What does each stage of the Direct Entry Pilot selection process involve?
Stage 1:
The candidate's application is checked to ensure documentation is correct and the Direct Entry Pilot Minimum Criteria are met. Progression to Stage 2 is determined by the competitiveness of an application following completion of Stage 1.
Stage 2:
One day of assessment involving a Psychometric Assessment. This assessment is computer based and is conducted in a small, dedicated testing room
A non-refundable fee of A$195 is charged by Qantas for Stage 2 assessment.
Progression to Stage 3 is determined by the competitiveness of an application following completion of Stage 2.
Stage 3:
Two or three days of assessment comprising a Simulator Flight Assessment, a Panel Interview and an Occupational Health Assessment (OHA). A non-refundable fee of A$150 is charged by Qantas for the OHA.
Progression to Stage 4 is determined by the competitiveness of an application following completion of Stage 3.
Stage 4:
The candidate will submit a dental x-ray and documentation to enable the Criminal History, Politically Motivated Violence and Citizenship Check to take place. A non-refundable fee of A$104.50 is payable for the Criminal History, Politically Motivated Violence and Citizenship Check. Reference checks will be conducted by Qantas and the application will be subject to a full review by senior management personnel. Candidates who are assessed as strongly competitive during the final review may receive a written offer of employment for a nominated start date.
Please Note: From time to time, there may be changes to the order of the assessment stages and applicants will be advised of any changes in advance. The fees for the Psychometric Assessment, Occupational Health Assessment, Criminal History, Politically Motivated Violence and Citizenship Check represent external fees imposed upon Qantas for each candidate who undertakes these assessments. Recovering this fee from the candidate allows Qantas to offer a greater number of applicants the opportunity to attempt the assessments.
What does the Psychometric Assessment involve?
The Psychometric Assessment is comprised of a mouse lesson and 6 sections. Sections 1 to 4 are time-limited assessments designed to assess verbal, numerical, diagrammatic and spatial reasoning abilities. Sample questions are included at the beginning of each section and these should be studied carefully. When completing the time limited sections, you are advised to work as quickly and accurately as possible. If you are not sure of an answer, make your best choice but avoid wild guessing.
Sections 5 and 6 have no time limits and are designed to assess personal competencies. There are no right or wrong answers to questions in sections 5 and 6 and candidates are encouraged to answer as honestly as possible. In sections 5 and 6, once a question is answered and the next question selected it is not possible to return and change the previous answer.
The entire Psychometric Assessment will take three to five hours to complete.
What does the Simulator Flight Assessment involve?
The primary aim of the Simulator Flight Assessment is to evaluate instrument flying skills, spatial orientation and manipulative abilities.
The Assessment will be conducted in a B767-300 simulator in light-weight configuration. The flight will take place within the Melbourne terminal area. There is no radio work required and no assymetric flying.
The Check Captain will occupy either the left or right hand seat (as desired by the candidate) and their assistance will be limited to operating the landing gear and flaps, and changing avionics selections. They will not provide monitoring or assistance during the instrument flying exercises or approaches, so the assessment will be more akin to a single pilot operation.
There will be a 45 minute group briefing prior to commencement of the exercise. All required aspects of the session will be discussed during this briefing. Candidates will then be assessed one at a time via a flight exercise of approximately 50 minutes duration. A precision and non-precision approach will be flown in addition to other instrument flying exercises and a holding pattern.
Further information regarding the Simulator Flight Assessment will be provided to candidates at the time of booking.
What does the Panel Interview involve?
The purpose of an interview is not only for us to find out more about you, but also a chance for you to find out more about Qantas. The interview will be undertaken by a panel of two current Qantas pilots and one representative from People Relations (Human Resources) or Pilot Recruitment. The duration of the interview will run for approximately 45 minutes and consist of behavioural based questions. The length of the interview should not be interpreted as an indication of your performance. Here are some tips to help you best prepare for the interview:
- Spend time looking at the Qantas website to understand Qantas and the position of Second Officer.
- Manage your time - if you are running late please contact Pilot recruitment at your earliest convenience.
- Dress professionally. Speak clearly and maintain a comfortable level of eye contact throughout the interview.
- Be prepared for "behavioural" based questions (questions that require you to give examples of prior experience). The best way about being confident to answer these questions is to be familiar with your resume and think about personal, work or flying situations that you can support your response. Communicating your key achievements will also be important.
- The interview is also a chance for you to ask your interviewer questions. You may wish to write these down and bring them with you. We will be happy to answer these at the end of the formal interview.
- Nerves - we all have these when we are being interviewed, so it's okay! We understand that for many of you this will be your first time undertaking a formal interview. To help minimize the nerves it's a good idea to be well prepared and arrive around 15 minutes prior to the interview. It's important to feel comfortable and confident during the interview.
What does the Occupational Health Assessment involve?
The Occupational Health Assessment includes the components of a CASA Class 1 Medical examination plus other additional items. A specific briefing sheet for the OHA is provided to candidates at the time of booking.
What does the Criminal History, Politically Motivated Violence and Citizenship Check involve?
