HA Interview
Day 1
Walked in early, everyone’s times are staggered but since we all showed early, they started as you came.
Were given an incident scenario you had to fill out a report for, basic, had to know Zulu time for the interview day. They supposedly do this because they found out half of their captains do it wrong, but if you’re not trained on it, you’re just guessing on it anyway…
Got taken for sim, they let you review a booklet ahead of time, you don’t have to memorize it or anything, just gives you the basics for the sim so you know what you’re flying, speeds, etc. One guy runs it, the other is your FO, so you can use him as a tool, they put your gear/flaps down, tune and ID, etc.
Basic computer screen, round dials, supposed to be DC-9, it’s way pitch sensitive. No rudder, tracks straight on the runway for takeoff.
You take off, climb to 5000’ out of KLAS, level out, two 180 degree steep turns on a cardinal heading. Was then vectored on the South side of the localizer.
Given direct BLD VOR, have RMI to start, then intercept a radial to, about 23 miles out, and a hold. Had my FO fly so I could figure out entry, took it again prior to entry. Was direct entry, did one turn in holding and once I started the outbound turn again, was given radar vectors to the ILS. Flew ILS to landing, broke out about 300’ AGL, landed.
Meet and greet with CP, casual, “state of the airline,” plans for it. Then let us know they want us to have a good experience, they didn’t bring us there to weed us out, they need people. Questions for him.?
Panel interview, two 717 captains, dispatcher, head of FA’s. Face to face, you facing them:
Do you visit HI often, what a/c would you pick, what if you got the 717 – how would that change your plans? Tell us how you got your start in flying, if we don’t hire you, where do you see yourself in five years, are you applying anywhere else, have you applied before, why not, what is the most difficult crew you’ve had to deal with, any chance of upgrading at your company, what do you look forward to most about being a captain, failed checkrides, accidents/incidents, letters, why should we hire you instead of the other 2000 applicants, why HA, any international or trans-pacific flying…
Day 2
All 30-some applicants were gradually escorted into a room with tables/chairs facing front. Written, timed tests with psychologist attending.
Verbal (word matching, complete a sentence), simpler math problems. Verbal test, then a really hard math test with fractions, train leaves a station, etc, not enough time to finish for anyone!
Last was an un-timed personality evaluation with 250 questions /statements you had to strongly disagree, disagree, neutral, agree, or strongly disagree with. “I enjoy rides such as roller coasters, I often get stressed out and can’t handle it, people usually like me when I first meet them,” etc.
Were given a break, broken into several groups with even numbers, alphabetical order, U shape with chairs facing table with three people, one or two HR, and one retired captain.
Turn to your neighbor for five minutes, get to know each other, then introduce them to the group and tell them a bit about that person.
They had a Harry Potter style hat with statements you had to pick and answer like, “What does customer service mean to you, what constitutes team work, what is the most difficult change you’ve had to adjust to in your life, what is the biggest risk you’ve ever taken in your life…”
Went over mission statement, what stands out to you, went over HA’s values, encouraged to speak up about what things meant.
They are notoriously slow about getting back to you about whether or not they want you back for day 3, when they do a last psychological test, which unless you bomb you have the job, so I don’t know yet. Agonizing! |
