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1 ! Aviation Interview Process Checklist!!By: Kirsty Ferguson Pinstripe Solutions - Aviation Recruitment Specialist A must have Checklist for navigating the Aviation Industry recruitment processes.

2 ! Resume Preparation A professionally written resume is essential. Your resume shows the level of your professional standards. It is your first impression and most people underestimate it s importance in getting you through to the next stage of the interview process. It is basically a factual representation of your experience but it is also an opportunity to highlight your attention to detail, your potential and the added value skills you are offering to this employer. Common Mistakes: Leaving off Referees. Gaps in employment dates. Complicated to navigate. Limited content Generalisations instead of facts Sloppy format or typos! Using a generic format. A 1 page document. Always use an industry specific document format or an industry resume professional! Cover Letter Is an introduction that covers the selection criteria. This document illustrates clearly that you fulfil their position criteria. It is also a formal introduction that entices the reader to read the entire resume. Common Mistakes: Use of incorrect letter format. General & opinion based content. Not addressing the selection criteria.! On-Line Applications Must be factually consistent and address fully the open-ended questions such as: Why do you wish to work for us? Or what are your strengths? Ensure all applications are updated regularly as your experience changes. Check monthly if airlines are accepting applications or recruiting as this changes regularly.

3 ! Getting Noticed Often obtaining your first General Aviation, Cadet or Airline role is a matter of standing out from the other candidates, who can all fly the aircraft or who also fulfil the selection criteria. So how do you so this? Thinking outside the square is essential; you may be 1 of 100 candidates or even more. Think of something memorable about you. Something nobody else can say. For more Ideas contact a coach at pinstripesolutions.com.! Telephone Interview Is just as important as the panel interview! This telephone chat will be the difference between you getting to the next stage of the full interview process or not. Mistake: Underestimating the importance of the telephone and not putting in any preparation work. You can find out what you are likely to be asked so use your resources and get the information. - Other candidates - Current employees that you know - Ask an Aviation interview specialist! Psychometric Testing All the major airlines use this technique to help sift candidates. Your interview can stop here if your results are inconsistent. Practice on-line psychometric tests Aptitude-Testing Consider using an aptitude-training specialist. Example:

4 ! Simulator Practice If you are pilot you may think, I fly every day, why do it need to do a practice SIM? I m not a pilot but I can tell you the greatest regret I hear form the candidates I coach and is I wish I had done a practice SIM. The simulator may be quite different to aircraft you currently fly so consider investing in an hour or two so that you perform at the level you know you can.! Panel Interview Most airlines use the Behavioural Panel Interview Technique. This is a specific style or technique of interview. It isn t the type of interview you can wing. It is essential that you do the correct behavioural interview preparation to be in control of this part of the interview process. The airline are looking for proof of your ability under a variety of defined categories such as Team: Leadership: Conflict etc Common Mistake: Airline recruitment teams have told me the areas where candidates fail most are: - They are not memorable - They are hard work because they don t understand what is required. Consider using an industry specific behavioural interview specialist to ensure you don t leave the interview with any regrets. They will help you understand the process, tell you what to expect & how to prepare fantastic responses.! Flight Planning Exercises Not all airlines use flight planning exercises, some, such as Jetstar do. The HR person will usually inform you of the steps required by their process. I recommend you double check by asking specifically if you can expect there to one. Examples: - International destination where you experience a mechanical failure. - Domestic flight into international airport you experience a sudden change in weather conditions for landing. Ask previous candidates that you know for their notes. Notes may be available for your interview coach.

5 ! Team Exercises Are used to illustrate your natural tendency or preferred role in a team environment in a specific allocated time. They can either confirm how you have described your team style or contradict it. Thus it is important to act in a consistent manner with the team attributes you have already told them about. This traditionally occurs just prior to or just after your individual interview. Not all airlines use this process. Example: Team of 3 pilots (all candidates) Exercise: Multi crew environment. Issue: Passenger causing safety risk. Time: 15 minutes It may be a team exercise however they are looking at your individual performance. Their key criteria are assessing problem solving ability communication style.! Technical Questions Technical questions make up a small portion of your interview process. 4-5 questions are usual, however it can be more. They usually ask you about the aircraft you are currently flying, but you also need to know something about the specific aircraft of that company. Even if they say there will be NO TECHNICAL QUESTIONS they have been known to ask some anyway, so be prepared for this. Ask colleagues in the airline or those you know who have recently been interviewed what they were asked. Your specialist coach may have a selection of these questions.! Airline Knowledge Extremely important! It shows how much you want this. Areas to memorise: CEO; Chief Pilot; Operations Manager; number of employees; aircraft types and quantity; routes; plans for the future; what s in the news; when it started; milestones in the companies life; core values and branding.

6 ! Referee Preparation It is essential to coach or prepare your referees! You need to control what they saying about you. Give them a copy of your resume. Remind them or tell them what your plans are and who you are applying to and when. Tell them what NOT to say if there are areas that you do not wish to bring up in the interview. Provide alternative telephone numbers for them as other pilots can be difficult to get hold of.! What to Wear Or what not to wear! Your first impression and the level of your professional standards are judged immediately at that first greeting by how you present and what you are wearing. If you are not a dedicated fashionista or have been in the backblocks of the Northern Territory in GA for 12 months then you will be out of touch with the standard of presentation required. Round nose work style boots are too casual, I know you wear them every day but they are not high enough quality for the interview.! Interview Etiquette What does my body language say about me? Can I take notes? Do I use their first names? Should I take my jacket off if they tell me too? Get the right information formation from an expert!! Information Resources Use your aviation networks to your advantage. The Internet is a great resource