Mega Merged: REX Recruitment/Cadetship and Working for REX
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Australia
Age: 27
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Instead of trying to skip your way to the top, why don't you do it the good old fashioned way, get your licence and go fly GA in the top end for awhile? Guarantee you will experience things you cant experience at REX
Seeking some helpful advice. I am 42 years old. Had a passion to fly forever, but it was cost prohibative. Had a a turning point this year and now want to pursue airline flying career. I plan to go through the REX program. I have some questions:
1) How likely is it that I can get my base of choice (this is a must to enable my partner to support us financially since my income will be terribly low (I am going from $200k + PA to what I understand will be $70k PA as an FO?
2) Is it likely that I will go into the SAAB and REX and not another REX business?
3) If I decided to apply to QantasLink Direct Entry FO as soon as I accumulate the hours (700 total and 250 as FO) in order to increase renumeration (assuming) this will take two years or so at REX - what would my chances be like?
4) Am I at risk of discrimination with other airlines (say if the QF LINK does not work out) and I consider other global opportunities (subject to my hours meeting requirements) because of my age? I would be mid 40's by then - still with nearly 20 years of possibly flying (I can't see that as a negative to carriers).
Appreciate that if I bail out of REX under 7 years I will need to pay all the $105k + interenst in one hit (i'd be able to do that). I just could not see a quality of life on $70k with my responsiblities etc., for min 7 years. And I could not accept the cadetship if I was to be shipped to a regional town or other city - it would need to be my current home town.
1) How likely is it that I can get my base of choice (this is a must to enable my partner to support us financially since my income will be terribly low (I am going from $200k + PA to what I understand will be $70k PA as an FO?
2) Is it likely that I will go into the SAAB and REX and not another REX business?
3) If I decided to apply to QantasLink Direct Entry FO as soon as I accumulate the hours (700 total and 250 as FO) in order to increase renumeration (assuming) this will take two years or so at REX - what would my chances be like?
4) Am I at risk of discrimination with other airlines (say if the QF LINK does not work out) and I consider other global opportunities (subject to my hours meeting requirements) because of my age? I would be mid 40's by then - still with nearly 20 years of possibly flying (I can't see that as a negative to carriers).
Appreciate that if I bail out of REX under 7 years I will need to pay all the $105k + interenst in one hit (i'd be able to do that). I just could not see a quality of life on $70k with my responsiblities etc., for min 7 years. And I could not accept the cadetship if I was to be shipped to a regional town or other city - it would need to be my current home town.
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Australia
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I'm not exactly sure but from the 'cadetfaq.pdf' and 'cadet_handbook.pfd' files available on their website, it only said 'good mark' in both subjects.
I'm aiming to get the highest marks that I possibly can get until my final school exams next year.
I loosely know a REX pilot who went through the cadetship. He applied for it a few years after leaving school and got his rpl beforehand. During the interview (note that I don't know how they looked at his application before the interview), he said they showed more interest in his flying skills than his academic results.
For me, I'd assume that if you can get 85-90% on your exams or above, you should be in a pretty good position. I've also been told that it's a good idea to get some (~5-20 hours or enough to go solo once) in light aircraft beforehand as (if you go well,) REX are interested in seeing 'actual' performance in flying. (And while it may not reflect well in their simulator session, if you can read a chart and the weather and retain the knowledge from your flying lessons, that should help you.)
None of this discounts the fact that you should get the best mark possible in school but don't forget that it (probably) isn't everything.
I'm aiming to get the highest marks that I possibly can get until my final school exams next year.
I loosely know a REX pilot who went through the cadetship. He applied for it a few years after leaving school and got his rpl beforehand. During the interview (note that I don't know how they looked at his application before the interview), he said they showed more interest in his flying skills than his academic results.
For me, I'd assume that if you can get 85-90% on your exams or above, you should be in a pretty good position. I've also been told that it's a good idea to get some (~5-20 hours or enough to go solo once) in light aircraft beforehand as (if you go well,) REX are interested in seeing 'actual' performance in flying. (And while it may not reflect well in their simulator session, if you can read a chart and the weather and retain the knowledge from your flying lessons, that should help you.)
