The Airline Interview Process: What Actually Happens from Application to CJO

Marcus Gollahon -

When I hit 1000 hours total time in May 2023, I finally got the call I'd been waiting for: SkyWest wanted to interview me.

Here's what actually happens in the airline interview process, from someone who just went through it.

The Application Game

First reality check: You're applying everywhere.

I used airlineapps.com and applied to basically every airline that would take my application. This isn't the time to be picky. You're building hours, trying to break into the industry, and honestly - beggars can't be choosers. Keep your application updated religiously. Airlines can see when you last logged in, and they notice.

The magic number seems to be around 1000 hours total time. That's when regionals start getting interested, even though you can't actually fly for them until 1500 hours.

The Interview Structure

My SkyWest interview was on Zoom with two interviewers. About an hour total. Here's the breakdown:

HR Questions (20-30 minutes):

  • Why do you want to work for SkyWest?
  • Tell us about a difficult student or copilot and how you handled it
  • Standard behavioral questions about decision-making and conflict resolution

They adapt the questions for your background. Since most of us haven't been airline pilots before, they ask about difficult students instead of difficult captains. They're looking for the same thing: Can you handle interpersonal conflicts professionally?

Technical Questions (30-40 minutes): The meat of the interview. SkyWest sends you a study packet beforehand listing everything they might ask. Study it thoroughly.

The big focus for my interview was Jeppesen charts. They wanted to know:

  • Symbols unique to Jepp charts vs. government charts
  • How to brief an approach
  • Weather minimums
  • Basic instrument procedures

Then came the scenario-based questions. This is where they test your CRM (Crew Resource Management) skills.

The CRM Test

They'll give you an emergency scenario and want to see if you think beyond just flying the airplane.

The formula they're looking for:

  • 2 internal resources (flight attendants, passengers)
  • 2 external resources (ATC, dispatch)

They want to see that you understand you're not alone up there. Can you delegate? Can you use all available resources? Will you communicate with everyone who needs to know what's happening?

The Waiting Game

Here's what nobody really explains about Conditional Job Offers (CJOs):

I got my CJO email within a week. Exciting, right? Then reality hits.

The "conditional" part means:

  • You need to finish getting to 1500 hours
  • Pass a medical
  • Clear background check
  • Complete training successfully

The real condition that matters? Waiting for a class date.

I crossed 1500 hours in August. Then I waited. And waited. For months.

Your seniority number - which determines everything from schedule to upgrade time to base selection - is based on your class date. So while you're sitting there with a CJO, watching every class that starts without you, you're literally watching seniority numbers tick away.

The Plot Twist

After months of waiting, I got a call about SkyWest's charter operation. It meant starting immediately instead of waiting for a regular class date.

I took it.

Sometimes the non-traditional path gets you flying sooner. Be open to opportunities you didn't expect.

Practical Preparation Tips

What Actually Helped:

  • Airline Interview Gouge (aviationinterviews.com) - Worth every penny
  • Actually studying the packet they send you
  • Practicing CRM scenarios out loud
  • Having specific examples ready for behavioral questions

What Was Overkill:

  • Memorizing every possible technical question
  • Over-rehearsing answers until they sound robotic
  • Stressing about the outfit (business professional, keep it simple)

The Reality Check

This process is both easier and harder than you think.

Easier because:

  • They want to hire you (pilot shortage is real)
  • The technical questions are straightforward if you study
  • Everyone is generally friendly and wants you to succeed

Harder because:

  • The waiting is brutal
  • You have zero control over class dates
  • Watching others get class dates while you wait tests your patience

For Career Changers

Coming from education, I thought my interview skills would transfer directly. They do, but differently.

Airlines want to see:

  • You can learn their procedures
  • You'll fit into their culture
  • You can handle the technical knowledge
  • You understand this is a team environment

Your teaching background helps with the communication and CRM aspects. But don't oversell it. They know you're new to aviation. Own it, show you're eager to learn, and demonstrate you've done your homework.

The Reality of Charter Flying

Here's what I learned at SkyWest Charter: The 135 operation is different from airline flying. They provided excellent training - full CRJ 200/700/900 type rating - and I'm grateful for that experience. But charter flying meant less frequent flying than I needed to build hours efficiently.

The bigger issue? Seniority. I wasn't accumulating seniority with SkyWest Airlines mainline. If I wanted to transition to their 121 operation, I'd essentially start over as a new hire. The months at charter wouldn't count toward bidding, upgrade times, or base preferences.

So I had to make a practical decision. My goal was always to reach a major airline, and I needed to be building hours and seniority somewhere. I applied everywhere again - same process, updating airlineapps.com religiously.

PSA Airlines called first. Their interview was similar to SkyWest's - Jeppesen charts, HR scenarios, CRM situations. Having actual CRJ experience helped me discuss systems knowledge and real-world examples. They made an offer, and the American flow was exactly what I wanted for my career progression.

I started with PSA in October 2024 and haven't looked back.

The Lesson: Stay Flexible

Looking back, the path went:

  1. Applied everywhere at 1000 hours
  2. SkyWest Charter gave me valuable jet experience
  3. Realized I needed more flight hours and seniority progression
  4. Applied everywhere again
  5. PSA offered the best career path forward

The charter experience wasn't wasted - I learned CRJ systems and gained jet time. But sometimes you have to recognize when it's time to make the next move for your career goals.

The Bottom Line

The airline interview process is straightforward: Apply everywhere, prepare thoroughly, interview professionally, then wait indefinitely.

The CJO feels like the finish line, but it's really just the starting gate. Be ready to evaluate each opportunity honestly - not just for what it offers today, but for where it positions you tomorrow. Sometimes that means making tough decisions about when to move on.

My path required two airline interviews and a strategic career move. Yours might be different. The key is staying focused on your ultimate goal while being grateful for each opportunity along the way.

Currently flying for PSA Airlines (since October 2024), building time and seniority toward the American flow. Happy to answer questions about the interview process or navigating career decisions - reach out. This post represents my personal experience and your mileage may vary.