Ready 4 Pushback with Nik Fialka – Airline Interviews, Career Preparation & Professional Mindset

00:00:00: The views shared in this podcast are personal and for informational purposes only.

00:00:31: They do not reflect any employer or aviation authority and nothing discussed here should be considered.

00:00:35: flight training.

00:00:38: Of course, I'm not here on my own.

00:01:28: We are joined by airline pilot Navy Aviator and the voice behind the ready for pushback podcast, a professional who combines real-world flying experience with deep understanding of pilot career development.

00:01:45: Nick Fjalka!

00:01:46: Wow, what a guester.

00:01:48: Yeah absolutely amazing interview.

00:01:50: once again Jürgen well done and the interview went on for quite awhile.

00:01:56: so we've already decided we're gonna keep this intro short.

00:01:59: uh So just very quickly before we jump right in I'm going to talk about today's youtube channel video.

00:02:09: As you know, the YouTube channel name right away is aviation-quest podcast.

00:02:14: So our podcast's name is Aviation Quest CC but the youtube channel sometimes missearched or whatever.

00:02:23: aviation-Quest Podcast because Youtube certainly we said it already in the first episode.

00:02:29: I think Stefan The dot cc is there not possible?

00:02:32: Certainly No, exactly.

00:02:34: So if you watch us on YouTube You're gonna see a real world flight.

00:02:37: and today again we are going to your home country.

00:02:41: We're flying with Austrian Airlines And we're flying the Airbus A-three twenty one from Vienna To Zurich.

00:02:52: Wow!

00:02:53: Beautiful.

00:02:54: so almost real time because of the length Of Today's interview?

00:02:58: Yes Exactly Okay, well we're gonna talk a bit more afterwards but for now I would say let's jump right in.

00:03:08: It is an amazing interview and Nick is an awesome person!

00:03:12: And i look forward to hearing it again.

00:03:18: Our guest today is airline captain, entrepreneur and the voice behind the hugely popular aviation career podcast ready for pushback A man who has helped thousands of pilots prepare.

00:03:32: Nick Fialka, it's truly an honor to have you with us sir.

00:03:37: Buddy!

00:03:38: It is always awkward hear somebody say nice things about me and so thank-you very much.

00:03:45: its a pleasure be here with the fellow Austrian.

00:03:50: I am just thankful that u would ask for me on your show brother.

00:03:54: By the way...the very first thing.

00:03:57: Austrian, Georgian interview.

00:03:59: So good morning Atlanta USA on our podcast!

00:04:05: To the Austrian listeners.

00:04:07: I have to apologize because i do not speak German but my dad spoke nine languages fluently and he didn't teach me any of them...I don't even speak English very well.

00:04:20: so here we are

00:04:23: your professional speaker and I think a lot of people know you from your podcast.

00:04:28: but together started here Nick.

00:04:30: Your life overall seems incredibly full.

00:04:34: so between flying, interview consulting, broadcasting family life what does the typical week look like for you as we record this in almost middle of March.

00:04:45: twenty-twenty six

00:04:47: Yeah, middle of March.

00:04:48: Well it's funny that you would mention that because It is very full.

00:04:52: we have my wonderful wife Anna and I. We have five kids And the oldest is fourteen The youngest as two.

00:05:00: So its just chaos.

00:05:02: This whole week has been children with different stomach viruses running around As well trying to manage school and things like that, but typically my week looks like I usually fly three or four days every ten days.

00:05:26: And that will take me...I fly a seven fifty-seven and also a seven sixty-seven three hundred.

00:05:33: So that'll take either to Europe or South America or Central America or just two Orlando back and forth.

00:05:42: We'll hang out, we do homeschool the kids because it's very fun.

00:05:46: Because when I'm home It's kind of a weekend and go hiking And enjoy The beauty that Southeastern United States has to offer!

00:05:54: And...I try to knock-out a couple interviews.

00:05:59: Sometimes i will have three or four interviews in one week And sometimes I will have none.

00:06:06: It just depends on how many I've blocked out How far ahead of things I try to get if we're gonna go on a nice vacation.

00:06:16: Like in September, We went Italy for two weeks so i interviewed few people and then took the break didn't have to do anything while it was gone.

00:06:27: So that's you know where.

00:06:29: The coaching, I'm always on LinkedIn helping as much as i can.

00:06:53: I just like to talk and you can tell by how i answer that long question, buddy.

00:07:03: Yeah it was...I expected a longer answer because your life is super busy.

00:07:09: in one word!

00:07:11: Well hold on.

00:07:12: let me ask YOU a question then since I know you've got notes there but you also run a fantastic podcast.

00:07:23: you're doing all your things, like how is your life different in Austria?

00:07:28: Like what's your week like?

00:07:30: I'm really interested that.

00:07:32: Yeah i mean...I am a former World Cup climber and I still need my training every day.

00:07:38: so at the moment I usually start already with sort of say learning cardio.

00:07:45: I enjoyed one of your podcasts today this morning afterwards a really focused office hour.

00:07:54: Often in the moment I also invest some time improving my English, afterwards there's my training.

00:08:00: it is normally on normal day and yeah then its back to office.

00:08:05: this where i am now doing work that have to do.

00:08:09: Also coachings or whatever are on my agenda.

00:08:13: Yeah!

00:08:14: Then theres often a walk than an app.

00:08:20: Often, normally I enjoy swimming in the evening and then back to work.

00:08:25: Sounds crazy but it works for me!

00:08:28: Wow that's... listen..

00:08:30: It is a day of mine.

00:08:31: We're gonna dive down on that.

00:08:36: I'm gonna bring you on my show.

00:08:37: We're going to talk more about that because he said there You had a nap and that, too me is the most amazing thing i've ever heard?

00:09:07: Like I mentioned in the beginning, my father is Austrian and his mother escaped Hitler with him during The Anschluss.

00:09:21: And so my grandfather was not as lucky.

00:09:28: when they came to United States My parents had met.

00:09:35: We grew up super duper poor in the mountains of North Carolina.

00:09:39: And, you know I didn't know any better.

00:09:43: we just had a good time and...I didn't really know anything about being a pilot.

00:09:50: i didn't knew that was a job!

00:09:52: I KNEW THAT.

00:09:53: THIS TINY TOWN THAT I WAS IN WAS FULL OF NOTHING.

00:10:02: IT DIDN'T HAVE ANY OPPORTUNITY.

00:10:04: I HAD TO FIND A WAY TO GET OUT And it was an, I don't know why I felt that because a lot of people...I still keep up with most people.

00:10:12: I went to high school and a lot Of people stayed and they made great lives in its wonderful town.

00:10:17: It's developed an awful lot but i just felt this need To get out.

00:10:21: so A local businessman from where we live called me to his house My senior year of high school my last year and told me.

00:10:38: And talk to me about, About life in things like that?

00:10:42: I was kind of going down a weird path not very...I Was close too Getting into trouble with the law Things Like That.

00:10:54: He saw that he didn't want it so called Me Not lecture but To Talk To Me Find out what i wanted to do.

00:11:00: he's kinda first person ever did And he ended up at the end of that conversation.

00:11:06: He asked me what I wanted to do and I told him, I want her to go to college but didn't have any money so is going join in military.

00:11:14: an.

00:11:15: he pulled out as you ask how much that cost?

00:11:18: An.

00:11:18: I told them and people doubt his checkbook and wrote me a cheque for twenty thousand dollars and handed it to me instead.

00:11:27: This is your first year, the rest of them are up to you.

00:11:29: And so in

00:11:30: U.S.,

00:11:31: schools are super expensive and I never expected it be able go... So i actually got to school because that generosity.

00:11:43: While I was there, I had to figure out another way to pay for the last three years of school.

00:11:49: And so The Military offered me a scholarship because i worked really hard and if anybody is trying to join the military Out-of-High School that might be listening.

00:12:00: in the United States college is to get through that first year and apply for the three or two-year scholarships because there's way less competition.

00:12:15: So anyway, it was a super big blessing.

00:12:17: I ended up getting commissioned into military.

00:12:21: i flew helicopters...I flew the H-sixty which we call The Seahawk.

00:12:25: some people called Black Hawk Some People Call It The Pave Hawk.

00:12:29: so its all the same helicopter.

00:12:32: And uh..i did That.

00:12:34: I ended up flying the T-thirty four, which is a two seater fixed wing trainer.

00:12:39: that kind of looks like an old World War Two fighter plane.

00:12:43: But it's just doesn't have any weapons on us.

00:12:47: Just to people and analog gauges.

00:12:50: And you send send somebody on their way in hope for the best.

00:12:53: then It's got the air conditioner from a Dotson B to ten in it.

00:12:59: From there, I ended up switching over to flying the MH-Fifty Three Echo which is that big helicopter.

00:13:07: If you ever saw The Transformers movie it's like almost thirty feet tall and its got seven rotor blades.

00:13:17: It's a hundred feet long And Its tipped atip bigger than C- one thirty.

00:13:25: Sadly, now they have the C one thirty J model and that j-model is bigger than the fifty three.

00:13:32: But it's just the baddest air helicopter you ever going to see in your life.

00:13:38: I flew that And as I As I went down The road fly like i took years off of flying an ended up working for a big consulting company doing finance For the Pentagon.

00:13:56: And then I opened an RV park in Florida, like a caravan.

00:13:59: A place to park your caravan when you're on holiday.

00:14:03: So i did that for a few years and Then a friend of mine mentioned That I should look at the airlines?

00:14:12: And then I went...I got hired by Frontier Airlines, which is a low-cost carrier.

00:14:23: Kind of like Ryanair without all the good jokes and The Good Twitter account.

00:14:29: but so i flew at Frontier for one flight!

00:14:35: Then was hired this major airline that im flying with now.

00:14:38: I live in Atlanta So you can guess I love flying, dude.

00:14:52: that

00:15:13: experienced shape your professional mindset.

00:15:19: You know, have you ever?

00:15:24: Have you ever done something?

00:15:26: Okay, you like to work out right

00:15:29: Right

00:15:30: okay are you pretty fit?

00:15:33: I climbed the World Cup.

00:15:34: yeah it's um It's not about me but yes i

00:15:39: Yeah Um have you always been really fit?

00:15:44: no

00:15:45: No Do you remember?

00:15:48: So I think about this, in the same way.

00:15:53: Like our children do gymnastics right now and my oldest he's been doing it for eight or nine months And all these little kids are doing all of those amazing physical feats.

00:16:09: They're very strong.

00:16:13: they can climb giant ropes climbing walls and all the things.

00:16:17: And they've got, um, Ninja challenge obstacle course and they can all do it and he struggles to do it but he's been after it day in a day out and he starting to develop and get fit and gets strong like you are an any?

00:16:37: It is taking time and its not immediate and slowly coming together And that is what the military was for me because I wasn't really great at it.

00:16:53: As far as like, The leadership part and being an officer and being responsible for stuff and people relying on you in new being good a handling bad or somebody gets arrested on the weekend?

00:17:08: Then You've got to pick them up and then not just picked him up and help them figure things out but mentor them.

00:17:16: good at that.

00:17:17: If you talk to anybody I flew with in two thousand and three, if You talked any of them they like They cannot believe That i'm sitting here offering advice because they knew me And so the military for Me was a really slow burn Like getting ready and Getting fit Like being able to do the things that you do, like your fitness level is such that... You are a grown-up now and you're kind of at your peak.

00:17:50: I'm an old man!

00:17:51: And i feel like im probably at my peak in leadership part especially with flying because it used just be very internal.

00:18:07: I wouldn't talk about it.

00:18:37: including expanding that team, I talk about on my show getting around to those people.

00:18:43: But... That reliance of other people is what you learn outside the military?

00:18:52: The ability to know.

00:18:54: if i lost a job today and lived in the streets then could make sure my family survived like thats.. Thats the thing I think got out most of the military & friendships.

00:19:08: And so, yeah.

00:19:09: It was a weird time.

00:19:10: my first day of flight school in the Navy Was September eleventh.

00:19:14: two thousand one So it was kind of defined that time and I got out about two-and-a-half years ago?

00:19:19: So Yeah good time

00:19:21: Nick.

00:19:21: before we change topic allow me our last Aviation question what was the biggest adjustment when moving from military flying to airline operations?

00:19:33: besides people Besides the people with

00:19:37: long hair.

00:19:39: No, you mean?

00:19:41: I mean to passengers and everything...I listen though some of your podcasts so i don't want to answer my question myself.

00:19:48: yeah

00:19:49: no i love it that's.

00:19:53: there's a couple things let's see..i would say definitely number one-it doesn't matter what country you fly for if you are flying You have an over.

00:20:11: your life is pretty easy.

00:20:13: It doesn't matter what aircraft you fly or what you're doing, because... ...you are taking off from a spot that is controlled by your country's government and you are landing somewhere- you were going to operate somewhere That is most likely controlled.

00:20:33: like you have freedom of movement in that area You know whether it's a restricted area or you're out over the water far enough Or your, you know.

