The Pauwels Flying Scholarship Assessment Phase – from our successful candidates point of view

Gemma, Beni, and Ben have volunteered to give their thoughts on their experiences going through the assessment phases and this makes good reading for anyone who is about to go through pilot interview assessments – not just the Pauwels Flying Scholarship assessment process.

You can read more about the progress of each on ‘Our Winners’ page

Thanks Gemma, Beni and Ben for your contributions.

Gemma

When I was first informed about the selection process, it did sound daunting. However, with the correct preparation, I was able to learn a lot from it. Not only was it good for my confidence to grow, but also to see how an airline selection process would work. The 'fireside chat' was conducted by Ben King and Dave Griffin (both current Air New Zealand pilots). This was my first formal interview which meant that I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. However, after talking to previous scholarship recipients and watching some videos, I had a bit more confidence going forward. For me, this interview was an awesome opportunity to converse and learn from current airline pilots about where the industry is at and where it's heading.

Gemma Bray

The next stage was the ADAPT test, which involved a split computer screen where you are required to fly, listen, observe, calculate and then recall certain moments later on. This was just about as hectic as it sounds. However, this test isn't designed to trick you and instead gains an understanding of your multitasking and cognitive abilities. It allows you to see if you are a fit and proper person for this work environment before investing money into it.

The final stage was at IAANZ, consisting of a formal interview, written test and simulator ride. After the fireside chat with Dave and Ben, I felt prepared going into the formal interview at the academy. This interview allowed me to gain insight into what it would be like to study aviation in an academy environment and was all around, a great learning opportunity. The test was targeted towards your general knowledge of reasoning, maths and english to ensure that you knew basic principles of these subjects moving forward. Finally, the simulator ride tested your multitasking abilities. While flying the aircraft, you were given basic maths problems to solve. This was fairly similar to the ADAPT test, however I personally found this less intense.

Overall, this all sounds like a lot, however, with the correct preparation, it is a great opportunity to learn something new from aviation and make contacts in the community. Being selected to undergo this process is something to be proud of, no matter the outcome.

Beni

First Phase: The first part of the assessment phases was an interview with two Air New Zealand pilots. Leading up to it, it had been described as more of a "fireside chat" than an interview, and that is exactly how I would now describe it. The pilots already knew a bit about me, and to put it simply we just had a relaxed discussion - going more in depth about what they knew, and just getting to know me better. This was mostly around my involvement in aviation, why I want to be a pilot, and what sort of activities I do in aviation. We also discussed things outside aviation, like how I found school, what sort of commitments I had outside of school, and anything I did in my community. Finally, we had a discussion about my career plans - where I was planning to train, how would I fund it, and what my goals are in aviation. The whole thing was surprisingly relaxed, and it barely felt like I was being interviewed! It definitely felt more like a chat with the two pilots.

Beni Rae

Second Phase: The ADAPT test was something completely new to me. You conduct the same test twice, and the test measures how your results changed, how you adapted - hence the name of the test. The test requires a lot of multitasking. I was met with having to listen for things, watch for things, answer various basic test questions, and remember what happened. It was definitely a little overwhelming but coming to the second round of the same sort of test, I knew what to expect. That second round felt like there was a lot less going on, though nothing much had changed.

Third Phase: The final interview I had at IAANZ was the most formal part of the process. I did a lot of job interview preparation to help me feel more confident, and that definitely helped. While it was the most formal interview I had, I didn't feel stressed. Doing the preparation and having any stories or context I might need in mind to answer questions, made the interview go smoothly. They asked me all sorts of questions, mostly about my commitment to aviation, my interest, and experiences. After the interview, I did a test. This went over some general math problems, English reasoning, and abstract thinking questions. There was also a written portion, where I had to write a short essay on what led me to choose aviation as a career, what my goals were, and how I aim to get there. I had of course already put significant thought into planning my future and had plenty of stories of what got me into aviation, so it was reasonably easy to put it all together. Having most of it in mind from preparing for the interview certainly helped!

Ben

I would say the main thing is to be yourself and be as prepared as possible. The main thing for any interview in aviation is your attitude and personality, as working as part of a team is a big factor. The interviews made me relate how my experiences at school and work would relate to things I may face in future in the aviation industry. Some other questions I was asked related to my understanding of the industry and my plan for how I was going to go from a student pilot to eventually airline pilot (the plan will always change but having an idea of options is a good start). For the assessment at IAANZ, I would brush up on some basic algebra and be prepared to do some quick maths in the sim. Overall, the assessment interviews and tests were a rewarding process, being able to speak with airline pilots and others in the industry is always a benefit and you will learn something new.

Ben Williams