Tips for Qantas Cadetship
 

G'day,

I'm planning to try out for the Qantas Cadetship in probably about 3 years time, just wondering whether there are any valuable tips for the tests and interview you could give to me and what sort of things I should be doing at this age to give me a better chance of being accepted in the program. I know this might be a bit early but I'd would like to start preparing now and doing things I should be doing.

What could I do to set myself apart from the other applicants and give myself a bigger chance of being accepted? Your help and replies will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Condensation

Biggest thing to do now is make sure you cover the subject requirements (Physics/Maths/English etc), and do well in them! :ok:

I'm in NSW so what other 2 subjects should I be choosing that will help me? Thanks

What ever other subjects you enjoy the most! History, Chem, Commerce, etc.

Don't sweat the subjects too much. They get you over the initial hurdle and into the psych test. It's the 'other' stuff they want (leadership, decision making, communication skills, etc) that will decide it for you. So, grab any 'extra' experience you can in those areas. Join the Air Force Cadets, play footy, join the school play. Anything that broadens your 'non-technical' skills is a good thing.

:rolleyes: The Masonic lodge.

I've heard the Stonecutters is better for QF selection! :E :}

Indeed ...it doesnt hurt to learn the secret knob squeeze.

:hmm:

Other two subjects that should help:

Modern History; i.e. State of Origin.

What are the game results Brett Kenny V Wallace Lewis head to head etc.

Super 12.

Come on you mighty TAH's.

Home Brewing 101;

The different yeast combinations to create Tooheys New, Tooheys Dry and Crownies. Also the relative merits of using Grolsch re-sealable bottles V bottle lossage due pressing the caps on too hard.

Rooter ;)

This may be a totally irrelevant suggestion, reminiscent of a bygone era, and totally inappropriate for QANTAS Cadet Pilot selection, but may I suggest that maximising your knowledge and understanding of aviation and all things aeronautical might be a good 3 year plan.

Additional subjects? Why not try computer science, not the dime a dozen I.T. stuff that any 10 year old can do, but REAL computer programming. There is a real market for professional pilots with computer PROGRAMMING capability. My own airline snaps up aspiring cadets with this ability, enormously valuable to the airline, and immensely profitable to you a few years down the track.

Flying is a very technical business, forget the non-technical cr@p.

Regards,

Old Smokey

Agree wholeheartedly with what OS said above - learn EVERYTHING you can about aircraft, aviation history, avaition FUTURE (where are we going), the history of QANTAS, the history of aviation in Australia. It is not only an important part of the interview process, it will show you are keen and not just doing it for money (as if Cadets actually get paid much beyond the dole anyway!!!)

A knowledge of computers and basic programming is EXTREMELY FAVOURABLE!!! Not only will you find it easier with the FMC etc, but your knowledge will help you in the training as well.

I have never been a QANTAS cadet, but I have heard that they don't very often actually get to "have a go", but tend to be cockpit gopher and stand-in flight attendant. Get used to sitting around doing very little. Consider OTHER options as well...

As to subjects at school, you MUST take the highest mathematics possible (General maths etc won't cut it - not even a look-in!), Physics, and English. Chemistry is STRONGLY advised (biology and Geology is not considered by 90% of the worlds airlines). STRONGLY advise Mathematics 2 (matrices, vectors etc) which in most states also delves into computer programming. Do do IT if it is offered at your school, and if not, do it via correspondance or night school if need be!

Ine ssence, you want to be as employable as possible, and that means a good aviation oriented education.

Social skills are important too, but smarts take precendent to knowing what a fullback is!

Wash your mouth out, they are five-eights not fullbacks:(

Thanks a lot for your advice guys, it's very helpful and is greatly appreciated for your time! Do keep them coming though :ok:

Cheers!

Condenasation, do yourself a favour, and buy a book on BAK - Basic Aeronautical Knowledge. Have a good read.

Now, Mr. En-Rooter, I am under the impression that 5/8ths are second row, and full backs are LAST row... so, it's like comparing apples and oranges.

