Those companies that test have their own examination programs and areas of emphasis in evaluation of applicants, though there are certain factors common to all testing programs. First, on any test there is a wide range of scores that would not attract attention to an applicant or prevent him or her from obtaining a job. A negative factor would be a drastic deviation from the average range. Some companies also include an interview with a psychologist or an employment counselor in the testing and interview process.
The tests indicate only an applicant's ability or personality. The individual will be evaluated on how well he or she does in all phases of a company's selection process.
Following is a discussion of the general types of testing you can expect to encounter when interviewing for a flight crew position. The listing is not comprehensive and will not indicate which tests are used by specific airlines or companies. (Such specific information is listed in FAPA's Airline Testing Study Kit.)
Intelligence and personality tests most commonly used in the aviation community are those that were developed by the Institute of Behavioral Research (IBR). The IBR, which closed down in 1983, was a division of Texas Christian University (TCU). The IBR developed a testing system that consisted of a battery of 14 tests, 11 of which were intelligence tests and the remaining three, personality inventories. These tests included math, mechanical aptitude, spatial orientation, vocabulary, abstract reasoning, etc. The tests were commonly referred to as the TCU, IBR, Vinsons or Zells. In actuality, these tests have or had no real names per se, but simply went by the names of their creators. One exception is the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), a personality test still being used today by most of the airlines.
The specific purposes served in the testing of candidates vary greatly among the airlines. Therefore, many airlines work with private consultants - professionals who design and tailor tests according to the airlines' specifications. While a test may be referred to as an "IBR-type" test, it actually will have been uniquely designed for the particular airline.
In addition to the usual series of aptitude tests, such as math, physics and vocabulary,
Avoiding Discouragement
Let us suppose that you have applied at a major airline, passed the physical, appeared to handle your interviews well, gotten through your simulator check without coming unglued, and done your best (well enough, you felt) on the written testing. And yet, despite all of that, you have not been hired; your fine two-day adventure at the airline of your choice has not turned out to be the beginning of your career there.
Just as important as preparing yourself for the job is pursuing it in a persistent and organized way. If the qualifications and experience needed to become an airline pilot could be likened to one leg of your career flight, then a systematic job search is the other. The pilot cannot proceed without both.
Many qualified pilots drop the ball at this point-that is, at the point when they conclude that an attempt to land a major or national airline flying job will encounter obstacles. They feel that the job, while not beyond their piloting abilities, is nearly impossible to obtain, and they assume that there must be thousands of more qualified applicants ahead of them. They are too easily discouraged and think, "I don't have a chance, so why try?"
Unfortunately, such an attitude becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy if you fail to apply yourself.
Keep in mind that many intelligent and determined pilots have an application on file with every major and national airline so as to increase their chances of being hired by one of them. Thus, a report of tens of thousands of applications on file with the airlines does not by any means indicate an equal number of applicants in the field at large. Also, remember mat some of the contenders may not be as well-qualified and well-suited, or as persistent, as you.
A word about discouragement: It can be found everywhere, even among people who are close to you and have your best interests at heart.
Ironically, though, the harshest judgments seem to come from people who know the least about the industry or from disappointed pilots who have given up trying themselves. Most of the discouragement and extreme statements you may come across are exaggerated hearsay, uninformed personal opinion, or someone else* s defeatist attitude.
You should not be dismayed by such talk. Honest facts about airline hiring situations are one thing, but negativism may be safely disregarded. It never hurts to be a discriminating optimist - and as an aspiring pilot, you may have to keep your hopes up for years.
Attaining this job is neither a pushover nor a mission impossible. If you fill in all the "squares" and apply for the job, you stand as good a chance as the next person of getting hired. If you pursue the job intelligently and persistently, you have an excellent chance.
Handling Rejection
Some airlines hire one of 12 applicants interviewed, with the average being one of six or seven. To ensure success, you must apply with a broad range of airlines. A consistent pressure will produce the best results.
Most important, however, is not to take any unsuccessful interviews too seriously. You need to create as many interviewing opportunities as possible because the more interview practice you have, the better you will become at interviewing.
Do not stop applying when you get the first interview or if you are unsuccessful with your first choice. It is routine to be interviewed by several companies before being offered employment Above all, to succeed, you cannot take rejection personally. If you do, you will lose your confidence and self-esteem. Your attitude will be reflected in performance during subsequent interviews.
For help on testing, you might resort to such outside advice as the FAPA counseling center or another "job search" organization. (FAPA also can be of help through its Airline Testing Study Kit, which consists of sample tests commonly used by the airlines.) Then you should prepare as best you can.
