WestJet "Passenger Perks" - employment at westjet

My son has a group interview next week and wonder if anyone can give some advice who has been through it already. He applied for both flight attendant and baggage. The interview is for baggage. Can anyone offer some information? He is currently employed near Calgary and has a contract with his current company till the end of June. Any thoughts on how long the process takes if hired? He really would like to fulfill that contract. Thanks for your help.

The group interview is a behavioural based interview. There are no right or wrong answers and the applicant cannot practice for the interview. This is an interview about how the applicant presents themselves and not what is actually said. That said, the applicant can be the most presentable of the group and still not get the job. There are specific traits that the HR department is looking for. The best advice is to make sure the applicant is alert, follow the instructions, and is a true reflection of themselves. Also, because the interview is not about skill but about behaviour, if your son doesn't get the job he should not feel like the interview was blown. The best candidate often does not get the job in these types of interviews.

Hiring process at Westjet for baggage is fairly quick. The end of June contract will be a big problem, IMHO. Westjet does ramp training in May and the first part of June for the summer busy season. July 1 is the start of the busiest time of year for Westjet and they will likely not be training during this period. WestJet needs all hands on deck for Canada Day period and then Calgary Stampede comes right after. After Stampede is about 10 days until the summer busy season is 1/2 over.

IMHO, I would like to offer that your son consider a choice between giving up the contract job and taking the Westjet ramp position or doing the opposite. I don't think Westjet would allow a delay in hiring into the July period for the above noted reasons (they will need him for training in May).

I fully understand the tough choice your son has. I was in the same position about 11 years ago. I had a choice between taking a ramp job with AC @ YEG or continuing my college education. The AC ramp position conflicted with my return to school in the fall. It was a hard decision because the ramp work was a life time opportunity I had wanted since 6 years old. However my College schooling was more important in the longer term so I turned down the ramp job.

Training isn't done just in May/June. It's ongoing.

Due to the much talked about labour shortage, WJ isn't immune to being understaffed and in need of people. I believe they are now offering casual positions to allow people to work around other jobs but I do not know when that starts, if it started, or how scheduling works. My guess is that if he has an interview now, they'll want him hired ASAP.

Thanks very much, both very thoughtful repiles. I guess it best to take things one step at a time, see how this first interview goes. Any insight to the job itself...is it something that has high turnover due to the job itself or do people move on to other opportunities once gaining some experience here? Is it a fairly paid position? Is it a good company to work for? Would you want to be a ramp agent?

:) Correct, they cannot allow him time to finish this contract, however they have two training times available, Feb and March. From everyhting I can find out about the company, it seems to be a good one to work for. Any insights?

:) Correct, they cannot allow him time to finish this contract, however they have two training times available, Feb and March. From everyhting I can find out about the company, it seems to be a good one to work for. Any insights?

I am a flight attendant at Westjet. First of all, I would like to be the first on this forum to congratulate your son! I welcome him to the Westjet family! Second, although I am fairly unfamiliar with the ramp agent position (we call them TAC short for Turn Around Crew), I can offer some insights into the company. I think it is a fantastic company to work for! We are empowered to make decisions on the spot, we have many ways that we say thanks to each for our dedication and hard work, including profit sharing checks, parties, visits from the Big Guys (Executive Team), and so many more. The company has a strong history and will have a strong future. There is an employee share purchase program in which one can contribute up to 20% of one's income to the program and Westjet will match that dollar for dollar! My brother used to be a TAC team member and loved his travel benefits and used them well. I could go on and on but then this post would get so long. If you would like to discuss further, please do PM me! Cheers!

thanks YYCguy...sent you a pm.

I was also wondering if anyone knows when WestJet might hire Flight Attendants? If you post your resume with them how long before you get some kind of reply? Any info would be great.

WS hires flight attendants on a pretty consistant basis at least every few months. When they call could all depend where in the process you applied. I had a friend get a call 2 days after applying and then again I have heard other people getting calls months after so it is hard to say. Also depends if you meet their criteria.

I am an FA with WestJet as well as on the FA recruting team. We are hiring continuously throughout 2007 looking for a few hundred new hires. Classes run every 4-6 weeks thorughout the year.

A requirement for all exteral hires for the remainder of '07 is bilingual English/French (conversational).

If you are interested, please submit your resume online if you have not done so already! Good luck!

Are there know exceptions Fisch! I can't believe I've missed the "Plane" 30 years of excellent customer service and a chance to fulfill my career dream! I was so excited at the prospect of working in Calgary.

I have been flying Westjet for a few years now and I just wanted to say how much I appreciate their commitment to service. I mean, you call their toll free numbers and a person actually picks up the phone! I hope they keep going in the competitive airline market. Such a great company...

i just got hired with westjet, i havent done my training yet but was wondering if someone give me a little insight to it. Like for example do i have to wear dress clothes during training or can I wear jeans and t-shirt? Is there alot of note taking? Alot of homework? Help I am stressing myself out

thank you to anyone who can help

Congrats newfiecatgirl! What job do you have? Sorry I can offer no help...I am getting stressed out myself. I just re-read the job description for wht my son is hired for and ...yow...it seems scary to me now. He is TAC Ramp Agent and hope he will be able to do this job. He was very frustrated at the orientation. :(

i am going to be customer service agent. Don't worry about your son being a baggage handler. My husband was a baggage handler with air canada for 6 years and it had to be the easiest job ever to do.

I was worried at the prospect of him having to "gas up" the plane...he's not crazy on the idea of "flushing" the plane and not connecting the hoses correctly.:eek:
Hopefully it will all work out ok. Are you also in Calgary?

I was worried at the prospect of him having to "gas up" the plane...he's not crazy on the idea of "flushing" the plane and not connecting the hoses correctly.:eek:
Hopefully it will all work out ok. Are you also in Calgary?

the ramp guys (tac) do not fuel the planes. they empty the lavs and put
in the potable water. Trust me the prospect of having it spill all over you
is usually a good incentive to make sure the hose is on correctly. :D

thanks Ace...we are both excited and sort of anxious about his new job...
We are in Ontario and he is in Calgary, so just trying to be supportive from a distance. The idea of him working on a jet is a bit overwheming...I guess it must be for most people till they get used to it.

you certainly see things from a different persepective when you are standing underneath the plane. It's kinda cool actually.

