Interview preparation courses.
Join Date: May 2003
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Chocks,
Is this your second-hand opinion/belief, or have you actually done their course???
Is Fortress the one-man-band that operates out of hotels around D & G? If so, a former course participant had advised me that they/he didn't impart much more than any one of the myriad of texts available on the subject could have done for 1/10th the price!! His OPINION was that one could just as productively invest $400 down the pub on a Fri night on some good, cold "dutch courage!??"
As I said, just his considered opinion, although his first interview after the course landed him a nice shiny jet job!!
HBP, I guess you need to weigh up the worth of an opinion against the results...............
My point though is this.................There must surely be another option out there for the wannabes???? What about general corporate employment agencies that might offer aviation oriented interview coaching!!!?!????
Just some food for thought!!!
Is this your second-hand opinion/belief, or have you actually done their course???
Is Fortress the one-man-band that operates out of hotels around D & G? If so, a former course participant had advised me that they/he didn't impart much more than any one of the myriad of texts available on the subject could have done for 1/10th the price!! His OPINION was that one could just as productively invest $400 down the pub on a Fri night on some good, cold "dutch courage!??"
As I said, just his considered opinion, although his first interview after the course landed him a nice shiny jet job!!
HBP, I guess you need to weigh up the worth of an opinion against the results...............
My point though is this.................There must surely be another option out there for the wannabes???? What about general corporate employment agencies that might offer aviation oriented interview coaching!!!?!????
Just some food for thought!!!
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Down Under
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For all the Kiwi's !!!
I've heard a whisper that the former head pilot recruiter of Air NZ, is about to start a business training pilots how to handle pilot interviews and tips on applying to airlines.
Stay tuned.
I've heard a whisper that the former head pilot recruiter of Air NZ, is about to start a business training pilots how to handle pilot interviews and tips on applying to airlines.
Stay tuned.
Join Date: Jun 2001
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Reverseflo,
A few years ago I had the opportunity to look at the content of the Fortress course.
Interestingly, the majority of the course content appears to be directly plagiarised from the American book "Airline Pilot Interviews", which has been around for quite a while. Is that what you're writing about?
A few years ago I had the opportunity to look at the content of the Fortress course.
Interestingly, the majority of the course content appears to be directly plagiarised from the American book "Airline Pilot Interviews", which has been around for quite a while. Is that what you're writing about?
Join Date: May 2003
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G'day Jarse,
No, I'm not getting the two confused. My two cents worth in relation to Fortress came from a mate who did their/his course out of a hotel room in Brissie. They were his words that I was relaying for the benefit of Highbypass. His advice was basically, "don't bother", despite the fact that he subsequently got into VB!! He just didn't believe that the course contributed to his apparent interview success.
Whether others choose to take that advice or take heed of his current employment situation is up to the individual!!!
Incidentally, I have the US book you mentioned (by Irv Jasinski) and have borrowed the Fortress course notes. And yes, I agree that one does appear to be a summarised version of the other!!
No, I'm not getting the two confused. My two cents worth in relation to Fortress came from a mate who did their/his course out of a hotel room in Brissie. They were his words that I was relaying for the benefit of Highbypass. His advice was basically, "don't bother", despite the fact that he subsequently got into VB!! He just didn't believe that the course contributed to his apparent interview success.
Whether others choose to take that advice or take heed of his current employment situation is up to the individual!!!
Incidentally, I have the US book you mentioned (by Irv Jasinski) and have borrowed the Fortress course notes. And yes, I agree that one does appear to be a summarised version of the other!!
Join Date: Jan 2001
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Get the book, Irv's the man! Covers all that personality stuff. You can get it from Airservices Australia, and possibly Tech Books in Melbourne! Got another book by Gary V. Bristow called Ace the technical pilot interview, got all that ATPL stuff in one book, so you can cart it around in your flight bag. You can get some IQ books from the library. I also got a book called Preparing for career selection tests by Vera Joosten, also available from tech books.
If anyone else has any other good titles to look out let us all know!
If anyone else has any other good titles to look out let us all know!
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Darwin
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***** ******* who is Fortress is an out and out shyster. He claims to be a former senior pilot who ran recruiting at an Asian airline - This is a complete lie - ask him which airline - he will not tell you and get aggressive.
