Hello everyone,
This post is just to provide a general market update and some tips about assessments.
Over the last 2- 3 months, based on the various pilots we support/ coach, we have experienced an increase of invitations for assessments.
It includes airlines like Wizzair, Ryanair, Eurowings, SAS connect, Xfly, Citijet, Zimex, Bioflight, TUI and DHL. It shows an aviation market in somewhat of a recovery. Also interestingly enough we are starting to see “real” cadet schemes with TUI and BA now offering full sponsorships. The competitions for cadets schemes are of course fierce. We know first hand that TUI for example received more than 4000 applications for their cadet scheme.
Assessments
It’s unlike to be in the thousands of applications for airline interviews for commercial pilots, but it is likely to be in the hundreds.
We thought to just let you know how assessments tend to work at the moment, giving you a heads up so you can prepare.
This is an example from Eurowings:
| We are pleased to invite you to the Basic Qualification of Eurowings Europe Limited on:
Monday, XXX, 2023 The Basic Qualification will be conducted by Interpersonal GmbH and held at the following location: Geschwister-Beschütz-Bogen 4 Building 2 The event location is marked on this map. Please note: This invitation is binding! This is no appointment offer but an invitation. Please note that only limited parking is available. We recommend arriving using public transport or taking a taxi. If you do however travel here with a car, we would like to remind you that parking in the parking spots of external companies is of course not allowed. In the worst case, this can potentially lead to your car being towed away. During the Basic Qualification, the following skills and abilities will be examined through aptitude testing: · English · Aeronautical basic knowledge · Mathematics, mental arithmetic · Logical thinking · Psychomotor skills · Perception · Concentration · Spatial Orientation · Multitasking It does not require specific preparation, but we recommend familiarizing yourself with the test interface and the basic functions of the test platform. Example tests can be found here (for log-in please use your credentials of www.career.aero). No tools are required for the tests. Please have your passport and flight license ready. Please note that Eurowings will not reimburse any travel or hotel expenses that might occur. |
The typical “heads up time” from receiving the invitation to the actual assessment is roughly 2 weeks.
The assessment
As you can see in Eurowings, the first stage is not really interviews. It is more a range of tests designed to provide a score of your skills.
Preparing for these kind of tests is possible and there is a range of providers out there. The point is if you have only got 2 weeks, time to prepare is already short and you haven’t really got much time to trial different software products or attend preparation seminars etc.
Now before even going there. Before you do any preparation there is a VERY basic step you need to do, which unfortunately we see some people getting wrong. Before you do anything else, CONFIRM the appointment. When you get the invitation to an assessment it is purely and invite. Not a guaranteed slot for the assessment. If you do not confirm the appointment it could well be passed on to another candidate, and then you have maybe already booked flights and hotel that are non-refundable.
Also another really easy mistake is that the invitation to the assessment ends up in your spam email. This can happen especially when you apply directly to the airline and the airline uses a 3rd party provider to do the assessment. Because the 3rd provider is probably someone you have never emailed before, it is likely that your email program and firewall will treat the invitation to the assessment as SPAM. By the time you figure out, it may be too late and the slot has been given to someone else.
So please, please – make sure you check you spam filter regularly and confirm the appointment asap.
Preparation for the assessment – software
Generally because you only have about 2 weeks, you are reduced to making use of software as getting a slot at a workshop preparing you for the assessment can be difficult and not cost effective.
A while ago we (ask a pilot) tested the market in regard to preparation software. We found, and we get no commission etc for stating this, that SkyTest is the best overall tool. There are a few different versions of the SkyTest software and the program costs about 90 EUR and is useable straight after you download it.
While for example the Eurowing tests are likely not to be 1:1 replica of the SkyTest tests, using SkyTest will train your brain and provide you with skills so you are more likely to do well.
Another provider out there, that you may see mentioned in regards to IP-BQ (Eurowings like assessments) is “Vimana“. We don’t have too much direct experience with Vimana, but we do hear great feedback also about this provider.
At the moment we will recommend SkyTest as this is one we definitely know works well for preparation.
Step by Step preparation
So you have had the invitation to the assessment.
STEP ONE – Accept the assessment
STEP TWO – Get the time off and book flights and hotel.
The reason this is not step one, is that getting the time off and booking flights/ hotels might take some people 1- 2 days. This may be too long time and you may lose your spot. Of course we understand that if you have other employment you may need to get approval to get time off before you reply. If this is reality, we suggest you should work on the relationship with your employer, as you can lose out on golden opportunities (assessments) if you have not got an agreement in place, that you can go last minute for such opportunities.
Some classic mistakes we see candidates make is book a flight in the evening before the assessments. This can be very risky. All it takes is a cancellation and your assessment is lost. We recommended that you travel no later than early afternoon the day before the assessment, so you do have other options if the flight is cancelled. Booking hotels we understand people want to go cheap, but please regard the assessment as a very important day that you need to be fully rested for. Make sure you have a nice and comfortable bed and that the hotel is close to the assessment center.
STEP THREE – Preparation
As you can see on the Eurowings assessment there are some huge areas you will be tested in.
We would recommend about 1-2 hrs 3- 4 times per week with SkyTest. This should allow you to also brush up your ATPL knowledge. The “training assistance” can be a great tool to see and track your progress. To start I would go for the “easy” level, and I would not expect you to perform to the “hard” level at any stage. The SkyTest tests are more to get you into “test-mode” and get your brain thinking.
If you already know what time of the day your body and mind is most productive, then we would recommend allocating a timeslot for your SkyTest preparation, at the time of the day where you are most assertive. If you start feeling that you struggle with your concentration or you start getting frustrated (about the tests or your results) then take a short break of about 30 min, and do something relaxing. You could for example do the long relaxation exercise from Freddy (you have access to the mental training on the academy).
If you have taken up employment after you graduated as a pilot to pay the bills, we understand if your work is your bread and butter. However try to limit your work schedule and your personal commitments as much as possible. The assessment will be important and it would be a shame if you have a full calendar with trivia stuff.
Recapping ATPL is a huge challenge. Try to cover a little bit in every corner, and avoid spending too much time on just one topic (for example airlaw). We would limit the preparation to about 2- 3 hrs max per day, as the learning curve starts to go downhill quickly if you go much longer intensive study than this.
Anyway you know yourself and your performance better than we do, so the above was just some simple guidelines.
What we cannot stress enough is the importance of feeling good and ready when the big day arrives.
STEP FOUR – THE ASSESSMENT DAY
We would recommend using Freddy’s short relaxation exercise whenever you feel tension, performance anxiety or issues with keeping focus. On the day of your performance, we would recommend using the short relaxation imminently before your go into the session. This is just to get you in the right state of mind and ready for the day. Sometimes these days can drag on for a long time and be energy draining. Some of the best things you can bring would be a healthy smoothie, some quality dark chocolate/ nut bars, or other small bites, so you are not reliant on on site facilities. If possible on the day, try to talk to as many as possible. Usually there is some kind of assessment of your personality at events like this, while we would imagine though that they will go a lot deeper in the competency based tests at a later stage.
Important lessons
What we hope to achieve with this post – is giving you a heads up of how intense preparing for an assessment can be. This is why we hope that you have got inspired to do your preparation a lot earlier. For example if you started now with SkyTest or if you started now to recap your ATPL theory, there is less pressure and you are better prepared.
This is whee the 7 “P’s” could be relevant to site.
Proper – Pre – Planning – Prevents – Piss – Poor – Performance
If you need a little individual help and guidance, feel free to contact us – that is what we are here for 🙂
Happy landings
Ask A Pilot
