British Airways DEP Selection - THE lowdown Part 1

[binsleepen]

FWIW I agree with 757_Driver,

BA sets the experience levels they are looking for and if you meet them, great. I can't believe that they set a minimum level of flying experience in the ad but secretly require an extra 500 or 1000 hrs when they review the applications. That would be a waste of everyones time.

I believe that the four essay type questions are key. Really think about your answers to these, check your grammer and spelling. Do a bit of research and show that you have really thought about your answer and not just knocked it off in 20 minutes.

Regards

[EGKK.]

Hi all

Can anyone who has been to an assessment day in the last 12months or so list a few of the questions that came up during the interview?

Also, anyone who has done this all before tell me if the verb/num reasoning, group exercise, micropat test has changed or is it much of the same since 2008?

Thank you

[111boy]

Very true, imagine for a moment a pilot with flying ability, work ethic, great CRM, good systems knowledge, and bad grammer, makes me shiver.

I think you are right binsleepen, (forgive please any sarcasm, not directed at you, rather the airline) I wish 20 minutes, took me 2 days, had no idea what to put, struggled also with the idea of "commitment to my present company" whilst applying for another.

for WBpilot410, 7000 TT, with a dodgy Low fare mob, lst time I applied to BA, years ago there were all sorts there experience wise too. I heard a rumour they were after guys this time for the 74, but just a rumour.

Apparently you need good spelling to flying Boeing?

[bylgw]

EGKK. take a look at the first page of this thread. It's all there, spot on

[Flaperon75]

I think that it is mostly down to your training and flying background.

BA still seem to have a preference for those that have done integrated training (or at least trained at a one stop, established training school) - and this still seems to apply even with experience on type. The couple of guys from my outfit that weren't invited to interview were both from the modular route with elements of their training done abroad. Of course there will be exceptions to this but from my experience, if you've got FTE, CTC, Oxford, Cabair on your CV it's a good start.

Similarly, if you've been flying for a familiar UK (European??) airline it is likely to help. At the last round of recruitment it seemed to be mostly guys and gals from the UK loco's and charter operators with the odd middle east major thrown in. Obviously it's now opened up to non-type rated applicants so folk will be coming from different types of airlines, however I would have thought that BA will want to have some confidence that you come from an outfit with a well respected high standard of training.

Only after these 2 factors will they then start to look at other things such as essay answers. As someone has already stated, flying hours are pretty much irrelevant - as long as you have the minimum stated on the application requirements. Only my opinion of course!

[EGKK.]

Bylgw

That info is 7 years old. Looking for latest stuff

[757_Driver]

111 boy - I understand your sarcasm but as someone who also runs a small business and regulary reads CV's from prospective employers, grammar and spelling is absolutely a requirement in my view. Any cv's I receive with spelling or obvious gramatical mistakes go straight in the bin. If people haven't got the attention to detail to get that right I sure as hell don't want to employ them. I susupect 99% of all employers are the same.
Of course you don't need grammar and spelling to fly a plane well, but getting it wrong on an application demonstrates a lack of care or attention to detail, which are crucial attributes in our job.
Also before anyone cries discrimination, I can't spell and am slightly dyslexic, stuff that doesn't really matter like this I'm typing now i don't care about - stuff that does I have coping strategies and attention to detail that makes sure it is right.There really is no excuse.

I had a cv from someone last week who had a math's A level. (yes, with the apostrophe there!).Its filed in the plastic bucket marked paper recycling right now.

Anyhoo back on topic - the essay questions are pretty key I think - I did them in a word processor over a few days, edited, cut and paste, rewrote, re edited etc. I got someone else to read through them to give a 'fresh-eyes' perspective on what I wrote. (and I did a word count in microsoft word!) if they ask for 200 words, don't write 250! Only when I was happy did I copy and paste the answers into the application form.

