My interview exp at DragonAir
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My interview exp at DragonAir
Background, from USA. 7700 TT 7400 PIC of which over 5000 PIC turbine. Current B737NG in China last 5 years. 8 type ratings.
Met with 2 woman from HR. I wore what i considered a very nice looking suit. However it wasn't the standard navy blue, white shirt, red tie....
Walked into the conference room, they sat across from me with a small table separating us. I have to say the atmosphere was a bit cold and felt a little bit artificial.
1. Tell us about yourself.
2. When did you know you want to be a pilot
3. How did you fund your training. Why 2 different schools?
While being asked these things the other lady is going through my logbooks (i brought 3 which go back 17 years, i lost the first one during a move)
From her body language i knew something was amiss. She asks me back in 2004 how i was able to fly all these different planes (hawker, King Air, Cessna 172, Great Lakes, etc) while working for someone.
I explained to her (i used to fly bizjets) that when the owner didn't have a trip (they were ALWAYS scheduled WEEKS in advance) we were allowed to do contract. Either she thought i was lying or just couldnt wrap her head around the idea that pilots in america can fly MANY types when and how they wish.
For example the 737 rating. In USA it covers the 100 all the way to the 900. So legally i could fly a 200, and go hop into an NG the next day without any more training and fly it.
Then she asks me how i did my line training on the BBJ. I explained to her there WAS none. Its a part 91 ac, you hop in and go. There is no line training.
4. Have you applied anywhere else? Yes i was honest
5. What BAD things did you hear about DragonAir? I told them i heard they dont like to hire americans. And with 500 pilots and ONLY TWO yanks i guess thats true.
6. She asked me about my college degree, why am i doing it? I said its a goal of mine (doing online now)
7. Asked me what i knew about Dragon.
8. Asked me how i would feel being an FO for possibly a long time after having been a Captain for such a long time. I said no problem. And thats the truth.
9. Asked alot about my wife (she is chinese)
10. Finally asked me what would i do if i was unsuccesful today. Actually i thought that was a very weird question. What am i supposed to say? Ill kill myself???? I said ill just continue to move forward.
I came out of there feeling like they didn't really want me there. Didn't feel warm fuzzies at all and i am a VERY nice guy and get along with everyone.
Less than 24 hours later got the TBNT letter. So i was right. And if your wondering yes i do know a current pilot there (not from the states)
So who knows, i hate wondering why i didnt get a job. But this was my experience.
Met with 2 woman from HR. I wore what i considered a very nice looking suit. However it wasn't the standard navy blue, white shirt, red tie....
Walked into the conference room, they sat across from me with a small table separating us. I have to say the atmosphere was a bit cold and felt a little bit artificial.
1. Tell us about yourself.
2. When did you know you want to be a pilot
3. How did you fund your training. Why 2 different schools?
While being asked these things the other lady is going through my logbooks (i brought 3 which go back 17 years, i lost the first one during a move)
From her body language i knew something was amiss. She asks me back in 2004 how i was able to fly all these different planes (hawker, King Air, Cessna 172, Great Lakes, etc) while working for someone.
I explained to her (i used to fly bizjets) that when the owner didn't have a trip (they were ALWAYS scheduled WEEKS in advance) we were allowed to do contract. Either she thought i was lying or just couldnt wrap her head around the idea that pilots in america can fly MANY types when and how they wish.
For example the 737 rating. In USA it covers the 100 all the way to the 900. So legally i could fly a 200, and go hop into an NG the next day without any more training and fly it.
Then she asks me how i did my line training on the BBJ. I explained to her there WAS none. Its a part 91 ac, you hop in and go. There is no line training.
4. Have you applied anywhere else? Yes i was honest
5. What BAD things did you hear about DragonAir? I told them i heard they dont like to hire americans. And with 500 pilots and ONLY TWO yanks i guess thats true.
6. She asked me about my college degree, why am i doing it? I said its a goal of mine (doing online now)
7. Asked me what i knew about Dragon.
8. Asked me how i would feel being an FO for possibly a long time after having been a Captain for such a long time. I said no problem. And thats the truth.
9. Asked alot about my wife (she is chinese)
10. Finally asked me what would i do if i was unsuccesful today. Actually i thought that was a very weird question. What am i supposed to say? Ill kill myself???? I said ill just continue to move forward.
I came out of there feeling like they didn't really want me there. Didn't feel warm fuzzies at all and i am a VERY nice guy and get along with everyone.
Less than 24 hours later got the TBNT letter. So i was right. And if your wondering yes i do know a current pilot there (not from the states)
So who knows, i hate wondering why i didnt get a job. But this was my experience.
Don't think KA give a toss what travel document their crew hold.
Don't know you from a bar of soap, however in your post you have referred to yourself 50 times. Might be a red flag for a position where teamwork is required.
Don't know you from a bar of soap, however in your post you have referred to yourself 50 times. Might be a red flag for a position where teamwork is required.
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Yeah a "wrong" match is often meant to be - just that - a wrong match. Most likely you're better of somewhere else in that case - it's a two way street after all. You don't "have" to have done anything "wrong" at all - I wouldn't speculate about that. If not fitting into one place - you'll fit in somewhere else.
