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Interview Experiences From Southwest Airlines Pilot Interviews :

  1. 1.  (Dec 19, 2024) First off, I was interviewed for an instructor role in the company.  I put my resume online several weeks ago and one day I was contacted by a recruiter from the company regarding their interest in my qualifications. I was asked to apply as soon as possible. I applied that same day and was called for a phone interview the next day. Three days later I was called for a second interview that took place this week. The interview was very relaxed and lasted about an hour. I was required to... Continue reading this interview experience..

  2. 2.  Overall interview experience was amazing. Friendly and making you feel at ease during each segment. I first started off with HR Panel with a retired captain & HR rep. Pretty straightforward. Why Southwest. They did ask if I was in United Aviate and I said I was. I think this is where I should have maybe let them know I had no interest in United because previous trainee's were leaving mid training at Southwest for United & I think I fell under this umbrella for a potential hop over.... Continue reading this interview experience..

Read 879 Southwest Airlines pilot interviews...

Study Guide Questions for Your Southwest Airlines Interview:

  1. 1. Walk me through what you would do if there was WX building near your landing airport?
    • Talk through the situation with the flight crew and ops. Potentially look for alternate airports
    • Get the current ATIS weather and then call Dispatch
  2. 2. What would be the toughest part about the transition to SWA?
    • Learning curve of going from mil to civilian flight ops.
    • Getting out of my normal routine, and learning the new way to fly the same aircraft.
  3. 3. Why Southwest Airlines now?
    • NOTE: I have been working at a part 121 regional for 17 years. I was asked this question seperately 3 times. During all three segments of the interview I was asked this question. Not just "Why?" but "Why now?".
    • (Emphasis on the "now"). I believe this was due to my being a high time part 121 captain. I was told - "I could have qualified to interview with them years ago, so why didn't I?" 3 times they asked me this same question. My answer was the truth about why I want to work for Southwest, and why I had not pursued a job change earlier in my career. (Same question, same answer all 3 times.)
    • Also, when they ask 'Why Southwest', don't just give the 'I love the culture' answer. Have an expansion on why you like the company and how your personality fits with the culture. Give examples of things you do or have done that fit the core values (Warrior Spirit, Servant's Heart, Fun LUV-ing Attitude).
  4. 4. Do you have any accidents, incidents, or violations?
    • No. But if you do just say what happened and what you learned
    • Yes, minor that wouldn't be considered in 121, however did meet threshold for Navy safety investigation and talked through that and why. ex. bird strike damaged fan blades. unavoidable but still a safety investigation for tracking.
  5. 5. Have you failed a checkride?
    • Yes and just say how and what you learned from it. It was a pretty quick question.
  6. 6. Do you have any questions for us?
    • When can I start?
  7. 7. Tell us about yourself and talk through resume.
    • They had me start out with my background from college to my current job, which I kept pretty concise but I tried to point out some of the skills I've developed such as crew coordination, leadership, and instruction.
    • I was all military (Navy), but talked through each tour and what kind of flying at each. If a non-flying tour I still mentioned what I did and how that prepared me to work at SW.
  8. 8. Can you provide 2,3 and 5 year totals in your logbook?
    • Yes not a problem, with new log ten pro software.
  9. 9. Tell me how you got interested in flying and how you came to apply with SWA.
    • Grew up in an aviation family starting withy grandfather flying in WW2 and my father flying privately. Jumpseating to work on every airline out there SWA fits my personality and attitude the best
    • Original Top Gun and airshows!
  10. 10. Why SWA?
    • It's one the most prestigious airlines in the world with a successful business model and a consumer satisfaction above average.
    • The company inspires me with the way it treats the employees and customers.
    • Loyalty to customer and never furloughed anybody
Read 305 Southwest Airlines study guide questions..

What types of things will be asked in a Simulator or Scenario exercise?

  1. Lastly, I did the SBQ. This was tough and also very fast paced. DEN to LAX, FL410, I'm the captain, 90 min from LAX we get a message saying we may have fuel contamination....Continue reading simulator / scenario information..

  2. My scenario was CVG-MCO, Captain and PF, with a line of thunderstorms in front of me and I needed to decide if I should go through the hole in the storms or try and make my way around the backside of it. However right before I made my decision I was told there was a 50/50 chance of fuel contamination. Decided to go around the backside of the storm so my attention wasn't divided between the fuel contamination and...Continue reading simulator / scenario information..

Read 143 Southwest Airlines Simulator / Scenario exercises...

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