Pilots are required to hold Aviation Security ID cards. The Criminal History, Politically Motivated Violence and Citizenship Check is conducted by the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA). To undergo the check the candidate must fill out a consent form and pay A$104.50. Specific instructions for this check will be issued to candidates at the appropriate stage of the selection process.
Where do I have to go for the assessments?
All assessments are conducted at the Qantas Jet Base or Qantas Centre at Mascot, Sydney. Specific locations will be indicated on the booking confirmation letter.
What should I bring on the day of assessment?
The documentation that must be brought to each stage of testing is specified in the relevant booking confirmation letter.
Stage 2 testing takes approximately 3 to 5 hours to complete and breaks can be taken at several points during the day. Candidates may wish to bring lunch and/ or a snack to eat during these breaks. Drinking water and self-service tea and coffee is provided free of charge. A variety of foods can be purchased at the staff canteen and snack shop, open 0700 to 1530.
What are the rules of Stage 2 Assessment?
The following items must not be taken into the Psychometric Assessment room:
- Any form of food or drink
- Any form of paper or written material
- Calculators or computers
- Rulers or scissors
- Luggage, bags or briefcases
- Mobile phones
Writing paper, pens and calculators will be provided by Qantas. The writing paper must be returned at the end of the day and must not be folded, cut or torn. A secure area will be provided to store luggage and briefcases. Candidates must not talk to each other in the testing room and are asked to keep noise to a minimum when entering and leaving the room.
During the course of the day each candidate may take one meal break of up to 30 minutes and several smaller breaks of 5 to 10 minutes as required. If you leave the immediate testing area to visit the staff canteen or shop during these breaks, you must notify the administrator and must hand them your writing paper to be recollected on your return.
Any breach of these rules will cause the candidates assessment to be terminated.
What preparation should I do for the assessments?
The amount and nature of preparation done for selection assessments is at the discretion of individual candidates, however the following information may be of assistance:
Psychometric Assessment
The Psychometric Assessment Practice Leaflet contains practice questions, which may assist candidates with preparation for the Psychometric Assessment.
Simulator Flight Assessment and Panel Interview
It is envisaged that candidates will do some degree of preparation for both the Simulator Flight Assessment and the Panel Interview. The amount of preparation done is at the individual's discretion and will depend on their current level of knowledge and experience.
What if I need to change my booking date or time?
Please check your work and personal commitments carefully before finalising an assessment date with recruitment staff. If you have a valid and unexpected need to change a booking date please contact Qantas recruitment staff as soon as possible.
What if I am ill on the day?
If a temporary medical condition or personal circumstance arises which may affect your performance on the day, please notify recruitment staff as soon as possible. In all cases it is essential that you discuss your situation with recruitment staff before the assessment begins.
Is Qantas able to assist with my travel expenses?
There is no obligation to fly with Qantas, but we may be able to assist with air travel. Information will be included with confirmation of your appointment.
Is Qantas able to assist with my accommodation expenses?
Qantas is unable to assist with accommodation expenses associated with pilot selection assessment.
What happens after the assessment?
Assessment results cannot be discussed with the candidate on the day of assessment. Each candidate will be contacted by letter, fax, phone or e-mail as appropriate within 3 weeks of assessment. Any of the following courses of action may be taken by Qantas depending upon the competitiveness of the candidate's application:
- The candidate may be contacted to arrange a date for the next stage of assessment.
- The candidate may be advised that their application is still under consideration and that progression to the next stage of assessment is not guaranteed but may occur after a specified date.
- The candidate may be advised that their assessment results have been uncompetitive on this occasion, however they are invited to update every six months and to apply for a review of their file after a specified date. File updates and the request for reassessment can be achieved by submitting an Application Update Form. Repeat attempts at assessments are not guaranteed - the candidate's application will be reviewed against others held at the time of review to determine competitiveness for assessment.
- The candidate may be advised that they have been unsuccessful and that Qantas will not be proceeding any further with the application.
What if 3 weeks have passed since assessment and I have not been contacted?
Please check phone messages, fax machines and e-mails. If you are certain that contact has not been made then please ring the recruitment office on +61 (2) 9691 1590. Please do not ring recruitment staff until the full 3 weeks have passed.
Can I receive detailed feedback on my assessment performance?
Corporate policy does not allow Qantas to discuss details of performance in specific assessments or in specific areas of an assessment. Qantas is also unable to release copies of assessment reports or results. We therefore request that candidates do not phone the recruitment office seeking specific feedback on assessment performance.
What happens when I have completed all stages of assessment?
If you have completed all stages of assessment and your file is still under consideration, you will be placed on the Hold File. Securing a position on the Hold File should not in any way be interpreted as a guarantee of employment. When a course vacancy becomes available it will be offered to the Hold File candidate who best meets the required competencies. Time spent on the Hold File will vary according to the competitiveness of a candidate's application. If a candidate has been waiting more than 6 months on the Hold File without being offered a course place, their file will be reviewed to determine the most appropriate course of action for Qantas to take.
If my application to Qantas is unsuccessful can I apply to a Qantas subsidiary airline?
An unsuccessful application to Qantas does not necessarily prevent a candidate from making a successful application to a Qantas subsidiary airline.