Best of luck with the path.
Best of luck with the path.
My interview exp at DragonAir
That's a real shame. I'm guessing you know that KA are going on a huge pilot expansion phase at the moment & are screaming for pilots. And across the road our "Brothers" are screaming even louder!
As mentioned above interviews can be extremely unforgiving in that whenever you thought Candidate A was a sure thing , he/she missed out and then Joe "no idea" bloggs got in , sometimes we question why oh why!!
If you are keen, and I mean really keen - apply again! They can only say No.(And then keep applying!! It has helped candidates in the past) Perhaps this may have been an answer they were looking for to their question. Regardless, good luck.
b.
As mentioned above interviews can be extremely unforgiving in that whenever you thought Candidate A was a sure thing , he/she missed out and then Joe "no idea" bloggs got in , sometimes we question why oh why!!
If you are keen, and I mean really keen - apply again! They can only say No.(And then keep applying!! It has helped candidates in the past) Perhaps this may have been an answer they were looking for to their question. Regardless, good luck.
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Thanks for your feedback and good luck with all!
On a separate note, don't mean it directly to you Turkpilot, why do I often hear/read that it is no problem going back to the right hand seat...if I'm honest that would be a BIG problem and would definetly not take a right hand seat job unless I really really had to..am I missing something??
On a separate note, don't mean it directly to you Turkpilot, why do I often hear/read that it is no problem going back to the right hand seat...if I'm honest that would be a BIG problem and would definetly not take a right hand seat job unless I really really had to..am I missing something??
I wouldn't worry about it.
Recollect being interviewed for a VVIP B757. I was current on type with a respected major.
The sim check was in a B737; twitchy little b'staad cf the B757 and I was not at all happy with my flying.
Interview went OK (for some reason I seem to interview well
) right up to the end when the man bowled a googly clearly, with hindsight, intended to needle me. I fell for it 
I received the standard GTF and went to Cathay instead.
I think they were perfectly right to see how I'd react to a wind up. They needed to know how I'd react to a powerful but irritating passenger.
Recollect being interviewed for a VVIP B757. I was current on type with a respected major.
The sim check was in a B737; twitchy little b'staad cf the B757 and I was not at all happy with my flying.
Interview went OK (for some reason I seem to interview well
) right up to the end when the man bowled a googly clearly, with hindsight, intended to needle me. I fell for it I received the standard GTF and went to Cathay instead.
I think they were perfectly right to see how I'd react to a wind up. They needed to know how I'd react to a powerful but irritating passenger.
would definetly not take a right hand seat job
Pretty much like being in the RHS first time around except that there are fewer occasions when you ask yourself "Is there something wrong with me, or is it him?"
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Thanks for the replies guys. SWH, i have heard from numerous people that KA is very anglo saxon oriented and does not like to hire us yanks. BTW folks the reason my name is turkpilot is only because i was living in Turkey for a few years when i joined pprune. I have no turkish features at all! (:
My purpose of posting my interview experience was simply to let others know in case they have one in the future. SWH, i wrote this in first person view and didn't see where i reffered to myself FIFTY times.
Having flown in China last 5 years trust me i KNOW about teamwork/CRM and did not come across as one from the entitlement generation when i did my interview but was as humble as possible.
Some people say i am better off since it would have been a pay cut, dealing with very demanding training, and long upgrade possibly. Plus i am a Captain now why go back to FO.
They actually asked me that question at the interview, my response was if i went to UAL, DAL, AAL i would start as FO regardless of my level of exp.
Anyway, does anyone know if KA would consider doing another interview? To be quite honest maybe i was TOO honest about whom i applied, and those sorts of things. I just do not know what on earth they are looking for?
My purpose of posting my interview experience was simply to let others know in case they have one in the future. SWH, i wrote this in first person view and didn't see where i reffered to myself FIFTY times.
Having flown in China last 5 years trust me i KNOW about teamwork/CRM and did not come across as one from the entitlement generation when i did my interview but was as humble as possible.
Some people say i am better off since it would have been a pay cut, dealing with very demanding training, and long upgrade possibly. Plus i am a Captain now why go back to FO.
They actually asked me that question at the interview, my response was if i went to UAL, DAL, AAL i would start as FO regardless of my level of exp.
Anyway, does anyone know if KA would consider doing another interview? To be quite honest maybe i was TOO honest about whom i applied, and those sorts of things. I just do not know what on earth they are looking for?
dealing with very demanding training
Of course, how you play the game will be different to other airlines and that's what you need to pick up on pretty quick.
HR has complicated airlines recruiting. KA needs experienced bums in seats to counter the pig in the python problem of excessive MPL & Cadet recruitment a few years back.
If I were Chief Pilot:
SIM ride with a briefing! Can he fly? Does he improve?
Interview questions based around aviation general knowledge as FCOM only educated pilots have gaping holes in their knowledge base and don't have a continual thirst for aviation knowledge .
Would you go sick on Christmas or a Red Eye to Korea? See if you're an asshole to those around you and create an expectation of some unwritten rules of conduct.
