GA Interview Questions
PPRuNe Handmaiden
I think there's a world of difference in addressing the chief pilot and or boss.
"G'day Compy" versus " Dear Mr Stall".
"To whom it may concern" sounds like a letter from the council about your bins.
A freshly minted CPL holder can do a lot to help themselves.
For starters, your backs aren't knackered yet so should be able to lift stuff. If you don't know how to lift safely, learn. (It's all about bracing the core so you don't strain yourselves). Many of my colleagues in the bizjet world have stuffed their backs because they don't know how to lift safely.
As many have said - get your Dangerous Goods cert, a First Aid cert, maybe bus ticket, if it still exists, Night VFR (easier to keep current than an Instrument rating).
Hospitality experience is useful - either for a job while you wait or if you do scenics etc, just learning how to talk to people.
Learn about the area you're in. Eg, if they haven't historically taken low houred pilots, don't go there. You're wasting your time. (Hint: if it's a nice place to live, they probably don't take new CPLs)
If you can, get some experience doing basic maintenance. You'll be the one doing the 50 hourlies. You'll also be the one assisting the engineers doing 100 hourlies.
Re weight. That's making me giggle. I weighed 60kg back then, a colleague weighed 100kg. He was a big strong lad. He could happily push a C207 around but he found clambering around a C207 removing/installing seats a pain. We played to our strengths. He could push my C207 where I needed it while I installed/removed his seats. Voila. Teamwork.
To the OP and other new CPLers, good luck, you'll need it as well as a sense of humour....
"G'day Compy" versus " Dear Mr Stall".
"To whom it may concern" sounds like a letter from the council about your bins.
A freshly minted CPL holder can do a lot to help themselves.
For starters, your backs aren't knackered yet so should be able to lift stuff. If you don't know how to lift safely, learn. (It's all about bracing the core so you don't strain yourselves). Many of my colleagues in the bizjet world have stuffed their backs because they don't know how to lift safely.
As many have said - get your Dangerous Goods cert, a First Aid cert, maybe bus ticket, if it still exists, Night VFR (easier to keep current than an Instrument rating).
Hospitality experience is useful - either for a job while you wait or if you do scenics etc, just learning how to talk to people.
Learn about the area you're in. Eg, if they haven't historically taken low houred pilots, don't go there. You're wasting your time. (Hint: if it's a nice place to live, they probably don't take new CPLs)
If you can, get some experience doing basic maintenance. You'll be the one doing the 50 hourlies. You'll also be the one assisting the engineers doing 100 hourlies.
Re weight. That's making me giggle. I weighed 60kg back then, a colleague weighed 100kg. He was a big strong lad. He could happily push a C207 around but he found clambering around a C207 removing/installing seats a pain. We played to our strengths. He could push my C207 where I needed it while I installed/removed his seats. Voila. Teamwork.
To the OP and other new CPLers, good luck, you'll need it as well as a sense of humour....
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Blimey, this all seems a bit harsh !
New pilots looking for their first job are probably going to be young and a bit "innocent" about the world of work, and it seems a bit punitive to expect them to know exactly how to address people and the command structure of companies. Or how to go about impressing people.
How many good people have been 'put in the bin' because of some perceived but unintentional sleight, I wonder ?
At least "Dear Sir/Madam" is respectful and polite, (and non sexist). And how is a prospective new pilot employee to know if it is OK to directly address the CP, or if the CP will be personally opening their letter ? It might be the deputy CP, someone in admin or HR.
Using someone's name without knowing them might be regarded by some as being a bit over-familiar or a bit cocky.......? Maybe it is different over there.
Good luck to the OP.
New pilots looking for their first job are probably going to be young and a bit "innocent" about the world of work, and it seems a bit punitive to expect them to know exactly how to address people and the command structure of companies. Or how to go about impressing people.
How many good people have been 'put in the bin' because of some perceived but unintentional sleight, I wonder ?
At least "Dear Sir/Madam" is respectful and polite, (and non sexist). And how is a prospective new pilot employee to know if it is OK to directly address the CP, or if the CP will be personally opening their letter ? It might be the deputy CP, someone in admin or HR.
Using someone's name without knowing them might be regarded by some as being a bit over-familiar or a bit cocky.......? Maybe it is different over there.
Good luck to the OP.
It's just basic good manners, knowing how to address people. Plus you want to have an edge over all the others, so make an effort. "Dear Sir/Madam" is about is polite as "Dear Whatsyername" and shows a laziness that could reflect the work ethic.
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If it’s a small GA outfit with only a few aircraft the Chief Pilot could be your age, or maybe younger, with only a year or two in the industry. While it’s important to make a good impression with this person, it’s unlikely he or she will have.the power to hire pilots. This means you will need an intro to the real boss, most likely the owner.
Having said that, do NOT attempt to bypass the CP. Show respect. Ideally the boss will also show respect by involving the CP in your interview. If the boss does not include the CP, it may well be that the CP is only a token “fall guy” who is there to appease CASA.
Having said that, do NOT attempt to bypass the CP. Show respect. Ideally the boss will also show respect by involving the CP in your interview. If the boss does not include the CP, it may well be that the CP is only a token “fall guy” who is there to appease CASA.
Last edited by Mach E Avelli; 18th Jan 2024 at 19:13.
Hiring and firing is a CP responsibility
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That’s when Chief Pilots should walk.
Be wary of companies that frequently advertise these posts.
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....It's just basic good manners, knowing how to address people. Plus you want to have an edge over all the others, so make an effort. "Dear Sir/Madam" is about is polite as "Dear Whatsyername" and shows a laziness that could reflect the work ethic.
I don't agree that it necessarily shows laziness, and 'Sir' or 'Madam' might be awkward, but it is not impolite.
But I would like to think that a CP would understand this, and - given the time and money the hopeful new pilot has already invested - would read beyond the polite, (albeit completely anonymous), introduction, to see what the hopeful actually had to offer, and their life skills etc.
With your mentoring, they might develop to be your best and most loyal pilot !
No, it isn't - well it wasn't taught to me at school or flight school - but the Union should be able to help with this. And teachers at my Secondary school were addressed as Sir or Ma'am.
Yes, I am agreeing about good manners, but simply concerned about the number of good people like this who were put in the bin because they made a perceived rookie mistake - they are rookies !
I don't agree that it necessarily shows laziness, and 'Sir' or 'Madam' might be awkward, but it is not impolite.
But I would like to think that a CP would understand this, and - given the time and money the hopeful new pilot has already invested - would read beyond the polite, (albeit completely anonymous), introduction, to see what the hopeful actually had to offer, and their life skills etc.
With your mentoring, they might develop to be your best and most loyal pilot !
Yes, I am agreeing about good manners, but simply concerned about the number of good people like this who were put in the bin because they made a perceived rookie mistake - they are rookies !
I don't agree that it necessarily shows laziness, and 'Sir' or 'Madam' might be awkward, but it is not impolite.
But I would like to think that a CP would understand this, and - given the time and money the hopeful new pilot has already invested - would read beyond the polite, (albeit completely anonymous), introduction, to see what the hopeful actually had to offer, and their life skills etc.
With your mentoring, they might develop to be your best and most loyal pilot !
I am far more sympathetic to those who have reached airline hiring minimums, with a stack of multi/turbine time who miss out because they aren't good at the "tell me about a time when" HR B.S. Now there would be MANY great candidates for an airline (or other large aircraft) type job who miss out because of this nonsense.
What we are talking about here is pretty easy to do and it is quite unbelievable that you need to do very little these days to 'stand out' as a low hour job seeker. Name of CP/owner at top of cover letter, 20 hours in a C206/C210/C182 and BAM you are in the shortlist for an interview. Who would have thought.
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And yet the Big Schools will tell them they need to just buy more and more courses and qualifications, oh and a Job Ready course blah blah when what they really need is some interesting command time in their logbook. Would you really want someone whose first timein command outside their flying school's comfort zone will be with a load of passengers in the back?
A trip around the outback, across the Nullarbor, things like that will be far more relevant that 70 hours flying within a small triangle within 100nm of home and a swag of ratings.
A trip around the outback, across the Nullarbor, things like that will be far more relevant that 70 hours flying within a small triangle within 100nm of home and a swag of ratings.
And yet the Big Schools will tell them they need to just buy more and more courses and qualifications, oh and a Job Ready course blah blah when what they really need is some interesting command time in their logbook. Would you really want someone whose first timein command outside their flying school's comfort zone will be with a load of passengers in the back?
A trip around the outback, across the Nullarbor, things like that will be far more relevant that 70 hours flying within a small triangle within 100nm of home and a swag of ratings.
A trip around the outback, across the Nullarbor, things like that will be far more relevant that 70 hours flying within a small triangle within 100nm of home and a swag of ratings.
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Spot on and looking back I was nearly sucked in the trap, I have flown "desired" aircraft by Darwin standards throughout my training but that doesn't matter due to the fact the aircraft HAD to be back at base an hour before last light! No allowance for multi day trips with fellow students exploring country airstrips interstate, instructors picking set routes *yuck* and laxed cancellation policies for inclement weather which was counter intuitive. My relearning perse in the BE58 and 206 had me buzzing for more but then my bank account ran dry! This all comes back to students being sold a lie at the beginning and incompetent teachings.
I reckon they should have a limited number of VET places, and the funding only becomes available for the next starter when someone who has got the loan has held down employment for a year. It is meant to fulfil an insutry need and it clearly isn't. After the SOAR debacle you'd think that the government would be more careful with those astronomical amounts of taxpayers money but there are some very powerful people who rely on this scheme so nothing will change.
Otherwise this will soon be the only training pathway available apart from RAAus.
Reading this thread, I’m amazed at the level of complication, the jumping through of hoops and the tiptoeing over eggshells that a 200 hr CPL holder has to demonstrate to get their first job. Yikes!
Comparatively speaking, we really did have it that much easier 50 years ago. Ironically, it seems the only things which haven’t changed in the intervening half century are the aircraft. We were flying 210s also back then.
Comparatively speaking, we really did have it that much easier 50 years ago. Ironically, it seems the only things which haven’t changed in the intervening half century are the aircraft. We were flying 210s also back then.
Reading this thread, I’m amazed at the level of complication
Next comes "Johny on the spot", if there's a job going he is in with a good chance. Next comes an ad on AFAP and a lucky dip of the applicants. A few get interviewed and a decision is made. A few references are checked.
Yes, it could have been done better and of all employed only around 50% have proved really good. These are snapped up by bigger companies within a year or less. The unsuited are either shown the door or leave of their own accord. I have seen the odd referee re-contacted and told in no short terms they gave a dud reference.
Nothing much has changed in 50 years as far as I see. Its a difficult industry :-)
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Not so much for the first job but the second.
Your real referees aren’t the ones you have on your resume, they are the ones you don’t know about.
There is one degree of separation In the industry. Especially with social media.
Your real referees aren’t the ones you have on your resume, they are the ones you don’t know about.
There is one degree of separation In the industry. Especially with social media.
Last edited by compressor stall; 21st Jan 2024 at 22:14.
Numerous people I have worked with had terrible reputations but were hard workers and always got the job done.
