Yes, I have to agree with historyftw as well.

There is competition for these placements, and it is generally unhelpful to the assessors if the details employed in the process are disseminated on internet bulletin boards. Obviously it is accepted that over a period of time the specific assessment details will need to be modified to maintain the effectiveness of what they are trying to achieve, however it is quite normal for people attending an assessment to be asked not to pass on the specific details to others who may be attending (or hoping to attend) later.

Teamwork is an intrinsic part of the job, and is assessed as part of these programmes by virtue of what is contained in the programme. It should also be remembered that confidentiality is also a part of the job and despite the realities of these things, is something that the assesors would hope the attendees would maintain.

It is human nature that candidates would want to arm themselves with as much advance information and possible advantage as possible, and everybody accepts that. However those charged with making the assessments want (as much as possible) to see the real individual before them rather than a cribbed interpretation of a former applicant.

So nothing wrong with the question being asked, but also nothing wrong with the answer that was given either. Passing on the specific details has nothing whatsoever to do with teamwork, nor is it what the assessors would hope to see (even though that is likely to happen over time,) and in a competitive process it hands a potential advantage to those with whom you are competing.

Candidates for these positions are not "colleagues" or "team mates" save as to specific situations where that type of co-operation is being assessed through role play scenarios or interview.

Are a lot of you still waiting to hear back

i work in thomascook and im getting more and more frustrated with the no replies now

sent an email on the 26th, and she read the email this morning and AGAIN decided not to reply

now im not trying to sound superior to all of you... but as im internal and work in the company i wudnt of expecte to be ignored 3 times now.

i got the stage 2 questions when i was on holiday, i sent an email straight back off my phone asking if i could complete them on my return, received no response, sent another email...no response...sent my answers back and said is this still ok...no reply...sent an email asking for an update...no reply!

argh!

Do you seriously wonder why they may be ignoring you?

I'd start by fixing your keyboard as I think the 'shift' key, apostrophe key, letters d and o appear not to be working.

I know this is a forum, but if you want to be taken seriously here or in the airlines, I'd just take a few minutes to review your work.

Sorry, but it just irritates me. The team at TCX are probably busy working on those for the next round and the sad truth is that they won't be overly concerned spending days ensuring that those that didn't make stages 2 or 3 are treated with special gloves.

Please wake up to the word 'commercial'. Like any airline they are a business. When you understand that, then you'll understand why they may not respond in a hurry. What is their commercial interest in writing to each applicant explaining why they didn't get to the x, y or z stage?

I see you point colourblindgeek, and in some ways I agree - but I also agree with those that did not receive any communication after Stage 2.

Many companies I have applied to (and worked for) such as Exxon, BP, British Airways and others will always let candidates know whether they have progressed to the next stage or not - though they may not always give a reason (and that I can completely understand!)

I don't think it's entirely unreasonable to have expected at least a BCC email with "Thanks but no thanks ..." or maybe just a disclaimer to all applicants, advising them that no response means the same. All the companies I have worked for or applied to, do this.

Can understand that TCX were most probably inundated with responses - perhaps more than they could reasonably process with the resources they had available.

I didn't get an invite to Stage 2 - fair enough, and best of luck to those still in the game. :ok:

Are a lot of you still waiting to hear back

i work in thomascook and im getting more and more frustrated with the no replies now

sent an email on the 26th, and she read the email this morning and AGAIN decided not to reply

now im not trying to sound superior to all of you... but as im internal and work in the company i wudnt of expecte to be ignored 3 times now.

i got the stage 2 questions when i was on holiday, i sent an email straight back off my phone asking if i could complete them on my return, received no response, sent another email...no response...sent my answers back and said is this still ok...no reply...sent an email asking for an update...no reply!

argh!

If i was internal, i would have shown my communication skills and picked up the phone, not added to the backlog of mail the admin team are no doubt inundated with... Just because someone opened the mail, does not mean an immediate response is required, in fact the reason your mail was probably opened is because it looked like an internal communication and perhaps part of BAU.

You have likely been moved to an appropriate folder and will be dealt with according to the order of priority, thats what I would have done anyway.

EGNH19 - I find your post ruder than any of the others. I have found that a lot of companies never reply to job applications and understandably due to the amount of applicants they must have in the current economic climate. I do find this some what annoying and can understand where people might get angry. However, to call them 'ars..oles' maybe a bit too far. There is a more tactful way to say 'well actually I got a reply'...

Thats by the by I am posting to ask if anyone has heard back about Stage 4 yet... If EGNH19 has got his reply about stage 3 they must be starting to process the applications. So good luck to everyone and if anyone hears back about Stage 4 yet please post on here! I will do the same. Good luck to everyone now that we have done all we can just have to wait and hear!

Historyftw x

Hi,

My status was updated today and i received a reply from TCX which explained they didn't progress my application.

So they answer.

Thomas1984 - Do you mind if I ask what stage you did reach?

Well done Richard! Bet it was the crisps and drink you brought for Lisa! Betting if you heard today everyone else did! I'll wait for my polite rejection email. Not too fussed though don't buy a ticket don't win the raffle! Good luck for stage 4!

Well done guys! Best of luck

Well dine I imagine if you got an answer phone message it was positive what time did she leave it? What interview session where you in chromeo? what time did she leave the message?

I'll expect all the phone calls were made today and they'll send out let down emails end of the week

I reached phase 2 (with questionnaire) but not phase 3.

Interview with Thomas Cook's Chief Pilot
 

Have a listen to this podcast interview with Paul Hutchings, Chief Pilot at Thomas Cook. An interesting discussion about what they look for in new pilots and a brief overview of the cadet training scheme.
www.flyingpodcast.co.uk

Hi,

Didn't make it to stage 3 here but just wondering how the guys/girls that did are getting on? Anybody on here still involved with this scheme?

H.

I got to stage 3 but was not selected to stage 4. Stage 3 consisted in a pilot aptitude test, an interview and a physical/maths/reasoning test in Peterborough.
From what I have heard, only 8 cadets where eventually selected to work for TCX after stage 4. We were approximately 2500 to attend the selection at the first stage. :8


No regrets.

In the last TCX flight ops newsletter published a couple of weeks ago, the 8 successful candidates were named and are starting at Jerez on November 12th. Congratulations to them, and comiserations to those who didn't make it....

The scheme is to be run again next year, and may even ramp up to several intakes a year.

Flaperon, thanks for the update. Encouraging to hear the scheme will run again.

does anyone know if the course has started? and are they doing some sort of blog on it?

It started in November.

Blog is here

Cadet Pilots