the expected time frames would be to hear back on receiving the first stage of Assessment (Psychometric Testing with SHL).
At this stage, they apparently have no plan to send out assessment invites to any of the L1 & L2 applications (unless in some instances they have significant command experience and TT, in which case they are moving them across to the D/E Stream). The reason for this is that they don't have a clear plan for them in place at the moment i.e. progression pathways etc. They are also concerned that if they hire a tonne of green pilots that they will all come up for command around the same time, with limited opportunities available. They will then do what a lot of the prior trainees did and bail for another airline, essentially negating all of the effort that has been put into getting them there in the fist place.
There are apparently a lot of discussions going on about creating a pathway from QLink into Mainline or other companies in the group to make sure that all pilots recruited are, as much as possible, recruited for a career, not a 5 year stint.
Apparently they are also not prioritising D/E once this is in place (they are only looking at D/E at the moment though), as they can then put L1 and L2 candidates through with a few D/E candidates, so there are varying experience levels providing mentoring for the less experienced, as well as ensuring that you don't all come up for command at the same time with the same experience levels. This also allows the process to be competitive on both levels, aviation experience and life/employment experience and suitability. As i think someone mentioned in the thread earlier, there are no doubt always going to be plenty of pilots who will meet Direct Entry requirements, but they aren't all necessarily going to be suitable.
When pressed for a date that assessment would be sent out, I was told at this stage hopefully June, possibly July, so those who keep saying patience, you are on the money
Therefore I am just working my butt off to get my final ATPL's done to hopefully give me a better chance and also keeping an eye on options for moving north for work.
Just thought i would share my experience to date for those interested in the L1 and L2 process. I recently spoke to one of the people at Qantas People Services overseeing the applications for the Traineeship (not D/E), querying what the expected time frames would be to hear back on receiving the first stage of Assessment (Psychometric Testing with SHL).
At this stage, they apparently have no plan to send out assessment invites to any of the L1 & L2 applications (unless in some instances they have significant command experience and TT, in which case they are moving them across to the D/E Stream). The reason for this is that they don't have a clear plan for them in place at the moment i.e. progression pathways etc. They are also concerned that if they hire a tonne of green pilots that they will all come up for command around the same time, with limited opportunities available. They will then do what a lot of the prior trainees did and bail for another airline, essentially negating all of the effort that has been put into getting them there in the fist place.
There are apparently a lot of discussions going on about creating a pathway from QLink into Mainline or other companies in the group to make sure that all pilots recruited are, as much as possible, recruited for a career, not a 5 year stint.
Apparently they are also not prioritising D/E once this is in place (they are only looking at D/E at the moment though), as they can then put L1 and L2 candidates through with a few D/E candidates, so there are varying experience levels providing mentoring for the less experienced, as well as ensuring that you don't all come up for command at the same time with the same experience levels. This also allows the process to be competitive on both levels, aviation experience and life/employment experience and suitability. As i think someone mentioned in the thread earlier, there are no doubt always going to be plenty of pilots who will meet Direct Entry requirements, but they aren't all necessarily going to be suitable.
When pressed for a date that assessment would be sent out, I was told at this stage hopefully June, possibly July, so those who keep saying patience, you are on the money
Therefore I am just working my butt off to get my final ATPL's done to hopefully give me a better chance and also keeping an eye on options for moving north for work.
Join Date: Mar 2016
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Hi Fysh,
Yep you and me both And they obviously seem very keen on facilitating that now which is really positive so just got to hurry up and wait I guess Will keep updating with any info I get throughout the process.
Yep you and me both
And they obviously seem very keen on facilitating that now which is really positive so just got to hurry up and wait I guess Will keep updating with any info I get throughout the process.
Join Date: Mar 2013
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Soup I suspect you are right, which makes me wonder what advantage Qlink pilots will have, if any, with a pathway into Jetstar?
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Experience will offer little advantage in my opinion as the time to command will be around the order of 5 to 7 years I suspect, by which time those with low hours and ahead on seniority will have met the command hour requirements. Then there is the command assessment 😊.
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Time to command is impossible to pre determine. There are a core group that will never leave (probably too burnt out to bother!) and there are the remainder who are more motivated career wise. I would say they comprise about 50% of the total. If they turn over quick then command comes quick, it all depends on whats on offer elsewhere. At the moment it appears theres a lot on offer and Qlink (sunnies and eastern) doesn't offer career progression, just some meagre attempt to sway a few to stay in the hope that it will slow the flow to a more manageable number.
It should come as no surprise as it's a time honoured tradition after all and plenty fall for it first time round.
SN
It should come as no surprise as it's a time honoured tradition after all and plenty fall for it first time round.
SN
Has anyone who applied shortly after the job was first listed noticed that their application has defaulted to an application for the "Level 2" traineeship even if only the level 1 criteria were selected?
At first both were grouped together as one application but there is now a separate one for the two levels.
Has this same error happened to everyone?
At first both were grouped together as one application but there is now a separate one for the two levels.
Has this same error happened to everyone?
Last edited by mikewil; 17th May 2016 at 10:21.
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Thank you Sir. Much appreciated.
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Speaking only from the inside, we've been told recruitment through to at least June next year. I believe courses are 6 weeks apart. Not sure what stage you're at, but there will be plenty of positions available in the near future. 
2 people to start on the next ground school next week. A few command upgrades and conversion training taking place. Only enough spots for 12 training movements every 6 weeks
I don't think anyone has heard back about the traineeship at this stage (which is what this thread is about)
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She must be a tight ship over at QLink recruitment, that or there's nothing to report!
I'm sure you guys will hear back from them about it sooner or later, but I don't think they're in any rush.
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The Japan sim is only used when the Sydney sim is at full capacity or maintenance. It is a Q400 sim. It is unlikely to be used for endorsements simply due to the costs. Then again Seattle was used at one stage, however I dont see a repeat of that again. 😆