FlyCRJ.com

If you would like to read the first part of this article you can click here:

Airline Pilot Interview Tips – Part 1

6. Smile, Yes…Smile!

I remember during my interview with ExpressJet that practically no one smiled. Not me. Not my fellow interviewees. Not the interviewers. Everyone was so concerned with providing their “professional” image that it seems that everyone was afraid to crack a smile.

During my SkyWest interview, things were a little different. The interviewees were more open. The interviewers were more open, too. And I was definitely more open.

By the way, if you are interested in interviewing with SkyWest for a pilot position, you can find their pilot requirements here at SkyWest Career Guide. Currently, they are not running interviews, but I believe you can still submit your resume and update your information as necessary!

There have been studies done that have discovered that smiling for 30 seconds causes physiological changes similar to euphoria.

So you are probably thinking, well how does this help me in an interview? There are two separate answers.

First, if you feel good on the inside, it is going to show and you are going to attract the attention of the interviewers. During an interview the interviewers are not only evaluating your credentials and your knowledge, but you! They are basically trying to decide if you are a person that they could spend a three or four day trip with. A stern, closed expression says you are not. A smiling, open expression says you are.

The second answer goes back to the physiological changes mentioned above. By smiling, you are diverting your attention from the interview situation and relaxing. This allows the information in your head to be retrieved more quickly thus enhancing their image of you! If you are stressed out about the interview, you are effectively blocking your ability to think and now is not a good time for this to happen.

So, to make this work, go find a mirror, hold what I call your “happy picture” up to the mirror so you can see it and smile…for 30 seconds. This is a picture that floods your brain with a happy thoughts and feelings. It distracts you and your subconscious from the current situation and believe me, it works! You’ll feel better and I guarantee that you will have a better interview because of it!

Recently, I’ve uploaded several pictures of my daughter to my phone, which I call “happy pictures!” Whenever I need to relax, I take out the picture of my daughter and smile until any bad feelings go away. I also open up the pictures when I’m on the phone so I have something to smile at while I’m talking. This will come across the telephone as smile as well. I’ve also used it to record my voice message greeting. People can truly here a smile in your voice even if they can not see you smile.

If you would like a great reference guide for pilots, go get your very own

“A Pilot’s Guide to the Successful Interview“

written by Glenn Solly.  This book will save you time, money, and a lot of headaches when getting ready for that airline interview. It basically takes the guesswork out of the interview process and puts it all within your reach! This book is full of a lot of really great information, plus get some really great BONUES:

• A Pilot’s Guide to CRM and Being Part of a Team
• A Pilot’s Guide to the Simulator
• The “Airline WebGuide” which is full of information to help you find the airline information faster!

“A Pilot’s Guide to the Successful Interview“

Get it now and start benefiting from what Glen has to say TODAY!

7. Walk Me Through Your Resume

I’ve already talked about how important your resume is to the interview but can you tell someone about yourself based on your resume?

If an interviewer asks you to walk them through your resume, you should be able to do it in 3 minutes or less. You just need to hit the highlights. So here is a tip on how to prepare for tell someone about it.

As you prepare, focus on your experience, expertise, and excellence.

How this breaks downs:

• Experience – High-level summary of your work history and education
• Expertise – Specific qualitative or quantitative results that you
• Excellence – Skills and traits

Again, don’t forget to practice with a trusted friend or on a microphone to evaluate your answer.

8. Behavioral Questions

I really dislike “behavioral questions,” but surprisingly they are one of the easiest questions to answer and there are two ways that the interviewer may present the question:

First, they may give you a specific situation then ask what action you would take, and what you think the outcome may be. Or, they may ask you to explain a specific situation that happened to you, what action you took, and what the outcome ways.

To prepare for this question, think of three situations in your past that challenged you. Don’t limit it to just a flying experience, everyone other pilot in the interview will tell them a flying story. Make yours different by focusing on a non-flying experience. I’m sure you can think of something. But, if they ask for a “flying” situation, by all means tell them a flying story.

Hint: Make notes for yourself, when something happens that is out of the ordinary. Your logbook is a great place for this. That way, when comes time to prepare for this question, you have it easily available.

When they ask you the question, pause before you answer the question, like you are thinking about it, and then tell them the story. Once you start explaining the situation, your explanation shouldn’t be more than three minutes long, it should be honest, succinct, concise, and not sounding rehearsed (but of course you will have rehearsed it).

Remember to make eye contact while telling the story so that you appear sincere…which of course, you are!

9. Appearance

It can’t be stressed enough that your appearance is very important, almost critical, and incredibly difficult to reverse if it gives the wrong impression. If you walk in not shaven, your hair all tossed about, and generally looking unkept, your chances of walking out the door with an airline job under your belt is less than 50-50. Well-fitting wrinkle free clothes, professional attire, meaning a black, grey, or charcoal colored suit with a conservative tie, shined shoes, excellent posture, and a genuine smile go a long, LONG way!

Furthermore, you also need to have a briefcase and you need carry it in your left hand. This allows you to shake hands without having to shift the briefcase from one had to the other. Now this all might sound a bit silly, but again it is the attention to the finer details that have an overall affect on the interviewer. They are not just going to give you the job, you have to earn it and appearance plays a big part.

And don’t forget your handshake!

In the United States a handshake should be firm but not crushing, and full handed. It is amazing the two extremes you get: the wet, clammy noodle or the iron-clasp I-have-to-prove-something handshake. I recommend you practice with someone and that you ask them what they think of your handshake just to get an idea of how it comes across. I know this might sound a little ridiculous but believe me, if you have any doubt about your handshake, ask someone to critique it.

Finally, when you get into the interview itself, wait for the interviewer to initiate the handshake, listen carefully for their name, and then let your first words be respectful and thankful like “Maria, thank you very much for the opportunity to interview with you!“

That will blow them away!

10. Body Language

Finally, body language. Body language defines how people perceive you. To portray the type of self-confidence that the company you are interviewing with wants to hire, you have to walk into the interview like you have a purpose. Stand tall, chest out, shoulders back, stomach in, and your stride purposeful…but don’t over do it. Remember, there is a fine line between arrogance and confidence. If you portray arrogance, they will see that and instantly take a disliking to you before you even open you mouth. Show self-confidence and they will want to have a conversation with you!

Then when you sit down, sit up straight. You need to make direct eye contact which will show interest and trustworthiness to your interviewer. Some of the biggest interview killing things to avoid are doodling, foot tapping, and crossing your arms. If you have a habit of doing these things check it at the door.

Above all, smile and be yourself, after all everyone else is already taken.

Good luck!

To Your Flying Success…

Jeffrey

P.S. If you have any interview experiences, good or bad, please share them with us by leaving a comment below. Also, I do cover letter and resume evaluations. You can get all the details here on my Resources page.

Related posts:

• How To Become An Airline Pilot
• The Dreaded Airline Interview
• Affordable Jet Preparation for the Regional Airline Interview
• 10 Airline Pilot Interview Preparation Tips – Part 1
• 3 Airline Interview Prep Tools You Can Use Now