New Thomas Cook cadet scheme

[SAFFAPILOT]

TCX

Congrats to all who got through to Stage 3. I wish you all the best of luck for the remaining stages.

Unfortunately I did not make it, a bit gutted really. I suppose when this sort of thing happens you start wondering about the reason's why, which brings me to my two greatest regrets as far as this process was concerned:

1. I wish I had written a page per question as some of the others did I sure as hell would not have thought my 4 pages was a bad effort. If I was the one reading it all, I would appreciate clear concise answers.

2. Secondly and probably my main reason - My "age" like clanger32 mentioned...35 and starting a 2nd career is not impossible, I just think in my case, a 35 year old candidate and TCX MBA's start punching ROI numbers. Thinking of it, I should have mentioned to them that I'm more than happy to join management at retirement age...I already hold a MBA, that means I could probably work back the additional 10 years I'm too old by the way, would be interesting to know whether anyone post 30 made it to stage 3?


Oh well, so it goes...some doors close, others open...just as long as we don't focus on the closing door thereby not realising the ones that open.

Right enough talk, back to my ATPL's....my new mission starting today..."have my ATPL theory done (I'm half way through Module 1) by time TCX cadets do their 1st solo's " who's with me???

Take care guys and again best of luck to all stage 3 candidates

[echo three]

EGNH19 - I agree with your opinion regarding giving bad news at the same time as the good news. There will be many applicants who won't have read this thread, all of whom will still be waiting for a call which clearly isn't going to come if it hasn't already. I learnt how to do chain mail when I was in year 7 at school; it's not hard and I hear there's this new fancy technology called email now too! How hard would it be to email all those who didn't get through? Any news is better than no news.

I've concluded that I now have a free weekend. What's bugging me though is how I completed stage 2 : I received my questionnaire on the Monday shortly after 9am but only saw the email on Wednesday evening and sent it off 1am Thursday morning. The email requested a reply within 3 days, which doesn't really define my deadline as either midnight Wednesday or 9am Thursday. I'm starting to think I spent the week waiting for a phone call that they were never going to make...

Best of luck with all those heading to Peterborough over the next few days. As a wannabee who's been riding out the economic wave for the last two years waiting for the tide to turn, I know just how good an offer like this is.

A lot of people on here are moaning about lack of finances upon completion. Fair enough repayments are as ugly as the course fee itself, but that's just a sign of the times if this is the route you want to take, you could always go modular. Offers like this are few and far between at the moment. Take the bitter for the sweet.

[TC84AS]

I'm curious to know a bit of background to those of you who were lucky enough to proceed to phase 3.

Any previous airline experience (cabin crew/handling/mechanic, etc.)?

Any previous flight training or endorsements (PPL, CPL, UL, Glider)?

What nationality (UK, EU, non-EU residents)?

And what age (...)? Male/Female?

Would be interesting to find out what profile TCX is looking for in this particular recruitment. Best of luck to you all!

[Smell the Coffee]

SAFFA pilot, sorry to hear you didn't make it - how did they let you know? By email I assume?

I'm guessing that having heard nothing at this very late stage, I probably didn't make it either - but as others have said, it would have been nice to have been notified either way a little bit sooner!

[SAFFAPILOT]

TCX

Smell the Coffee...nope, no email, no phone call, no tissue or shoulder to cry on but I suppose I can safely assume its a "No" as stage 3 starts tomorrow.

Actually I'm a bit mad at myself as my ATPL's took a knock last week as all I did was press the refresh button on this blog...

Anyhow, will just have to do all this the hard way...study, work, hour build on weekends however what made this scheme so powerful was the "guaranteed job" at the end of it & lets be honest TCX is a decent company to work for. I'm sure many fAtpl's would agree in the current climate thats worth its weight in gold.

