Handling a Career Hiccup/Termination During your Pilot Airline Interview

A question that has come up regularly this month, has been:?'How does a pilot handle a career hiccup such as a termination, failure to obtain a role or failure to complete training - during their airline interview?'

As pilot recruitment amps up and the global pilot shortage continues, pilots with minimum hours or who are just under the requirements, may get a shot at a role unexpectedly.?

I say - GO FOR IT - but... not everyone is ready, that's what experience benchmarks/minimums are for.

If you are not ready, you might get an 'unsuccessful' at interview or get a 'yes, but not complete the flight training for that type' as the learn curve was too steep.

For others, it may have been 10-15 years since your last interview and the world of Aviation Recruitment has silently with stealth, evolved into to something you did you expect. If you get an unsuccessful, treat it as 'training'. It was your 'crash test dummy' experience.

It happens, and it is something we can manage with you.

Discussing any kind of failure or mistake at an airline interview

Pilots are analytical and always look at all reasons and all sides of a failure or hiccup. That means a negative outcome is usually something that needs some work to manage at your next interview.

The aim is to be able to discuss it at an interview without diving into a detailed multi-faceted discussion or explanation, thus... opening the door to disadvantaging yourself.

Here's an example:?

I didn't complete flight training at an airline/operator, how do I handle that in my interview?

There are a variety of reasons a pilot does not complete flight training for a new type.

-Resigned as not the right airline/fit for them

-Lack of consistency within the training program

-A personal issue that impacts performance/commitment

-A failure to meet the standard at some stage during the training

-Termination?

But none of these usually matter and they also don't have to be a deal breaker.

If we as employers, discounted everyone without a prefect career we would be missing out on excellent pilots.

Let me explain.

All of us have failed at some point in our careers. Airlines know this. There are often very personal and complex reasons for this. But again, none of those have to be deal breakers

What does matter, is what you did next - in other words, your behaviour:

1 - How you took responsibility for it (no matter who was at fault)

2 - What steps you took to ensure growth and improvement

Any sign of?blame or justification, means a candidate has not moved past the event. If you have not moved past it, you are still?sitting in the baggage area - quite literally.?Take back?control of your career navigation (please excuse the puns, I couldn't help myself) by:

-Letting the emotion pass and only then...

-Debriefing

-Focusing on next steps

-Doing the additional self-work, and training

-Looking at other options or Plans B, C and so on

There are always other options.?

Failures, terminations or mistakes do not have to be?deal breakers.

But... you have to have?'done the work'?in order to?take responsibility for your part in the events and control the narrative?in an airline interview.

We cover how to do this in detail in our new coaching course, information below.

Your attitude and control of this imperfect part of your career story, heading into your next job interview, is manageable.

Go get em!

Kirsty

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Airline assessments are coming thick and fast for Pilots, sometimes at short notice with multiple opportunities on offer globally. You will find?airlines moving more quickly to entice and assess pilots as the Pilot Shortage deepens.

With our?Essential Pilot Interview Preparation Video-Course, you can be prepared on-demand from anywhere in the world, at short notice. For more info:?https://courses.interviewchix.com/courses/essential-interview-video-course-for-pilots-incl-workbook

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Get in touch

For more information, support, and interview preparation for pilot, cabin crew, aviation corporate or Military job interviews – get in touch?[email protected]

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Disclaimer:?The views and content contained in this document are not in any way representative of the policy of any particular airline (named or unnamed) or any advisory/Government bodies.?All views expressed are those of the Pinstripe Solutions team and based on their interpretation of the requirements, information provided by past candidates and personal experience. These are subject to change at any time without notice.

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Kirsty Ferguson

Pinstripe Solutions

InterviewChix