Interview stuff

[Luke SkyToddler]

Right ... lets have some opinions of the right way to handle those real pain-in-the-ass CRM scenario type questions. You know the kind of things ...

What would you do if

- Your captain goes below minima on an approach

- You turn up for duty and you suspect the captain's drunk

- You get down route and you realize you've left some legally-required-but-not-important piece of aircraft paperwork back at home, would you continue the flight

Anybody got further examples of questions, and especially any good answers for them?

[speedy688]

There is a method. First thing to do is ask yourself "Does this affect the safety of the aircraft & passengers?". If it does then you don't do it (or go along with it) e.g. the captain turns up drunk, well you give him the chance to report himself unfit for duty and if he doesn't do it then you report him unfit. Either way you walk out of that cockpit & refuse to fly with him. Just remember, ask yourself what the implications to safety are.

[witchdoctor]

Before answering, I would always try and establish what you know as hard fact and what is hearsay/alleged/supposition on your part, then go along with the comments above - examine the options, determine the effect on safety, compliance with the law etc...

No point taking action that will lose you your job/licence/liberty/life (delete as appropriate). If the options mean you cannot avoid at least one, go for losing the job.

[grazi]

Looking for interview questions

Everyone...........

There is a thread on here giving a list of questions for for the BA interview, I've been searching but can not find it again. I think it gives a link to another site but it was a while since I've seen it.

Can anyone point me in the right direction.

Thx

Grazi

[Wingover79]

Try the wannabees section in the main site menu. I believe the questions are there rather than in any specific thread on a forum.


WO79

[Ex Oggie]

This the one??

http://www.pprune.org/go.php?go=/pub...annaindex.html

[grazi]

Many thanks

Grazi

[in-2-wind]

Interview Scenario Questions

Anybody got any typical or tricky interview 'Scenario' questions they can share?? You know the sort of thing: Captain arrives smelling of alcohol, 5 mins from push back, last flight of day so what would you do??? etc. (good solution ideas also welcome)!!

Thanks

windy

[OBK!]

Well what would you do? An interview question doesn't require a right or wrong answer. You need to give your view and back it up resonably to score the points.

If you need help with interviews then there are plenty of books available with great advice. They don't give you answers, nobody will, but they will help you create answers based on your knowledge and experience.

Good luck.

Obk

[M.85]

Dear in-2-wind,

I am sure you can find loads of info in books about interviews,I am myself going to get to it and buy a book or two.
I know at OAT.net you can find some.I am sure they have been well selected.
On the other hand,when you have 5 people interviewing you,the stress will make the truth come out of you wether you want it or not.
Like it was said there are no right or wrong answer as to speak but make sure you think about your experience and what you did to get where you are now so you dont come to the interview without having anything to say under stress.

Good luck and safe flying,

M.85

[Ranjha83]

look up on the net bud..

[DaveBristol11]

Interview Questions

Reading some of the posts on these forums, does anyone have an opinion on the hardest / most interesting / most-odd-while-still-being-useful question one could ask someone applying to become a pilot at your airline.

Not talking about a technical one... more along the lines of "if you were FO and your captain wanted to go below minima blah blah" kind of thing.

[Caracul]

Hard questions in interviews

Because I'm trying to get ready for an interview, I'm trying to think up really hard questions, so that I can try and prepare for if a similar question gets asked.

What questions do people think are out there that are 'puzzlers' to say the least. They can be out of your personal experience, or made up on the spot, I don't mind.

[High Wing Drifter]

The hardest interview questions to answer that I can think of:

What are your weakest points?

Why do you want to be a pilot?

[BigHairyBum]

My hardest one was at an Aer Lingus interview after a group session simulating crew survival after a crash:

Which member of the crew (candidates in the group) would you leave behind when getting in liferaft, and why?

In other words, who is the weakest link???!!!

[wobblyprop]

Your on a night stop. The captain knocks on your door, on their way to the bar. The captain is wearing a dress. What do you do or say?

It's your second sector of the day. You're the FO and PF. ATC clears you to FL160. The Capt. says "cleared to FL150". You dial in FL160. The captain challenges you. This same confusion happend on the previous sector. What do you do? When you're in the crew room at the day, how do you feel? Is there any tension between you and the captain?

