British Airways Future Pilot Programme.
Join Date: Dec 2011
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Right, now that all of the interviews are out of the way...
First off, good luck to all those still in the game. By passing all of the previous tests, every one of you has shown you have the aptitude and potential to do this - in some ways, that makes holding the final interviews in isolation a bit of an oddity...
As we were told on the day, all of the black and white, yes/no assessment is done and dusted, and hopefully we've all passed the interview "sanity check" to ensure that we are a fit for the BA culture and lifestyle. Having already passed one interview along much the same lines, you would hope that this would be the case.
That said, it's best not to assume, and I'm going to say now that I wasn't at all happy with my interview performance, and I just don't think that I did enough, or to some extent that the particular questions which came my way allowed me best to demonstrate the sheer passion and devotion which I have put into preparing for this process over the last 12 months and beyond.
Them, as they say, is the breaks - perhaps I'm overly critical as I thought I'd messed up the previous assessment as well and that went OK! I was (somewhat sadly) saving my 100th post for the good news on Wednesday but I wouldn't want to assume, so I'll instead use it to wish you all well. I feel better getting back into the chat anyway, what a great bunch of people you are
I have wanted to fly for a very long time, but I made some questionable decisions in my youth that lead me away from that path; a path which I now find myself longing desperately to re-join. As such, I really respect those of you that have the strength of mind and the drive to pursue your dream whole-heartedly from the get-go.
I do believe that the whole process (including failure last year) has made me a much better person and allowed me to grow. I am sure that I will be able to do the same for next year if it comes down to it, but I am trying not to think about that at present as the price of a second failure will be high - I have perhaps put a little too much of myself into this, as I am sure have we all!
Anyway, to Wednesday - may it bring you good news. For myself, even with the above doubts I am still keeping the faith - it ain't over 'til it's over!
First off, good luck to all those still in the game. By passing all of the previous tests, every one of you has shown you have the aptitude and potential to do this - in some ways, that makes holding the final interviews in isolation a bit of an oddity...
As we were told on the day, all of the black and white, yes/no assessment is done and dusted, and hopefully we've all passed the interview "sanity check" to ensure that we are a fit for the BA culture and lifestyle. Having already passed one interview along much the same lines, you would hope that this would be the case.
That said, it's best not to assume, and I'm going to say now that I wasn't at all happy with my interview performance, and I just don't think that I did enough, or to some extent that the particular questions which came my way allowed me best to demonstrate the sheer passion and devotion which I have put into preparing for this process over the last 12 months and beyond.
Them, as they say, is the breaks - perhaps I'm overly critical as I thought I'd messed up the previous assessment as well and that went OK! I was (somewhat sadly) saving my 100th post for the good news on Wednesday but I wouldn't want to assume, so I'll instead use it to wish you all well. I feel better getting back into the chat anyway, what a great bunch of people you are
I have wanted to fly for a very long time, but I made some questionable decisions in my youth that lead me away from that path; a path which I now find myself longing desperately to re-join. As such, I really respect those of you that have the strength of mind and the drive to pursue your dream whole-heartedly from the get-go.
I do believe that the whole process (including failure last year) has made me a much better person and allowed me to grow. I am sure that I will be able to do the same for next year if it comes down to it, but I am trying not to think about that at present as the price of a second failure will be high - I have perhaps put a little too much of myself into this, as I am sure have we all!
Anyway, to Wednesday - may it bring you good news. For myself, even with the above doubts I am still keeping the faith - it ain't over 'til it's over!
Last edited by JDA2012; 18th May 2015 at 08:48. Reason: Edit: slept on it and cheered up, thank you all :)
Join Date: Oct 2011
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Don't be conclusive yet JDA, people who think they haven't done well at an interview end up doing much better than they expect. I thought I screwed up the FTE FPP interview, which obviously turned out not to be the case. You need to believe in yourself.
Wednesday is a massive day for those still in the game, so I wish you all the best of luck!
Wednesday is a massive day for those still in the game, so I wish you all the best of luck!
