Colgan Interview Questions

BaylorPilot · July 2nd, 2006, 16:23

I have my first interview coming up this thursday with Colgan. What should I dress? Business, business casual? Not real sure about those aspects of the interview. Very nervous but excited as can be. Any help would be great!

zmiller4 · July 2nd, 2006, 16:32

At every airline interview I've been to, everyone has been wearing a suit. I'd bet that it's the same at Colgan, so it's probably be a really good idea to get one if you don't already. Other than that, study the online gouge and relax.

FlyingNole · July 2nd, 2006, 16:51

Study the gouge, the sim guy even posted the sim gouge which he wasnt supposed to, so take advantage. However, they know the gouge is out there. They even ask how you prepared. On my interview out of the questions posted, I got asked maybe one or two. The others were something you really can't prepare for. I can tell ya but it wouldnt matter. And yes, wear a suit. I dont know why you wouldnt for any white collar job.

Bandit_Driver · July 2nd, 2006, 17:35

wear a conservative suit period.

BaylorPilot · July 2nd, 2006, 17:49

So your saying that I cant wear my green suit and my yellow tie? Looks like i might have to be making a trip to wall mart for a new one.

frog_flyer · July 2nd, 2006, 19:13

booooooooooooo waco

BaylorPilot · July 2nd, 2006, 19:50

Oh trust me I hate waco too. Spent 5 1/2 years down there and now live in Dallas. And trust me the day i left was the greatest day of my life. Oh and by the way, if the frog means what I think it does, you are going down this fall! haha

frog_flyer · July 3rd, 2006, 02:05

where you livin in dallas?

we lost cory rogers to the draft. he scored half of our points via kickoff/punt returns and the other half with receptions. i dont know what we'll do next year.

i'll continue to pay for the players' education though

hook a <white> brutha up with a scholarship tcu

BrettInLJ · July 3rd, 2006, 09:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyingNole

Study the gouge, the sim guy even posted the sim gouge which he wasnt supposed to, so take advantage. However, they know the gouge is out there. They even ask how you prepared. On my interview out of the questions posted, I got asked maybe one or two. The others were something you really can't prepare for. I can tell ya but it wouldnt matter. And yes, wear a suit. I dont know why you wouldnt for any white collar job.

Yep, you need to wear a suit. But, btw, pilots are looked at as blue collar workers believe it or not.

FlyingNole · July 3rd, 2006, 12:45

By who? Find me a blue collar worker that has the opportunity to make over 80K a year.

CFIse · July 3rd, 2006, 13:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyingNole

By who? Find me a blue collar worker that has the opportunity to make over 80K a year.

I've seen blue collar defined any number of ways, but never by total income. Certainly there are blue collar workers making six figures in the corners of the old hard unionised industries like steel and auto (although granted their number is on the decline).

If you're going to go by the traditional definition Jet Blue pilots are blue collar, the rest of us are not. If you want to use the other definition in that white collar is generally desk based, then we're all blue collar. On the other hand if you consider blue collar to be manual labor, well we're not really blue collar unless you count heaving my flight bag in and out of the plane.

You have to admit management at most airlines treats the pilots as blue collar labor, not helped by the fact that we have a blue collar attitude based on the union and the contract (not without good reason). If I had to pick (and I don't) I'd say pilots are blue collar labor.

Mostly though I don't care - I just go to work (now there'a blue collar attitude for you :-)

meritflyer · July 3rd, 2006, 14:31

I think its specific to the piloting job. A 777 Captain making mid-six figures has a little more "prestige" than a FO that works for Colgan for low twenties. No offense to the Colgan FO. Its just where you have to start.

There was a time when pilots were high class, white collar workers. IMHO, we put ourselves in the corner we're in as stated above. We all have allowed our wages to go down the toilet, ect.

I wish the pilots would stand up and take their six figures back.

SteveC · July 3rd, 2006, 15:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by meritflyer

I wish the pilots would stand up and take their six figures back.

Got a plan on how to do that?

meritflyer · July 3rd, 2006, 16:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveC

Got a plan on how to do that?