I am a flight attendant at Westjet. First of all, I would like to be the first on this forum to congratulate your son! I welcome him to the Westjet family! Second, although I am fairly unfamiliar with the ramp agent position (we call them TAC short for Turn Around Crew), I can offer some insights into the company. I think it is a fantastic company to work for! We are empowered to make decisions on the spot, we have many ways that we say thanks to each for our dedication and hard work, including profit sharing checks, parties, visits from the Big Guys (Executive Team), and so many more. The company has a strong history and will have a strong future. There is an employee share purchase program in which one can contribute up to 20% of one's income to the program and Westjet will match that dollar for dollar! My brother used to be a TAC team member and loved his travel benefits and used them well. I could go on and on but then this post would get so long. If you would like to discuss further, please do PM me! Cheers!



I have just finished the first part of the telephone interview to become a flight attendant. The second part is the group interview...wondering if you can give me a few pointers of what I am to expect ... thank you.

If you speak French (or another 2nd language) you'd be better of applying at AC, where decent interline agreements will actually allow you to see the world. Unless you can't get enough of vacationing in Florida.

Unless you can't get enough of vacationing in Florida.
or Hawaii or Bahamas or Arizona or Palm Springs or future destinations/alliances

west jet is a fun company. sometimes they have TP races to decide which side of the plane gets to deplane first

west jet is a fun company. sometimes they have TP races to decide which side of the plane gets to deplane first

Not anymore we don't. Those games have gone by the wayside!!!

Not anymore we don't. Those games have gone by the wayside!!!

As have most of the over the PA jokes.

or Hawaii or Bahamas or Arizona or Palm Springs or future destinations/alliances

Ooh, Arizona and Plam Springs, I can feel the glamour and excitement amongst the Polident crowd.

Ooh, Arizona and Plam Springs, I can feel the glamour and excitement amongst the Polident crowd.


Westjet has agreements with some of the major airlines. NW, AS. So I think
that would cover alot of ground.

Philippine Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Air Transat, Zoom, Etihad Airways, Jetblue, Alaska/Horizon, Southwest, and Lan Chile are our biggest interlines. We had Swiss but that ends May 1.

I also have made it through the phone interview, but now I'm stressing about the group interview... any tips?

I also have made it through the phone interview, but now I'm stressing about the group interview... any tips?

Im stressing about the group interview too...
whens ur interview? mine is This Thursday...in the AM

Im stressing about the group interview too...
whens ur interview? mine is This Thursday...in the AM

I am trying to get a job as a Customer Service Agent with WestJet. I have applied on-line and haven't had a reply yet. I have yet to find out what the pay rate is, and what the perks are. Any suggestions or info about the application process/and or the pay rate would be much appreciated. Also, I hope you do really well in the group interview. It doesn't sound like you can prpare for it. As your mother would say, "Just be yourself, dear."

3 posts in a row from 3 new people. Where did you guys here about FT?
BTW welcome to FT.

I was searching the internet for information about WestJet, including pay rates. It looks like a great forum.

I am an FA with WestJet as well as on the FA recruting team. We are hiring continuously throughout 2007 looking for a few hundred new hires. Classes run every 4-6 weeks thorughout the year.

A requirement for all exteral hires for the remainder of '07 is bilingual English/French (conversational).

If you are interested, please submit your resume online if you have not done so already! Good luck!

Hi There! I received an e-mail from West Jet that they had a referral from one of their employees and that they had received my on line resume. They said they would be reviewing my application and if I met their criteria would further be notified. How long after the e-mail would it take to here if I had qualified? Thanks!!

Thank you, Jet 777. Any advice regarding getting an interview in Vancouver for Customer Service Agent in Vancouver is welcome!

FYI: I decided that I should just go out to the airport today. Why wait
till tomorrow? The sun was shining, and I could put the top down...
So, I dressed in black pants and a jacket, and headed out. I wandered
around the WJ counter, and was very quickly asked if i needed some help. The Airport Ambassadors all LOVE, LOVE their jobs. (Noteably, they were all
between the ages of about 20 and about 40.) I was unable to find a
superviser, or anyone to leave my resume with, but talked to a lot of
people. No one took my name. In order to not risk being seen as a stalker, I
came home.

I did feel that it was a bit unfortunate that I am a grown up, and I was calculating how to GET SEEN for a $10.50 an hour job.

Any thoughts out there?

Resumes are not accepted at the airport or at any Westjet building; you must submit online. If you've submitted it online and there's a position open your resume will go through a filter that screens for specific items in your resume. If you pass through that filter, you'll more than likely get a call. That's not a guarantee, however, as there are a lot of resumes to go through. Keep trying.

PS: CSA's starting wage is $13.20/hour ($14.20/hour if you work in baggage). Those Guest Service Ambarassdors make $11.00/hour. Salary review has been completed for this year and any changes (up, never down) would take effect May 1.

I have applied for the poisiton of Flight Attendant out of Calgary. I applied for 14 customer service and airport ambassador jobs across canada and still have not heard anything back. Airline industry is my passion and its frustrating knowing how capable and having such a passion for flight attending I am, yet nothing is panning out. Hopefully I will hear from them soon. i even had an internal reference for when i applied but still didn't hear anything back! I followed up after i applied and was told nothing could be disclosed as tot he status of my application. What do i do?! ive applied with AC, WJ, Jazz, tango, airtransat, freshair, north cariboo air, voyageur airways, air emirates, british airways and im at my wits end. This is what i've been so focused and intent on latley...but c'est la vie.

I would suggest contacting your reference and have them lookin into your application.

I have applied for the poisiton of Flight Attendant out of Calgary. I applied for 14 customer service and airport ambassador jobs across canada and still have not heard anything back. Airline industry is my passion and its frustrating knowing how capable and having such a passion for flight attending I am, yet nothing is panning out. Hopefully I will hear from them soon. i even had an internal reference for when i applied but still didn't hear anything back! I followed up after i applied and was told nothing could be disclosed as tot he status of my application. What do i do?! ive applied with AC, WJ, Jazz, tango, airtransat, freshair, north cariboo air, voyageur airways, air emirates, british airways and im at my wits end. This is what i've been so focused and intent on latley...but c'est la vie.

have you ever considered applying with one of the ground handling companies to get some experience? if you are in Calgary maybe serviceair or Wingtips.

