Encore interview process

[Cabot]

Hi all -

I have an interview with Encore in the next couple weeks. I am curious if anybody here has any experience or insights into the process.

From what I have been told to expect, there is a multiple choice question test which is done on a computer, and then some sort of panel interview. Not sure if you do a presentation on a pre-selected topic.

-For the test, I am planning to review many TC publications in preparation for this date. Any suggestions on areas of the regulations, CAP GEN, or the AIM that I should focus on?

-How similar is the Encore interview to the way WJ does it? Do they focus on mainly TMAAT questions/CRM/career examples? How many technical questions are mixed in?

-How long does the Encore interview day last?

-Finally, how long does it take to hear results? Any ideas on ratios of successful candidates to total number of pilots interviewed?

Thanks for any perspectives, and good luck to all candidates.

Cabot

[JLA]

Interviewing right or left seat? Do you mind telling us what your flying experience looks like?

[matt foley]

Have no idea about WJE but here is a suggestion from several airline type interviews(all but one of which was successful). Have three "there i was" examples ready. One where you were the hero, one where you were the zero(and what you learned from it) and one where the jury is still out. Don't make them up! If you don't have any then maybe you don't have the required experience. I cant remember how many questions start with "give us an example of a time when...". And last, relax and remember the job is yours to loose. You have the upper hand! Sorry if a little off subject.


MF

[flying4dollars]

Should be some interview questions floating around here or the net. Do a quick search and you should be able to find some good info. Good luck on the interview.

[DaveP]

Hi Cabot! I pm’d all your questions!
Cheers and good luck!

[truedude]

Finally, how long does it take to hear results? Any ideas on ratios of successful candidates to total number of pilots interviewed?

I know of one ratio which I am sure that those at Encore aren't exactly proud of. The number of offers for employment extended vs the number of those accepted. Imagine if all that money spent doing interviews on people with no intentions on actually working for Encore was instead applied towards increasing the wages for the pilots...

But of course we can't do that, since that would ultimately defeat the purpose of Encore.

[Inverted2]

I know of at least 6 who have interviewed at Encore and 0 have accepted a job there. From what I gathered it wasn't all about the low pay, it's the fact that you only get 10 days off a month, and moving to YYC on those wages would be tough, and if you commute forget about being home very much.

[Changes in Latitudes]

Make sure you walk in there looking like you're a fit for the position.

A lot of people have shown up going for more of hobo look, but they prefer the broke, professional look.

[Lateralus]

Please don't turn this into another Encore bashing thread. It is getting sad and old. I am sure Cabot is aware of the working conditions at Encore as they most likely will outline them for you when you are called before accepting an interview.

He clearly asked about interview, if you don't have anything relevant to post, whats the point?

[truedude]

I am sure Cabot is aware of the working conditions at Encore as they most likely will outline them for you when you are called before accepting an interview.

And of course when they do there will be no embellishment of any kind. I'm sorry, but everything about Encore is just pathetic. It is unbelievable we are literally watching history repeat itself.

[Lateralus]

I am sure Cabot is aware of the working conditions at Encore as they most likely will outline them for you when you are called before accepting an interview.

And of course when they do there will be no embellishment of any kind. I'm sorry, but everything about Encore is just pathetic. It is unbelievable we are literally watching history repeat itself.

So what are you doing about if besides pointing it out over and over on the internet?

[truedude]

What would you have me do? I don't work at WestJet so I can't do anything from that end. The most any of us can do is advise those who want to go there who haven't been in this industry long enough that we have seen the game before. We know how it ends. And in the end we will all pay the price because of it. But like most of us outside the WestJet gates, I am helpless to do anything but watch as it all unfolds.

But it sure the hell doesn't mean I have to watch it happen quietly.

[Changes in Latitudes]

EDITED. LOST INTEREST.

[Cabot]

Interviewing right or left seat? Do you mind telling us what your flying experience looks like?

Interviewing for a right seat job. Just cracked 8000 hours this week. Have flown three different airliners (and numerous smaller props), 2 jet type ratings, 3100 + in an airline environment/2 crew, 2900 + turbine PIC in a variety of aircraft.

[flyer 1492]

Interviewing right or left seat? Do you mind telling us what your flying experience looks like?

Interviewing for a right seat job. Just cracked 8000 hours this week. Have flown three different airliners (and numerous smaller props), 2 jet type ratings, 3100 + in an airline environment/2 crew, 2900 + turbine PIC in a variety of aircraft.

With those qualifications I would be holding out for right seat at west jet. At least you would be making more money.

[BingBong]

Interviewing right or left seat? Do you mind telling us what your flying experience looks like?

Interviewing for a right seat job. Just cracked 8000 hours this week. Have flown three different airliners (and numerous smaller props), 2 jet type ratings, 3100 + in an airline environment/2 crew, 2900 + turbine PIC in a variety of aircraft.

I just want to thank you (and the maple tards) for being the very problem there is with this industry. I hope that your children grow up to be pilots making less then 18K a year and ask you "daddy...why can't I afford the good Kraft Dinner".

VALUE YOUR EXPERIENCE! Why the #$% would you be willing to take a job that pays less then a prostitute on a tuesday afternoon...cause that's what you are reducing yourself to. Be a professional and stand up for the very job our children deserve.

There is a children's book that comes to mind for the Encore/Maple candidates that comes to mind...just remember...don't pick it or you'll bleed

[scopiton]

easy to blame the others to take a low paying job when you're not in somebody's shoes and don't have to make the same choice...

VALUE YOUR EXPERIENCE!

we all agree on that, where would you recommend to apply today ?
AC ? you'll be flushed to rouge with may be a 2/3 year span life.
WJ ? may be he already did so
AT ? furlough
SW ? unless you wanna work 5/6 mths/year and do some expat contract for the other 5/6 mth away from kids and family - mexican fruit picker anybody ?
CJ ? ...
JAZZ ? same as encore
SR ? same as encore
Any biz operator ? no contact : no job. in any case with an airline background you don't stand much chance.

if you have any good idea where to apply right now to be paid accordingly to your experience, or accordingly to what you imagine your experience is worth, and assuming you have the great tadam! to any interview question, please let us know.

[monkey]

easy to blame the others to take a low paying job when you're not in somebody's shoes and don't have to make the same choice...

We do not begrudge someone that needs to work particularly when one has a obligations and is unemployed. However people that took the work most likely were not in that situation and that decision definitely will have ramifications for our brothers and sister at other airlines that are well paid.

Regarding your pay scales Jazz is a much better option than encore, your data on SW is completely inaccurate, nobody is forced to go overseas for 6 months and the first year pay will be a multiple of what it will be at encore for probably a little more than half the days worked.

[Realitychex]

If I were you, I'd focus all my career efforts solely on airlines that can establish via publicly available documents that they run a net profitable, and therefore, sustainable business.

Avoid this step and you can kiss any sort of long term career stability goodbye.

[prop2jet]

Cabot, with your experience, going to Encore in my opinion is a mistake unless you have some other plan in mind and have the means to supplement your income with cash in the bank. I doubt you will have much time off to work another gig.

As for the comments on SW. Frankly, you would still be ahead financially working 6 months seasonally than going year round on FO wages at Encore, even when looking at the Capt pay.

[monkey]

Your right, working for 50% less is a much better idea.

[DH772]

JAZZ ? same as encore

maybe you should do a little more research before you spout non sense.

[Tiny Voices]

JAZZ ? same as encore

maybe you should do a little more research before you spout non sense.

I had no idea that extra few thousand that Jazz doles out above Encores abysmal salary had sent the pitiful starting and early years compensation of Jazz on a rocket ride up the respectability scale to mediocrity. When i did my research, I found it would of taken me six years at Jazz to earn what I made as a first year King Air captain, and eight years in the right seat to make it to where I was when I left for the 705 world. And if I were super lucky, I may have been looking at an upgrade by the eighth year at Jazz. My advice to friends who ask about Jazz, and now Encore as stepping stones to WestJet has been, if they are in a good position with all the requisite matrix qualifiers, to sit tight and be patient. There are no worthwhile shortcuts. But that's not what the OP asked about. He or she wants to know about the interview process. He or she has already decided, or soon will after viewing the entire package, whether Encore works for them. In spite of what you may think, that is an individual and very personal decision. One that we've all had to make at some point in our careers.

That's my no nonsense personal take. I don't begrudge anyone who makes the choice to go fly for Encore or Jazz.

[rudder]

There is no comparison in pay scales for either Capt or FO between Encore and Jazz. And if you add in the value of pension and benefits the gap is even wider.

Having said that, if the point of the exercise is to achieve the mighty fourth stripe in order to impress friends and family then your best bet is actually Skyregional whom have been hiring direct entry Capt. The price you pay is flying for FO wages and further contributing to the erosion of the compensation standards of the profession.

Lastly, if the ultimate goal is a number on the koolaid list then the Encore arrangement of indentured servitude is quite possibly your best route. And who knows, perhaps people will mistake you for a real WJ pilot when you are walking through the terminals in your Encore uniform.

What is being missed here is that by treating every one of these jobs as stepping stones we play in to the notion that we must therefore subsidize the time spent by accepting substandard wages, work rules, and benefits. Is Jazz the standard? No, Jazz sits at the top of the pile. But even Porter has pay scales that are very similar to Jazz and they were a startup not so long ago.

Everything in this industry is connected. What happens at one company always affects the others. Any suggestion that it is otherwise is at best naive and at worst mercenary. Companies have learned to play pilots like fiddles. And that is not likely to change anytime soon.

[Mig29]

+1 Rudder