📞 THE KEYS TO NAILING THE PHONE INTERVIEW The Reality: Many airlines conduct phone screenings before inviting you to in-person interviews. These 15-30 minute calls eliminate 30-40% of applicants. WHO DOES PHONE SCREENINGS: Always: - Regional airlines - Cargo carriers (FedEx, UPS) - Corporate flight departments - Some international carriers Sometimes: - Major airlines (for non-traditional candidates) - When application raises questions - High-volume hiring periods Never: - Strong flow candidates - Internal recommendations with clean records - When you're specifically recruited WHAT THEY'RE EVALUATING: ✅ Communication Skills (40%) - Clear, concise responses - Professional phone manner - Appropriate tone and pace - No filler words  ✅ Interest and Preparation (30%) - Knowledge of their company - Genuine enthusiasm - Thoughtful questions - Career clarity ✅ Red Flags (20%) - Unprofessional background noise  - Poor attitude or negativity - Badmouthing current or former employers - Inconsistencies with application ✅ Basic Qualifications (10%) - Verify hours claimed  - Confirm availability - Check citizenship/work authorization - Medical status THE PHONE SCREENING PROCESS: When They'll Call: - Sometimes with little or no advance notice - Business hours (9 AM - 5 PM their timezone) - Could be any day within 2 weeks of application - Sometimes from restricted/unknown number Who's Calling: - HR recruiter (most common) - Pilot recruiter - Chief pilot office - Staffing coordinator Duration: - 15-30 minutes typically - Longer if issues need clarification - Shorter if obvious rejection THE PREPARATION PROTOCOL: From the moment you submit your application: 📱 Phone Readiness: - Answer ALL unknown numbers professionally - Voicemail must be professional - Phone charged and working - Good signal strength at home/work - Check your email daily for additional information, don’t forget your spam folder

Do you have an interview coming up? Are you curious to see what happens behind the scenes to make the interview happen? Take a journey with Ernie on a trip to Dallas for a round of pilot interviews and find out for yourself. If you’d like that level of insider’s perspective to help prepare you for your interview then send me a message. https://youtu.be/gj0taDDl7IQ

For those of you who weren’t able to attend Ernie’s webinar on February 24th, attached is the recording. Let me know if you have any questions or are interested in scheduling a call with a member of our team.

Hi Everyone! My name is Tucker Siddoway and I am a pilot on the Pilatus PC12 for a 91/135 operator in Phoenix Arizona. I did all my training in the Phoenix area and had the opportunity to work for a 135 EAS operator, Southern Airways Express. I became the regional chief pilot running the PC12 program before moving to the next phase of my career. If there are any low time pilots with questions on Mokulele, Southern, or Surf Air I am happy to help as much as I can. I am currently looking to grow my career and eventually make it to my final destination SWA. I have been a member of this community for a few months now and have been watching it grow into something really cool and I am excited to be more active and get to know more fellow Aviators. Happy flying!