Heck, I was a ra-ra player for 5 years.... a forward though.

Thanks for that suggestion MkVIII, I will buy as soon as possible.

I'm also doing some gliding soon if it helps, I highly doubt I will do any powered flying right now besides a TIF which I've done already.

Gliding is good, but do try to get more powered flight if / when possible.

ANY aeronautical experience is good, but helicopter experience is not overly recommended unless you want to do it. it means pretty much squat-didly to airlines, besides being prohibitively expensive.

Read here a LOT, ask questions a LOT, and don't be shy asking - no such thing as a silly question. Just make sure you point out you are a learning novice, as some guys here can be pretty caustic and downright disrespectful to others (done i myself, ashamed to say!)

Good luck mate!

Thanks alot for those words and advice MkVIII!

I will make sure I ask questions when I have any, once again everyone's help has been greatly appreciated. That's all the questions I have for now, thanks!

Cheers,

Condensation

Flying may be a technical business but the effective management and use of that technology is absolutely a 'non-technical' skill. Additionally, for a cadetship, the psych is a major hurdle and that is almost entirely based on your non-technical skills. You won't even get a look in at an interview to expound your depth of aviation knowledge if you can't work in a team, show poor leadership, won't speak up, have poor situational awareness, etc.

As for IT skills, I had bugger all (and still do) and yet I reckon I have a pretty good clue on how to work the FMC to get out of it what I want. (Being naturally lazy and wanting to find the easiest path to get an outcome also helps! :E ). You only need to have an understanding of what the FMC is trying to achieve. If you can programme your VCR or mobile phone, you're well on your way to handling your FMC- again, only if you have the aviation smarts to know what you want to achieve.

Caution on 'highest maths possible'. You do NOT need four unit maths (NSW). 3U is recommended in my book but you could get by on a decent 2U score (not the general maths as others have mentioned) if it wasn't your strongest point. It'd want to be pretty decent though. The Qantas web site would assist with that one.

MkVIII may not have been a QF cadet but some of the serious posters on this thread have beenand MkVIII is talking out the top of his head with respect to his 'gopher' comment. A cadet when employed by QF is a Second Officer. They are treated by most crews as any other S/O (although the treatment of S/Os by some crews isn't as exemplary as it could/should be but that is for another thread). 'Stand in flight attendant'? the only thing missing is the ;) and :p after that statement! :rolleyes:

Finally, a bit of advice that was passed onto me by a former instructor- with a touch of irony in his voice when he said it!

Not saying that the other advice on this thread is crap and mine is spot on either, just don't take everyone's advice at face value. You need to weigh it all up and take in information from a variety of sources. At least you're asking questions which is always a good start! :D :ok:

The biggest hurdle you face is passing the aptitude tests . As you probably already know cadets have to score higher than DE pilots , and QF fail around 90% of cadet applicants on these tests . If you pass you only have the final interview which is about a 50-50 bet.

My advice - do the PATS(www.******************) course ( it got me through ) a couple of times , group and individual . Work hard at this stuff then your chances of passing will rise from 10% to around 90% . Then you only have to prepare about the interview.

Goodluck with all it would be a great program to crack .

Tell an old bloke wtf this means?

http://www.******************/1/picture4.jpg

Mr MKVIII,

A little football famil!

Second row is just that, in both rugby and league.

The 'last' row in league is the 'lock' or the 'lock forward' in rugby he is referred to as the 'number eight' or sometimes as the 'lock' or 'lock forward'

'5/8ths' in league are outside the 'half back' (who feeds the scrum). The similar position in rugby is the 'fly-half' some who played rugby would refer to anybody who played in the backs as 'gutless backs' (a bit nasty I think!)

Sorry guys for not being so serious, just empasising that if you think nothing but aviation you turn into a boring bastard. Sport emphasises teamwork and gives you something to talk about and is also a good icebreaker.

"How about those TAH's ehh"

:ok: