Tell me about your first AME M/E interview

[MikeTango]

Hi Guys,

So, after applying for a million companies, I finally managed to get my first Avionics Apprentice Technician job interview . Since it's my first time, I have no idea what kind of questions to expect. I've heard that some companies even asks about ATA chapters or frequencies. Anyways, please tell me about your experiences on interviews. And also, any suggestion or tips will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[iflyforpie]

Mine was at KFC with the Production Manager and a clueless blonde HR lady (both of which are no longer with the company ).

HR lady asked all of the usual BS questions ('Where do you see yourself in five years?' 'Hopefully not working for this sh!t show!' ) and I can't remember what the PM asked. Nope, never needed to know ATA Chapters... ....learned them pretty fast on the job and you're just doing boring and unimportant jobs to start anyways.

[azimuthaviation]

Some avionics interviewers will ask you questions like transponder pulse spacing, tx and rx frequencies, etc... Those are things you will learn as you need them but maybe they want to see if you were paying attention. Wouldnt be a bad idea to brush up if you want the job.

[acidgambit]

In all my interviews that I have been through, only one company asked me technical questions. But usually it's the usual, you'll have HR, production team leader and the Director of Maintenance shooting questions at you. The usual questions are "How would you handle bla bla bla situation?" "If you had bla bla bla conflict with a co-worker, what would you do to resolve the situation?" "An airplane is delayed and you are under pressure to sign the airplane out. How do you react?" <-------Anyways, you get the idea. Just be yourself. Be confident, but not to the point of being cocky and think the company can't survive without you.

I still remember the technical question the current airline i work for asked me though. Even though I am a mechanic...they asked me avionics and structures questions just to test me if i do have the basics to handle situation that I am not familiar with.

These were the questions they asked me: (all very basic stuff)
-What are the basic components in a VHF NAV system?
-What do you do after changing a bonding wire or static wick?
-There is structural damage on the fuselage of a 737, how do you proceed?

[conehead]

" The usual questions are "How would you handle bla bla bla situation?" "If you had bla bla bla conflict with a co-worker, what would you do to resolve the situation?" "An airplane is delayed and you are under pressure to sign the airplane out. How do you react?" <-------Anyways, you get the idea. Just be yourself. Be confident, but not to the point of being cocky and think the company can't survive without you. "

These are precisely the questions you can expect. They're called "Behavioral Interview Questions". Here is a very good example: http://www.ubc.ca/okanagan/hr/__shared/ ... s23153.pdf

In a couple of interviews for an Avionics position, I was shown a schematic and asked to identify a few components. Nothing to it. Just try and be relaxed, get a good sleep the night before, and show up early.

[robertw]

My first job interview out of tech school was a bit on the bizarre side. The DOM was the only one in the interview. He asked me about my mechanical background and told me that he didn't think too much about tech school training. He was a big hot rod guy, so when I told him that I spent some time in my dad's automotive repair shop, I was a shoe in. He asked me a few other miscellaneous questions, which I can't really remember. He then proceeded to say that as long as I wasn't a holy roller or gay, he would give me the job.

After that type of interview, I should have kept looking, but I was hungry to get my first "Real" aviation job.

[black hole]

The interview: Make sure you know your name and that you have the credentials. The real test is the exams get the first day re: MCM, MPM, CARs training. Human Factors, Dangerous goods; etc. Any of which can get you the boot.


BH

[Bent wrench]

well not too much has changed since my first interview but it went...Do you have a license ? show me your license ! When can you Start ?
if you want the job its yours, start monday morning ...

The job interviews i've had since then are usually over the phone and are give me a conflict you have had with a co-worker and how did you resolve it....I usually reply "resolve it ? lady why
do you think im applying for the job within your company? " then I have a good laugh. hahah really throws them all off. If they can't handle that over the phone in an interview then its not really
gonna be a good fit for me.

Thank god I have experience and don't have to randomley accept any job oppertunity that comes along now a days.

[brownbear]

When I interviewed apprentices and ames' I usually asked the most basic question first, why us? Why did you apply here? In your case you fanned out applications to everyone.

So think up a good answer. Not something generic.

Look at their fleet, their location, their hours, their pay, their management even. Say something about why you want to work there.

Next thing is, they have a pile of grads resumes. they are all the same. be an individual, not just talking about school and how you excelled. Talk about growing up and taking apart electronic things and how you loved a challenge. Talk about your hobbies. Not if it's whacking all day…. lol

But maybe you can describe yourself as your hobbies, they might have a common one. Makes conversation easier. If they ask you to describe yourself, it's better to say something about what you have done, than catchy crap like loyal, honest and hardworking. Everyone says that.

Ask questions. Inquire about the pay and how it works, scale etc. What can you expect per year increase, is there a performance evaluation. If they think you have standards it makes you more attractive as a choice. Make a list of questions and ask them. Interviews are two way. And it makes it more comfortable to not feel like you are in an exam. If carry yourself like you have choice and it's not your only interview you will do better. Best off too is to feel like this is practice for the next real interview. If you say it's good practice it takes off some pressure too.


Good luck!