00:20:44: You're doing whatever on a range The like the flying that you do even if it's real world Even if you're in some country On an assault or what ever?

00:20:56: Whatever your mission is That autonomy and that ability kind of do which are going to do Like once you learn it its cake And you got it.

00:21:07: you want to kick your own ass, then go sit down.

00:21:13: Go...go sit down flying into Heathrow and try or ...and then try to get off the gate at Heathrow And get in line and go fly and turn back around and do a constant angle descent arrival into Heathrow.

00:21:33: And listen to the chaos, like all of these different things when you fly in a stoop guard... ...and listen them yell at you about how long your APU is on!

00:21:45: It's so different from communication is so much different in the airlines than it is in the military because, you're your own person.

00:22:00: Nobody can tell what to do and give them a middle finger.

00:22:02: but in the airline's... You are just one of a billion people.

00:22:12: It could be hard get off ramp or taxi out or change runway.

00:22:20: All these, all these things because usually you jump in the jet.

00:22:23: You light it up and take off into military but that is so much different.

00:22:28: So... That's a big learning thing And I see it ALL THE TIME!

00:22:35: I work with SO many military people getting to the airlines Once they're in.

00:22:42: Getting the idea of how this process works Is tricky for them The civilians, they're not problem.

00:22:54: They are.

00:22:55: their biggest obstacle to manage is the fact that like...they ARE good enough!

00:23:01: Like constantly comparing themselves with somebody who spent fifteen years in military at least in states or feeling like they can't do it because its just a bridge too far and there's no there's no way they're going to hire somebody like me.

00:23:18: That feeling of inadequacy is a big mountain decline and so that two different sides are the same coin?

00:23:30: Well, once you were in I just picked up working with people... Well, we are a solid bridge to our second topic in our podcast.

00:23:44: Nick how do excel?

00:23:46: In a pilot and person-to-person HR interview at an airline in twenty twenty six?

00:23:53: allow me as scenario based question nick.

00:23:57: so let's imagine

00:23:59: Let me write this down.

00:24:00: Let's imagine A young pilot finishes flight school meets all requirements sends out applications and suddenly receives that email.

00:24:14: You're invited to an interview, so Nick what should be the first three things?

00:24:22: they do immediately?

00:24:26: Number one drink a beer.

00:24:30: number two drink a break.

00:24:32: number three drink.

00:24:33: yeah That's right.

00:24:34: Well you've skipped.

00:24:35: The hardest part is how to get your dang interview.

00:24:39: Um, because I feel like that is a big.

00:24:43: You mean to get even.

00:24:43: just do you ever get invited?

00:24:45: This the hardest part.

00:24:47: dude it so hard.

00:24:49: It's so demoralizing and uh i will answer your question.

00:24:53: however Do you mind if i meander into That first Part?

00:24:58: Because

00:24:59: Absolutely go on.

00:25:00: yeah Restructure this and make something in between.

00:25:05: this Is super interesting.

00:25:07: I hope you don't edit a single thing.

00:25:09: That is my request because we like this is

00:25:12: our life on tape and editing is forbidden at aviation quest to see unless there's the technical mistakes, this mistake?

00:25:20: This is the rule.

00:25:21: so go home please all

00:25:22: right.

00:25:22: well i'm gonna use all My curse words then um The uh okay.

00:25:27: So first off I love this Because This is the question I get time and time, And how do i get there?

00:25:39: Because it doesn't matter what country you live in.

00:25:43: It does not matter if your trying to fly for Wizz or KLM or Sky West or Envoy or Frontier Or JetBlue or American or United or Delta or FedEx or UPS or Atlas.

00:26:03: The fact of the matter is that you are in competition with people around you, plus or minus about five hundred hours until you get to a major airline.

00:26:17: And so when you're on this path maybe your brilliant and somebody along the way gots into Cadet program or a pathway program to help you get on with.

00:26:38: An airline where it is a set edit, Where?

00:26:43: You have gotten the opportunity To Have The company cover your flight school and then bring you know And bring you along the road in them.

00:26:54: ten years later you Get dropped off into KLM Or whoever It Is or Ethiopian Pick your company and that's a wonderful place to be.

00:27:06: but if you are competing off the street for an airline job, And You Are Trying To Get Get Noticed.

00:27:20: A lot of it.

00:27:21: A Lot Of It Depends on luck.

00:27:23: in The US We Have Opportunities to get In Front of Recruiters.

00:27:28: we have These Conventions That They do.

00:27:32: They do seven a year, next year they'll do eight.

00:27:36: A year where you can go and get in front And meet the recruiters from these companies?

00:27:42: That's that's.

00:27:43: The first step is like getting your resume In their hand.

00:27:47: The second Step Is Consistency and the third Step is consistency.

00:27:54: But to show up in person before You get invited so To say on those conventions for you I must have done

00:28:03: Yeah, you do.

00:28:04: You have to show up in person...you know?

00:28:07: You don't have to but your odds are much greater To get an opportunity if you do show up and think about it.

00:28:14: Think about if you're living in Vienna And you- you have a US passport In all of your FAA things And you've got two thousand hours flight time And you want go into convention Dallas Texas.

00:28:29: Think how much money that's going cost.

00:28:32: I meet guys that fly in from India.

00:29:00: Man, my heart goes out to them.

00:29:05: I go to every single one of them because i love to meet the people that listen to my show and help how l can't hear their story.

00:29:13: I love to celebrate with them or cry but do all those things.

00:29:20: back to your question How you get noticed?

00:29:29: Your hours matter a lot.

00:29:31: Also, it matters what you're doing and how your'e doing.

00:29:35: And if you are showing progression in a career If You Are Flying A Piper Cub Or A One-Fifty Two And You Just Own The Plane And You've Got Three Thousand Hours In It Like That Might Be Okay But If You Were A Flight Instructor You Know How To Handle Adversity And You know How to Manage Other People.

00:30:00: If you move on from there and do something that's more than just flying around an airport, if you get an opportunity to go fly some kind of cargo single pilot at night.

00:30:10: And you show that you can do the hard thing or you get a chance.

00:30:17: it depends what your story is.

00:30:19: in the US A lot people will be doing Aerial survey work where the plane flies over in a grid of space and they survey it with special cameras, or they'll drive along an oil pipeline to make sure there's no leaks.

00:30:34: Or they will do transport for like human... human body parts like hearts and livers in kidneys, or they'll transport rescued animals from one place to another.

00:30:55: You know, the opportunities out there as you grow.

00:30:58: As you find an opportunity to do something more and use a more complex aircraft maybe that's got an FMS or whatever it is going be.

00:31:08: those are incremental gains.

00:31:13: pick something that's going to fly you and not something.

00:31:16: That's gonna let you sit around it, do anything because there are opportunities to go.

00:31:21: fly us a seat in the right seat of a jet but you might only be flying one hundred hours year.

00:31:27: we're never gonna get anywhere.

00:31:28: find one hundred dollars here But y'know You need To Get After It.

00:31:33: So

00:31:33: you Need Quantity And Quality Hours

00:31:37: Yeah And Very Like Yes.

00:31:39: And also study your ass off and don't fail anything.

00:31:43: And if you do fail something, have a really good story about what it is?

00:31:48: Don't blame other people.

00:31:51: I can...I just talked to a guy yesterday about.

00:31:55: he failed uh thing and that guy talked in circles for five minutes before he answered would-you-fail and That Is A Great Way To Turn Somebody's Ears Off And Not Care Anymore.

00:32:08: Alright So that's the first thing.

00:32:11: now your question back to you.

00:32:15: I'm young.

00:32:16: I've finished training, I've got all my requirements.

00:32:18: I've gotten my invite.

00:32:20: what are the three things?

00:32:21: I need to do?

00:32:21: is that correct?

00:32:23: Celebrate.

00:32:24: i think The First Thing was

00:32:25: celebrate.

00:32:26: yeah beer was one.

00:32:29: Schedule it after October Fest the...I would say Three Things You Need To Do if you have an Invite for An Interview and It Doesn't Matter What The interview Is.

00:32:40: The first thing is they're gonna require a certain amount of paperwork and it could be just a couple things.

00:32:47: It could be your logbook, hopefully you already have a digital log book and You can just print out and do all that stuff.

00:32:55: But if you keep keeping everything on paper like you've got to get all your paperwork in order?

00:33:00: You have to make sure early on Early on the Everything Is accounted for.

00:33:07: because If you are not accounting for that stuff and you show up missing something, then the thing you're really missing is your opportunity because it's gone.

00:33:16: And you may never get that opportunity again.

00:33:20: so put everything in your favor.

00:33:21: Get all of the paperwork together!

00:33:23: Get it detailed organized.