His sales pitch is quite slick though " not only do most candidates succeed in putting the rope around thier neck but they also kick out the chair from under them"- ring a bell to anyone? He is a persuasive salesman.
He even changes his voice to deliver his pitch. If you get conned you will realise fairly shortly after handing over your $400 that you have been ripped off - but if you are a real dill your may not wake up even then.
Then you will have an enjoyable day of listening to ****** foulmouthed booze and women war stories. Then watch him stumble through a direct copy of a US book( One of ****** "manuals" - his print job is fourth rate) . Tell you to give rote answers at the interview- and attempt to intimidate anyone who questions him "I AM TELLING YOU HOW IT WORKS, I AM THE EXPERT, THIS IS A FINAL BOARD INTERVIEW , DO NOT QUESTION ME AT THIS FINAL BOARD INTERVIEW, IT IS NOT YOUR PLACE TO QUESTION ME, THIS ANSWER IS THE ONLY ANSWER YOU CAN GIVE FOR THIS QUESTION AT AN INTERVIEW". You probably get the picture - and guess what his accent changes from cool BA skipper(during sales pitch) back to Frankston or Balga-what a surprise.
He has got many people(not me) . Your call but in my view an out and out con. If you want to spend money on fair dinkum interview prep go to some serios HR people such as Chandler and Macleod.
Edited to remove names. We get your drift, Northern Bushman.
Woomera (Eastern States)
His sales pitch is quite slick though " not only do most candidates succeed in putting the rope around thier neck but they also kick out the chair from under them"- ring a bell to anyone? He is a persuasive salesman.
He even changes his voice to deliver his pitch. If you get conned you will realise fairly shortly after handing over your $400 that you have been ripped off - but if you are a real dill your may not wake up even then.
Then you will have an enjoyable day of listening to ****** foulmouthed booze and women war stories. Then watch him stumble through a direct copy of a US book( One of ****** "manuals" - his print job is fourth rate) . Tell you to give rote answers at the interview- and attempt to intimidate anyone who questions him "I AM TELLING YOU HOW IT WORKS, I AM THE EXPERT, THIS IS A FINAL BOARD INTERVIEW , DO NOT QUESTION ME AT THIS FINAL BOARD INTERVIEW, IT IS NOT YOUR PLACE TO QUESTION ME, THIS ANSWER IS THE ONLY ANSWER YOU CAN GIVE FOR THIS QUESTION AT AN INTERVIEW". You probably get the picture - and guess what his accent changes from cool BA skipper(during sales pitch) back to Frankston or Balga-what a surprise.
He has got many people(not me) . Your call but in my view an out and out con. If you want to spend money on fair dinkum interview prep go to some serios HR people such as Chandler and Macleod.
Edited to remove names. We get your drift, Northern Bushman.
Woomera (Eastern States)
Last edited by Woomera; 2nd Jun 2004 at 04:53.
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I did the fortress course age's ago in a hotel room in cairns and it's hard to discribe the guy as anything other than a con. I got the feeling he might have employed someone for a C206 job out of mendi a very long time ago, hence the involved in recruitment for an asian airline thing. At the time there were no sources of information like pprune around, so the course did expose me to a lot of new ideas regarding interviews and I havn't missed an interview since. If you have no idea about interviews, I would say do the course. If you have mates who have done a few then hit them up to tell you all about it, get as much information about the subject off pprune and get hold of the prep books. Spend the $400 on a new suit for the interview. Remember how much effort you put into getting the hours to get the interview and put just a small amount of that into the prep and I'm sure you'll piss it in.
I have done the Fortress course with T.B. and whilst you may learn something usefull ,and I have known people do the course and land good jobs, I think you would be better off putting the money towards a good suit and ordering some Airline interview books instead.
The man is just TOO slick and polished when delivering his sales pitch ,call him and you will see what I mean.
Most of it comes from Irv Jasinskis book ,his wrap up "Liked his attitude ,well presented etc" is virtually word for word from Irv.He then advises against reading "American crap" when asked about other reference sources !
Agree totally on the foul mouth ,can be amusing but I'm paying to learn not be entertained.
When I did the course he claimed to have earnt the money to pay for his flying from the underwater cleaning of boat hulls ,and gone on to fly (in Indonesia ,I think he said)
If you were really poorly presented and had no idea of airline interviews when you went in ,it could help.