Why do you want to work for This Airways? (Because you gave me an interview and i don't care where my first job is)

[rmcfarlane]

RE: Wobblyprop (Did i sit beside you on a LHR-DUB flight?)

The answer to wobblyprop's question 1 is generaly: Buy her a drink! This did catch me out the first time, i had visions of a well fed male captain on the verge of a mid-life crisis, knocking on my door in a cocktail dress!!! I have since learnt to think laterally with interview questions.

But remember, always try and keep your pen out of the company ink! You try sharing the flight deck for the return leg if you were doing the wild thing with your captain!

[High Wing Drifter]

Point out to him that refilling empty bottles of Vodka with water may give other's the wrong impression.

[HEALY]

In relation to the question regarding weaknesses I will be going along the lines of "I am not perfect but do not have any specific weaknesses". Let them retaliate ie Bang their fists on the table then reply that if I had any weaknesses which would effect my performace then I would of addressed them by now.

Just a thought.

[ojs]

Your on a night stop. The captain knocks on your door, on their way to the bar. The captain is wearing a dress. What do you do or say?

Like rmcfarlane, I too had images in my head of a middle aged man having a mid-life crisis; and while this question provides some idle amusement for us here in our comfy chairs once you "know" the answer, it's a very good example of how you can suddenly find yourself in deep waters (being accused of being misogynistic for eg) quite easily. And that "Water in the vodka bottle" scenario is difficult too as you could easily head off in the wrong direction.

It's a bit like that question:

"You're driving your car with the lights turned off. Suddenly you see a black animal standing on a black road. How were you able to see the animal?" (Answer: because it was day-time).

[Personally I think trying to trick candidates with questions like this is a waste of time because (a) there are better ways of finding out of somone can think latterally; and (b) It doesn't actually prove a fat lot if the candidate gives the "wrong" answer, but maybe that's just me!]

Other things to watch out for are:

(a) Questions such as "Tell me the last time you did something wrong" which can lead you into all sorts of difficulties if you start recounting a tale which portrays you in a bad light. Yes we all make mistakes but in the interview scenario it's a natural tendency to try and avoid revealing areas which may be perceived as weaknesses (one of which is "making mistakes"). You may want to get round this question by recounting the hilarious anecdote of the time you let the cat out of the bag about a surprise birthday party.

(b) Questions where you're asked something like: "Tell me your weaknesses" and, an answer having been given, you're asked "And can you tell me another of your weaknesses" forcing you on the defensive and floundering as you desperately try and think of something to say. The received wisdom here (and for other questions of its ilk) is to recognise it's OK to say: "No, that's all I can think of now" and leave it at that.


As for strengths and weaknesses it's always a hard one and there's no really "good" answer. You can always try something like: "I make a strong effort in my work and I sometimes get frustrated by people who don't share my level of commitment" (!) but many think that's too fake. Whatever you say frame the weakness with a positive. So: "I sometimes focus too much on delivery than process, but for the last 3 months I've done (xyz) to resolve this."

Finally with interviews, don't forget the basics - they stand you in good stead:

(i) Don't lie about anything. You never know when you may be caught out. I'm not talking about serious lies (eg saying "I can fly a 777" when you can't) but things such as: "I've been learning to speak Finnish for the last 3 months" (when you haven't); or "I spent my years after University back-packing round Europe" (when you never did). It's just not worth the risk and moreover if you're exposed (by the Finnish back-packing interviewer) your interview is effectively over. It does happen. A friend once got caught out when asked: "How did you prepare for this interview". He went on how he'd done lots of research and read newspaper clippings, but when asked what the company's most important recent announcement was he couldn't say. Needless to say, he didn't get the job.

(ii) Make sure you know as much about the firm you're applying to as you can find out. Some recent history, a knowledge of corporate strategy, current issues, etc etc. Usually company annual reports are a good source for a lot of this info and are avail on-line for free.

(iii) Arrive in good time, but if you're going to be late, call! It happens and people will understand.

If you still need some more advice, I strongly recommend the book "Great answers to tough interview questions".

Hope this helps a bit - and good luck!