Hello Hypnotize. Thank you for your response!

The information is good - I hadn't seen the wages posted anywhere, and had been really wondering if I should be even working so hard to get a job that I didn't know the hourly rate of.

Of course, there are be many other factors, besides pay rate, that make employment at WestJet very attractive. I believe that I would really love the job, and that I have all the skills to make a great CSA or Airport Ambassador. I have embarrassingly wonderful letters of reference from my previous employers. I am really flexible regarding hours or work. The location is good - I live in Kitsilano - and I expect that the perks are worth the low wage. I don't know what the deal is for new employees, or part-time employees. Do you know what the deal is with that?

I have sent in two applications, but haven't heard anything yet. It has been two weeks. Should I keep applying, or just start trying elsewhere?

Thanks again for your help with this!

Salary is as I stated.. You qualify for profit sharing after 3 months (paid out in May & Nov) and you can contribute 20% of your salary matched dollar-for-dollar by WJ after 3 months. Flight benefits kick in immediately for you, a travel companion (or spouse), parents, and children if you have any.

Hello Hypnotize. Thank you for your response!

I have sent in two applications, but haven't heard anything yet. It has been two weeks. Should I keep applying, or just start trying elsewhere?

Thanks again for your help with this!

Hehe... I'll add this - I completely forgot that I had applied for WestJet as I submitted an application last year and I resubmitted an application this February after a very awesome encounter with a Halifax Based flight attendant en route to Toronto.

It took them from February till now Mid April to contact me.

My Telephone interview is tomorrow! Wish me luck!
XD

... Previous experience in:
Novotel Ottawa - Spring 2006
Cartier Place Suite Hotel Ottawa - Summer 2006
Quality Inn and Suites Halifax - Present
Norwegian Jewel - Summer 07 Mediteranian run

Hotel Management, Algonquin College

Thank you for the encouragement! I'm dying to know how the telephone interview went. How hard was it? Did you enjoy it at all? And, also, good luck...

Ah, Hypnotize - you are great. Thanks for the info. I think that it WOULD be worth the low wage. I'll send my resume again. Wish me luck.

Thank you for the encouragement! I'm dying to know how the telephone interview went. How hard was it? Did you enjoy it at all? And, also, good luck...

Phone interview was SIMPLE! And I was invited to the group Interview here in Halifax in MAY! WOOT! haha !! I dont know if they just invite everyone they choose to interview on the phone to the group interviews but I'm pretty excited!

I feel right now like i did exactly one year ago when i was offered the position with NCL

Way to go, way to go! Congratulations on getting the group interview! What kind of questions did they have for you during the telephone interview? Is there any way to prepare for the next one? (I think with your experience, you've got it in the bag.)

Way to go, way to go! Congratulations on getting the group interview! What kind of questions did they have for you during the telephone interview? Is there any way to prepare for the next one? (I think with your experience, you've got it in the bag.)

Well i will never assume because as they said always the "best qualified cantidate" may never get the job. It's all about personality. At least that is the vibe i also got from the phone interview.

Basically theres the mandatory hello then she tells you about what shes going to ask and they ask you about your past work experiences and what you liked about them. I dove quickly into all of my tourism training and experience in hospitality and told them how much i love people. It's all about the people really.

As if that wasn't apparant enough from all the commercials we see about westjet. Basically there is no way to prepare aside from being yourself.

My interviews with employers seem to go fast because I guess I have some sort of skill - aside from people skills. And they asked me about a time i had a stressful situation and how i handled it at work (fire alarm on a shift once) And they also asked me to tell them about myself and they asked me about how i went above and beyond to make a guest happy (i used an example of delivering copies of a book to a passenger's cabin on board the ship i worked on which i did with a smile!

OMG i hit backspace and the page went back... thank GOD this stuff didnt disappear! haha

Now to get over the next hurdle - The group interview. they tell you some info about it and then ask you to repeat the info to them to make sure you have it right (and i think this is where they test to see if you were paying attention and how well your listening skills are)

:D

Good, good. Thanks for the description of the phone interview.

As for the group interview, I'd say from your replies that you are confident, but not pompous, truly like people, and have a sense of humour. You seem like a great fit for Westjet to me. Please keep us posted on the group interview. And break a leg!

Good, good. Thanks for the description of the phone interview.

As for the group interview, I'd say from your replies that you are confident, but not pompous, truly like people, and have a sense of humour. You seem like a great fit for Westjet to me. Please keep us posted on the group interview. And break a leg!

Let's not hope I break a leg - they might not let me work for the company then!! Crap! haha!
But thank you - I am quite confident; however, I am not pompus nor do i try to show people up. I am truly a people person and I am glad you can see that :)

I'm sure I will make a great in-flight assistant :P

ohhhh my. Todays the day and i'm excited, sleep deprived and i must say a little nervous as i dont know exactly what to expect

The group interview is a behavioural based interview. There are no right or wrong answers and the applicant cannot practice for the interview. This is an interview about how the applicant presents themselves and not what is actually said. That said, the applicant can be the most presentable of the group and still not get the job. There are specific traits that the HR department is looking for. The best advice is to make sure the applicant is alert, follow the instructions, and is a true reflection of themselves. Also, because the interview is not about skill but about behaviour, if your son doesn't get the job he should not feel like the interview was blown. The best candidate often does not get the job in these types of interviews.

of course, WS is looking for "owners". an "owner" has traits such as unwaivering faith for authority and the rules. these people are less likely to whistle blow, desire a union, and/or question the low pay combined with the culture of putting 15% of your industry-low salary into high risk investments.

if you don't believe anything i just said, look into the work of industrial psychologists and "human resource consultants", particularly in the 1970s when there was an "outbreak" of union organization.

so yes, there is no "right answer" for these interviews, just the "right mentality".

ohhhh my. Todays the day and i'm excited, sleep deprived and i must say a little nervous as i dont know exactly what to expect

Jong!
I've been out of town, and just saw your post now. How DID it go? When will you hear?

Jong!
I've been out of town, and just saw your post now. How DID it go? When will you hear?

it was crazy cool. There was one thing that REALLY botherd me about it but ill get into it in a minute.