Drinks? IS the guy normal.
Welcome to Dragonair!
Turkpilot,
I think your are trying to deflect blame to suggest that they don't hire North Americans, history has shown they do. The relative number would be more to do with the low percentage that apply, rather than any perceived bias. Your nationality and travel document would have no bearing on the application.
The KA interview is what is known as a "behavioral", in short I think you talked yourself out of a job. Pilots are some of the worst people in interviews, and very few of them get interview technique preparation. When it comes to talking about themselves, they are very good at digging holes.
Your first post made 50 references to yourself, and this most recent one 25, I have a simple bit of software that does statistical word counting on me, myself, my, I etc. If I were to "cast" you as a pilot based upon your posts alone, you would be the single seat fighter type, rather than then multi-crew transport type.
The other answer which does not fit is to the question if you were unsuccessful, what you would do. A pilot with your bucket of experience should be very competitive for similar position in North America with a job that has better benefits, closer to your home, and a better lifestyle. What is it about your application that is selling yourself short of those opportunities ?
I think your are trying to deflect blame to suggest that they don't hire North Americans, history has shown they do. The relative number would be more to do with the low percentage that apply, rather than any perceived bias. Your nationality and travel document would have no bearing on the application.
The KA interview is what is known as a "behavioral", in short I think you talked yourself out of a job. Pilots are some of the worst people in interviews, and very few of them get interview technique preparation. When it comes to talking about themselves, they are very good at digging holes.
Your first post made 50 references to yourself, and this most recent one 25, I have a simple bit of software that does statistical word counting on me, myself, my, I etc. If I were to "cast" you as a pilot based upon your posts alone, you would be the single seat fighter type, rather than then multi-crew transport type.
The other answer which does not fit is to the question if you were unsuccessful, what you would do. A pilot with your bucket of experience should be very competitive for similar position in North America with a job that has better benefits, closer to your home, and a better lifestyle. What is it about your application that is selling yourself short of those opportunities ?
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SWH,
ironically thats what i wanted to do, fly fighters. The L39 and lots of acro experience in other AC is about the extent of coming anywhere near fighters. But yes, in some regards thats spot on.
Having said that, they are interviewing me, and we are discussing me at the interview so how else does one talk about ones self if they cannot use I or any other references to themself?
Its not like this is the first time i ever did an interview, and i have normally been very successful at past ones.
IMHO it should be PILOTS interviewing PILOTS for a flying job. Not some lady from HR whose never even heard of the book Stick and Rudder....
Aside from that, yes i would LOVE to get a job back home. I am one year out from finishing my BS degree and i hope thats the only thing holding me up
ironically thats what i wanted to do, fly fighters. The L39 and lots of acro experience in other AC is about the extent of coming anywhere near fighters. But yes, in some regards thats spot on.
Having said that, they are interviewing me, and we are discussing me at the interview so how else does one talk about ones self if they cannot use I or any other references to themself?
Its not like this is the first time i ever did an interview, and i have normally been very successful at past ones.
IMHO it should be PILOTS interviewing PILOTS for a flying job. Not some lady from HR whose never even heard of the book Stick and Rudder....
Aside from that, yes i would LOVE to get a job back home. I am one year out from finishing my BS degree and i hope thats the only thing holding me up
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Your first post made 50 references to yourself, and this most recent one 25, I have a simple bit of software that does statistical word counting on me, myself, my, I etc. If I were to "cast" you as a pilot based upon your posts alone, you would be the single seat fighter type, rather than then multi-crew transport type.
Interestingly in your last post about Turkpilot you refer to yourself 4 times.
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Dragon
Thanks CR, one interesting thing i was told. Apparently they have an A, B and C scale. There are a few guys still on the A scale and are making 500,000 HKD per month? That is a ridiculous amount of money if true. Man did they strike it rich!
Well, i do hate failing interviews. Its one thing to fail in the sim, or written test, oral exam, atleast there you KNOW why. But to come in with what i thought was a good amount of experience and not even make it past the first part!!!!
I wish i was a fly on the wall in that room after i left. Maybe they thought i would get the type rating and leave? Afterall i do have 8 types, maybe they thought i was a collector! But i have never screwed anyone over. I stick to my contract.
Speaking of which they asked about that too. i told them if i gave less than 90 days then i would need to pay 6000 USD and that i would. Whats fair is fair. They seemed a bit shocked about that. Don't know why.
Well i am still curious, do they let people re interview there?
Well, i do hate failing interviews. Its one thing to fail in the sim, or written test, oral exam, atleast there you KNOW why. But to come in with what i thought was a good amount of experience and not even make it past the first part!!!!
I wish i was a fly on the wall in that room after i left. Maybe they thought i would get the type rating and leave? Afterall i do have 8 types, maybe they thought i was a collector! But i have never screwed anyone over. I stick to my contract.
Speaking of which they asked about that too. i told them if i gave less than 90 days then i would need to pay 6000 USD and that i would. Whats fair is fair. They seemed a bit shocked about that. Don't know why.
Well i am still curious, do they let people re interview there?