None of this discounts the fact that you should get the best mark possible in school but don't forget that it (probably) isn't everything.
We intend to leverage on our unique and unparalleled expertise to further expand our pilot training capabilities. We will look at opening further satellite bases in Australia to respond to the insatiable worldwide demand for professional pilots that are trained to rigorous airline standards. We have already identified one location and will consider more as we expand.”
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Canberra
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Hi everyone,
Long time lurker here. Has anyone who has put their name down for the Jan 2020 cadetship intake heard back from Rex about Wombat testing yet? Applications re-opened a couple of weeks ago. It'll be interesting to know if they send out invitations on a rolling basis or all at once.
Cheers
Long time lurker here. Has anyone who has put their name down for the Jan 2020 cadetship intake heard back from Rex about Wombat testing yet? Applications re-opened a couple of weeks ago. It'll be interesting to know if they send out invitations on a rolling basis or all at once.
Cheers
Join Date: May 2016
Location: PERTH
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Passed the wombat test 6 weeks ago. 3 weeks ago got told I passed and a phone interview would be scheduled.
Heard nothing since.
Also landed a cadetship elsewhere now so I’m out.
Heard nothing since.
Also landed a cadetship elsewhere now so I’m out.
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Australia
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I'm going to apply once I finish year 12 this year - can someone who's gotten through give an overview of how the selection process goes and the time frame for each stage? I've read about it in the cadetfaq.pdf and their website but it still seems a bit murky?
If I recall correctly:
If I recall correctly:
- Submit your info on rex.com and wait for a response? How long do I wait?
- Invitation to do WOMBAT test and possible maths/physics exam. When does this occur and can I choose the date?
- A phone interview for those who were successful in the above. How long after does this occur?
- Face-to-face interview in Wagga - how long after the above does this occur and do you have any tips?
- Final interview in Sydney - Same as above.
- Hand written motivation letter - how does this work? i.e. how long is it and is there any expectations (other than the obvious)?
1. You will wait a long time. They're very slow to respond to any form of communication, I waited several months.
2. The WOMBAT test occurred very soon after first receiving their email to say I was through. It's pretty tough.
3. Phone interview happened for me a week or two after the WOMBAT. They didn't mention this anywhere but it is entirely technical in nature, so do your homework.
4. This was a few weeks after the phone interview and included and flight sim check. I felt it went well but was unsuccessful here. Advice would be to hire a sim for an hour before hand so you don't have to learn it for the first time while being assessed (it felt nothing like flying a real aircraft, so all my training actually worked against me). Actual interview was a combination of more technical questions and a few motivational/behavioural questions.
2. The WOMBAT test occurred very soon after first receiving their email to say I was through. It's pretty tough.
3. Phone interview happened for me a week or two after the WOMBAT. They didn't mention this anywhere but it is entirely technical in nature, so do your homework.
4. This was a few weeks after the phone interview and included and flight sim check. I felt it went well but was unsuccessful here. Advice would be to hire a sim for an hour before hand so you don't have to learn it for the first time while being assessed (it felt nothing like flying a real aircraft, so all my training actually worked against me). Actual interview was a combination of more technical questions and a few motivational/behavioural questions.
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Australia
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Thanks Phlegm.
I've heard that the WOMBAT test is really hard if you don't have experience with video games (not good for me) and that the sim is nothing like real flying (again, not good for me). Is the sim a fixed one and is there feedback in the controls - I doubt that they'd chuck you in the S340 sims?)
Also, as I will get my school results in December, does that mean I'll miss the early 2021 (Jan-March) intake for the course?
I've heard that the WOMBAT test is really hard if you don't have experience with video games (not good for me) and that the sim is nothing like real flying (again, not good for me). Is the sim a fixed one and is there feedback in the controls - I doubt that they'd chuck you in the S340 sims?)
Also, as I will get my school results in December, does that mean I'll miss the early 2021 (Jan-March) intake for the course?