Qantas pilot academy - latest rejection

[Fantome]

There is a character type, a profile, that the airline recruiters have clearly in mind. There is the formal selection criteria, and then there a less easy to define
assessment about an applicant's suitability, which may include a look at persona, which in effect covers tolerance, stability, humour and other attributes, while considering potentially adverse aspects such as prejudices, fixations or halitosis.
(A young woman I knew applied, well qualified. Three senior pilots, all men, interviewed her. She did well, presenting as confident, pleasant and relaxed.In conclusion they thanked her for coming in. As she rose to leave, one of the panel asked her. . . "Just a last question . .. what would be your reaction to
any sexual harassment on the flight deck?" She smilingly replied . . . "Well all I'd do is ask him to not say a word." General laughter. I rather think that clinched it for her. Home and hosed. )

P.S. You're right 'crosscutter'. . .. many of us swept hangers . .. . and not just the wire ones lying around in dusty corners of the hangar.

[crosscutter]

Originally Posted by Fantome

P.S. You're right 'crosscutter'. . .. many of us swept hangers . .. . and not just the wire ones lying around in dusty corners of the hangar.

haha...touché

[rmcdonal]

Originally Posted by TempoTCu

I am not pinning all my hopes and dreams on being a flagship airline pilot. I would be equally as thrilled with any pilot job in a full time capacity that meets my current cost of living.

That is probably a big stumbling block. There are very few, if any, low hour jobs that would meet the requirements of your current costs of living.

[HighFives]

Welcome to aviation (unfortunately), and the competitive nature of the game. I wouldn’t get beat up (or hung up) on age. Move on before it drains all of your energy.

If you’re willing to move into GA regionally after you get your CPL, I would say this is your best bet given your circumstances (my opinion only). Instructing is also another option, but if the GA industry is going firm, you’ll get ahead quicker by getting out of the big smoke (again my opinion).

Start establishing a relationship with an operator of your choice now, so that by the time you are qualified, you have a decent shot at your first gig. Networking is everything.

GA is a perfectly acceptable pathway for people in different life stages, and I don’t regret my 5 or so years in it (trust me it goes pretty quick). You meet so many different people and see a lot of this great country, needless to say that first turbo prop and first jet job taste all that much sweeter!

It sounds like a bitter pill to swallow, and it is! Rip that bandaid off quickly...then you won’t look back!

[27/09]

Originally Posted by Fantome

P.S. You're right 'crosscutter'. . .. many of us swept hangers . .. . and not just the wire ones lying around in dusty corners of the hangar.

One is spelled hangar the other wire ones, hangar. The word hangar is of French origin I believe.

Today's piece of interesting, useless, information.

Meanwhile back on topic

[27/09]

Originally Posted by TempoTCu

I just want to be clear that I am not suggesting that I have been discriminated against - I'm just seeking feedback on what I can do (if anything) to overcome the constant rejections. This isn't about finding or making excuses, its about tapping into every resource available to learn and improve. Thanks.

I think you need to change tack and forget about the academy route. There are other ways.

[Slippery_Pete]

(A young woman I knew applied, well qualified. Three senior pilots, all men, interviewed her. She did well, presenting as confident, pleasant and relaxed.In conclusion they thanked her for coming in. As she rose to leave, one of the panel asked her. . . "Just a last question . .. what would be your reaction to
any sexual harassment on the flight deck?" She smilingly replied . . . "Well all I'd do is ask him to not say a word." General laughter. I rather think that clinched it for her. Home and hosed. )

Great laugh, thanks for sharing. For her to reply like that, it’s instantly seen for what it is (a joke) and shows her sense of humour.

But had a male responded in the same way (with humour), how do you think that would have worked out?

[neville_nobody]

I am becoming miffed as to why I continue to be rejected at the first round of cuts for all cadetship/academy applications.

Well have a think about it from the airline's perspective. If they hire someone who will be about 40 when they get checked to line, it doesn't leave much time to be a Captain. You would be lucky to see a command at any Jet airline under 15 years from starting which would leave someone like yourself in their early to mid 50's when they are just starting their command, assuming you pass it first go. At best it leaves 5-10 years assuming you are capable and willing to fly into your 60s. Given they can hire a 22 year old and get 20+ years out of them as a Captain, what would you do if you were the airline?

