continental background check/interview questions

[T5towbar]

I didn't know that you got rejected from SW.

I really doubt you'll get hired here. Something in your background must have redflagged you. Either the pending disposition of your open case; your credit history; or some other unseen thing caused something to deny your chances.

I'm not saying not to try, but you absolutely MUST be truthful during the interview process. Either way, someone will find out if you are lying or not.

 

[T5towbar]

.......oh, and by the way, why did you mention the situation about your case here on this public forum?

No one needs to know about that at all. Things like that (no matter how big or small) need not be discussed here.

 

[SWA future candidate]

Well first of all i dont apprieciate everybodys criticism i came on this forum to get help not to get sarcastic comments and i got turned down from southwest because they didnt like me on the interview they didnt even conduct a background investigation it only took them 8 days to send that rejection letter out and i know the background takes atleast 3 weeks

 

[Kev3188]

Well first of all i dont apprieciate everybodys criticism i came on this forum to get help not to get sarcastic comments

I've seen one sarcastic comment so far, and that was quickly shot down by another poster.

Look, life's rough; if you can't tolerate criticism/sharp questions, you won't get very far in any interview process (aviation or not).

and i got turned down from southwest because they didnt like me on the interview

With all due respect, this sounds like a pity party. Get over yourself. How do you know that "they didn't like you?"

they didnt even conduct a background investigation it only took them 8 days to send that rejection letter out and i know the background takes atleast 3 weeks

Maybe with whatever your legal issues are, they didn't have to. I mean, if you put it on your application, why bother?

Like T5, my guess is whatever is on your record is a BIG red flag to prospective employers.

 

[Bagbelt]

Years ago you didn't get in unless someone sent you, those were the days when you maxed out in pay in 2 years. The job now is nothing special, unless you think loading 5 or 6 flights in sub zero weather on a part time shift rocks for $8 an hour. I would suggest trying for a regional like eagle. After your probation you are free to put a transfer for mainline. I would imagine it is the same with other majors. Try Chelsea catering, it is the only catering outfit still run by an airline. United and Skychefs/ American were but no more. As an employee you always have transfer rights and generally they are not as hard to get on with. Good luck.

 

[T5towbar]

No one here is being sarcastic or not wanting to help you out.
I work for CO and have personally seen how the interviewing process goes. (Some selected employees get to actually watch the interviewing process) whenever there is a hiring session. We need more people to work in the hub, so that's why they are now hiring again.

All I'm saying is be honest; truthful and up front with the interviewer who is asking you questions. I don't know what the interview process at SW, but I personally know that is not hard here. Be yourself to the person who you are talking to, because that may be your future supervisor. (Hub Managers are the ones that do the interviewing process with the cooperation of HR and Recruiting. 9 out of 10 people get an pre-offer sheet the same day. If you get a pre-offer sheet, then the next step (at the hiring session) you will give them your papers you previously filled out for the background investigation to begin. (BTW: Did you get the e-mail PDF with the paperwork you must print out and fill out along with the copies of your SS and Birth Certificate and DL?) You have to bring that to the interview along with your documents they requested. The background investigator will then ask you a series of questions which you must be totally honest about. You will be electronically fingerprinted too. You will then get a call back or a letter telling you to come to the airport to take a physical; hearing test; eye exam; and drug screen. (Your background check should be nearly completed or close to it by them.) Finally you will get a letter to come back for a 2 or 3 hour briefing and to let you know what your date for a class begins. As I said before: 1st week in the classroom (followed by a mid-term exam); 1 week on the ramp learning about the computer entry codes and throwing bags (but not driving any GSE, and you must be with a escort (or lead agent who had escort privileges on his/her badge - they usually put the trainees on gates where there is very experienced, PATIENT leads ) while on the ramp; and 1 week back in the classroom to pass the final exam. Once you pass, you will get your uniforms and company ID. (you already pre-ordered them on Day 2) You will get your SIDA badge (or "Port") on Week 4. Week 4 is called "rotation week" for new hires. Each day, you work in either the bagroom; inbounds; online; the ramp (on a 757 or on a 737); Express (at Terminal A); or International flights. That way, you will get a feel for what your daily tasks are. After week 4, they will cut you loose and you will pretty much know what to do. You will be wearing a cheap green vest too. That way WE know who you are. (so we can help you out, and keep you from #### something up out here.) You won't get your orange vest till after 6 months.

I've just given you an overview of what to expect working at the hub at CO for a new-hire.

If this is what you want to do, then go for it. You can get the job, but you need to keep it too......
You are the only one who can lose it by not being honest; truthful; and not being here and on-time.

GOOD LUCK!

 

[SWA future candidate]

Thank you for all the information you have giving me i didnt mean towards you what i said before or anything like that i meant it for the other members that thought they were funny but yes i really do want the job and i want to start my career with them and end my career with them.Thank you again for all of the advice you have giving me and it sounds like the perfect job for me because im not the type to sit at the desk for hours a day i need to be moving around and i dont mind working in extreme weather conditions either

 

[Kev3188]

As I said before: 1st week in the classroom (followed by a mid-term exam);
1 week on the ramp learning about the computer entry codes and throwing bags
1 week back in the classroom to pass the final exam.
Week 4 is called "rotation week" for new hires.

What a program!

NW/DL could take a lesson from you guys.

Ours currently consists of:

1 week in a classroom (with a little hands-on work)
1 week with a trainer in whatever city you'll be in

This might vary for those staying in the hubs, but for the line stations, that's it.

 

[T5towbar]

Oh, and I also forgot. After your probationary period of six months, you can put in your bid card for a transfer to cargo or to a line station if there is any openings. I'm not sure about working upstairs yet. But most people want to stay in the hubs because of the security here. Plus, at EWR, here is one of the places where is a money differential (we just been received). So it is good here. But you can go to IAH or CLE if you want. But EWR is where we need bodies right now. Also, expect to be working PM too. (only in training you will be on AM so don't get used to it. AM is for senior people. Crazy people like me loves PM) On Week 5 you will be bidding with your classmates for relief spots. When the next general bid comes, you will be in that one -- bidding with everybody else. Either Outage Relief or Vacation Relief is what you will probably get. IMHO: Vacation Relief is much better because you stay at that slot for a month and you might get a AM slot, whereas Outage, you check in every day for your work area - same hours though - either a 8 or a 10 hour shift. My other suggestion - like I said earlier - is to do some day trades. You will learn a lot by just doing. You will learn the scanner, doing uploads, and how to push. It's not hard, cause when you do this every day it comes naturally. The six months will really go by quick, and you will be wearing your orange vest like the rest of us. You will then get your paid holidays; benefits; and vacation week.

Life in a hub is pretty good. Keep your nose clean; stay safe; and you'll make your money here at CO. Plus if you have any technical skills, you can move up to one of those spots if available. As any airline employee knows, most hiring for MX or Facility or GSE MX is done mostly in-house. Working the ramp can lead to other things too.

 

[SWA future candidate]

wait i thought its going to be a full time position how does it exactly work on the ramp with the scheduling and bidding and things like that and i was curious to find out if the ramp agents joined the union yet because ive been reading on other forums that they turned down twu 2 or 3 times already and now the teamsters are getting involved

 

[Kev3188]

wait i thought its going to be a full time position how does it exactly work on the ramp with the scheduling and bidding and things like that

Seniority based.

and i was curious to find out if the ramp agents joined the union yet because ive been reading on other forums that they turned down twu 2 or 3 times already and now the teamsters are getting involved

Not yet.

 

[T5towbar]

The job is a full-time position.
Like Kev said, it is seniority based. Seniority is EVERYTHING in the airline business! As a new hire, as I said, you will be bidding amongst your classmates for a 8 hour (or in some cases 10) line. It will mostly be a relief line. But don't let that scare you, because some relief lines are pretty good for a new hire. Then, whenever the general bid comes up, (usually during scheduling changes) then you will bidding with everybody. Of course, you will be on the bottom of the list, but you never know what line you will be available to you. You might find yourself bidding on a work area; the bagroom (which is huge); or running bags inbounds or online; or working in the International dump; or other various duties here. Either a 8 hour shift (5 days on / 2 days off) or a 10 hour shift (4 days on / 3 days off). Mainly on the PM lines (don't even think about working AM, unless you are extremely lucky) PM starts at 1:00 pm (hence the PM name) There are various lines and shift times. All of that will be explained to you if and when you get the job. Oh, and after six months, if you want to go part time, you can put your bid card in for that too. We have a pretty good mix of part-timers and full-timers here.

As far as the Union goes:
TWU was shot down twice. (IMHO they made too many promises and everybody knows about the concessionary contract that AA has). It's very tricky here. You have a battle between the Northeast Stations (and EWR) who want some sort of Union representation, and Houston. (and some of the outstations too). It's a numbers game, and a lot of people like what we have here, since we got a pretty good management team who is very open and honest with us. Like other airlines, we all took hits too, but we are coming back with some of what we lost - without a Union. So it's a tough thing around here. IAM is trying now, and we'll see what happens. I don't think that the numbers are good. The ramp (and ATO - Passenger Services (ticket agents) are the only group on the property that is not unionized.

 

[SWA future candidate]

Well thanks again for all the info you have given me and i really do hope i get the job.I was just curious how is the medical insurance is as far as what company they use how much is the copay and what is costs a month because all of that stuff is important to me and oh yeah how long have you been working at continental for.

 

[T5towbar]

As far as insurance: We use various companies. After completing your six months, on the first day afterward, you will receive your benefit package. The cost is not expensive either. The usual stuff: major medical; dental; vision; life insurance; etc. The costs depends on what you need, and if you are adding any dependents. All that will be explained to you. Plus the pension plan. Also we have the 401k plan with matching dollar for dollar contribution. As I said, you will know about that six months after your board date. (Usually the enrollment starts in November for the following year's package) I'll say that is a decent package and compensation for a new-hire. Plus you will be starting out at 11.16 per hour (10.16 + 1.00 differential here at EWR)

I've been here for 16 years.

 

[SWA future candidate]

What do ramp agents top out at for continental