PPRuNe Forums - Psychometric testing

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- - Psychometric testing (https://www.pprune.org/australia-new-zealand-pacific/644577-psychometric-testing.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Verbal Kint (Post 12006114)

Minor correction: United applicants do undergo psychometric assessment - formally known as the ‘Leadership Inventory Assessment’, a.k.a the hogan. Until recently you had to pass that to get invited to Denver for the in-person; currently everyone who gets selected for a hogan goes to Denver, but the pass rate at the interview is correspondingly lower. The interview comprises an HR portion & a tech portion. Delta is HR only & no tech interview.

Minor correction on both. There is a meeting with a recruiter first to assess your suitability. Delta conducts no simulator (If they invite you to an interview they already know you know how to fly) and no technical interview, but applicants complete the MMPI-II and have an interview with a psychologist, in addition to the HR interview. You have to be tier l for them to invite you from the application.

For United similar from initial phase, the interview consists of an HR portion and a technical portion,(in this case it was in Chicago) with no psychometric assessment in the process described. There was also a significant amount of pre-interview groundwork by HR, including pilot information seminars or similar briefings before the interview stage.

Being on the Aviate program is a different story all together

I’ve done both United & Delta. Currently flying for United. The United stuff is done in Denver, not Chicago (not that it matters … ), and the hogan is the psychometric test. Done at home, not Denver.

Spirit applicants, being ALPA members, get ‘distressed carrier’ consideration (it’s in our contract), but they still go through the full UA process. Delta does online psychometric stuff too (Cut-E test) & a remote interview with a shrink (MMPI) at the end of the assessment day. All going well, you get your CJO & a cheesy pic in front of the Delta Pilot Recruitment sign for your Insta; United makes you wait.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salusa (Post 12006112)

Many years ago, a few of us did a psychometric test of the "draw your ideal house" or "draw your pet or any animal" variety.

After discussing our various efforts post test, the conclusion was they were examining us to ensure we were actually mad enough to work for them.

I can identify with that. With many hours on the 737 as well as RAAF time I was retrenched from a small Pacific airline. I was 53 then. I had a 50cc Honda step through motor cycle. It was a lovely little machine painted all red just like the Australian Post motor cycle posties.
With that qualification I applied to Australia Post as a motor cycle postman as I had had no luck getting a job in general aviation. In fact I was rather looking forward to being a postman. To my dismay I wasn't even invited for an interview. No reason given. Mind you it was probably all for the best because two years later there was a mass lay-offs of motor cycle postmen and I got a job flying the 737 again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Centaurus (Post 12007208)

Maybe Australia Post thought you would take off with one of their motorcycles.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Staffypilot (Post 12005483)

https://www.atsb.gov.au/media/news-i...eedbrake-armed

These pilots would have passed every psychometric test the BS compass test that VA used, HR interview, and simulator check and still ended up in a high-workload situation where standard items were missed. Why? Because psychometric testing doesn’t measure the things that actually matter on a real flight deck.
Psychometric tests can’t predict:

• How you’ll respond to an unexpected ATC instruction
• How you manage time-critical tasks under real stress
• How you prioritise SOPs when the workload spikes
• Whether you’ll challenge a the crew member or back each other up
• Whether fatigue, pressure, or operational circumstances will change your behavior on the day

What actually protects the operation is:

• Strong SOPs
• Good leadership and training
• Active CRM
• Threat and error management
• A positive, robust blame free safety culture

Pilots are human beings, not personality profiles and this ozstraunaght BS culture. If you can fly, if you're trained and current, and if you bring the right humble attitude, that matters far more than any BS pre-employment test.

I read the report and thought - there but for the grace of god go I. I’m sure most pilots would say the same. It happened recently in fact, with the same initial speed (just over 250Kts). The differences ? (1.) Dropped the gear immediately. (2.) Just before the stable approach altitude the PM leaned over and armed the speed brake and pulled out the before landing checklist. The former is not their normal role, both were good crm. Task loading is a beach.

I’d add experience and low authority gradient to your above list. Yes, plenty of experienced pilots make a mess. But I’d rather have it in the cockpit than not.

The airline has no psychometric testing and never has. It’s been around for quite a long time.