You hear within 1-3weeks

there is a short face to face interview included.
they walk around with clip boards

you have to tell people about yourself where ur from why u wanna work for WS and also your most embarassing moment ever.

there are a few group things you do. there is a meet and greet mingling treasure hunt, then your split off in groups and you have to come up with idesa to sell an oblect to people who wouldnt normally buy one.

the thing i didnt like about this is i was pulled for my interview during the time my group was comming up with the ideas so i came back into it unoprepared and (sorry if any of u are reading this) our group sucked and seemeed like was unprepared and there wasnt much i could do about it ....

we had to sell typerwriters to a large corporate entity lol!

then we each got a slip of paper for us to tell ppl about something right... mine was about my first job. loved it. it was so simple.

and then we got a sheet with scenarios on board aircraft and we had to tell them as a group how we would essentially deal with these situations should they arise on the aircraft.

Then they tell you to email WestJet and tell them why you want to be the nest flight attendant... and if you dont email them they dont even bother checking references. but i think they said that if they dont call ur references - dont expect them to employ you.

im sooo nervous.

youll find out much more

of course, WS is looking for "owners". an "owner" has traits such as unwaivering faith for authority and the rules. these people are less likely to whistle blow, desire a union, and/or question the low pay combined with the culture of putting 15% of your industry-low salary into high risk investments.

:D I love when people write this sort of garbage; it shows how little they know about Westjet. First, hiring someone who wants to work there is the number one priority. Call it unwaivering faith, but you don't hire insubbordinate people; they belong in a union-type environment where they can have the "protection" they need. We don't need a union because (and I know this is hard to believe) the employee association and WJ Management are engaged with the interests of BOTH parties at heart. We pay 100% of the market median as base pay, and employees can contribute up to 20% of their pay which, matched $1 for $1, adds another 20% to that base pay. During times where we are profitable you can add profit share into that calculation. To use a CSA as an example, a 5 year CSA working full-time got around $1200 last May, $2600 in November, and will be getting around $1500 this May. Pilots are a different can of worms as they have stock options and a more complex pay package based on mixed % of pay and options.

While the ignorant don't understand how WJ's pay package works, the educated do. It rewards the employees during profitable periods and keeps the airline economically viable during the times where we aren't. FWIW, WJ's CSA's are now leading the industry (in Canada) in pay. There are times where the pilots are, too, but again that's a complex package based on stocks. I was intimately involved in the salary review this year and what the association proposed was actually less than what the company gave us. Go figure.

TA DA!!!!!
And you have your next WestJet flight attendant! WOO!

Hey everyone! I'm new to this forum...just wondering what the turnaround time is after the group FA interview...I know they called my first reference and he couldn't talk so they said they'd call back. They successfully spoke with my second reference as well. Do they call all the references? What could slow down the process? What comes first, a call or an e-mail? Any insight would be great :)

Also, if accepted, how soon do you go for the medical?

They will email you either way or call you. So if you dont hear from them right away its not bad news. It can take up to 3 weeks.

Thanks for the response! It's a week today since my interview so I'll try to be patient :)

Are you in FA training now?

I applied to 2 business analyst positions last week. They no longer appear on the WestJet website. Does this mean that they have been filled? I so desperately want to join the WestJet team. I've had a passion for this company for so long and I think my personality would be a good fit.

I am wondering if the business and IT side of WestJet runs with the same mentality as the rest of the company. I wonder if the interview process is the same.

Any idea?

Thanks!!

WestJet Lover,

cre8.

I totally know what you're saying in terms of working for WestJet...I really want to work for them too and from what I see on the outside, they're a great company.
I don't know anything about the IT side, but I do know that there was a glitch and the FA position didn't show up on the job search area of the web-site, even though they're hiring. I asked a friend about it and he got in touch with someone higher than him, who fixed the glitch making the position show up again so I could apply. Not sure if this may be similar. Do you know what the closing date was when you applied? If the date has since passed, they probably just need to repost it. Good luck!

TA DA!!!!!
And you have your next WestJet flight attendant! WOO!

Hey, way to go! You'll be great! Congratulations - I look forward to flying with you! Where are you working from? When do you start?

I'm encouraged. I am going to redo my resume to include more specific details. The one I sent was writen in the recent CV style, and I think that it didn't have enough dates and specifics. Such an onerous task, but I think I need to rewrite it if I want in. Any suggestions re: style would be gladly accepted! (You know, really, I would be such a good fit for WJ.)

If a position no longer appears on the website it generally means the position is closed. The position may have been filled but for the most part it means that you can no longer apply and the interview process is underway or soon to be underway. Some positions, such as a CSA or FA, are ongoing as there's higher turnover and/or constant growth in that position.

Hey, way to go! You'll be great! Congratulations - I look forward to flying with you! Where are you working from? When do you start?

I'm encouraged. I am going to redo my resume to include more specific details. The one I sent was writen in the recent CV style, and I think that it didn't have enough dates and specifics. Such an onerous task, but I think I need to rewrite it if I want in. Any suggestions re: style would be gladly accepted! (You know, really, I would be such a good fit for WJ.)

hehe Well remember I applied for this back in February of this year!!!

EVERYONE works from YYC. you have to option to commute from whatever major airport youre near but ALL WestJet flight attendants report to work at the Calgary Airport.

I begin training on June 2nd and i think i found a place to live.:-:

Hey jong866, did they call all 3 of your references? Congrats!

EVERYONE works from YYC. you have to option to commute from whatever major airport youre near but ALL WestJet flight attendants report to work at the Calgary Airport.

Westjet's only "base" is YYC. Which means that most pairings would have you start/end in YYC and overnight elsewhere for whatever duration your pairing is. You're allowed to apply for and start flying out of "ports" after 3 months. A "port" is esentially a satellite base where you can start/end your pairing at. So, for the 300+ pilots/FA's in YVR, the port in YVR allows them to live in YVR and start/end their work day or pairing where they live instead of commuting to YYC (at the regular standby cost to employees). That's not to say they don't get pairing out of YYC but its a big benefit that pilots & fa's didn't have up a year or two ago.

Hello,

I was just reading all these messages and I just want to say, I AM SO NERVOUS!!!

