The folks at SkyWest were quite a pleasure to meet and interview with. Like previous gouges have stated, these guys make you feel at ease throughout the whole process. Coming from another Part121 carrier, the ambience and surroundings at SkyWest is quite a breath of fresh air.
The day starts off by reporting to the SkyWest hangar at 0800. Ideally, you’d like to be there 10 to 15 minutes earlier than that so you can get a feel for things. When you get there, make sure you introduce yourself to your fellow interviewees and do small talk. When I got there along with my friend who was also interviewing, there was a SkyWest employee sitting amongst the interview group. This person was wearing jeans and a polo shirt, and sporting a company badge. I’m not sure if he just happened to be there by coincidence or he was a decoy (along with the receptionist) to check up on how the interviewees behaved amongst themselves and toward each other.
At around 0810, all 11 of us were taken upstairs to a conference room to start off the day. We were met by three SkyWest captains who introduced themselves, talked briefly about their background and their time with the company. After their introduction, they will ask the candidates to also briefly introduce themselves – so have your own little spiel to say when it’s your turn on the barrel. We were then shown a PowerPoint presentation outlining details of the company, like equipment, reserve duty, length of ground school, crew domiciles, etc. Then, we were shown a ‘high-speed, low-drag’ video of what it’s like to be a SkyWest pilot. I have to admit, this was a pretty motivating video and completely different philosophy from where I am currently employed
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Depending on what time your flight out of SLC and your experience level (Part 121, flight instructing, Part 135, etc.) will dictate on who will be first to interview and get through the day. Myself being current Part 121, I was the one of the last ones if not the last to interview. The first step to the interview will be the Crew Resource Management scenario. They’ll usually try to mix different types of experience levels together. I was grouped with a part 135 freight pilot, a flight instructor - they sat as captain and first officer, respectively. I sat as the jumpseater. In the briefing room, the interview panel mentioned that they’ll typically assign the jumpseat to the Part 121-experienced candidate.
For this particular phase of the interview, the interviewer just wants to see how all of you interact in a part 121 environment as a crew. As the jumpseater, don’t try to step on the flight crew’s toes, don’t usurp the captain’s authority and only suggest how you can help. You can contribute to the situation by having them do their checklists, talk to ATC, etc. while you try to relay any information to the flight attendant to help them with the workload.
The next phase on hand is the simulator ride. Being Part 121, I was not required to do it so there’s not much I can contribute to this gouge in this regard. I did hear from those that took part in the simulator ride that it was a Frasca 142 and its handling is really sensitive.
While you’re waiting, you will also be given a multiple-choice (-guess?) quiz on subjects like aerodynamics, weather, turbine engines, and airspace. This is something that SkyWest is trying to implement into their interview process and is not exactly relevant to the outcome of the interview. This is just to see where you stand on your aviation knowledge and where they could try to prod you on certain subjects. On that note, I’m assuming that all of us in the interview had an ATP AMEL or had taken their ATP written exam because I didn’t see anyone being taken anywhere else to get administered to take part in a written exam. I suggest you have your written exam before applying so that you don’t have to worry about taking it on interview-day.
Next, we broke out for lunch to a break room and were handed out HoneyBaked Ham sandwiches. This is more time for you to socialize with the other candidates, get to know them, and also get to know the folks in the interview panel. This lasted about 30 to 45 minutes and after being there since eight in the morning, it definitely hit the spot.
Following lunch, you return to the break room and continue with the rest of the interview. This is the meat and potatoes of the interview, at least for me. Since there are three interview captains, they will usually conduct the human resources portion of the interview, followed by the technical part by another interviewer and vice versa. More often than not, both the HR and technical portion was conducted by the same interviewer.
The HR portion consisted of the interviewer looking through your logbook and asking questions about your background, verifying and confirming the details on the mandatory questions form sent out to you prior to the interview, and other typical questions like:
• Why SkyWest?
• Describe a time when you went out of your way to help out the company/customer?
• Describe a time when you worked with a person you did not get along with – how did you handle it?
• Describe a time when a co-worker showed up unfit for work – not necessarily inebriated, but not doing their job right, etc.
Bear in mind, that this is the last chance for you to dish out any skeletons in your closet – failed checkrides, infractions with the law, and of that jazz. The folks at SkyWest are very understanding and know that stuff happens, but they are asking for your full disclosure on your part.
Following the human resources portion we moved on to the technical part, but not before taking a quick five-minute break. First, I was asked what system I wanted to discuss pertaining to my current aircraft. Make sure you know the basics and if you are a current CL-65 pilot, make sure you know it like the back of your hand. They usually expect you to pick the electrical system since it’s one of the most brain-wracking. After a few questions on the system, we moved on to the next order of business.
I was given a METAR and TAF to read and asked about takeoff alternates, second alternates, departure alternates, and derived minimums.
Additionally, I suggest you study up on special coding of METARs and TAFs as there are items in those two that you rarely see in everyday reports. If you are a current part 121 pilot, make sure you know Exemption 3585 down cold. I flubbed this up until I was able to get on the right track and told him what he wanted to hear. If the interviewer sees that you can answer most of the questions he won’t bother asking you about other stuff and move on to another subject.
Though I was not shown and tested on the Jeppesen High/Low Enroute charts, the interview did ask me a couple of question on an instrument approach chart, an ILS/LOC to be exact. What is the decision altitude, when to descend below one hundred feet above the TDZE, and visibility required. I was also asked to brief the approach before he asked me these questions. Basically, just read Jeppesen’s Briefing Strip® and have a few things to add of your own.
Not long after, he concluded the interview, thanked me for my patience (I had been there since the morning and it was already about 1530) and had me wait in the conference room. After about 15 minutes, I was taken to the next room over for a debriefing and (I call it de-compression). Here, they will ask you how you think you did and what things you could have done differently during your interview. They will give you feedback on your performance and also tell you if they recommend you for the job. However, it is up to the folks at St. George, Utah to give the green light. Before parting ways, the interviewer will tell you to expect a response via e-mail within 48 hours.
The interview in itself was quite a pleasure and the SkyWest cadre made me feel at ease and relaxed. The people aside from the interviewers were extremely friendly and would go out of their way to help you out. I got the feeling that these are the kind of people that would return a phone or an e-mail promptly when you have a problem/situation at work. This is definitely not the case where I currently work.
I hope this gouge is of help and most certainly wish you the best with your interview! I ask that you “pay it forward” and post your interview experience for fellow pilots to see. |
