British Airways DEP Selection - THE lowdown Part 1
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Simulator
Good Evening all,
I have a sim check coming up and wonder if someone could offer some more detail on what can be expected, all previous information is now somewhat out of date in that it is from the last round of recruitment prior to the freeze.
Has much changed, anything new or removed?
Procedural approaches and holding, do they feature at all?
I understand some questions could be asked, possibly arithmetic related. What kind of questions are these?
Many thanks in advance for the tips
Regards
Wtw
I have a sim check coming up and wonder if someone could offer some more detail on what can be expected, all previous information is now somewhat out of date in that it is from the last round of recruitment prior to the freeze.
Has much changed, anything new or removed?
Procedural approaches and holding, do they feature at all?
I understand some questions could be asked, possibly arithmetic related. What kind of questions are these?
Many thanks in advance for the tips
Regards
Wtw
Join Date: Mar 2005
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are they still hiring to fill seats or the hold pool?
as per the title, have they found the initial 60 odd they needed and are filling the pool, or is the flow of successful recruits more of a trickle?
anyone any ideas?
anyone any ideas?
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Any idea how many people and how long people have been in the talent pool? I know of several guys getting calls for 767 last week. Just wondering how many 737 people like myself are awaiting a start date.
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Sharpclassic how 'latest' is that 160 required? Two weeks ago at the interview one of the captains said there were 1400 applications, 600 interviews taking place off the back of that and 80 places have been authorised for BA to fill. They said their ambition is for 200 a year.
The HR chap at the end of the assesment said there would be no holdpool as such, just a sort of waiting room for the next course to come along. There closing statement was a course would be offered when available - to give an idea of expected timescales - people interviewing at the beginning of Jan were told if successful (which I was not) they would have a sim in Feb with an expected BA course date, if successful, in July potentially.
The HR chap at the end of the assesment said there would be no holdpool as such, just a sort of waiting room for the next course to come along. There closing statement was a course would be offered when available - to give an idea of expected timescales - people interviewing at the beginning of Jan were told if successful (which I was not) they would have a sim in Feb with an expected BA course date, if successful, in July potentially.
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Sorry for the slight thread creep, does anyone in the know at BA know whether or not any SSP (cadet) recruitment is likely in the next 6 months or so? My guess is that all the time they're overwhelmed with applications from suitable DEPs they won't but you never know....
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Tosh Cheezyjet, I know of many over 30's (me included) and some captains who have got in. Not just flexicrew cadets and alike, some guys from middle eastern carriers too. All sorts have been successful.
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Yep, I'm on the far side of 40 (just!) and got in last week. I honestly don't think BA give a hoot where you work, what age you are etc etc. It seems to be a very transparent process.
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Well I just made it into the 'Talent Pool', and am waiting to hear about a start date.
I am most definitely not an ex-cadet and am getting on a bit now. The reason why people pass the sim and assessment day is probably down to the amount of effort and practice put into preparation and how you perform on the day.
I did try to be a BA cadet about 14 years ago but didn't get very far.
I am most definitely not an ex-cadet and am getting on a bit now. The reason why people pass the sim and assessment day is probably down to the amount of effort and practice put into preparation and how you perform on the day.
I did try to be a BA cadet about 14 years ago but didn't get very far.
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always good to have a nice age spread as well so in XX years you dont all retire at once
Only the cynics though!
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I don't think anyone outside the people who are in control of the recruitment really know what the true picture is.
I do think BA care where you are from, experience, attitude etc, surely that is why that such an exhaustive and thorough process?
If I am being cynical, I think I failed because I have been a Captain for a few years now and perhaps they may think I could be a problem. Especially considering how many co-pilots I am competeing with.
I failed the assessment day, no idea why. I will have to assume I am total sh@t.
Not bitter, just gutted.
For all of you that have been offered a job, well done.
I do think BA care where you are from, experience, attitude etc, surely that is why that such an exhaustive and thorough process?
If I am being cynical, I think I failed because I have been a Captain for a few years now and perhaps they may think I could be a problem. Especially considering how many co-pilots I am competeing with.
I failed the assessment day, no idea why. I will have to assume I am total sh@t.
Not bitter, just gutted.
For all of you that have been offered a job, well done.
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I agree that there seems to be no rhyme nor reason (have plenty of mates who have failed at both stages) to the process but there are plenty of ex-skippers from a wide variety of backgrounds in the company (me included).
I'm just glad there will soon be FOs both older (just!) and junior to me!!!