[Fantome]

That is the long and the short of it. It makes no sense to persist with hoping for a break, crying for the moon.

[pilotchute]

I have seen first hand people 40+ going for their first jet rating with not a lot of experience.

Its very hit and miss. Out of 6 people 3 didn't make it.

[tbfka]

Got the same rejection email. 24, male, uni degree, all the necessary high school subjects, working full time. The application was pretty basic and didn’t ask for a resume, cover letter or anything about why you want to be a pilot or what characteristics you have that would make you a successful pilot etc etc. It was just name, gender, address, DOB, high school, any further studies, preferred course and a couple other questions. I had no idea how they were going to filter candidates (aside from gender) with such a basic application. Really makes you wonder what they’re after.

[lucille]

TempTCu, assuming you go the GA career route, how will your wife feel about being the main breadwinner? How will your family ​​​​survive on the less than subsistence salaries in GA? True, people do but it’s not pretty.

Heres the hard truth. You’re late 30’s with children. It’s too late now to follow your dream, your sole responsibility is to your children. Bluntly, at your stage of life, you’ve missed the boat. Accept it, find other avenues of fulfilment. There are many wonderfull ways to enjoy recreational aviation which don’t cost a bomb.

By way of perspective, may I add that the harsh reality of flying as a lucrative career is that it’s no longer fun nor enjoyable and will be the entire opposite of what you imagine it to be. Not a single one of all my friends would recommend it to their children. The “top of the ladder” is long haul - a special kind of hell. Where you trade your health and family life for money.

[ersa]

Form a class action for age discrimination and gender discrimination , take it to the human rights commission

[packapoo]

Originally Posted by TempoTCu

I just want to be clear that I am not suggesting that I have been discriminated against - I'm just seeking feedback on what I can do (if anything) to overcome the constant rejections. This isn't about finding or making excuses, its about tapping into every resource available to learn and improve. Thanks.

Sounds reasonable.

[Jeps]

We all need to remember that this is NOT a cadetship. Anyone that has looked at the application will see as others have said its very basic information.

[pilotchute]

Give it 12 months until the novelty wears off. They will then take anyone when people realise its not a guaranteed Qantas job.

[Jeps]

Originally Posted by pilotchute

Give it 12 months until the novelty wears off. They will then take anyone when people realise its not a guaranteed Qantas job.

Well said. Probably less than 12 months though

[Squawk7700]

Originally Posted by ersa

Form a class action for age discrimination and gender discrimination , take it to the human rights commission

Again, they have no statutory powers of authority to take any action. They won’t represent in court, they don’t make findings, they don’t make accusations etc.

You are on your own with age discrimination and also as above, the big law firms don’t do pro-bono on Human Rights cases.

The only way people succeed through the HRC is that the employers get scared and quickly look for a resolution so as to avoid any bad press which is highly unlikely without a law firm anyway.

[27/09]

Originally Posted by lucille

TempTCu, assuming you go the GA career route, how will your wife feel about being the main breadwinner? How will your family ​​​​survive on the less than subsistence salaries in GA? True, people do but it’s not pretty.

Heres the hard truth. You’re late 30’s with children. It’s too late now to follow your dream, your sole responsibility is to your children. Bluntly, at your stage of life, you’ve missed the boat. Accept it, find other avenues of fulfilment. There are many wonderfull ways to enjoy recreational aviation which don’t cost a bomb.

By way of perspective, may I add that the harsh reality of flying as a lucrative career is that it’s no longer fun nor enjoyable and will be the entire opposite of what you imagine it to be. Not a single one of all my friends would recommend it to their children. The “top of the ladder” is long haul - a special kind of hell. Where you trade your health and family life for money.

I disagree, it's not too late to follow the dream. I know of several people who have started well into their thirties and even mid to late forties and are very happy with their decision. Sure it's not for everybody but it can work for some.

As for "top of the ladder" not everyone is obsessed with being a wide body captain.

So long as anyone entering the game is aware of the trials and tribulations of the job and have realistic expectations about where their career can take them and so do it with their eyes open then it can be a worthwhile and rewarding exercise. The problems happen when expectations and reality are not matched.

[B2N2]

I can apply at every astronaut program worldwide, I’ll be rejected at every single one.
i can also try out for the Olympics, I won’t make that either.
Why are you insisting on continued rejection for a path that’s not INTENDED for you?