I feel like getting this interview is a thank you or an answer to my wishes, for the life I've led and the people I've helped. Theres nothing I want more than this job. I've been trying so hard not to get my hopes up, but I can't seem to help it. I love people and I love laughing, I would love to work with the kind of people who are WJ employees. Are there alot of people at the group interviews? Please help me calm down!
:confused:

Hey lolo55!! Welcome :) There were about 15 in my session last week but there were also 6 people there to evaluate! It felt pretty 'intimate' and relaxed; it could have been a lot worse! I'm not a fan of group stuff either, but the best advice is something I'm sure you've heard many times already; be yourself!!! They do a really great job of acknowledging that it's a nervous situation and they give lots of time for questions and respond clearly. You'll be fine! Keep us posted!

Hey lolo55!! Welcome :) There were about 15 in my session last week but there were also 6 people there to evaluate! It felt pretty 'intimate' and relaxed; it could have been a lot worse! I'm not a fan of group stuff either, but the best advice is something I'm sure you've heard many times already; be yourself!!! They do a really great job of acknowledging that it's a nervous situation and they give lots of time for questions and respond clearly. You'll be fine! Keep us posted!

The biggest thing I was told by a fellow airline employee - they dont like to hear that you love to travel. Make sure to emphasize on your skills for working with people and your drive and ambition about working with people.

As for Hypnotizes comment im not sure if you work for westjet but my point was that you are based out of calgary no matter whaty port you depart from. all flight crew are listed to be reporting to work in calgaty and are taxed as such.

i in no way didnt rule out port cities as i do not know much about them yet. but i am relaying what i know.

and no need to be nervous abouyt the group interview you'll do fine!

and they contacted 2 out of my 3 references and i had provided them with a letter of reference written BY the 3rd reference.

omg i fly on sunday to calgary to start class on monday :S

I'm in too!! Got the e-mail yesterday saying that I was successful :D:D:D I don't have a training date yet, but I'm hoping for June 16th... I can hardly wait! Good luck with training on Monday, jong866! See you in the air :)

I'm in too!! Got the e-mail yesterday saying that I was successful :D:D:D I don't have a training date yet, but I'm hoping for June 16th... I can hardly wait! Good luck with training on Monday, jong866! See you in the air :)

Hi WJwannabee;
I may have been in the group interview with you - Wed, May 21? And I'm starting training June 16. YAY!! Can't wait, although I hear it's like training for the SWAT team!!

Hi WJwannabee;
I may have been in the group interview with you - Wed, May 21? And I'm starting training June 16. YAY!! Can't wait, although I hear it's like training for the SWAT team!!

Nope, I was in the May 15th session; apparently they had some difficulty getting in touch with one of my references!! But it's all straightened out and I start June 16th too!!! Can't wait to meet you :)

I'm in too!! Got the e-mail yesterday saying that I was successful :D:D:D I don't have a training date yet, but I'm hoping for June 16th... I can hardly wait! Good luck with training on Monday, jong866! See you in the air :)

Lisa said that Jun 16 is almost full so keep your fingers crossed! Either way, if you DO get june 16th class then we'll be on our group indrocation flight together on july 12th!

Hi WJwannabee;
I may have been in the group interview with you - Wed, May 21? And I'm starting training June 16. YAY!! Can't wait, although I hear it's like training for the SWAT team!!

WJflyer and WJwannabee.... Add me to msn!!! Jon_g86<<@>>hotmail<.> com
just remove the <'s and >'s

Hello,
I noticed that you are a WestJet flight attendant :). I have a phone interview with Camile this week, I am just wondering if you could tell me some questions that she might ask??

Hello,

I have been applying for WestJet for the past 2 years, and I have never got called for even a phone interview, what can I do to get them to bring my application to the next step. Any idea on how to "wow" them to bring you to the phone interview?

I appreciate the help

I just had a phone interview last week and the only advice I can give is just be yourself. It's a job in customer service so focus on examples of work you've done in that field. I was asked to describe a specific time I acknowledged a coworkers good job and to say how I did it and if I made sure that the higher ups knew about the good job the coworker did. There were questions about the level of french I speak, decsribe a difficult situation and it's resolution, why I want to work for the company, what motivates me. The usual batch of phone interview questions.
Good luck with your interview sheenadmatthews! If you're in BC and make it to the group interview, I'll see you there in July.

wow congrats on the phone interview, that is a good step

how did you make your online profile standout, I know that they get just so many applications, so i know it all filters, but it seems like people who get the calls their applications stick out and have the qualifications. I have the qualifications but just doesnt seem like my application is sticking out.

Any advice?

I made sure to have the key words from their job posting in my cover letter but I also had an employee referal. I applied in January and it took them unitl June to call me. I would suggest applying to other airlines as well. You can always get your start somewhere else and transfer to Westjet. I had an interview with another airline as well so it's always good to hand your resume out to all the companies!

Thanks, I have to revamp my whole cover letter then, good to know!

I work for Canadian North in YEG as a CSA right now, and I was inflight for a little while with regional 1, but I wanted to be on a regularly scheduled carrier, so I have been at Canadian North for 1.5 years, I had an interview with Air Canada, but did not work out. So for now, I am just going to continue my CSA job, and wait for an opportunity with WestJet.

Hey everybody!

I got the phone interview 1 month ago. It only took 1 week after i sent my resume in. I was actually surprised since i know some people that waited weeks/months for an answer. I guess being bilingual helps a lot!

I am going to my group interview on june 23rd. I am looking forward to it. They are using the behavior system interview. Its what they call the STAR system. Situation/Task, Action and Result. If you answer all those questions and having those 3 elements in each questions, you shouldnt have any problems going through the interview. I was actually trained and certified in another company to do that kind of interviews! Make sure you ask questions, they want people that are interested into the company. Dont be afraid to make jokes, they want to see you can make other smiles! Westjet is one of those companies (like another one i worked before) that want people with personnalities!

My only thing im stressed about is i have been a bit out of shape lately... and being a guy, that aint good. That is my only concern...

But i have dreamed of that job for so long.... all my work experience have been with the public since i was 13 years old... now 12 years later, i still want that job. And westjet seems such like a nice company to work for!!! Everytime i boarded their planes, i was always greeted in a way that made me feel i was almost at home!

Anybody going to the group interview next week?

Hey summerwolf,
Thanks for the heads up with the STAR! I always blank with those questions but I really want the job so I'll be writing things down this time!! I'm outgoing but tend to clam up in a group of strangers so I'll have to get over that right quick.
I have a group interview in BC, July 15th and I was told that was the next one out here so you're obviously somewhere else... Good luck and if you think of it, could you post some of how the interview went??
Thanks!