To all that did not make it, not to worry, anything is possible just hang in there

[Smell the Coffee]

Thanks SAFFAPILOT - as others above have noted, disappointing that Thomas Cook and/or FTE have not bothered (as yet) to let those that didn't make the grade know ... on the other hand, all the best to those that have received the call!

[echo three]

TC84AS, an example of somebody who didn't get through:

*2:1 Hons BSc Aviation Technology with Pilot Studies (I'm sure many will of heard of this course, hell a couple on this forum probably DID this course).
*PPL gained in 2008, not trained since to avoid gaining too many hours for an integrated course.
*been previously accepted into FTE twice since 2007, currently still able to join OAA having been accepted in 2009.
*22, from the UK.

In case you hadn't guessed already, that's me. Having said all this, as I mentioned above I may have missed the stage 2 deadline depending on how you perceive "3 days from this email". I certainly hope that's the reason anyway, or maybe here's the bit where I look at my responses to the questionnaire and go "Oh s**t, I called them Thomson"...(Nope, just checked, I'm in the clear on that one!)

[dmrich]

Hi Guys

This is my first post on here as I have only just registered, although I have monitored the forums for some years.

I have also applied for this scheme, and just wanted to say that I am certain that not hearing anything yet is not a definate NO from TCX, and understand that it is not uncommon within the industry to be called the day before to attend an interview. They may (given the tight timescale) for example have only shortlisted half of the overall amount that they wish to interview at this stage, and have therefore only spoken to this half. Therefore 'chins up' for now, as it may not be over just yet .

That said if nothing is heard by mid next week will just have to accept it, and it is not uncommon to hear nothing at all, especially if they have received such a large response.

Best of luck everyone and I will post again if I hear anything more.

[whimsahoy]

hi all,

just a wee email, i got through to stage 3. As for those who didn't PLEASE dont give up, regardless of age. Im a 20 year old female and I am a newly qualified PPL. I have got down to the final stages of many schemes and been turned away financial, because im too young etc etc. And even this time may not be my big break. As for the age thing, my friend is 34 and leaving an incredibly well paid job to follow her dream and I would suggest that anyone else having the same doubts about their career should just seize the day and go for it. Ive learnt early that I want to live rather than just exist and waste my life. If you want it you will get there. Even if you have failed a medical theres ways around it i.e get an american license etc. I believe aviation is coming out of the recession now and they are predicting a pilot shortage in 2012 so if you got turned down get studying and you'll be ready for that I have been working for an airline for about 3 weeks just in a customer service role, I would suggest trying to get a job with any airline gives you great background and experience. I got to sit with a captain doing his flight plan! I can also tell you that the majority of the pilots are very...mature if you get me. So you wont have any age issues. Last week i heard of a man getting his first FO job at 50....the skies the limit literally. dont give up look into all the options if you want it bdly enough you'll find a way

[greyb33]

TC84AS

I managed to get through I have three A-levels and relevant work experience. I have also completed my Bronze Duke of Edinburgh and represented various football teams. My A-levels are in ICT, Business studies and Physics with grades ABC.

Greyb33

[colourblindgeek]

Having said all this, as I mentioned above I may have missed the stage 2 deadline depending on how you perceive "3 days from this email". I certainly hope that's the reason anyway,

Well I receive the email on Friday in the morning, so counted 3 days - that makes Monday in the morning. I even used my fingers.... all of Friday, all of Saturday, all of Sunday and the bit on Monday morning before the time the email was sent on Friday.

I figured the fact that pilots (and the TCX staff given the assessment for some is on Sunday) worked weekends so every day is a working day.

[FlyEJF]

Stage 3

I got through to stage 3, however unfortunately, I have had to withdraw due to a number of reasons.

My details are 29 (soon to be 30), single male. 4 A levels (incl. Maths, Physics, Chemistry), MEng in Aerospace Engineering, MSc in Design of Rotating Machines. 5 years work experience in engineering field at an aerospace company.

Obtained ppl in 1998 but not current due to financial priorities. Play team sports etc.

