All info posted here was pretty much on the money. Dont overthink the LOI - I really think that if you put yourself in the seat and make the same decisions that you would make everyday on the job - you would not screw it up.
The questions were TMAT type and pretty much all three interviewers seemed to have the same bank, different way of asking. Try to maintain your enthusiasm telling the story for the 3rd time - it might have been my downfall - great experience, great people got fingers crossed Good luck
Date Interviewed: January 2006
Summary of Qualifications:
ATP 10,500 hours, current 737 F/O with major airline (displaced captain), Retired Military. Rated, Learjet,707/720, DC-10, 757/767, 737
Were you offered the job?
No
Pilot Interview Profile:
Process was very relaxed and comfortable. Pretty much followed the gouge here as posted. I stayed at the Holiday Inn (SW pilots in training were here as well). I arrived around 7:45 and they immediately issued us new paper work to fill out which the FAA mandated (just updated versions of what they sent us). They apologized profusely about this as they only received this paperwork themselves late on friday before the interview. This took us about 10 minutes or less to fill out. They then split us into 2 groups (there were 22 total). Everyone pretty much looked like the typical FBI agent or accountant. All wore dark suits with different shirts (some white, some blues, some gray, etc) nothing outlandish. A few guys wore the red power tie but most everyone else wore a tie of their liking. I believe it doesnt matter what you wear as all the interviewers are wearing dockers and polo shirts. I was in the group that would undergo interviews in the am and the LOI in the afternoon. They first put us in a room where someone from the people dept congratulated us for being there and told us a little about SW and where it was heading, They then outlined what our day would be like and when the decision board would meet and when we might hear something. They then had us stack our paperwork into 2 seperate piles collecting the second pile and having us carry the logbook pile and our briefcase into another room where we could keep them there for the remainder of the day (retrieving the logbook pile when you had your logbook review interview)This first interview was with a retired captain. He was very warm and non threatning. He asked a little bit about what i was currently doing as a warm up and then we got into the questions. Pretty much the same as listed below. Why do you want to work for SW, what do you bring to SW, Why do want to leave your current job, tell me about your scariest flight. TMA the time you had to counsel a crewmember, TMA a pilot you didnt get along with and what did you do about it. Did you ever break any rules or SOPS?, TMA about a recent flight that didnt go as planned and the outcome. Very relaxed atmosphere and they are sincere when they tell you they just want to know who you are.
Date Interviewed:
Summary of Qualifications:
ATP. 121 Carrier employed,Captian, 5300TT 4000Multi 2500pic turbine/jet 7 years at current job, application 36mos on file
Were you offered the job?
Yes
Pilot Interview Profile:
EVERYONE leaves feeling great. I feel really great because I actaully got the job. Logbook review: My guy didn't even look at them. Just had me go to the tabs, and give him the times for his paper. We all have our Stories lined up when we get there. We also have those stories that we aren't telling ANYONE, like safety issues maybe, or FAR violation issues, that were accidental, just the oops stories, that might not be as "cool" as some others. Well, I found myself compelled to really open up to these people. I couldn't believe that I told the skeleton stories. As I was sitting there, I thought: well, they want to know the real me...here it is.. I really think they know we are all human, all goof up, all learn, etc, so share that.
one question that hung me up. "give me 3 words that describe you as a pilot" uhhhh actually there were several that hung me up, and I asked them to ask me another, and they were happy to. They don't "dock" you for moving to another question apparently, 'cause I did it at least 4 times in 3 interviews.
LOI was really easy for me. I finished with 1 minute to go, and had a solid de-brief. Everyone in my group with the LOI diverted to different places, and I think we all got hired too! Doesn't matter where you go, just how you got there. Don't over-analyze it. Just do what you do every day! I didn't use the jumpseater enough. He/she plays dispatch, MX, F.A.'s etc, so you feel like you are using them, but careful you use them as a jumpseater too! but I caught that in the de-brief, and I saw them writing on the chart when I mentioned that. you may get the same credit if you catch it in the de-brief...?
Everyone looks calm, but it was funny we all talked about how racked our nerves were, and it helped. Try and forget what is at stake, and really relax, smile a lot, laugh, be polite, and be yourself. If those items above aren't actually you by nature, you probably won't get it anyway. The one thing they can read right thru, is B.S. I don't care how smooth you are. That's been proven by the guys I know that didn't get it. Update your stuff weekly!!!!!! Almost all of us had updated within 3 days of our call for the interview.
Good luck.
Date Interviewed: December 2005
Summary of Qualifications:
TT 5600/turbine 4300/pic turbine 1600/NO 737 type
Were you offered the job?
No
Pilot Interview Profile:
Interview consists of a Line Oriented Interview (LOI) and 3 thirty to forty-five minute interviews with pilots and people's department. The gouge out there is pretty good but you can rest assured they will be one step ahead of it.
Southwest doesnt ask questions like "has this ever happened or that ever happened"...they ask "tell me about a time when (for example) you were flying with someone you wanted to beat the crap out of?"...They are huge into interpersonal communication and conflict resolution (diplomacy).
They look to "hire the talent and train the skill." They are looking for a certain type of person, not a certain type of pilot.
They want to hear your stories...the tough part is that you may not have a story that matches the question. For example, they asked me about a time when someone questioned my integrity in the cockpit...hasn't happened so I told them about a time a teacher in high school questioned my integrity.
They buy lunch for you around noon. Be advised, do not let your guard down because the interview is still silently being conducted. Do not be rude to anyone...bar none. It will get back to them.
The LOI takes place in a 737 cockpit procedures trainer...a cardboard cutout basically. My scenario was MDW to BNA, hold over Terre Haute VOR because of emergency aircraft in Nashville, snow on runway...and by the way you have a passenger freaking out in back. fuel is a critical...what are you going to do?
You have a few minutes alone to figure out the questions you need to ask, then your FO and jumpseater come in and you have 7 minutes to make a decision. A laptop is put in front of you and has a fuel gauge and clock ticking down...no pressure.
when you are through, they leave again for 5 minutes or so, then return and have you brief them...basically what you think of your decision and would you change anything.
I thought the interview went well, not outstanding, but decent. Not sure what I may have said that hung myself in the interviews, but at least I'm still employed and didn't have to get the type to get the interview.
Date Interviewed: October 2005
Summary of Qualifications:
Military: 4000 PIC Jet; ATP; 737 Type
Were you offered the job?
Yes
Pilot Interview Profile:
Went exactly as advertised. Process went faster than I expected. Got my type at Higher Power (highly recommend) and got the call for an interview less than two weeks later. The call depends on availability date and qualifications (PIC Jet seems to be the big factor. Type rating will get you an interview faster, too.)
During the interview, if you listen, they will tell you when the decision board is. It is usally about 4 weeks later. If you make the cut, you will get a call from a chief pilot about a week or so later. If you don't, you'll get a letter. Although I consider myself "in" -- it isn't over until you are in class. The chief pilot will give you a name and number, and she'll tell you right then that they are just starting the background check. So if you have skeletons in your closet, they have another month to find them. I don't really consider myself hired until I get a class date.
She told me to expect a class date 3 to 6 months later. When I told her I was available "short-notice;" she said "Great, I'll make a note of that." So I hope I get a short notice call. Otherwise, the class will be in the spring.
