So what is the profile of a successful cadet?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Dublin
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So what is the profile of a successful cadet?
Hi
This is an appeal to all those who have been successful in cadetship applications. In order to build up a profile of what these guys are actually looking for I thought it might be an idea if those who have been down this route gave a brief description of themselves at time of acceptance, eg flight hours, education, being the son of the MD at CTC!!, stuff like that.
And for those who have so far been unlucky in this route (you've guessed it, that's my category) if you were lucky enough to have been given a reason why you didn't make it, you could share that also.
Filling out these cadetship application forms is like going into an exam, but you don't know the subject. You may be the perfect candidate, but if you don't say the right things or hit the right buttons you just won't get through. I hope this proves a helpful thread and helps us all understand better what goes on in the minds of the recruiters.
This is an appeal to all those who have been successful in cadetship applications. In order to build up a profile of what these guys are actually looking for I thought it might be an idea if those who have been down this route gave a brief description of themselves at time of acceptance, eg flight hours, education, being the son of the MD at CTC!!, stuff like that.
And for those who have so far been unlucky in this route (you've guessed it, that's my category) if you were lucky enough to have been given a reason why you didn't make it, you could share that also.
Filling out these cadetship application forms is like going into an exam, but you don't know the subject. You may be the perfect candidate, but if you don't say the right things or hit the right buttons you just won't get through. I hope this proves a helpful thread and helps us all understand better what goes on in the minds of the recruiters.
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Buckinghamshire, UK
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I went for my first shot at getting on a scheme with Britannia this year. I got past the appliaction stage, but not the next testing stage. I rang Britannia to ask for feedback and they said it's available if you write in for it. Haven't got around to it yet but I plan to soon. I think it was the maths that let me down though, I've grown to used to using my calculator so my mental arithmatic skills are rusty. Working on that right now.
Join Date: May 2002
Location: UK
Age: 54
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
IMHO...
A Graduate/School leaver of Graduate calibre
Under 26 years old
Numerate
Evidence of staying the course and self motivating
High all round achiever
Articulate and confident with good interpersonal skills
Presentable
The list goes on but I think these are the main ones?
Good luck for next time
BB
A Graduate/School leaver of Graduate calibre
Under 26 years old
Numerate
Evidence of staying the course and self motivating
High all round achiever
Articulate and confident with good interpersonal skills
Presentable
The list goes on but I think these are the main ones?
Good luck for next time
BB
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Planet Funk
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Being a Jedi Knight helps as well.
Joking a side see above. I entered cadetship with PPL+100hrs. Though not all sponsorships need any flying experience I think it helps confince your future employer that a) You can fly and b) Show a genuine interest in being a commercial pilot.
Competition for such sponsorships is stiff. Guys on my selection syndicate were Oxbridge calibre so anything extra such as any flying or aviation involvement helps.
If you do get to the aptitude tests practice mental arithmatic, verbal reasoning etc beforehand. Also, I know this sounds obvious but you cannot know too much about the company, industry and the aircraft they fly.
Oh and one last thing if they ask you who designed the Spitfire don't say Colin Spitfire. It won't go down too well.
Best of luck
Joking a side see above. I entered cadetship with PPL+100hrs. Though not all sponsorships need any flying experience I think it helps confince your future employer that a) You can fly and b) Show a genuine interest in being a commercial pilot.
Competition for such sponsorships is stiff. Guys on my selection syndicate were Oxbridge calibre so anything extra such as any flying or aviation involvement helps.
If you do get to the aptitude tests practice mental arithmatic, verbal reasoning etc beforehand. Also, I know this sounds obvious but you cannot know too much about the company, industry and the aircraft they fly.
Oh and one last thing if they ask you who designed the Spitfire don't say Colin Spitfire. It won't go down too well.
Best of luck
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Lancaster
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I went for BA in 2000, and got passed the application stage, but failed the maths at the first testing stage. It's such a bummer when you've gone through the mound of paperwork, arranged to go down to LHR, pass the aptitude and verbal reasoning...then fail a maths test!! I'm just not Carol Vorderman! The maths test was really hard. You had to answer about 25 complex questions in 9 minutes if I remember rightly. Unless you've got a mind for that kind of thing, it's pot luck!
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: In an office job
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have been to BA twice and failed the tests twice, but I am still confident in makeing a good pilot. This selection process does not necessarily weed out the s**t or even pick out the best. I have a friend that had a couple of BA cadets on his ATPL integrated course and one couldnt even complete the course. A wasted place and Im sure that there has been many others.