00:33:25: Be like Juergen with... Like get-up-in-the-morning Workout.

00:33:29: Get your paperwork in order.

00:33:31: Take a nap Double check your paperwork.

00:33:33: Make sure its still an order.

00:33:34: Work out again take another nap and double check your paper work.

00:33:42: That is how you make sure that first step is done.

00:33:48: The next thing you can do, understand your logbook.

00:33:54: You need to know your log book like it's your dissertation and go through every hour.

00:34:09: You need to add you need a calculator.

00:34:12: What's the German word for calculator?

00:34:15: Yes, see get it and Add that thing up every.

00:34:20: do it twice.

00:34:20: It takes a long time is very frustrating but do it?

00:34:24: look for duplicate entries.

00:34:26: Do that on your digital logbook too.

00:34:28: Look for anything That might be out of The ordinary because the worst Thing you can do put your information in front of somebody and have them start to ask for a calculator because if they do, it's over.

00:34:43: And you did a poor job!

00:34:45: They may ask you some questions about it... ...and YOU will have A GREAT GROUP OF ANSWERS BECAUSE YOU UNDERSTAND YOUR HOURS.

00:34:52: Hopefully you were super smart and went ahead and created a cover sheet that showed all of your totals, all the different types of flying.

00:35:02: All of your certifications and then any errors like an addendum down at the bottom in what they mean where they came from and everything else because a logbook is legal document And so you like you swear.

00:35:16: You swear under.

00:35:18: perjury Under under What does it fear?

00:35:21: Perjury That you are answering honestly with your log book.

00:35:27: And so that is so, so important.

00:35:32: There are airlines in the United States that turn away more than... More then fifty percent of people they invite to interview because they have logbook problems.

00:35:40: and it drives me up the wall.

00:35:42: Because this show I get like-I talk about stuff on my show Incessantly without end.

00:35:51: If you listen at my shows i talk about same three things over and over.

00:35:56: Change it.

00:35:58: And somebody else is not listening to it and it hurts their opportunity, I hate that!

00:36:03: I don't care for me...I care for them.

00:36:07: So That's thing number two.

00:36:12: Your logbook Is your livelihood.

00:36:15: If you're already using a digital log book Do It.

00:36:19: I still use a logbook, i've got it here on my phone.

00:36:24: It's called Eros A-I-R-O-S and it uses ADSB data to record all of your flight information.

00:36:32: so you just type in your tail number after a flight and it pulls it all in there... ...and you don't have to do any math or anything.

00:36:40: All that has to be done is assign the landing.

00:36:42: maybe you went and did some pattern work at another airfield.

00:36:45: You can add this in there like thats'a sweet way to do it.

00:36:49: So dont..just be careful with it.

00:36:51: Um, and then the third thing is.

00:36:56: Dress for the job you want?

00:36:59: I think that Oh, oh, I have seen people.

00:37:05: I've seen people and I get calls from hiring directors at airlines to say Hey look, I need you to put the alert out.

00:37:17: People need to wear a suit.

00:37:19: You need to wearsuit.

00:37:20: it doesn't matter what your doing if show up in a polo shirt, and short sleeve shirt.

00:37:26: And some fancy tennis shoes... That's not it!

00:37:33: I can hear you laugh but that is true.

00:37:36: Ladies women need to dress conservatively like don't distract the people.

00:37:46: your goal isn't to be distracting.

00:37:48: It doesn't matter what you're wearing.

00:37:50: If you are distracting somebody, if your'e wearing the crazy socks... I'm wearing crazy socks right now!

00:37:56: ...if you were wearing something that kids today would like or don't do that wear a starched white shirt in a conservative tie.

00:38:17: Pick your color, don't pick purple or orange or whatever.

00:38:20: Pick something red or blue or you know?

00:38:24: Something general...something where you're just going to fade-in with everybody else.

00:38:30: Nick allow me a question here that came to mind.

00:38:34: what about the color that fits gently into an airline logo or brand of something?

00:38:41: What do you think about this?

00:38:43: I Think it's fine.

00:38:44: I think if you're going to fly for Delta, their colors are blue and red.

00:38:54: So there's a ninety percent chance that you'll be flying for Blue & Red.

00:38:59: Isn't Ryan Airs got the yellow harp on his tail?

00:39:05: Is it right?

00:39:06: Yeah!

00:39:07: They still have this little...I'm not up-to date with all deliveries but yeah

00:39:11: Yeah, I think their livery had like.

