China Airlines Interview
 

Hello
I've just been offered an interview with China Airlines in Taiwan.
Anybody got any info on what the interview consists of?
cheers

Hello,

I have been scheduled for the phone interview, but no idea what it is about...anybody with any info would be much appreciated....;)

Thanks,
Flo

The phone interview is very basic. You will be asked about your experience, just covering the details on the application form, and a bit of a chat about you and why you want to work for China Airlines.
All very relaxed.

If anybody has any info on the interview in Taipei, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks artax,

I also have the telephone interview in about an hour :uhoh: ...I was wondering what it was all about...we'll see ;)

Cheers,

B747heavy :ok:

B747Heavy,

I think you'll find only disappointment and heart ache at CAL.
Best wait for the fuzzy red worm

Ahh yes...the fuzzy red worm :hmm:

Did the telephone interview, nothing difficult, several questions...

...waiting for the worm :cool: :E

OK you've lost me...what is the fuzzy red worm?
And why the heartache?

Hey guys
What did you do to get as far as the phone interview? I have applied a couple of times during the last 6 month, but no reaction whatsoever...
Any idea what their requirements are? :confused:

HEG,

Not sure on their requirements as they change them upon their needs...

I applied on the site then 5 days later received the email for the phone interview...I do have an internal reference from a local guy there..

wandering now what the interview in TPE is about...i know there is a medical and Sim...just what else?

Anybody know?:sad: :ok:

I would not be too worried about the interview process at CAL, it is pretty straightforward. If you have done interviews before then CAL is no different. You will be interviewed by at least 5 people consisiting of mgmt pilots, possibly a senior mgmt person and perhaps the Company Psychologist too!
The sim eval is where you have to "shine" in otherwords, demonstrate that you can fly and take "instruction". The medical is 11/2 days and they will check everything.
Much has been said about CAL on this forum and I would have to say that the sentiments shared by the majority are fairly accurate. It really is what you make of it - some like it :confused: Personally if you love flying and a career in aviation then you are best to look elsewhere!

I do love flying.

I have read the negative sentiments, and they're a bit worrying, but can someone elucidate a bit?

China Airlines seem to have nice aeroplanes and interesting routes, the pay seems ok, Taipei seems interesting....

So I know I'm being naive, but's what's the catch?

I'm very interested to hear: I'd hate to make a big silly mistake, especially as I've got a good job already.

All you can do is go to the interview and assessment, as I said, it is what you make of it but if you are happy where you are most will tell you not to leave.

As for the money, well that depends on your definition of not bad. Most of the expats are starting to leave and even some of the locals too... There is more money to be had elsewhere (mainland China).

stay away from taiwan as much as you can
 

stay away from taiwan as much as you can, if you love your flying career , checks are crazy so are the medicals, only worth there are the chicks, and they also not easy to find, or they are he he,

china airlines????!!
 

mellofello////falcon330

Hi there.Heard lots of "BAAADDDD""DISTURBING talk about working for those asian carriers in taiwan.Is it true they are 'RA!@#$T??Especially management when it come to recruitment and training?????/...//

skytango1

Hallo,
I just wanted to bring up the thread again.I had the phone interview and just got an invitation.Maybe somebody could help with information regarding the interview,medical and the ATP quiz? I´m reviewing questions from the FAA ATP Database at the moment.Is this what to expect?
Also heard that a lot of people fail the medical.Anybody knows the reasons for that?
Also it would be great to get in touch with pilots flying presently for CAL,to hear from that source what it is about to work for that company.
I´m aware that many people talk bad about this company,but people talk also bad about other companys which I would rate as very good jobs compared to fly for an european LCC which is my job at the moment....
Thank´s in advance!

CAL Application
 

I heard now they're only looking at people with Jet time ( ie no longer turbo-prop).

Any comments?

Probably a result of the exodus that seems to be taking place.

...got email for phone-interview and have nil jet-hours...:}

Checking is really crazy in Taiwan because CAL killed so many people in the past. :mad:

What? There is absolutely nothing wrong with it here!!!!!

Oh I just realised I'm on home leave.

Haha.

What is your experience Wingmaaan?

4000hrs tt on turboprop and a european cpl:{

Congratulations Wingmaaan and good luck with the recruitment process. It gives all of us Non- jet rated guys a bit of hope.

Training Bond
 

I was just invited to interview a few days ago and they have apparently introduced a $13,000 USD training bond. If you stay at least 3 years of the 5 year contract they will pay you back. Here is a copy of the email CAL sent.
I would like to advise you regarding our Terms & Condition and the salary
that we could offer below
before you join the interview of China Airlines.
* Bank Guarantee: USD13,000 (CITI bank)
- The money has to be deposited into CITI bank before you attend the
training course of
China Airlines and will return to you when you finish 3 years
training bond
- If not, we will withdraw your application.
* Salary: USD5,335
(See attached file: 2004Terms and Conditions III.doc)
Hopefully above information will give you some ideas about China Airline.
Only If you agree with above and we will send you the interview slot asap.
If there's any question before you attend the interview,please feel free
to contact with me anytime.
Or we will consider you are fully awared reagrading our Bank guarantee
system .
All the expenses (accomodation/ ticket)shall be on your account , if
there's any reason stoping
the interview process from your side while you are already in TPE.
Thank you for your attention to this matter and look forward to contacting
you in the near future!!

I have 5000 hours, 3000 of which is 737NG time. It took about 1 year for me to get an interview. My friend recently interviewed and said it was very involved but not much that you could prepare for. It sounds like fun but the pay is just too low. I made as much my second year as a 737NG F/O! Good luck!

AQFlyer,

I received the same email a couple of days ago, however the bond was $16,000??? I did notice that there were only two recipients of my email. This leads me to believe that depending on your experience level, the bond is altered to suit?

I have 4000 total with 2100 on the 747 Classic.

Cheers,

Heavy :ok:

Hey Heavy,

My buddy who went to the interview has 6000 hours and was not asked for a training bond. Either that's the cutoff or guys aren't sticking around for some reason and they are trying to stop the bleeding. :confused: He said that they do a lot of psych, memory and multi-tasking types of testing but that otherwise it was not a technical interview. The medical was very intense.

I think CAL is a lot more stable than the US airlines but I have things just a little too cushy at the moment to take off for Taiwan. I think it would be an adventure and if I could take a leave from my current job, I might go do it for a couple of years. The bond puts the kabosh on that idea though. What are you going to do?

Where can you find pay rates for these guys?

As far as I know they don't post pay rates, they only tell you what they are when they are going to interview you. The most common rate for an experienced F/O is USD $5335 per month with a yearly bonus of one months base salary. However, my friend who interviewed recently said that the guy who interviewed with him, who was less experienced, was offered a lower monthly salary. Sounds like it is fairly subjective and there is no set rate.

I have spoken to a couple of experienced 744 captains who went there and left within a couple of weeks. It sounds like a pretty uncomfortable place to work and I'm no longer sure that the interview is worth the trip. Anybody on this thread actually at CA and can shed some light?

I also spoke to a CAL Captain who left prior to completing training. He told me that Captains are not wanted there by other pilots because they feel that Taiwanese jobs are being taken. However, he said F/O's are treated differently because they don't ever have to upgrade you. They will bypass you for one of their own so the attitude about taking jobs is different. Very few expatriate F/O's get upgraded. If that doesn't bother you, and your satisfied with the pay, it's probably a pretty good place to work. There is no seniority for schedules so you don't have to start at the bottom which is nice. The equipment and routes are great. And...the women are beautiful! :ok:

Hmmm Is there a contract??

