All questions during this interview will be specific and will be used to extract information about you as an individual. The duration of the interview varies and depends on how well the pilot interacts with the interviewers.
Group Interview/Personnel Briefing. This type of interview is not a common technique used at pilot interviews. Group interviews consist of five to 20 applicants and one or two company officials addressing the group. A formal introduction of the company takes place.
Each applicant may be asked to stand and introduce himself (one to two minutes), giving a synopsis of his background. There also may be an informal question-and-answer session to give the applicants an opportunity to ask questions about the topics discussed by the company officials. This may also come in the form of a company briefing. You should make sure you are prepared to ask the company at least one question. If not, the company will ask you a question.
Pilot Board Interview/Panel Interview. This interview is a three-on-one interview in which you are required to address a panel rather than an individual. This panel will usually consist of management as well as line pilots. At this phase, your level of stress rises and your reaction to a battery of questions will be observed closely. A panel interview is intimidating because of the number of interviewers. More people will judge and evaluate your presentation and appearance. The interviewers will take turns asking you technical questions, primarily about your flying experience and knowledge.
You should answer questions one at a time. Never "lose your cool"; instead, remain calm and ask the interviewer to repeat questions, if necessary.
When answering questions, consider the following (extracted from Sweaty Palms: The Neglected Art of Being Interviewed, by H. Anthony Medley):
"The most important aspect that an interviewer gets out of an interview is a subjective feeling about the interviewee. You must enhance that feeling. Listen to the questions. If a question is ambiguous, you should either interpret it in your own way and say what puts you in the best light or ask for a clarification. Use ploys to get thinking time: Ask for a clarification or use a bridge. Don't worry about stopping to think for a few seconds before you answer. Act naturally."
Below are some tips by Medley on answering questions:
- Assume that every question is asked for a purpose.
- Be ready for the blockbuster question.
- Handle the offensive question firmly, but tactfully.
- Prepare good answers for questions that may probe skeletons in your closet.
- Accept responsibility for personality conflicts.
- Don't put the interviewer in the middle of the battle.
- Don't talk against a former employer. If you must discuss a bad situation with a former employer, do so dispassionately.
- Answer specific questions specifically.
- Don't respond to a serious question with a flip joke. If you joke, don't make the interviewer the butt of it.
- Recognize dual-purpose questions and answer them decisively.
- What do you think of labor unions?
- Have you interviewed with other companies?
- Are you sorry you left the military?
- Why do you want to work for our company?
- What is a good pilot?
- What do you think of "egos"?
- What is your philosophy of life?
- What is a good friend?
- What would you change in your life?
- What was the last book you read and why?
- How did you decide what college to attend?
- Tell us about your grades in college.
- Does your family mind moving?
- What makes a good parent?
- Why do you feel you are a good candidate for this position?
- How do you feel about male or female pilot insubordination?
- What is your definition of professionalism?
- Tell us what you know about this company.
- What does your wife or husband think of you?
- What are your outside interests?
- What would you do if you lost your medical certificate?
- What do/did you dislike about the military?
- What do you think of the people you work with?
- How did you arrange time for this interview?
- What are your plans for your piloting career?
- How would you deal with a downgrade from captain to first officer? Use three adjectives to describe yourself.
- Can you live on a starting salary? What do you have to offer besides flying?
- What are your career and personal goals five years from now?
