Disappointed in ExpressJet...

[Chris_Ford]

So Purdue had their career fair today, and in an effort to continue the job search and not eliminating any options, I attended.

In attendance were ExpressJet, TSA, Eagle, GoJet (nobody talked to them), Big Sky, and Piedmont (who actually failed to show) (oh and JetU and Gulfstream were there too!111)

Anyway, when I got to the Express Jet table, the woman there seemed to be quite possibly one of the rudest and most unprofessional "recruiters" I've met. While she was talking to myself and others, I heard some gems like,
"We're the BEST PAYING REGIONAL out there!" (um, isn't Horizon?)
"Do you really want to fly a prop? We fly JETS!"
"We're hiring 64 a month, why don't you go ask Eagle how much THEY'RE hiring" (50 a month, that's not too much of a discrepancy.)
"We're the best regional out there, all the other ones just flat out don't compare."
"You're worthless to me unless you have 100 multi" (even if it's true, there are better ways to say it)
"We've got lots of things going on" but fails to answer the "what are you doing with the lost airplanes" question.

The poorest thing about it was that these 300 hour Purdue kids were lapping it right up. "Yeah, why would you want to fly a prop!?"

I'm sorry, but I understand that you might be in "competition" against the other regionals, but a little respect for the competition (aka not saying everyone sucks but you) goes a long way in my book. Especially when you have a 5 inch thick stack of resumes anyway. You're not going to have to worry about any pilot shortage with the good rep you've had in the past.

Just found it so interesting that a very well-regarded regional could send someone that... tactless or unprofessional.

/end venting

[WestIndian425]

Wow...sorry to hear it went down like that.

[Chris_Ford]

Originally Posted by WestIndian425

Wow...sorry to hear it went down like that.

Errr, I'm not really, this wasn't a one-on-one conversation, it was just some nuggets that she was telling 5-10 people crowded around the table. I was surprised at how dramatic about things she was.

[meritflyer]

Chris, why do you use "!111"

[Chris_Ford]

Originally Posted by meritflyer

Chris, why do you use "!111"

It's sarcastic over-excitement.

[wheelsup]

Originally Posted by Chris_Ford

"We've got lots of things going on" but fails to answer the "what are you doing with the lost airplanes" question.

http://www.expressjet.com/corpAviation/index.htm

Now, if they were refitting them for a corporate type interior I could understand. From their web site it looks like they are trying to sell the 50-seat aircraft under charter. I think that might be a mistake.

We shall see! Obviously it means they couldn't place their airplanes with a codeshare.

[killbilly]

I imagine someone in ExpressJet's recruiting division would like to hear about this - people need to know if they're being perceived as unprofessional, and it's quite possible that she was clueless as to this behavior. Just a thought.

[Tim]

Sounds like those nuggets need to checkout a site called jetcareers to get the real scoop on whats going on.....the real airline news not some recruiter

[Captain_Bob]

Well... the fact that she was a "Recruiter" should say something right there.

Not very tactful... but her job is to talk the folks into interest in her airline and away from others. Some people lap it up... others like youself see right through it.

As for the 69 jets thing... she couldn't possible have answered the question anyway... it's still up in the air.

The talk about the Corp/Charter jets is that seats will be pulled to make more legroom, and any future planes (XJT still has options with Embraer) will have even less seating with more of the plush business interiors & couches, etc. We'll see.

Bob

[B767Driver]

Well don't get too worked up over the interview department. United Airlines used to have the worst reputation for how it treated it's interviewees...but once you made it to the line that BS was all rearview mirror.

[Seggy]

Originally Posted by B767Driver

Well don't get too worked up over the interview department. United Airlines used to have the worst reputation for how it treated it's interviewees...but once you made it to the line that BS was all rearview mirror.

What did they use to do?

[CapnJim]

Ford, don't let that woman's unprofessional, rude, and immature behavior put you off ExpressJet. It's a good place to work and the people outside of HR are by and large a good gang. It's unfortunate that a potentially good candidate was put off the entire company by one of the so-called "10%".

She sounds very IAH. Those of you who work at XJT know what I mean.

[Captain_Bob]

Originally Posted by CapnJim

She sounds very IAH.

Woah... Dude! C'mon man... that hurts.

[CapnJim]

Present company excepted, of course!