I have been contacting other flight attendant (i always like to be prepared for an interview) and here is what she got to say about the group interview:

You said it best, being well prepared for this interview is the best way to get hired! I think alot of the people attending my interview were caught off guard because they hadn't had anyone who went through it to talk to about it first. It is certainly unlike any interview I have ever experienced! It is very interactive, so be prepared to get up in front of people and speak/act things out. They are not so much looking for if you make a mistake, but how you handle said mistake.

Here are some suggestions....

- look up "behavioral based interviews" on the net... do a bit of research/reading on the types of questions asked, why they ask these questions, and what responses they are looking for.THIS WAS INVALUABLE TO ME, AND SO EASY! I couldn't believe some people in the interview hadn't done this! I guess its so basic that people don't even consider doing it. This really comes in handy when doing the individual part of the interview, when you will be answering questions based on specific situations/events and what your actions were, which leads into the next tip....

- brainstorm/compile a list of experiences/situations (some work related, some not) that you were directly involved in (some positive, some negative) and then jot down how the situation was resolved. Remember to always keep the focus on you and your actions; and try and turn negatives into positives in some way (what you learned etc). IT IS ESSENTIAL to have some good examples on hand when they ask. Having an idea of what they are going to ask you leads me into the next point...

- another basic idea is to go back to the job description of the position and visit the West Jet websites employment section and look at how the way it is worded, what qualities they are looking for, what the requirements are etc. I literally copied down keywords and used them directly in my application, interview answers, and also incorporated them into my brainstorm of specific experiences. This was a way of preparing myself and "padding" all of my info. with things I knew they were looking for. I was very thankful I had somewhat thought out what they might ask me. I went so far as to jot down some potential questions and what my answer would be. You can find some example question type and tips for answering on many of the behavioral interview websites I mentioned. I simply Googled it.

-just remember they want specifics, which is another good reason not to be caught on the spot without something to contribute. It is easy for them to tell when you are making stuff up! Of course I was a bit over prepared, but it was worth it! A couple people really bombed in front of everyone, it was awkward! But that was in the group part, which I will talk about next....

-just be confident, flexible, personable, funny (if possible), honest, yourself etc. They really get you up and interacting with each other and they just sit back and watch how you relate to people and how you handle it when they throw a quick change at you ie. changing group members etc. Try and make yourself stand out a bit without grandstanding. I thought alot of the people in my interview would be hired, but there were only about 6/20. They really look for personalities that will fit with the company, so know the company and its personality!

- know a few basics about west jet ie. company culture, what we fly, where we fly. It can only benefit you, and it looks good!

- lastly, if you have to pick something out of a hat to explain or act out, do it! Try and be imaginative. One example I remember is a girl choosing the question "how do you build a time machine?" and she totally froze up and said it was impossible. Nothing is impossible!

Not only will spending a bit of time researching how and why they conduct their interviews this way will lead you to a successful result! I cant say enough about simply looking up some sites on behavioral interviews and jotting down some notes. Have some experiences on hand (both good and not so good) to use as specific examples of how YOU handled a certain situation. The interview is really fun and relaxed. Just knowing what to expect beforehand will give you a great head start!

lso....DONT BE LATE! I know that seems kind of silly but with the traffic and perhaps not knowing the location, (not sure if your from Calgary...) its a possibility. Being late or not being dressed appropriately will be an automatic huge red flag above your head to them. If you move on to training, being late will get you kicked out of the program. Permanently. Its the whole airline O.T.P thing... So, be early!




Hope it helps other people out there!!!

Hey summerwolf,

Thanks so much for all your helpful advice. I am still waiting to hear a response. I applied in December and have heard nothing...so I have been updating things on my resume and profile and hopefully that helps. I know my resume is great, I have used all the charateristics they have listed in their job desciption. I am thinking that because I am unilingual my chances are slimmer. I don't really know what else to do???
Im not sure if others on this forum are bilingual?
But WHEN I do get to where you are I know I will be looking back at your advice.
Thanks again it was very very helpful.

So the interview is done. It was exactly as what i posted before. It was awesome, i love interviews like that. I would do it again in a heartbeat just because it was so much fun. I could tell some people were nervous not expecting what would happen. Being ready and aware of what would happen really helped me.

It started with a presentation of ourself, name, where we are from and why are we unique. I personally said something about my outlook of life and how i pretty much love to smile at all time.

Then i went for my one on one interview right away (i volunteered of course, i wanted to show i had some initiative). She asked me what i knew of westjet. I did my research, saying how many planes they had, how many they had on orders, their values and objectives. She was actually impress. Then since i knew it would be behavior questions, i actually had 2 pages of those questions with notes for myself... she also got impress by that. I was very precise with my answers, making sure i was giving her a situation, the action i took, and the results. I made some little funny comments as well. She also noted how i couldnt stop smiling all the time. That made me even more happier. Then i went for my french testing... the lady didnt know my first language was french. Not everybody gets the test, its only when they call you on the phone and you rank yourself 3 and above on your french.

Then there was a group activity. We were split in 3 groups. One had to sell gum to teachers, one had to sell snowplows to hawaians and the other one had to sell hot dog buns to a vegetarian. I guess what they wanted to see is how we work in a group, if we can take initiative but also step back and listen.

Then we had to pick a piece of paper in a hat and talk about it for 60 seconds. Such things as: What is your favorite meal and why, and tricky ones like: what does the word speed mean to you.

The last activity was to discuss some westjet policies in group and they listened at how we were interacting among each others again.

Then they discussed some policies and such things....

All in all, it was an awesome experience. There was 17 girls and 3 guys in our group. I think i did pretty good and i am very confident in getting the job. But im still nervous lol.




To the previous poster: I think there was only 5 in my group of 20 that were ranked at the highest in french... and maybe 2-3 others that spoke it a little bit. Not being bilingual isnt a big issue, but it would for sure help you in getting the job.

Also, dont be sad if you dont get an answer right away to your application. Westjet received 84 000 applications last year, 80% being for flight attendants. So that is a big load of work.