I was with CAL for about 18 months as an F/O ...Expat F/O's are treated like crap well actually so are the Expat Capts but at least as a Capt you can run your ship your way... very difficult working enviroment culturally speaking, it's very easy to tell the locals (most anyway but not all) really don't want you there and although most know the book very well they can't fly worth crap, go only if you really need a job,.. if your working elsewhere don't go,... the pay isn't anywhere near high enough to put up with the crap they dish out before you ask I was getting 5200/month plus 75/hour over 70 hours plus 1000/month houseing and $2/hour away from base ...ITS NOT WORTH IT

I think if you don't like it you can leave!!
Taipei is not a dump, I can think of many places worst then TPE. Your attitude says it all........and Maybe you were not like in your own country.

Sorry dude

Totally agree with etops777. Fact is every organisation has its own working culture. If you don't like it, go somewhere else. No one is forcing you to stay, and I am sure CAL will not have any problem finding your replacement. Don't ever bite the hand that feeds you, be grateful.

However what promped me the most to post this reply is the fact you openly critised a place/country, calling TPE is a dump. Don't forget you are a guest in Taiwan. Just in case if you are stuck with the bonding agreement with CAL, enjoy yourselve there, have a good time. Fact is every country has its positive and negative sides to it. I advise you not to waste your time looking at negative points Taiwan has, but rather spending your time to explore and understand the positive sides this country can offer.

St. Giles
You ever been to TPE?:rolleyes: ...Also I never bit any hands but I was happy to get my hand back with only small teeth marks....:}
Wellllll that would explain the non stop interviewing they do with little or no expansion...expat F/O's last between 2 weeks and 18 months at CAL before they say "Truck it" I'm outa here
I know I know your talking about bad mouthing TPE not CAL ...and your right not everything was bad......I met a lot of great expats all trying to leave...LOL

well well well,

i had the phone-interview today, was very nice talking to the guy on the other side...now i have to wait,do i get invited or not...it´s time for a change,´ve been on the turboprop long enough!:suspect:

Hi wingmaaan

Just wondering.....what did they ask you during the phone interview?

I feel I have to put my two bits here after all this.

Firstly CAL is not nearly as bad as many guys make it out to be. In the last few years the company has come a long way as far as cockpit culture goes. There are a lot of younger Taiwanese guys that are now captains who did not learn to fly in the military (normally the states or Australia) and as a result speak good english and have good CRM. Sure some old dragons still lurk around but overall once you are through the training the line flying is not too bad.

Secondly you must realize that if you go there as a first officer that is all you will be - so use it as an opportunity to get big jet international experience. Many guys here come of DC9, MD 80 etc and CAL is the place where they move into the big jet league. This is a career step upwards which mostly Canadians dont seem to appreciate cause they generally bitch the most - and forget that back home in Canada some companies even make the pilots clean up the cabin after a flight in some small turboprop from one frozen wasteland to another and then pay them CA 2500$ a month.
I'd much rather fly a brand new 400 around the world thanks. Even if the captain occasionally turn out to be a prick.

As an expat FO there I and many others see this for what it is and so should you. It is not a career company, but a stepping stone.

Who else is gonna give a turboprop pilot or even a low time jet guy the chance to fly a 747??

The fact that the salaries offered now are less than before and the bond you actually have to deposit as opposed to just signing for it is not great and that is for you to decide...

Taiwan might in some ways still be semi 3rd world. But if you have an open mind and are easy going you will have a good time here. The locals like to party and the girls are friendly..

,

hi there, the guys name was joseph and he spoke a very good english,he asked me questions such as:


-where did you hear about the positions at CAL ? (internet,friends,...)
-why do you want to work for CAL ? ( long-haul-flights,...)
-tell me about your flying-career to date ( everything about your education)
-does your company have jets ?
-are you familiar with an FMS?
-where do you mainly fly ? in my case it is europe
-what type-ratings do you have ?
-tell me about your strength as a pilot (characterise yourself)
-in case you have a function as a trainee, explain these functions, what exactely do you do..?

that was about it,..he then told me that there is a certain seniority,such as heavy jet-hours, jet-hours, and then turboprop and that he can´t tell me jet ,if and when I´ll be invited. He´ll put my phone-call innformation to my files and then they will decide...

hope i could help you...;)




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