Cathay Interview

[BigglesNBella]

Hey everyone,

I've searched around and read a whole bunch of really old threads but I can't quite find the answers I'm looking for.

Does anybody know if there is a difference between Cathay interviews for pilots looking to be hired and those interviews for the cadet program?

I have been invited for an initial interview after applying for the cadet program last year and I want to be prepared as best I can, but all the tips I've found so far include example questions that I would expect to see on a CPL or ATPL written exam, not exactly the type of questions you'd ask someone with no flight experience.

Any insight into this?

Thanks!

[TopperHarley]

check out the Fragrant Harbor forums at www.pprune.org. Lots of info there.

[CAL]

PCC does an interview prep course.

[BigglesNBella]

PCC does an interview prep course.

I think I'll look into this.

My only concern is that this will probably prep someone for entry as an F/O or something but the cadet program most likely has a very different interview. I don't think they'd expect a 0 time guy to know the intimate details of a B777 autopilot or what have you.

[moocow]

As far as I can tell the old CXCPP23 website is dead. When I did the interview 2 years ago, I found tons of info there. Here's what went down but you seriously need to double check with PPRUNE website to get updated info. I stop browsing because it's just full of people that are like "oh when's your interview" or "oh I'm having interview too". Not very helpful.

1. Basic English, Math, and diagram based IQ test.

2. More English test, verbal presentation in English, first interview with 2 pilots & HR type.

3. Eye-hand coordination test (with joystick and rudder), visual differential test (2 jets with a small difference in wing length, tell the difference), advanced Math test (GMAT level, totally bombed and heard this section got dumb down, and no where near as hard as Dragon's version). Technical interview with 2 pilots / HR type, they will ask questions from the tech book they give you at the end of #2 if you pass. Oh and there's 2 group exercise you have to do here...one with a group of 4 and one with a group of 2, sorry can't tell you what they're about since CX asked people not to blab about it. I failed after this stage.

4. Interview with senior management type. Don't know if there's a tea party here. ICAO level English test, medical test. Info based from a friend I met during interview and doing induction course on 777.

5. Flight grading in Aussieland.

[snoopy]

Try google: http://www.google.ca/search?client=oper ... 8&oe=utf-8

This one looks like a cash grab (AU$2995), but hey, maybe it's worth it to you: http://www.pilotaptitude.com/?page=Airl ... hayPacific

Also, these people keep sending me emails - it's free to register, and you have to register to find out what's inside... it might be mostly US airline gouges, but there may be internationals in there - you never know (I've never registered). It may be helpful to read through some of the available gouges to find out the different types of questions you may be asked. If their information helps you, you can give back to the site by submitting your own gouge after you experience the interview.
http://www.aviationinterviews.com/

Good luck!

Cheers,
Kirsten B.

[alti2d]

I think that the Calgary Pilot Supply store has (or has had) interview guide books for Cathay Interviews in particular... may be a little dated, but may be useful.

[moocow]

Yeah I got a copy of it if you're talking about a paper bind booklet. Got nothing specific about the Cadet program unless they updated it within the last 2 years.

[EyeOh]

Hi BnB,
I know this isn't what you asked but I just thought I'd make sure you knew what you're potentially signing up for. I'm not a negative person but here is the reality:
- after training in ADL (you are not paid for this but your training is free so not bad there)
- Once online, the job is the same as a DESO and you should be ungraded in order of seniority however....
- As far as I know, you will not and probably never will receive a housing allowance. This will effectively pay you half of a DESO wage. In the past cadets were HK locals who crashed with there parents/family. For years. I'm guessing you wont have that option. Property in HK is not affordable without it. You will not have a very comfortable life without housing allowances.

For the most part I enjoy Cathay but this isn't a hobby. I know as an aspiring pilot this may seem like a dream opportunity but I would guess in a few short years you would probably realize you were being taken advantage of and leave (albeit with a type rating and a bit of experience.) Having said this, the union HKAOA is fighting for housing for all. I just wouldn't count on it. Just thought you should know.
IO

[moocow]

IO: are you a cadet grad or DE pilot?

Anyway, you should be mindful that you won't have a lot of PIC hours under your belt so you can't really hop if you need to hop. There's also a problem with how other country view SO hours. You're technically behind the stick as cruise relief but hold a SO rank. At best may be 50% credit and at worst no credit what so ever.

[EyeOh]

I am DE. However, I have no doubt that ex-Cadets could get a job once they built some hours (in seat, not SO.) It's just based on supply and demand. Either way, I still think Cathay would not be a reasonable career place as a pilot without housing in HK. Our current ex-Cadets are not happy.

[beaconfinal]

http://www.mypilotcareer.com/cathay-pac ... view-gouge may be of interest to you as well.

bf

[moocow]

There been rumors on PPRUNE regarding housing for cadet. I seriously doubt that given the total percentage of pilots in union is somewhere south of 50%. There's also rumor of international cadet, I assume it will be like Etihad which don't care about your citizenship/residency (but they do have a 6 figure USD penalty if you get fail out of the course or get fired/terminated).

Doesn't hurt to try and you can save some money if you stay with family and don't have a job that require you to fly back and forth (like I was).

[EyeOh]

The HKAOA (Cx Union) has a membership north of 70% now. For 20 years, none of the ex-Cadets were part of the AOA. They all joined at once last year as a show of how unhappy they are. I think there are roughly 200-300 cadets out of 2600 pilots. So that obviously means there has been a large increase in membership for Expat pilots as well.

[moocow]

For those still interested, it seem CX opened up the cadet program for everyone regardless of residency. The requirement used to say "have right to work and live in HK" but now it say "wish to pursue a career with us in Hong Kong". Just throwing it out there.

[EyeOh]

That is what this whole topic has been about.

[ftp]

I had a DESO interview in 2008. Pprune is an excellent source of info. I spent most of my spare time studying for those interviews. (about 5 months) The cadet interview used to be much different then the DE interviews. Have the technical knowledge that you would need to pass your atpl's and you will be fine. There are plenty of technical prep books that are available at aviation world. Though, I've met people who got through the Cadet interviews recently who didn't have the technical knowledge of a CPL student.

But you should also know, Cathay is looking for cheap employment. Don't ever plan on getting any housing allowance. If they were going to pay cadets housing, they would just keep hiring experienced DESOs instead. The management is quite strong, unions don't have any power in HK, I wouldn't count on getting any benefits you weren't initially offered.

There are probably 150 of us in the direct entry hold pool. We were recently sent an email that makes it look like cadets are the only future way into the company. I'm a captain on a large turboprop, and I'm probably among the least experienced person in the DESO hold pool. There were RJ and Embrair captains in the hold pool with me. If they are choosing to take cadets instead of DESOs it is because it allows them to save a lot of money. It is really just a way around following their COE by hiring new pilots under the 'cadet' label.

This is just my opinion, but I think I'm as informed as anyone who doesn't actually work there.

If this is what you want, best of luck.

FTP