Hello everyone!! I had a group interview a week ago, I was a little nervous before it but there was really a lot of fun! There were some group activities, and also a personal interview. I truly believed that I will get my dream job and my dreams came true!! Yesterday I got an e-mail that I was successful!:) If you want to reach your goal and you really believe that you will do it, you will!! I think that positive thinking is the most important:) I am so excited!!! Could anybody from WestJet family give me any insights to the 4-weeks Flight Attendant training in Calgary? The next available training will be probably in Sept/Oct but there is no exact date set up yet. I am just wondering how it looks like, the exact location, and will I need to rent a car to get there? I am not from Calgary so I will also need a friendly place to live there for 4 weeks. I have still 3 or 4 months to the training but I'm looking forward to it and I can't wait!!:) See you soon in the air!!:)))

Does FICSH know when the next rounds of FA training start?

Does FICSH know when the next rounds of FA training start?

I heard that there are just a few seats left for the October 2008 session and there will be another one starting in the new year, possibly January 2009.

i wonder how often they have group interviews? Probably a lot between now and october eh?

Hi everyone,
I'm just wondering if anybody here has a training on the October 6th? I'm looking for roommates who are willing to car pool during the training. Please contact me at jwlodarc@confederationc.on.ca

Hi everyone,
I'm just wondering if anybody here has a training on the October 6th? I'm looking for roommates who are willing to car pool during the training. Please contact me at jwlodarc@confederationc.on.ca

Hi everyone,
I'm just wondering if anybody here has a training on the October 6th? I'm looking for roommates who are willing to car pool during the training. Please contact me at jwlodarc @ confederationc.on.ca

Lisa said that Jun 16 is almost full so keep your fingers crossed! Either way, if you DO get june 16th class then we'll be on our group indrocation flight together on july 12th!

So I have been hired an an FA. I wont be in the training until 2009 and I am so excited but the wait just might kill me.

So I'm wondering how the many posters here liked/disliked their traning. Please share.

If a position no longer appears on the website it generally means the position is closed. The position may have been filled but for the most part it means that you can no longer apply and the interview process is underway or soon to be underway. Some positions, such as a CSA or FA, are ongoing as there's higher turnover and/or constant growth in that position.

The FA Position hiring process has been held for the time being. Word thru the grape vine is that the next class isn't until April. Class 173/174 just came thru and they were the last class this year and we're still on roll to hire over 500 FA's next year

So I have been hired an an FA. I wont be in the training until 2009 and I am so excited but the wait just might kill me.

So I'm wondering how the many posters here liked/disliked their traning. Please share.

Training is intense. Altho its not exactly like what you see on view from the top... You have several days in a row of exams... Careful not to use your rewrite. Pay attention and bring lots of stuff with energy in it as you'll get quite tired.

Following all the exams the fun stuff starts and that's the part I liked
Drills on the modified aircraft cabin trainer, sliding down an emergency slide, playing in a life raft, inflating life vests, putting out fires.... its awesome


And as far as i have heard there are NO more trainign classes in 2008 and the next is in April 2009

I just had my second interview for FA in Calgary. I was so sure that I got the job, and I feel that I would have been perfect in this position. I just found out that I did not get the job. I am sure my interview went very well, and they phoned all three of my references. I can't figure out why I was not successful. I had also applied for a CSA position in Saskatoon. I had an interview last week. I also feel the interview went very well. They called two of my references, did not get ahold of them, and have not called them back. I feel that I also would be very good in this positon. I have been in the Customer Service Industry for over 10 years and have owned my own business. Can anyone give me any advice as to what they are looking for? I really, really want to work for Westjet, whether it is a FA or a CSA. I am waiting patiently with my fingers crossed with the good news that I got the CSA position. I hope I do not have to wait 3 weeks!!!

I just had my second interview for FA in Calgary. I was so sure that I got the job, and I feel that I would have been perfect in this position. I just found out that I did not get the job. I am sure my interview went very well, and they phoned all three of my references. I can't figure out why I was not successful. I had also applied for a CSA position in Saskatoon. I had an interview last week. I also feel the interview went very well. They called two of my references, did not get ahold of them, and have not called them back. I feel that I also would be very good in this positon. I have been in the Customer Service Industry for over 10 years and have owned my own business. Can anyone give me any advice as to what they are looking for? I really, really want to work for Westjet, whether it is a FA or a CSA. I am waiting patiently with my fingers crossed with the good news that I got the CSA position. I hope I do not have to wait 3 weeks!!!

Just my opinion, but if they called all 3 references they must have been interested in you. If they called all 3 and didn't hire you I have to think it was something the references said (or didn't say).

I think westjet looks for people who are great with people and have a good personality, but as important I think they hire people with common sense and good decision making skills. Good luck with the CSA posiyion and as you saw JONG wrote they are looking for 500 FA's for next year so re-apply.

I did get the job as CSA. Yahooo!!!!!

I'm recently out of high school, and was wondering what the minimum age is to become a csa for Westjet. I know you must be 19 to be considered for a flight attendant position, but do you have to be a certain age to get a security pass and become a CSA? Thanks.

I see that WJ is hiring for TAC Agents (Ramp Agent). Can someone tell me what position this post is referring to. There is a good description on the posting site, however, I used to work at Fedex and the term Ramp Agent refers to the people who are in charge of certain flights (weights and balances, paperwork, etc.). Those who did the actual work are Ramp Handlers. I initially read the posting as the supervisory Ramp Agent sense, but am now thinking it is more like the Ramp Handler position.

At WJ, is a TAC Agent a Ramp Agent or a Ramp Handler in the Fedex sense?
If so, what is the starting wage for this position?

Thank you for all replies.

Ryan11169-if you are 19 and can become a flight attendant, you also are old enough to get a security pass, because flight attendants MUST have a security pass to do their job

Gord08-TAC agents at Westjet are part of the team that handle the baggage, do the aircraft marshalling, and help with de-icing. I believe that would be equivilant to Fedex's Ramp Handler. Ramp Agents, as you refer to them, are like our Dispatchers, who work in the operations control centre.

Thanks for the quick reply YYCguy.

I noticed some mention of WJ pay rates a few pages back, but I recall talking to a previous WJ employee who told me the starting wage was lower than what was mentioned.

Can someone provide an up to date starting wage for a WJ TAC Agent?