Mint
Mint
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Midlands, UK
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mintflavour,
I am neither BA nor a cadet. You are right to say that you feel confident of making a good pilot despite having twice failed BA entry tests. Good luck to you.
However, I would say that the BA selection process does generally weed out the good from the bad and even the very good from the good. Competition is fierce as you well know and being the best sponsorship around attracts people who are practically and academically very sharp. There are bound to be exceptions, but I reckon they are very few and far between. I am sure people in the know will confirm or deny what I say.
I am neither BA nor a cadet. You are right to say that you feel confident of making a good pilot despite having twice failed BA entry tests. Good luck to you.
However, I would say that the BA selection process does generally weed out the good from the bad and even the very good from the good. Competition is fierce as you well know and being the best sponsorship around attracts people who are practically and academically very sharp. There are bound to be exceptions, but I reckon they are very few and far between. I am sure people in the know will confirm or deny what I say.
Join Date: Dec 1997
Location: Suffolk UK
Posts: 4,927
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The BA selection procedure is not only designed to select those who are most likely (not guaranteed) to pass the training, but also, and this may be as important, to select those who fit BA's personal qualities criteria. They are very keen on people who have a clear idea of business priorities, and have the communication skills to pass their ideas clearly and concisely on to others.
Mintflavour, your post suggests some of the reasons why you may not have made the grade with BA. Other employers may not be so worried about communication skills.
Mintflavour, your post suggests some of the reasons why you may not have made the grade with BA. Other employers may not be so worried about communication skills.
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: In an office job
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Scroggs
I hope that this is not a personal criticism as you can not judge my communication skills on one post. While I am at work, quickly reading and writing posts while the boss is out of the office, my punctuation and spelling etc is not a priority. I agree, I could have improved and made my point more constructive, however I am disappointed that you have made this judgement/criticism on me, after all of the excellent advise and service that you have provided to us wannabees in the past.
Mint
I hope that this is not a personal criticism as you can not judge my communication skills on one post. While I am at work, quickly reading and writing posts while the boss is out of the office, my punctuation and spelling etc is not a priority. I agree, I could have improved and made my point more constructive, however I am disappointed that you have made this judgement/criticism on me, after all of the excellent advise and service that you have provided to us wannabees in the past.
Mint
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: dagobah system
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From my experience the sponsored cadets ranged in their background quite a bit and were not neccesarily mathematical geniuses, but seemed to be fairly well rounded and generally competent. I think that there is a bit of luck involved in the selection process and not getting selected does not mean that you will not necessarily do better at the flying training than someone who did get a place. There may be a better pass rate for sponsored vs non-sponsored but sponsored guys werent any better than good self-sponsored students. In fact, I think paying the bill yourself makes you more dedicated and you would have a tendency to work harder as its your money on the line.
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Camp X-Ray
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm a successful BA cadet.
here is my advice
1) Don't read PPrune too much have of it is bollocks.(more than half)
2) Ditto
the post above is talking sense. be yourself and don't try and be something you are not. I have met self sponsored students who found flying a breeze and some sponsored who struggled.
its all swings and roundabouts and a lot of luck and even when you get on a scheme you haven't made it until you have made it.
Good luck though.
The WISE alderman
here is my advice
1) Don't read PPrune too much have of it is bollocks.(more than half)
2) Ditto
the post above is talking sense. be yourself and don't try and be something you are not. I have met self sponsored students who found flying a breeze and some sponsored who struggled.
its all swings and roundabouts and a lot of luck and even when you get on a scheme you haven't made it until you have made it.
Good luck though.
The WISE alderman
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Gatwick
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am also a BA cadet who was accepted in 1999.
My advice is similar to WiseAlderman (fine pub by the way). There are pieces of good advice on here, but a hell of a lot of c##p. BE very, very selective when taking advise from this forum.
Just be yourself. BA and any other employer will eventually find you out if you are trying to be something you are not. When I applied, there was heavy emphasis on understanding the business side of the airline. Most reasonably intelligent people can be trained to fly aircraft, so BA wanted people who understood the industry and the dynamics of the business. When the cadet scheme re-starts (which it will), I'm not sure if this will still be the case, or if the criteria will have changed.
