Thomson Recruiting
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
From: EU
....and a customer service answer that they like
Looking back with hindsight, I thought my answer to their slightly vague question was good enough to get an interview at the very least, but I guess everyone who got a PFO thought that!
Funny that a similar answer to a very similar question worked for BA (or maybe it was one of the other 4 essays that ticked the right boxes on that application)
Me, bitter? No. I would have liked to work for them but I suppose it wasn't meant to be.
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 214
Likes: 0
From: Neither here nor there
Apparently that customer service answer really made the difference. I didn't think it was that important. So completing the application in under 1 hour giving standard answers, backfired big time for me 
This threat shows how dead the market really is, so many current guys with lots of B737NG hrs like myself got their PFO email.....
I guess the only thing one can do now days, if you aren't extremly lucky, is get command time and then head for China or the Sandpit....
This threat shows how dead the market really is, so many current guys with lots of B737NG hrs like myself got their PFO email.....I guess the only thing one can do now days, if you aren't extremly lucky, is get command time and then head for China or the Sandpit....
Last edited by Ronand; 24th September 2012 at 17:33.
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Rochester, Kent
I feel like a minnow!
750hrs on the NG and just over a thousand total. Invited for assessment. Any info on what to expect on the day would be great. Also, a lot of guys seem to have had an email about salary - I haven't - can anybody enlighten me on this PPY contract?
Best of luck to everyone.
750hrs on the NG and just over a thousand total. Invited for assessment. Any info on what to expect on the day would be great. Also, a lot of guys seem to have had an email about salary - I haven't - can anybody enlighten me on this PPY contract?
Best of luck to everyone.
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 549
Likes: 0
From: uk
SELECTION PROCESS
Dear all
I have had a fair few PMs asking me if I know anything about the selection process at TOM.
Whilst I applaud anyone taking the initiative and trying to get ahead I'm also slightly uncomfortable about handing the advantage to any one individual as I'm a firm believer in level playing fields! I'm even more uncomfortable if it is concerning people I know nothing of!!
That may seem like moral high ground or some such but happily I don't have to face the dilemma as regretably, I know nothing about it at all being more involved in the BALPA side of it and also training rather than recruitment. I do know some who are recruitment guys but again, it is for them to come forward rather than me to give out names.
I'm sure you understand that I can't reply to all the PMs personally and therefore could I ask that you stop sending them as I can't help and also I don't want to be so rude as to ignore you! Thanks.
I wish you all the very best of luck.
I have had a fair few PMs asking me if I know anything about the selection process at TOM.
Whilst I applaud anyone taking the initiative and trying to get ahead I'm also slightly uncomfortable about handing the advantage to any one individual as I'm a firm believer in level playing fields! I'm even more uncomfortable if it is concerning people I know nothing of!!
That may seem like moral high ground or some such but happily I don't have to face the dilemma as regretably, I know nothing about it at all being more involved in the BALPA side of it and also training rather than recruitment. I do know some who are recruitment guys but again, it is for them to come forward rather than me to give out names.
I'm sure you understand that I can't reply to all the PMs personally and therefore could I ask that you stop sending them as I can't help and also I don't want to be so rude as to ignore you! Thanks.
I wish you all the very best of luck.
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 169
Likes: 3
From: UK
Evening all,
I too ,like Yeoman, have received PMs regarding the interview process. For many of the same reasons so well put in his post I am not able to provide advice I am afraid. As someone who is indeed involved in recruitment that would be very unwise of me. As a bit of background as to the Company's methodology in selecting people for interview I offer the following extract from a Training Newsletter received today.
"Following our advertisement for B737 pilots we have received 778 applications, 436 that actually had B737 300‐900 type ratings and approximately 200 with valid & current B737‐800 experience. Applicants ranged from Ryan Air, Jet 2, Fly Dubai, and other carriers. Assessment days are planned for the 3, 4, 10 & 11 November. The number of line training sectors needed and available this winter with the huge training requirements on the B737 fleet has limited us to getting the most qualified pilots we can. A type rated B737‐800 qualified and current pilot needs 4 sectors plus a line check. Anything less would require more sectors. In isolation that may be achievable, but not with 80+ pilots transferring from the Airbus & B756, pilots returning from Sunwing, CAT C, flip‐flops and 15 commands!"
As you can appreciate the 737 training department are going to be at full stretch this winter, and the limitation of line training sectors has counted in favour of those who are type rated and current thus only needing 4 sectors. The final rather blunt instrument in terms of selecting from those who meet the criteria was the Customer Service question I am reliably informed by one of the Managers involved in the process. Good luck all who have been invited to interview.
