Preparing For The Interview

How can it be possible to be over prepared and to have nothing actually done -- both at the same time? Well, let me tell you: I am the type of individual that over thinks everything. Often to the degree that I talk myself out of doing something before it ever gets started. Sometimes, I even spoil novels and fast forward to the end.

I did a lot of thinking and talking about starting a new career as a flight attendant: Researched what carrier I wanted to work for, went to their web site to find out if they were hiring, (they were), learned where to submit my application, when they were having open house interviews. I even got an opportunity to speak with another flight attendant working for Republic, and an assurance of a personal recommendation when I submitted my application. I had a plan for what I would do if I got hired and had to temporarily relocate. Everything was all figured out, expect I had not yet acted to make it so. I had some things in my life I wanted to wrap up, first.

One night, January 18th, at about 10:00 PM, while over thinking things again, I stumbled upon an online discussion group. This particular group was for people who wanted to work as a flight attendant with Republic Airlines. Oh, it was wonderful. All sorts of people contributed. Those who were considering a career with the airlines, people who had submitted their applications and had either been to, or would be attending, an open house interview. Some people wrote after the open house and shared their experience. Yet, others wrote to say they were invited to training. A lot of people talked about the wait between the interview and the invitation to training. Finally, some flight attendants for the company would chime in and answer general questions.

Well, while nosing around, I read that starting February 1st all "open house interviews" would be over. My immediate thought was I needed to find out how many more open house events there were left during the month of January. I learned there were two: One on the 20th in Indianapolis, IN and the other on the 28th in Texas!

Indianapolis was at a 6 hour drive. I went online to see about purchasing an airline ticket. But with the open housing starting at 8:30 AM on the 20th, I would need to fly out the following day. It was next to impossible to get any reasonably priced flights out from Pittsburgh to Indianapolis for the following day. I had to resign myself driving, but could I get it all together this quickly?

I went to the Republic web site to look into what would be required. I learned that prior to attending an open house event you must submit your application online. So, I went to do that. The first thing you were asked to do was upload your resume. I'd done all this talking and thinking about everything and, yet, my resume was not ready!

It was 1:30 AM when I had completed my resume and filled out the lengthy online application. I went straight to bed and set the alarm for 5:30 AM.

When I awoke, I gave some thought to what I would wear, packed my bags, made hotel reservations, and called my partner at work to tell him what I was going to do.

At 11:30 AM I was getting ready to walk out the door. The phone was ringing. I looked at the caller ID and it was Republic! It was someone from Human Resources calling to let me know they had my application and to invite me to a training event in February.

This was very good news. I learned that even though open house events would end in January that the company would continue scheduling interview by invitation. I was invited to attend any of three different events in February. One nice thing about this is that along with the invitation would come a ticket to fly stand by to the interview. So, I would not have to drive six hours in the uncertain winter conditions.

If the call had come even two hours earlier I would have waited. But, as it is, my bags were packed and I was ready. It's kind of like preparing to enter a swimming contest and you have your suit on and are walking out to the diving board. I felt what I needed to do was just end all this speculation and keep moving in the direction of getting hired, and so I did.

Around 7:30 PM I arrived, tired but excited, at hotel room. After eating dinner, laying out my clothes, and reviewing driving directions for the following morning, I put in a wake up call for 5:30 AM and went to bed.