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Any chance to Re-apply for Cadet Pilot Programme with CX?

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South Asia and Far East Wannabes A forum for those applying to Cathay Pacific, Dragonair or any other Hong Kong-based airline or operator. Use this area for both Direct Entry Pilot and Cadet-scheme queries.

Any chance to Re-apply for Cadet Pilot Programme with CX?

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Old 16th Jun 2005, 12:08
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Any chance to Re-apply for Cadet Pilot Programme with CX?

Dear all,

Right, here is my little story. Years ago, after graduated with an aeronautical engining degree I applied to CX Cadet Pilot Programme and managed to get into the second phase of the interview. However, by some reason(s) I did not made it.

Well, with a broken heart. I decided to self-sponsor myself a PPL with IR (I don't have a rich family, I worked outrageously hard to make money for the flight training) in order to prove to CX that I am serious to become a pilot and of course; I DO HAVE A REAL INTEREST IN FLYING, no matter of what.

Anyway, after few applications, CX was finally being "GENEROUS" or "MERCY" to offer me a chance for interview. Surprise, surprise, CX told me to "sod-off" after 1st phase of the interview.

With a broken heart again, I am wondering what is the chance like to Re-apply for Cadet Pilot Programme with CX and do I have to wait for few years as what I did before.

Again, I just want to know if this is 'TRUE' or 'FALSE'.

1. CX would be more generous to offer a place to candidate with outstanding family background.
One of the PhD guy pulled a few strings to get his son in.

2. It is easier if you have friend(s) or relative(s) working for CX.
Fact 1. One of the SO, I think he is a JFO now; also pulled a few strings to get his 'Baseball' mates in.
Fact 2. Both Belinda Chan and Peggy Chung, the manager and assistant manager from the flight crew recruitment (cadet pilot) did actually asked me 'Do you know anybody who is working for Cathay Pacific?' duing my interview(s).

What a scandal!
Cheerio.
Fish_And_Chips is offline  
Old 16th Jun 2005, 16:04
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Sorry to hear that... but I can say is "Never give up"! I read about someone who got selected at his 4th trial. You still have many chances.
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Old 17th Jun 2005, 12:44
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Fish_And_Chips:

sad to say, knowing someone (with referral letter) from any airlines always consider "helpful" but cannot refer as "scandal". there were applicants got rejected even they equipped CPL or even more. There are many reasons why ppl failed the cadet interview but i'm sure that your family background shouldn't make much different.

a lots of ex-cadets applied more than 1 or 2 times (or even more) to success, if you are really interested in pursuing a career in CX or as a pilot, just review your weakness area, improve it and keep trying.

good luck.
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Old 17th Jun 2005, 12:56
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Hello,

I don't have any experince but know that it's important to show your improvement from the first time. eg. Say if you failed because of your english speaking level for the first interview, next time, what I mean next time is that when you are truely ready for the second time, fully showing that you have improvement...CX knows what you did wrong during your first time...Improvement is Important! Just like the Flight Grading, first time they see how you fly with basic skills, and let you know what you did or didn't do wrong, then second time, they EXPECTED you to do a better job!

Good luck, hope one day I'll fly with you!
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Old 18th Jun 2005, 05:35
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Hi

No matter who you work for, there will always be stories from the grapevine about people using unorthodox means to get into a company. It is difficult to say whether there is any truth in claims that candidates from affluent backgrounds are given preferential treatment bit if it does, it probably very rarely happens.

I highly doubt that a JFO would have the clout to influence or even manipulate the flight crew recruitment team's decision to allow a JFO's friend in to the cadet scheme. What may have happened is that the JFO was providing a legitimate personal reference to flight crew recruitment, who was following standard procedures as part of the application process.

Many organisations worldwide, from department stores to airlines, will ask if you know somebody who works within their organisation. If they do not ask this question on the application form, they will certainly ask it during the interview. The aim here is to avoid a situation where relatives work under common direct supervision.

Asian business culture places a lot of emphasis on guanxi but if a candidate was desperately hopeless, flight crew recruitment will not approach the candidate's friends within Cathay to seek their approval of accepting this candidate. Moreover, the onus would be on the friend to approach flight crew recruitment to pursuade them to accept this candidate.

Cathay has not been able to recruit enough cadets to meet its target for quite some years so if they see suitable applicants, they will take them in regardless of their irrelevant characteristics.

The bottom line is that Cathay will not hire cadets whom they think are substandard. They will not sacrifice safety and reputation just to do somebody a favor. Also, this will certainly impact on management's relationship with incumbent pilots.

All I can suggest is like what everybody else is saying - to try again and never give up . Successful cadets from programs run by other airlines sometimes get in on subsequent attempts and all you need to do is improve on what you have done last time.

Bonne chance!
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Old 25th Jul 2005, 01:59
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The world of aviation has never been fair but taking this attitude is obviously indicative of a character that cathay do not wish to hire. I hate to sound harsh but sometimes ppl need to be kicked in the right direction.

The Cathay cadet pilot interview process (from good sourses) is easily one of the hardest to pass through. However not impossible. It is obvious that u have the heart to be a pilot but that alone in this industry is not enough if u wish to be an airline pilot.

There is no deep darkside to the selection process... where if u have a family member or friend pulling strings it will give u bonus credits. Cathay have been conducting their cadet pilot program for a great number of years and they no exactly what they are looking for and how to find out if u will fit into that mold regardless of ur contacts. The only point that knowing some1 will give u an advantage is possibly moving ur name up the list of hundreds of applicants but u cannot seriously suggest that they choose the ppl who will fly their planes because capt joe blogs no's him and thinks he's a good man.

My advise is that you should re-apply with a new resume and start as if u have never done these interviews b4 but armed with the knowledge of wat to expect. Do not prepare answers to questions but no wat u want and where u are goin so that u can answer them confidently as a human not a rebot resighting a speech. Think very carefully about wat u think u could improve on, self- critisism is one of the most useful tools ne1 owns and cathay will not forget that they have interviewed you before and will be looking for an improvment on weeknesses. and most of all make ur self interesting to them... they want to no about ur passion for flying and ur struggle to get there but they also want to no wat else you do because they want u to fly for them for 40 odd years and i can tell u that my passion for flying will have faded slightly by that time.

I apoligise for perhaps being a little to harsh but if u want the cadetship as much as i wanted it then u will perserver and succeed. No1 likes being cut down and i hated it but it was the reason i got through.

Hope to have helped,
3x b4 I passed the interview
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Old 25th Jul 2005, 07:23
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Hi Guys,

Very glad to know so many fellow aviation enthusiast helping each other out.

I would be keen to apply for the Cathay cadetship, but I'm not a HK PR. Is there any way of doing it or any exceptional consideration taken into account if i submit my application?

I do not have any prior flying experience.

Thank you for advice, folks!!
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Old 25th Jul 2005, 11:35
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There's no way to do it if you aren't a HKGer I'm afraid.
Direct Entry might do.
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Old 28th Jul 2005, 17:57
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Hey Fish and chips,
Dont give up. I am sure Cathay do not put much emphasis on your family background. I can tell you my story. I am a local hk guy, grow up from a poor fmaily, have lived my life in the working class for 24 years. I wasnt treated differently to the other guys who have houses at mid level. They judge you on your performance, past experience and your VISION ( i dont mean your eyesight )
It's really important to know yourself, be well prepared and confident. Show them improvement and how hard you have worked to prepare yourself, not only for the interview but also for your life long career as a pilot.
Let them know you dont come to try your luck, but to show them you are well prepared to take up the challenge.
You can see that my english isnt good neither, i would say to be confident in what you say is more important when you do the interview. Read more than you should know in PPL. Pay attention to the aviation business, know their company expansion and news.

Show them your passion, professionalism and dedication.
At the end, it's a very competitive selection, dont feel sad if you are not selected. At the same time i am also telling myself not to be disappointeed, as i am also waiitng for their reply. Just do your best. It means nothing even if u or me are not selected, i can just tell myself i am not suitable at the moment, but i m not kicked because i am bad.
All the best!
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Old 29th Jul 2005, 09:45
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Dear all,

First of all, many thanks for all yours moral support.

Does CX has an age limit for the Cadet Pilot Programme?

Cheerio.
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Old 6th Aug 2005, 19:37
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Smile i am going to re-apply

HI fish and chips,

I had my interview last summer but i failed.

I was 20 and just finished my first year in university. I have always wanted to apply for CX since i first saw the advertisment for cadets about ten years ago, but apparently I was too young in that time that I had to wait. Then in 2003 i finished school in England as i was 19 thinking that i could apply, that was when the SARs came that CX had frozen their recruitment...so i went into university. I am doing a degree in MORSE, which is Maths, Operational Research, Stats and Economics, and after the first year I really hated it, all i thought about was learning to fly, so i applied for CX.

I wonder if you know about hk families. Learning to fly is not really a university degree, I wear glasses and I am female. I told my dad once that i wanted to be a pilot, that was courage suicide.

In my interview Peggy asked me how I could like flying so much given the fact that I had never flown myself before. and that gave me something to wonder..

So I started buying aviation magazines and books to read, and in easter I had a trial lesson taken my friend at the back. I really loved it. Learning to fly in England is rather expensive, and I have been saving anything i could. I started my PPL this summer but i only have a few hours logged so far. By any means if i could finish my PPL next year i do hope to re-apply for cadetship, to show them that i have made improvements because of my passion for flying. Anyway a good pilot makes mistakes and evaluates what's happened then makes improvements.

I do hope that they will kindly have another look at me next year.
Dont give up !

Mags
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