That said, good luck! Whatever people say, there are places up for grabs, and you should believe in yourself. You never know, you might be pleasantly surprised!
Cheers...
Mary
My advice is similar to WiseAlderman (fine pub by the way). There are pieces of good advice on here, but a hell of a lot of c##p. BE very, very selective when taking advise from this forum.
Just be yourself. BA and any other employer will eventually find you out if you are trying to be something you are not. When I applied, there was heavy emphasis on understanding the business side of the airline. Most reasonably intelligent people can be trained to fly aircraft, so BA wanted people who understood the industry and the dynamics of the business. When the cadet scheme re-starts (which it will), I'm not sure if this will still be the case, or if the criteria will have changed.
That said, good luck! Whatever people say, there are places up for grabs, and you should believe in yourself. You never know, you might be pleasantly surprised!
Cheers...
Mary
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: In an office job
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
BA select people who understand the industry and the dynamics of the airline business. Quite ironic that their profits/shares etc still fell so much, and are now also cutting more routes. Hmmm.
Just a light hearted point, I don’t mean to offend anyone, before you all come and kick my booty.
Mint
Just a light hearted point, I don’t mean to offend anyone, before you all come and kick my booty.
Mint
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was one of the successful candidates for the Britannia sponsorship scheme. If it helps, I'll provide a wee profile:
I've got a 1st class Masters in Aero Eng and pretty decent school results. I've spent 4 months working in America (removals company), 4 months in the Czech Republic (aerospace company) and 5 months at a Dutch University working with supersonic wind tunnels. I've been working for BAE since I graduated and I worked for them last year too, so 1 year in total.
I have little flying experience cos I've never had the spare money, however I started my PPL training a wee while ago and have a bit of gliding and ultralight experience as it was cheaper.
I could write down my hobbies and what organisations I'm a member of etc. etc. but I doubt all that stuff matters too much. In my view, good results will get you into the first stage of a sponsorship, the rest is probably up to your self confidence, experience, motivation and personality. If you can be yourself and present yourself well then you're in with a chance.... a bit of luck wont go astray either!
This was my first shot at a sponsorship scheme, so I don't have any other experience I can tell you about (in the airline domain anyway). I suppose if you make the most of the opportunites you get in life to gain as much experience as you can, then you'll be in with a good shot. That's what I played on in my interview.
Best of luck Soloboy, and everyone else who's applying for sponsorships.
Oh aye, and Merry Christmas!
Cambo
I've got a 1st class Masters in Aero Eng and pretty decent school results. I've spent 4 months working in America (removals company), 4 months in the Czech Republic (aerospace company) and 5 months at a Dutch University working with supersonic wind tunnels. I've been working for BAE since I graduated and I worked for them last year too, so 1 year in total.
I have little flying experience cos I've never had the spare money, however I started my PPL training a wee while ago and have a bit of gliding and ultralight experience as it was cheaper.
I could write down my hobbies and what organisations I'm a member of etc. etc. but I doubt all that stuff matters too much. In my view, good results will get you into the first stage of a sponsorship, the rest is probably up to your self confidence, experience, motivation and personality. If you can be yourself and present yourself well then you're in with a chance.... a bit of luck wont go astray either!
This was my first shot at a sponsorship scheme, so I don't have any other experience I can tell you about (in the airline domain anyway). I suppose if you make the most of the opportunites you get in life to gain as much experience as you can, then you'll be in with a good shot. That's what I played on in my interview.
Best of luck Soloboy, and everyone else who's applying for sponsorships.
Oh aye, and Merry Christmas!
Cambo
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Cork, ireland
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Successful Aer Lingus cadet
At time of selection;
19 yr old
completed 1 yr in college
zero flight time
You must concentrate on presenting yourself as best you can without being fake. Just be yourself and not what you think they are looking for. The aptitude tests and the like will show if you are capable of passing the course. At the end of the day, and provided they are satisfied that you have the aptitude, I think they are looking for people that they wouldnt mind sitting next to on a flight deck for a few hours.
Good luck
At time of selection;
19 yr old
completed 1 yr in college
zero flight time
You must concentrate on presenting yourself as best you can without being fake. Just be yourself and not what you think they are looking for. The aptitude tests and the like will show if you are capable of passing the course. At the end of the day, and provided they are satisfied that you have the aptitude, I think they are looking for people that they wouldnt mind sitting next to on a flight deck for a few hours.
Good luck