[111boy]

Perhaps you are right. but, as someone who regularly flies with pilots. I really appreciate people who;can fly, adhere to SOPs, know how the machine works and are pleasant. I work with a lot of excellent foreign pilots, who might struggle to write an assay for HR. But a lot of these guys are preferable to me as a workmate than some English muppet with great spelling and grammer. Just an example, and I hate essays, since school, so consider my chain yanked.

Look just my 2 pence worth, perhaps you are right, but I think this is all a bit HR, when maybe it should be a bit more pilot ?

[757_Driver]

yeah, know what you mean, but BA get thousands if not 10's of thousands of applications and they've got to filter them somehow.
Alot of this isn't wether you are 'good enough' its wether you fit in the company and I suspect there's also an element of 'are you willing to jump through the hoops' to get in.
Who knows, but bottom line it's their trainset so they set the rules. I'd rather not do essay questions either (I was a maths / science / engineering geek at school and uni - I don't do essays!) but the essay questions ARE there and IMO that means spelling and grammar are essential.

[111boy]

Ok agreed, how to filter the applications, how about;

Handling skills, technical knowledge, procedural knowledge, aptitude, interpersonal skills, leadership, initiative, problem solving, punctuality, communication and deportment…..

Or, maybe; Essay writing, hair colour, political orientation, drawing a picture, cooking, cleaning. Train driving, look again you are right, its their train set, I'm probably just hacked off at being asked to write a thousand words by HR.

By the way, last time I applied I was late and didn't get through the first day even, should I just get back to my essay? I'm going for a beer now, thanks for an interesting exchange of views. Good luck to everyone with this.

[bylgw]

EGKK et al,

No marks for initiative, but here you go

most recent version of assessment events

[BitMoreRightRudder]

Ok agreed, how to filter the applications, how about;

Handling skills, technical knowledge, procedural knowledge, aptitude, interpersonal skills, leadership, initiative, problem solving, punctuality, communication and deportment…..

All these elements are tested during the selection process. BA are very particular about the essay questions. You really need to take some time over them. I gashed out the 4 questions in 2007 and got a swift PFO. By the time my 12 month suspension was up the doors into BA were closed, until late last year as it turned out. This time round I spent 3 days making sure the initial application was as good as I could make it, and it did the trick. I can't help thinking if only I had put the effort in 4 years ago I would be a lot further up the seniority list....but I had the attitude that I was guaranteed an interview because I had the relevant jet rating and the hours to go with it. Big mistake!

[flyer19832007]

Am I right in thinking that some people have already heard back?

Also I does anyone have any online resource links to the types of verbal and numerical reasoning testing BA ask us to do?

I haven't heard back yet, but already starting the preparation just incase it's good news about an assessment!

[d105]

I applied yesterday, 20/07/11.

I'll report back here if and when I hear back from them.

[goaroundnow]

Invitation

I have been invited to an assessment and heard very quickly after applying.

[flyer19832007]

when was it you replied goaround now? Experience level if you dont mind me asking? Just curious if they have specific order or just as the apps come in....

[Jamin20]

Me too, about 12 hours after

[flyer19832007]

hmmmm......wondering if whether the longer it takes the worse news....or maybe perhaps your indication of when you would be available for assessement, what dates did you guys get?

Apologies for the poor grammar, been a long few days!

[Torque Tonight]

Absolute speculation here but I guess the easy decisions are made first. Those who are blatantly unsuitable, not meeting the requirements for example, probably get rejected very quickly, maybe by computer without any human input. Presumably those who are glowing also get a quick positive answer, but everyone else must wait to be reviewed and deliberated over by the recruiting staff. I am pleasantly surprised that people are getting 'yes' so quickly. When did this open?

[binsleepen]

Hi all

Applied on Tuesday
Yes on Wednesday
Booked interview Thursday (mid August dates)
sounds like a song, hopefully not:
Married on Friday
Kids on Saturday

Was previously in hold pool 3500TT, 2500hrs Heavy 4 jet