As stated, I've got the big day next week.
I've done the searches here and am quite familiar with what to expect in terms of the testing, etc.
I'm just wondering if anyone has gone through the process recently and is able to provide some insight as to the questions that are asked in the interview itself?
I would be grateful for any replies.
Mainline interview next week???
Moderators: lilfssister, North Shore, sky's the limit, sepia, Sulako, I WAS Birddog
Why do you want to work for AC?
Why should we hire you?
Describe a time when the outcome was very different than what you expected? Why?
What are your strong / weak qualities?
Describe a time when you had to make a quick and decisive decision?
Tell me about yourself?
What do you know about AC?
Describe a time when procedures were not followed? What did you do?
Describe a time when you had difficulty getting along with a coworker? How was it resolved?
What are the 3 most important qualities in an Air Canada pilot? (Do not say divorced).
Have you ever been fired / failed a checkride / been arrested / received a TC violation?
Describe a time when you had to work as a team?
What do you find most satisfying in your current job / most unsatisfying?
Do you have any questions?
I think there are about a dozen more but maybe someone else can help me out. Please buy "Checklist for Success" on Amazon and go through it. (The CD was somewhat helpful in visualizing yourself during the interview but is not as important). This lady hired something like 7000 pilots at United and has a pretty good idea about the process. For AC's interview, she was right on the money. Dress style, setting the time and place for your answers, documents prep and so on.....please buy the book as you worked too hard to get to this point to blow it now.
Remember that its an interview. Be polite but not ass kissing or begging. Imagine you are a passenger nervous about flying. Would your presentation and mannerisms give confidence and peace of mind to that passenger? Impressions count for a lot.
Do not overpractice your delivery. Sit down with your logbook and write down all the non-routine flights. Engine failures, loser Captains, weather...write down brief notes for each flight. Then think up questions that could fit the scenario you jotted down. Remember to follow the steps from the book. Set the time and place, describe the scenario but MOST IMPORTANTLY..... tell them what you learned from it / how you would do things differently next time / or even that you would not hesitate to follow the same decision now. Its funny as many people have told me that you could just lie about a story. True, but I don't think they really care about the story. They care about your capacity to learn / accept responsibility / and stay calm under pressure. Please don't lie about anything as its your career you're talking about.
One thing to keep in mind. Many people are not accepted at AC. That does not mean you are a bad pilot. It only means you are possibly better suited for a different workplace culture. Not everyone is suitable at a conservative, bureaucratic, top down hierarchy environment. Don't have the attitude that you will do what it takes to get the job. Instead, give your best effort to present the real truth about who you are. Let them decide if you are suitable for the job based on accurate information. You will not be happy and fit in if you fake your way into the job and then wake up 5 years later and realize just how miserable you are.
Read my post on the psychological and cognitive testing. It plays a big part and people screw it up because they are defensive or try to outguess the tests. Again, answer the questions truthfully and you will have no regrets later if you were not chosen.
I hope this helps a little and please PM me if you have more questions. I think some people go there lacking the necessary preparation and do not present themselves as well as they could have. I only say this because I know some excellent pilots that were turned down and I can only guess it was "the day" that did them in. Another thing...your flying is irrelevant in terms of hours / PPCs / jet time and whatever. It got you to the interview and that is all. It doesn't put you ahead or behind anyone else in the applications. Its what you learned and developed during those hours that will make the difference. I even heard of a Sea King helicopter pilot that was accepted so the fact that you were Captain on the Space Shuttle won't impress them. The fact that while you were there, you had a difficult boss that you were able to overcome your differences and establish a working relationship is exactly what will get you hired.
Best of luck, but the book and let me know how it goes. I still haven't heard anything so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Why should we hire you?
Describe a time when the outcome was very different than what you expected? Why?
What are your strong / weak qualities?
Describe a time when you had to make a quick and decisive decision?
Tell me about yourself?
What do you know about AC?
Describe a time when procedures were not followed? What did you do?
Describe a time when you had difficulty getting along with a coworker? How was it resolved?
What are the 3 most important qualities in an Air Canada pilot? (Do not say divorced).
Have you ever been fired / failed a checkride / been arrested / received a TC violation?
Describe a time when you had to work as a team?
What do you find most satisfying in your current job / most unsatisfying?
Do you have any questions?