I too ,like Yeoman, have received PMs regarding the interview process. For many of the same reasons so well put in his post I am not able to provide advice I am afraid. As someone who is indeed involved in recruitment that would be very unwise of me. As a bit of background as to the Company's methodology in selecting people for interview I offer the following extract from a Training Newsletter received today.
"Following our advertisement for B737 pilots we have received 778 applications, 436 that actually had B737 300‐900 type ratings and approximately 200 with valid & current B737‐800 experience. Applicants ranged from Ryan Air, Jet 2, Fly Dubai, and other carriers. Assessment days are planned for the 3, 4, 10 & 11 November. The number of line training sectors needed and available this winter with the huge training requirements on the B737 fleet has limited us to getting the most qualified pilots we can. A type rated B737‐800 qualified and current pilot needs 4 sectors plus a line check. Anything less would require more sectors. In isolation that may be achievable, but not with 80+ pilots transferring from the Airbus & B756, pilots returning from Sunwing, CAT C, flip‐flops and 15 commands!"
As you can appreciate the 737 training department are going to be at full stretch this winter, and the limitation of line training sectors has counted in favour of those who are type rated and current thus only needing 4 sectors. The final rather blunt instrument in terms of selecting from those who meet the criteria was the Customer Service question I am reliably informed by one of the Managers involved in the process. Good luck all who have been invited to interview.
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
From: EU
Whilst I sympathise with the recruitment team who were faced with a deluge of applications and had to find a way of narrowing down the flood into a trickle suitable for interview, I wonder whether the customer service question was the best way of doing it.
It was the only opportunity to put forward one's personality but was fairly vague and although I thought I supplied a good answer, had I realised its importance in the process, I might have written a longer and more detailed essay. By contrast, BA's application form included 5 opportunities to put your personality into the application and those answers could reasonably give an impression of one's personaility.
Incidentally, this is not sour grapes. I hope they get the right people. I a probably not it anyway!
It was the only opportunity to put forward one's personality but was fairly vague and although I thought I supplied a good answer, had I realised its importance in the process, I might have written a longer and more detailed essay. By contrast, BA's application form included 5 opportunities to put your personality into the application and those answers could reasonably give an impression of one's personaility.
Incidentally, this is not sour grapes. I hope they get the right people. I a probably not it anyway!
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 398
Likes: 0
From: FL400
I might have thought Thomson would have told me what the day would consist of but there has been no detail at all apart from the day on which to turn up.
If anyone is able to share with me what the interview day consists of - in broad terms - it really would be much appreciated.
If anyone is able to share with me what the interview day consists of - in broad terms - it really would be much appreciated.
Last edited by Al Murdoch; 9th October 2012 at 06:52.
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Rochester, Kent
Assessment Details
Can anybody tell us whether we are going to receive some additional information on what to expect on the day? As with the chap above - not expecting the exact low-down, but a little advance warning of what is coming would be good! If anybody knows whether Thomson will supply more info closer to the time that would calm my nerves slightly 
Cheers everyone.
Cheers everyone.
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: us
Rumour has it...and it is only rumour ( galley fm ), that most chosen were low hours second officer wage guys. Good luck to them if true, but a sad and all too common state-of-industry message. Pay as little as possible and forget experience. If true then Thomson sadly joining race to bottom along with rest of them. Balpa failing massively in my view. Ctc 
have a lot to answer for.
have a lot to answer for.
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
From: UK
Seeing as just about every FO in Thomson has the hours for command, it would seem to make sense to recruit mainly low hours guys, to establish a more balanced hours demographic within the FO community - I'm sure the fact that they will be able to pay them less is just the icing on the cake
I only know one guy who has been invited for interview, and he has about 800 hours 737-800.
I only know one guy who has been invited for interview, and he has about 800 hours 737-800.
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 338
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere between Avant and Vaton.....usually
A number of my colleagues are interviewing with Thomson. They all have over 3000 hours 737-800 time.
I would say the majority of guys going for interviews are quite experienced operators from FR, BABY, Jet2 and probably a few coming back from the desert.
They will also be interviewing their existing CTC Cadets that are flying with them at the moment for permanent contracts in December I believe.
I would say the majority of guys going for interviews are quite experienced operators from FR, BABY, Jet2 and probably a few coming back from the desert.
They will also be interviewing their existing CTC Cadets that are flying with them at the moment for permanent contracts in December I believe.