Its not a chance for you to show off remember, the whole point of an interview is to see if you can think on your feet and how you react to a bit of pressure. Everyone who was there must have prepared a massive spiel about how much they love flying, and how much they love BA etc so they are not going to learn anything about you by letting you waffle on about these topics.
Just wait till Wednesday, you've probably done a lot better than you think...
Just wait till Wednesday, you've probably done a lot better than you think...
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Hi everyone,
Best of luck to everyone waiting to find out their final results. Wednesday can't come fast enough! I've seen a few people mention that there's more places than candidates remaining, so we're competing against a benchmark, not each other. Just wanted to confirm that I was told the same thing at Waterside too.
Is there anyone on here who had their final interview on 05/05? Everyone I've met so far both at FTO assessment (Oxford for me) and Waterside has been really friendly and enthusiastic so best of luck to everyone, I'd love to have you all as course mates if we make it!
Does anybody know when we'll find out what our course start date is once we find out if we're successful?
Best of luck to everyone waiting to find out their final results. Wednesday can't come fast enough! I've seen a few people mention that there's more places than candidates remaining, so we're competing against a benchmark, not each other. Just wanted to confirm that I was told the same thing at Waterside too.
Is there anyone on here who had their final interview on 05/05? Everyone I've met so far both at FTO assessment (Oxford for me) and Waterside has been really friendly and enthusiastic so best of luck to everyone, I'd love to have you all as course mates if we make it!
Does anybody know when we'll find out what our course start date is once we find out if we're successful?
Join Date: Aug 2007
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If it's any consolation, I'm not sure it's possible to summarise a passion that is so great without sounding like a bit of a nutter, I know I came out thinking it could have been a much better interview and was asked a fraction of the questions I had hoped for. However, it's done now and I cannot go back in time so it is in the hands of BA now. I have no doubt that all of us know how badly we want good news on Wednesday and I sincerely hope that it comes. Personally, I am dreading opening the e-mail.
Join Date: Jun 2009
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@claudiaupear
I believe you were there on Thursday? I'm sure we had a conversation. You were in the early morning group right? I don't think there is one person that has come out of the interview who feels that they absolutely nailed it. I for sure didn't and like you claudiaupear, none of the questions I had hoped for came up and the ones that did, for some reason I used a completely different example than the ones I had prepared. I guess that's what pressure does to you!
I'm also dreading opening the email...The thought of it makes my heart pound!
Best of luck though folks. I hope we all get the news we have been waiting for.
I believe you were there on Thursday? I'm sure we had a conversation. You were in the early morning group right? I don't think there is one person that has come out of the interview who feels that they absolutely nailed it. I for sure didn't and like you claudiaupear, none of the questions I had hoped for came up and the ones that did, for some reason I used a completely different example than the ones I had prepared. I guess that's what pressure does to you!
I'm also dreading opening the email...The thought of it makes my heart pound!
Best of luck though folks. I hope we all get the news we have been waiting for.
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I for sure didn't and like you claudiaupear, none of the questions I had hoped for came up and the ones that did, for some reason I used a completely different example than the ones I had prepared. I guess that's what pressure does to you!
the whole point of an interview is to see if you can think on your feet and how you react to a bit of pressure.
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Yes, I was there on Thursday morning. Fighting jetlag now! As we are several hours ahead here, it will be late evening before I get the e mail. Either way, I don't think I'll sleep much that evening. I'm trying to work out my strategy for opening...just go for it in the style of a 5 year old at a birthday party or calm and considered...
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I thought so. Jetlag because you were flying to Australia correct? I was the mixed race chap who was delighted with the pilot that was interviewing me. Thanks for for the reassurances before I went in. It certainly helped.
Thanks for for the reassurances before I went in. It certainly helped.
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Ah, fantastic! Was great to meet you, enjoyed the chat. Hope it went ok for you. The last thing I wanted was to come out and tell you guys it was awful so I tried to keep it all positive! Best of luck for you and yes, Australia!