But don't be phased by all those 40-something cadets with 25 years to do at the top of the tree blocking all those coveted command slots. I'm 40 with 3 years in the company and I doubt I'll see a LH command.
Good luck one and all - I still think it's the best place to be.
I'm just glad there will soon be FOs both older (just!) and junior to me!!!
But don't be phased by all those 40-something cadets with 25 years to do at the top of the tree blocking all those coveted command slots. I'm 40 with 3 years in the company and I doubt I'll see a LH command.
Good luck one and all - I still think it's the best place to be.
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Latest list showed most junior new LH commands will be at ~18yrs+
Well I just made it into the 'Talent Pool', and am waiting to hear about a start date.
The reason why people pass the sim and assessment day is probably down to the amount of effort and practice put into preparation and how you perform on the day.
I did try to be a BA cadet about 14 years ago but didn't get very far.
The reason why people pass the sim and assessment day is probably down to the amount of effort and practice put into preparation and how you perform on the day.
I did try to be a BA cadet about 14 years ago but didn't get very far.
So if you are reading this and were one of those married pilots who have been scratching their heads for the past twenty years as to why you did not get in, you now know why. (Old BA selectors scanning these forums (but most are out to graze these days) will be familiar with this letter and undoubtedly more like it from RA.)
Despite the explosion of equal employment rights in the past twenty years, nothing behind closed doors has changed.
You failed 14 years ago but passed now? I have former hold pool friends who were canned in the down-turn of 2008. Yet just two years later the very same people failed. With no down turn they would be year three line pilots.
In many ways "Iberia Regional" reminds me of Sky Sports’ Andy Gray and Richard Keys.
Last edited by Craggenmore; 28th Jan 2011 at 01:41.
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I failed the assessment day, no idea why. I will have to assume I am total sh@t.
'Due to the volume of applications unfortunately we are unable to offer feedback. We would greatly appreciate it if you could give us feedback on our selection'
is either to add insult to injury or a thoughtless sentence. The two are literally one after the other in the 'no' e mail. So the HR team who are employed to deal with personnel employment don't have the time to give me feedback but I, an FO doing 900 hours FDP a year do have the time to give them feedback? Don't be stupid BA. Get real. And have some respect.
Anyway, don't feel like you are no good - this exercise is NOT a pass or fail exercise, it's a suitable or not suitable exercise. You must see that if you are not right for them, they are probably not right for you on a grand scale (though no doubt they have some very nice people there).
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Mid 30's here, 3000 hours P1 time on a mix of B737 and 757. Didn't even get an interview. Must have really screwed up those questions.
18+ years to LH command? That is truly horrible. But where else to go in the UK? It's a depressing employment landscape right now IMHO...
18+ years to LH command? That is truly horrible. But where else to go in the UK? It's a depressing employment landscape right now IMHO...
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'Due to the volume of applications unfortunately we are unable to offer feedback. We would greatly appreciate it if you could give us feedback on our selection'
As to the selection method, as with anything in BA it depends upon the circumstances at the time. BA were overwhelmed with the response to the recruiting adverts and caught a little off balance.
As someone has quite rightly pointed out the selection is based very much upon your performance on the day and whether or not you 'gel' with whoever conducts your interviews. As any of us who have been through these procedures is aware, there is an extraordinary degree of variables involved and one or two can throw you out of kilter.
A 'no' doesn't mean anything on a personal level it just means that it wasn't successful on that day. Try again.
Good luck to all.
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HERE HERE BlackandBrown 
,
After the hours upon hours of preparation followed by a rejection and then to twist the knife like that is the final straw!
I know of people who were swimming in the pool last time, some of which had previously worked for BA in another capacity, and they have been rejected on this occasion.
BA claim to take pride in their selection procedure but I am sorry to say I think it has serious downfalls and therefore they turn away many suitable applicants every time they recruit.
In my opinion the process is too BlackandWhite and allows little room for maneuver or perish the thought - a common sense approach. Is this a prime example of job justification for those who work in "Human Remains"?
,After the hours upon hours of preparation followed by a rejection and then to twist the knife like that is the final straw!
I know of people who were swimming in the pool last time, some of which had previously worked for BA in another capacity, and they have been rejected on this occasion.
BA claim to take pride in their selection procedure but I am sorry to say I think it has serious downfalls and therefore they turn away many suitable applicants every time they recruit.
In my opinion the process is too BlackandWhite and allows little room for maneuver or perish the thought - a common sense approach. Is this a prime example of job justification for those who work in "Human Remains"?