I wrote on average, 220 words per question (excluding question 8 where I wrote abut 20). Not 7 pages worth, more like 3.

I'm just gutted I couldn't continue.

I would find it disappointing if TCX didn't email people to let them know if they hadn't progressed further. Seems strange and not very professional at all to me. Maybe they will wait to see how many people progress to stage 4 before rejecting anyone.

Ed

[Macarto]

Hi guys, sorry but is there a link for this scheme by thomas cook and is it limited to UK and Irish citizens only?

[echo three]

Macarto, I don't believe this was restricted to any geographical area, but the deadline to make an initial application for the scheme has been already passed if you were looking to apply. Sorry.

[echo three]

Well I receive the email on Friday in the morning, so counted 3 days - that makes Monday in the morning. I even used my fingers.... all of Friday, all of Saturday, all of Sunday and the bit on Monday morning before the time the email was sent on Friday.

I figured the fact that pilots (and the TCX staff given the assessment for some is on Sunday) worked weekends so every day is a working day.

Har Har colourblindgeek . I was suggesting there could simply be confusion; 3 days could mean until midnight of the third day after the email was sent or 72 hours from when the email was sent...oh what the heck, it doesn't matter anyway , more fool me for the email somehow not grasping my attention until what turned out to be the last minute.

Time to look for the next golden opportunity, anyone got a heads up on any?

[the ace of spades]

to all the whingers

i have done a lot of interviews over the past few years and on no occassion did the company call me up or email me to say i didnt progress to the next stage at the same of or before offering it to successful canditates. that is just the way it goes, it is not unprofessinal of tc at all, you might learn to realise this after you have applied for a few other things in the future.
if all you want to do is come on here and complain it doesnt show much character and get up in you. the stage 3 tests are in progress this weekend as you all know so just take it on the chin and take what you can from it and do better next time.
i got called to stage 3 but due to my personal situation i have had to pull out of the competition. i wrote 3 pages and got the call, some wrote 10 plus pages and got the call. they have a canditate profile and the way you answered the questions ultimately dictates if you will be successful or not, not the quantity. life experience and getting your point accross is what you needed.
to all who have made it this far, the very best of luck and to all who have not been successful, as i said earlier, chin up, there will be more opportunities, one door closes, another one opens. if its what you really want to do and you work hard, then i am sure it wont pass you by.

be good.
t a o s

[Smell the Coffee]

i have done a lot of interviews over the past few years and on no occassion did the company call me up or email me to say i didnt progress to the next stage at the same of or before offering it to successful canditates. that is just the way it goes, it is not unprofessinal of tc at all, you might learn to realise this after you have applied for a few other things in the future.
if all you want to do is come on here and complain it doesnt show much character and get up in you.

Have to disagree with this part of your post ace of spades.

Like you, I have applied for many jobs and sponsorships and ALL have replied back to let me know whether I have been successful or not, so I can't really accept the argument 'that's just how it goes' .... if this is true, then it's the first time I haven't heard back from a company regarding the status of my application.

If TCX never intended to reply to those that didn't get through to Stage 3, the least they could have done is add a disclaimer such as 'if you don't hear back from us within 2 weeks, please consider your application unsuccessful on this occasion.'

Having said that, I agree with the rest of your post. We shall all move on and make it happen!

[Bombs Away]

Just out of curiosity, was writing essay style answers a requirement to passing through to stage 3? Everyone here has mentioned that they wrote pages upon pages for the answers.

I don't recall it mentioning that on the website. I was under the assumption that 15 or 16 lines that were to the point for each answer would have sufficed? Short and sweet instead of lot's of waffle. Maybe I'm wrong in that conclusion?

[Tana-Airlines]

Hi guys,

Any feedback from the people who did the assessment already? How was it? How many applicants are there?

Cheers

[historyftw]

Wasn't too bad. Not sure of total number of applicants has to be min 60