Unfortunately, the pilot community would need to unite to an unprecedented level to achieve such results. Given the state of people PFJ/PFT and accepting such low wages, I dont see this happening anytime soon.

zmiller4 · July 3rd, 2006, 20:39

Quote:

By who? Find me a blue collar worker that has the opportunity to make over 80K a year.

I'll be the first to say that wearing a nice, conservative suit is essential at any airline interview, and I'll agree that most people don't think of pilots as "blue collar" workers. In a casino in San Juan, the high-rolling contractor throwing down $100 bets at the blackjack table laughed at my paltry wagers. I asked him how much he thought I made, to which he replied "at least a hundred grand". Divide that by five and you get closer. The public's perception of us is (generally) that we're overpaid bus drivers.

If you're working for Colgan, though, I don't think you'll EVER be making 80K per year. At $61/hr (15yr SF340 capt), 100hr/mo, that would be a little over $73000 per year. Realistically, you won't make squat at regional first year pay unless you work a TON of OT.

Find me another $18000/year job where you don't have a chance in an interview unless you wear a nice suit.

FlyingNole · July 3rd, 2006, 20:42

Ya, but who the hell stick around at Colgan that long? Most of the senior guys havent even been here 8yrs. Most people leave here at 3-5yrs.

zmiller4 · July 3rd, 2006, 21:52

I know, but I just think it's ironic that we're held to these high levels of appearance and professionalism when we're paid less than the janitors in the airports we fly out of.

That sounds snobby of me. I don't mean to act like like pilots are superior in any way to janitors, but it does require a little more training and responsibility to fly. And janitorial candidates probably don't have to wear suits to the interview.

Seggy · July 3rd, 2006, 22:19

I work the terminal in between flights to help ends meet. Lloyd is a GREAT pimp!

meritflyer · July 3rd, 2006, 22:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by zmiller4

I'll be the first to say that wearing a nice, conservative suit is essential at any airline interview, and I'll agree that most people don't think of pilots as "blue collar" workers. In a casino in San Juan, the high-rolling contractor throwing down $100 bets at the blackjack table laughed at my paltry wagers. I asked him how much he thought I made, to which he replied "at least a hundred grand". Divide that by five and you get closer. The public's perception of us is (generally) that we're overpaid bus drivers.

If you're working for Colgan, though, I don't think you'll EVER be making 80K per year. At $61/hr (15yr SF340 capt), 100hr/mo, that would be a little over $73000 per year. Realistically, you won't make squat at regional first year pay unless you work a TON of OT.

Find me another $18000/year job where you don't have a chance in an interview unless you wear a nice suit.

7-11 managers make more their first year. What a joke!

FlyingNole · July 3rd, 2006, 23:25

Ok, everyone makes the "so and so makes more than an airline pilot his first year." That may be the case, but a 7-11 manager will never have the days off, bennies, and chance to make good money in his "career" at 7-11

FLpilot · July 4th, 2006, 11:10

Pilots are blue collar labor.

Pilots have a union, they work for an hourly wage and negotiate a contract for that hourly wage. How many white collar professions are unionized? Pilots also strike. How many white collar types go on strike when their hourly wage is in jeopardy?

It is a technical skill, just like any other equipment/machine operator. You don't need a degree or any formal education to qualify to fly an airplane. It is simply skilled labor.

Your socioeconomic collar has absolutely nothing to do with the size of your paycheck.

And...you would be surprised at what regional and district managers of these 7-11's pull down.

BrianNC · July 5th, 2006, 22:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by meritflyer

IMHO, we put ourselves in the corner...

Nobody puts Baby in a corner!

Adam2006 · July 6th, 2006, 03:14

Good stuff NC.

WindyCityPilot · July 6th, 2006, 09:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyingNole

By who? Find me a blue collar worker that has the opportunity to make over 80K a year.

Any UAW electrician, pipefitter, or skilled laborer. Granted they work 50+ hours a week but they easily can make $80K a year working in the factory. Granted there are fewer today making that much than 5 or 10 years ago but they definately make more cash than most people would ever imagine.

Bumblebee · July 6th, 2006, 09:47

Plumber, backhoe operator, Contractor, Electrician, and the beat goes on . . .