I think there are about a dozen more but maybe someone else can help me out. Please buy "Checklist for Success" on Amazon and go through it. (The CD was somewhat helpful in visualizing yourself during the interview but is not as important). This lady hired something like 7000 pilots at United and has a pretty good idea about the process. For AC's interview, she was right on the money. Dress style, setting the time and place for your answers, documents prep and so on.....please buy the book as you worked too hard to get to this point to blow it now.
Remember that its an interview. Be polite but not ass kissing or begging. Imagine you are a passenger nervous about flying. Would your presentation and mannerisms give confidence and peace of mind to that passenger? Impressions count for a lot.
Do not overpractice your delivery. Sit down with your logbook and write down all the non-routine flights. Engine failures, loser Captains, weather...write down brief notes for each flight. Then think up questions that could fit the scenario you jotted down. Remember to follow the steps from the book. Set the time and place, describe the scenario but MOST IMPORTANTLY..... tell them what you learned from it / how you would do things differently next time / or even that you would not hesitate to follow the same decision now. Its funny as many people have told me that you could just lie about a story. True, but I don't think they really care about the story. They care about your capacity to learn / accept responsibility / and stay calm under pressure. Please don't lie about anything as its your career you're talking about.
One thing to keep in mind. Many people are not accepted at AC. That does not mean you are a bad pilot. It only means you are possibly better suited for a different workplace culture. Not everyone is suitable at a conservative, bureaucratic, top down hierarchy environment. Don't have the attitude that you will do what it takes to get the job. Instead, give your best effort to present the real truth about who you are. Let them decide if you are suitable for the job based on accurate information. You will not be happy and fit in if you fake your way into the job and then wake up 5 years later and realize just how miserable you are.
Read my post on the psychological and cognitive testing. It plays a big part and people screw it up because they are defensive or try to outguess the tests. Again, answer the questions truthfully and you will have no regrets later if you were not chosen.
I hope this helps a little and please PM me if you have more questions. I think some people go there lacking the necessary preparation and do not present themselves as well as they could have. I only say this because I know some excellent pilots that were turned down and I can only guess it was "the day" that did them in. Another thing...your flying is irrelevant in terms of hours / PPCs / jet time and whatever. It got you to the interview and that is all. It doesn't put you ahead or behind anyone else in the applications. Its what you learned and developed during those hours that will make the difference. I even heard of a Sea King helicopter pilot that was accepted so the fact that you were Captain on the Space Shuttle won't impress them. The fact that while you were there, you had a difficult boss that you were able to overcome your differences and establish a working relationship is exactly what will get you hired.
Best of luck, but the book and let me know how it goes. I still haven't heard anything so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Thanks Flyer, for a very informative post.
I have in fact bought "Checklist for Success" after someone had suggested it here (it may have been you).
Agreed, this type of interview will take some preparation. I don't think there's any way you could answer some of those questions constructively without first having the opportunity to come up with something to elaborate on.
Best of luck to you, whatever way it goes.
I have in fact bought "Checklist for Success" after someone had suggested it here (it may have been you).
Agreed, this type of interview will take some preparation. I don't think there's any way you could answer some of those questions constructively without first having the opportunity to come up with something to elaborate on.
Best of luck to you, whatever way it goes.
I must have been accurate with my info as I was hired today. 2 weeks from interview to hired.
Another thing that might help..... I think they look for people that truly enjoy aviation and are not just counting their hours to get to AC. Going to airshows, volunteering with Air Cadets, building your own kitplane...anything that demonstrates you have a love and passion for aviation in general and would have changed nothing even if AC was not going to hire you. Its sort of hard to explain but its just sort of a feeling that I got.
Best of luck...
Another thing that might help..... I think they look for people that truly enjoy aviation and are not just counting their hours to get to AC. Going to airshows, volunteering with Air Cadets, building your own kitplane...anything that demonstrates you have a love and passion for aviation in general and would have changed nothing even if AC was not going to hire you. Its sort of hard to explain but its just sort of a feeling that I got.
Best of luck...
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Flapless Jack
- Rank 1
- Posts: 41
- Joined: Mon Jun 21, 2004 9:04 am
Miffed and flyer 146,
did you guys interview in YYZ or YVR?
Also Miffed do you have any pointers to give to someone with an upcoming interview? I'm assuming you interviewed this week.
Also, would you eigher of you like to sell your book "Checklist for Success". I would be interested in puchasing it.
Cheers
Jack
did you guys interview in YYZ or YVR?
Also Miffed do you have any pointers to give to someone with an upcoming interview? I'm assuming you interviewed this week.
Also, would you eigher of you like to sell your book "Checklist for Success". I would be interested in puchasing it.
Cheers
Jack