Gord08-TAC agents at Westjet are part of the team that handle the baggage, do the aircraft marshalling, and help with de-icing. I believe that would be equivilant to Fedex's Ramp Handler. Ramp Agents, as you refer to them, are like our Dispatchers, who work in the operations control

Since when do "Ramp Agents" work in OCC? That's false.

Ramp agents, as you said, refer to TAC (Turn Around Crew).

TAC agents start at $13.00/hr and top out at $18.55/hr. TAC Crew Chief's start at $16.12/hr and top out at $21.13/hr. There's a 15% premium if you work in YMM for TAC.

Keep in mind there's a "total compensation package" at Westjet which consists of:

base pay + ESP (employee share purchse) program + profit share + (in some cases) stock options = total compensation package

You may contribute up to 20% of your base pay to the ESP program, matched $1 for $1 by Westjet. This is by far the richest ESP program in Canada. You must let the shares vest for a minimum of one year before you can sell. So, if you bought and sold at the same price you'd make an additional 20% of your base pay.

Profit share is paid out every May & November.

Stock options are for pilots and executives.

Since when do "Ramp Agents" work in OCC? That's false.

Ramp agents, as you said, refer to TAC (Turn Around Crew).

The confusion comes in the title name, I think. If I understand correctly, Gord was trying to say that at Fed Ex, the people that handle the weight and balance paperwork, etc are called Ramp Agents. We do not call those people Ramp Agents at Westjet. Am I mistaken in saying that those people dealing with weight and balance, etc at OCC are called Dispatchers?

Our Load Plan agents deal with W&B; Dispatchers are responsible for Flight Plans; Ops Coordinators are responsible for tail swaps, delays, diversions, etc.; Maintenance Control is for mechanical issues; and Crew Sked deals with crew planning.

TAC is our name for ground handlers.

Could anyone tell me about the training for a super sales agent? Length, etc?

thank you!

There actually is a training class starting on November 3rd. I was suposed to be in the September class but is was cancelled. I know of at least 2 other people who got the job and they will be contacted when the next available training opens.

There actually is a training class starting on November 3rd. I was suposed to be in the September class but is was cancelled. I know of at least 2 other people who got the job and they will be contacted when the next available training opens.

With all due respect, nothing is going through for the rest of the 2008 calendar year... Far as I know.

I have been in industry for 19 years..anyone know how an american who wants to move to Canada can get a job at WestJet?

Hi there,

I am considering a CSA position with WJ, can someone describe an interview process?

I too like many others have heard about the great culture and work environment at Westjet. I see a fair number of white collar jobs in YYC where their HO is, but not so much in YEG where I live and wonder if the only way to get your foot in door is to apply for the CSA or Ambassador positions that are frequently advertised ? I have been in the workforce for a number of years and just not in a position financially to take an entry level job, willing to sacrifice a bit but there is a limit :)

thx

G

I joined the company straight into my current position, without having to go through the entry level positions first.

From what I've seen though, I am a rare case! Also, I had to move from YWG to YYC for the job, since 99% of corporate jobs are here in Calgary.

But to give you some hope... I don't often see jobs that are posted internally only. So external candidates have the same opportunities.

Hi everyone! I'm just wondering if anyone can tell me if there are opportunities to move up in the company from CS or FA positions into the 45K gross salary range. I know it's probably not possible to make this kind of money at first - but is it possible after some time? If so, any idea how long?

Thanks for your help!

:)

Hi Everyone! I am applying for a CSA position. Can anyone help me out with this question? Does Westjet want your references listed on your resume or can you just list "References available upon request" on the resume?

Yes, WestJet would like you to list your references on your resume. Good luck!

Smileyguy
Around that range.... looking at salary bands i see that:

Baggage agent after 7 years makes around 43
41 for a regular CSA after 7
and
40 for a flight attendant after 7 years (but fas are based on 960hrs/year)

Im looking to finally get out of my comfort zone and apply for a job at Westjet but all the jobs posted say they are part time. Ideally I would like to be a flight attendant but understand that position is probably hard to get into being there are only so many of those job available. So I thought of starting in an entry level position but really need a full time pay check. Can anyone narrow down 24-40 hours per week if possible?

Im looking to finally get out of my comfort zone and apply for a job at Westjet but all the jobs posted say they are part time. Ideally I would like to be a flight attendant but understand that position is probably hard to get into being there are only so many of those job available. So I thought of starting in an entry level position but really need a full time pay check. Can anyone narrow down 24-40 hours per week if possible?

Well i went straight into full time f/a I applied last february and was hired by June

Well i went straight into full time f/a I applied last february and was hired by June


but isnt full time only 80 hours per month for a FA?

Hi everyone!

I am really wanting to become a part of the team at WestJet. I offer over 10 years in customer service but have not worked for an airline. I'm actually a banker. I am working on my cover letter and resume.

Any tips? I understand using keywords is crucial. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

but isnt full time only 80 hours per month for a FA?

Yes. 76-80 block hours per month. However you are allowed to pick up extra shifts not exceeding 110 block hours per month total. (By Transport Canada rules)

hey WestJetters!:)
I am just wondering how an average schedule for the FA looks like. Can anyone give me an idea how hard would be to commute to Calgary from another city? I'm just wondering how many days they are working in a row, how many days off etc. and if I will have to move to Calgary once I start my job as an FA... thanks

Would someone be able to tell me what the starting wage/salary is for a Flight Attendent with West Jet, and what the standard increased over time are?

Thanks.

The decision to only hire bilingual FA's, is this a desire or a need?

hey WestJetters!:)
I am just wondering how an average schedule for the FA looks like. Can anyone give me an idea how hard would be to commute to Calgary from another city? I'm just wondering how many days they are working in a row, how many days off etc. and if I will have to move to Calgary once I start my job as an FA... thanks


Average sked varies on the month.
Its relatively easy from cities that have a good amount of flights that connect or go to Calgary daily. (i commute from halifax for calgary pairings)

in a row? from 1 day to 5 days. MAX. We're not allowed to work more than 5 days in a row.

I got 18 days off this month without picking up extra and all but one pairing starting from Halifax and ending in halifax and a block of 4 day reserve (on call)

Westjet wants commuters. It's not hard. but it's not free.

After 3 months if your in a PORT city you can join the port and get pairings that are out of that city instead of Calgary. Some fa's dont even have to go to calgary for MONTHS because of the way they bid for their schedules.