But, c'mon Bob, you know what I'm talking about. There's a... funk down there.

[Captain_Bob]

Originally Posted by CapnJim

There's a... funk down there.

At times.. yes, I have to agree. I think it has to do with the approximate distance to the schoolhouse and corporate offices...

[MQAAord]

Originally Posted by CapnJim

Present company excepted, of course!

But, c'mon Bob, you know what I'm talking about. There's a... funk down there.

Funny, Dallas smelled the same way.

[B767Driver]

Originally Posted by Seggy

What did they use to do?

Well, I never even applied to United...let alone interviewed...but lots of friends who did...and lots of friends who work there. Nonetheless...they seemingly would interview every single pilot with a Commerical certificate and during the process berate them and tell them they could never be the skygods that United employs.

One friend of mine...a brilliant mind, great pilot and great qualifications interviewed with United. He paid his way through school, graduated magna cum laude but had to take a semester off during his junior year to work and save money to finish the last 3 sememsters.

When this was brought up in his interview...the captain interviewer told this guy that United only hired pilots who had superior planning skills...and starting college without enough money to finish on schedule showed a lack of such skills. (Funny...I wonder if they hold that same standard to management new hires? They seemingly could never get the company out of bankrupcty...not to mention the stellar planning that landed them there.)

Now...maybe the interviewer was only trying to yank this guy's chain...and provoke him to see what response he gave...but nonetheless...those types of stories prevail time and again.

The applicant had wanted to work for United since he was a toddler. After the interview...he never wanted to step foot on their property again. He's now working for another major.

[Seggy]

Originally Posted by B767Driver

Well, I never even applied to United...let alone interviewed...but lots of friends who did...and lots of friends who work there. Nonetheless...they seemingly would interview every single pilot with a Commerical certificate and during the process berate them and tell them they could never be the skygods that United employs.

One friend of mine...a brilliant mind, great pilot and great qualifications interviewed with United. He paid his way through school, graduated magna cum laude but had to take a semester off during his junior year to work and save money to finish the last 3 sememsters.

When this was brought up in his interview...the captain interviewer told this guy that United only hired pilots who had superior planning skills...and starting college without enough money to finish on schedule showed a lack of such skills.

Now...maybe the interviewer was only trying to yank this guy's chain...and provoke him to see what response he gave...but nonetheless...those types of stories prevail time and again.

The applicant had wanted to work for United since he was a toddler. After the interview...he never wanted to step foot on their property again. He's now working for another major.

Wow, yeah I was berated during my interview, but NOTHING like that! By the way was the 1900 your first plane you flew for an airline? I know you typed Doug in it, just wondering.

[Maximillian_Jenius]

Ford...congrads on continuing to look for employment. Sorry that the XJT recruiter was so stuck-up. You should be at or near their mins. 600/100 hopefully something works out!

[Kingairer]

Originally Posted by MQAAord

Funny, Dallas smelled the same way.

IND has that smell as well.

[killbilly]

Originally Posted by Seggy

Wow, yeah I was berated during my interview, but NOTHING like that!

Huh? How? What did they do or say?

Is this normal in the airline industry? Make an applicant feel small or stupid for wanting to work for you?

[Seggy]

Originally Posted by killbilly

Huh? How? What did they do or say?

Is this normal in the airline industry? Make an applicant feel small or stupid for wanting to work for you?

Actually I took a HR class in High School and it is a common practice across the board in ALL industrys the prof said. The company wants to see how you will handle stress and pressure.

Anyway, Mr. Colgan asked me, "What am I doing here? I don't meet the minmimum time requirements for the company, took my resume, and pushed it back at me." Thats not nearly as bad as what happened to the guy at United.

Had to respond to that.

[Chris_Ford]

Originally Posted by Maximillian_Jenius

Ford...congrads on continuing to look for employment. Sorry that the XJT recruiter was so stuck-up. You should be at or near their mins. 600/100 hopefully something works out!

1) It's congrats not congrads.
2) You're being awfully nice to me lately, I'm suspect.

[TXaviator]

Originally Posted by Chris_Ford

1) It's congrats not congrads.
2) You're being awfully nice to me lately, I'm suspect.

be careful you might catch teh ghey

[jtrain609]

You know gay is forver, right?