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Congratulations to everyone that made it this far. I recently passed the DEP Selection for BA and just wanted to offer some reassurance. I came out of each of the three stages of selection (albeit a little different from the FPP process) convinced that I hadn't been able to display all I had to offer and anticipating a rejection email. To have made it this far is a huge achievement. BA want you to succeed, there are places for all of you if you meet the standard, and I'm sure the vast majority have.
I was nearly in tears on my way home after my interview at BA (not very becoming for a man in his late twenties!). I had practiced so much and had prepared all of my answers using the STAR format, knowing exactly what I wanted to convey. Of course none of the questions I thought I'd be asked came up. I felt as if I hadn't been able to do myself justice in showing my passion for my career and BA. I was convinced it was game over. However, two days later I got the nod to progress to the simulator at stage three.
We all have preconceptions of how we think the perfect interview will go, but in reality there is no perfect interview. As long as you stayed focused, didn't ramble and continued to be positive and concise, I'm sure you've done enough.
I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for all of you. Congratulations again!
I was nearly in tears on my way home after my interview at BA (not very becoming for a man in his late twenties!). I had practiced so much and had prepared all of my answers using the STAR format, knowing exactly what I wanted to convey. Of course none of the questions I thought I'd be asked came up. I felt as if I hadn't been able to do myself justice in showing my passion for my career and BA. I was convinced it was game over. However, two days later I got the nod to progress to the simulator at stage three.
We all have preconceptions of how we think the perfect interview will go, but in reality there is no perfect interview. As long as you stayed focused, didn't ramble and continued to be positive and concise, I'm sure you've done enough.
I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for all of you. Congratulations again!
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EMB-145LR
Thank you. I think this is exactly the kind of reassurance us hopefuls need!
Whilst still trying not to get my hopes up too much, your feedback is very much appreciated.
Thank you. I think this is exactly the kind of reassurance us hopefuls need!
Whilst still trying not to get my hopes up too much, your feedback is very much appreciated.
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EMB-145LR - seconding what funky said, it has really helped to get your perspective on this. Congratulations on already having made it; there are many of us very keen to earn a seat next to you!
EZY/Capewell/claudiaupear - thanks also for your thoughts. It's good to know I'm not alone in how I feel about all this. BA have high standards to uphold, so I suppose it can only be a good thing that we all have our own high standards with which we compare ourselves.
Cpt_Hook - hello and welcome! Good to see a new face - we usually get an influx of candidates / cadets around this time and no doubt Wednesday will bring a few more. I am also an OAA candidate and was at Waterside on the 7th. Looking forward to seeing you there! Looking at last year's posts, decisions were emailed on 11th April and course start dates on 19th May, so make of that what you will.
EZY/Capewell/claudiaupear - thanks also for your thoughts. It's good to know I'm not alone in how I feel about all this. BA have high standards to uphold, so I suppose it can only be a good thing that we all have our own high standards with which we compare ourselves.
Cpt_Hook - hello and welcome! Good to see a new face - we usually get an influx of candidates / cadets around this time and no doubt Wednesday will bring a few more. I am also an OAA candidate and was at Waterside on the 7th. Looking forward to seeing you there! Looking at last year's posts, decisions were emailed on 11th April and course start dates on 19th May, so make of that what you will.
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...so I suppose it can only be a good thing that we all have our own high standards with which we compare ourselves
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How is everybody feeling about tomorrow? The positivity I had leaving my interview has quickly faded away as the 20th gets closer. The nerves seem to be a bit worse this time with it being my third application - how are people in a similar boat to me feeling?
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Funky - Pleased I'm not alone in voicing the nerves, it's one of those situations you can never really be sure how you've done until you're told in black and white... After receiving two negatives for two consecutive years I'm almost ready for another, even though I gave it my all this time round. Best of luck for tomorrow though, hopefully most will receive the good news!
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I'm exactly the same Ryan. I've getting used to rejection! I genuinely gave it my everything too. I've been preparing since last year. Was my performance the best on the day? No, it definitely was not. The pilot part went well but the HR bit was a bit of a blur and I know I could have answered the competency questions miles better than I did. 
It's going to be a tough nights sleep.
It's going to be a tough nights sleep.