I think he would be better off selling investment property on the Gold Coast ,he certainly has the manner for it.
The man is just TOO slick and polished when delivering his sales pitch ,call him and you will see what I mean.
Most of it comes from Irv Jasinskis book ,his wrap up "Liked his attitude ,well presented etc" is virtually word for word from Irv.He then advises against reading "American crap" when asked about other reference sources !
Agree totally on the foul mouth ,can be amusing but I'm paying to learn not be entertained.
When I did the course he claimed to have earnt the money to pay for his flying from the underwater cleaning of boat hulls ,and gone on to fly (in Indonesia ,I think he said)
If you were really poorly presented and had no idea of airline interviews when you went in ,it could help.
I think he would be better off selling investment property on the Gold Coast ,he certainly has the manner for it.
Reverseflowkeroburna : my first hand opinion. I did the course in Brisvegas, prior to this site being such a good research tool... much likethe looka .
I wont get involved in all the other comments, suffice to say I gained from it.
I wont get involved in all the other comments, suffice to say I gained from it.
Join Date: Apr 2004
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Does anyone know any information about Dr Steven Holding??
He posted an advert in this months Australian Aviation mag stating that he helps out candidates with pysch exams.......this is not the same (salesman) guy mentioned above is it??
Can someone tell me that I am not going to get shafted??
Cheers
He posted an advert in this months Australian Aviation mag stating that he helps out candidates with pysch exams.......this is not the same (salesman) guy mentioned above is it??
Can someone tell me that I am not going to get shafted??
Cheers
Join Date: Sep 2003
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Dr Steven Holding...
I did a maths course with Dr Steven Holding about a year ago and I thought the course was run very well and he certainly knows his stuff in regards to maths and physics. I certainly dont think he is a con, in fact a very pleasent chap. He did mention his short course for the airline aptitude course and think that he would give you what you need. He has a stack of pilots do his courses over each year and has his finger on the pulse as far as Aus airlines go...
My opinion.
Swoit...
My opinion.
Swoit...
Join Date: Mar 2004
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Did the Fortress course very recently (before reading these threads!) I agree with most of the comments regarding the credibility of the guy and his patter was way too slick for my liking. However if you have no clue about interviews as I didn't, it may be of some benefit. The book with short answers to some typical tech questions was quite useful but be careful as some of the answers are simply wrong. Overall, was it worth $400? in my opinion no it wasn't, but if you have money to burn, then go see for yourself!
Apollo
Apollo
Join Date: Apr 2004
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Who is this Fortress guy??.....I mean where can I find his details....has he got a website, phone number, advertisement........how does everyone know about him and not me?!!
If someone has his details - could you please post it here.
Thanks a lot
Big Kev
If someone has his details - could you please post it here.
Thanks a lot
Big Kev
Personally I wouldn’t bother with this clown. I did his course a number of years ago in a hotel in Brisbane. Used his answers at my first interview with QF and was literally told that they had heard these answers before and they knew that I had done his course. Needless to say I dumped everything he had told me before I had my CX interview. The rest is history. The interviews are nothing like how he describes them. I have never found anyone abusive at any interview I have attended. I have come across the good cop bad cop but they were never abusive. My advice is find some friends that have been through the whole process and prepare according to that.
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For the Kiwi's.....
Seat 37b was right. I recently spoke to the former head man at Air NZ pilot interviews and he is now running courses on pilot interview techniques for all airlines.
His email address is: [email protected]
He gave me some great advice and pointers.
I passed my interview with a NZ regional on his advice.
Seat 37b was right. I recently spoke to the former head man at Air NZ pilot interviews and he is now running courses on pilot interview techniques for all airlines.
His email address is: [email protected]
He gave me some great advice and pointers.
I passed my interview with a NZ regional on his advice.
Join Date: May 2003
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Thanks TGT SPD, well done on your interview.
So he's up and running.
If anyone has the hot oil, he will. If youv'e got an interview or need advice, I suggest you contact him.
Might even be worth the aussies giving him a shout.
So he's up and running.
If anyone has the hot oil, he will. If youv'e got an interview or need advice, I suggest you contact him.
Might even be worth the aussies giving him a shout.