00:39:13: so if it's blue and yellow.

00:39:15: Like that could match you Could.

00:39:18: um i don't think You need to focus on That.

00:39:20: If you try to if you Try To Focus On That It's gonna.

00:39:26: you're Gonna Overdo it by Accident.

00:39:28: So Um you Need to find?

00:39:32: You Need to Find Somebody Twenty-Five Years Older Than You And Say hey look i have an interview Coming up and it's important that i wear a suit.

00:39:40: What do you think looks appropriate and conservative?

00:39:44: I don't think that.

00:39:44: if your young in your twenties, i don't Think you should have another twenty year old pick it out.

00:39:48: I think You should look for a forty-year-old to pick It up because That like You can.

00:39:55: there are so many different.

00:39:58: There's So Many Different Like Fashion Statements.

00:40:01: And If You Because Here'S the here'S The Here'S The Threat Like Why Is He Saying This?

00:40:07: Because When You Go Interview There's a good chance that you're gonna have a pilot maybe two pilots and A person.

00:40:15: That's human resources like it.

00:40:17: just a professional interviewer And that Person?

00:40:24: You know, that pilot might be sixty five years old that that HR person might Be seventy-five years old or they might be twenty and you don't know.

00:40:34: and so if you dress the part of If your twenty four and you dress the part of a young person, they may look at you and not take you seriously.

00:40:46: And so what you need to do is dress like every other pro.

00:40:52: now this is tricky.

00:40:54: my grandmother's family is Dutch.

00:40:56: I keep up with my Dutch family.

00:41:01: They have great fashion.

00:41:03: everybody very fit wears the nicest clothes and is like very fashionable.

00:41:09: Everybody seems all the Dutch have just skinny leg jeans, and so maybe that's the cultural look of your country?

00:41:22: And I want to be aware You want to undersell your clothing, but you want to oversell your professionalism.

00:41:42: And so if you walk in there and you're wearing a bright paisley shirt with a striped tie... Like they might become a TikTok influencer from

00:41:57: it!

00:41:59: But you are very unlikely at a conservative airline.

00:42:05: because why?

00:42:07: Like, why.

00:42:08: Why-why-why!

00:42:09: Because... ...Why are you getting hired for that

00:42:12: job?!

00:42:12: Are you getting HIRED cause'you look awesome in a paisley shirt?

00:42:15: Hell no You're getting hired as flying insurance policy In a fifty million dollar jet With three hundred and fifty people on board And their families depending upon you To keep them alive For the next hour and forty five minutes.

00:42:33: and you have to show your professionalism, keep those people alive.

00:42:40: And that's how you do it by showing up ready-to-play, ready to focus... ...and not distracting because I look cool as shit!

00:42:49: No, I'm safe and can depend on

00:42:51: me.".

00:42:52: If YOU can do THAT, you've won the game….

00:42:55: …and that is the first step of getting ready for an interview.

00:42:59: I mean you already answered a lot of my in-depth questions here.

00:43:03: Well, You said that you wrote down nine pages... Listen!

00:43:07: Nine Pages Of Questions

00:43:08: is what you told me?

00:43:09: As i said..I love to be overprepared for interviews.

00:43:12: This is my job as a broadcaster because not everybody is professional speaker like you.

00:43:19: sometimes guests are yeah they keep on the toes.

00:43:22: let's hear it like this.

00:43:24: well i would also say All of these people.

00:43:28: I used to write down a bunch of questions now.

00:43:30: I don't i literally, I check Two minutes before I interview somebody?

00:43:37: I look at my calendar To see who the person is and then I have asked them A couple of questions like Who are you?

00:43:42: what Are we talking about?

00:43:44: What Is your company?

00:43:45: blah blah blah.

00:43:46: And Then I glance At that and I'm Like okay We'll figure it out.

00:43:51: But I think That The beauty Of the podcast is that I have grown to be able to engage people.

00:44:03: Like, I see this on my daily level... Most people where i live in Georgia nobody knows that I run this podcast and don't talk about it to anybody!

00:44:16: We just recently moved here so like all the people we know from church around If they were to walk into my studio, where I was doing something weird.

00:44:30: But that is a beautiful thing as the podcast and putting yourself out there having these conversations like we do...I don't know if you have noticed this but i've been able to engage people in person so much better because just like your are now asking me questions for fifteen minutes why?

00:44:55: or speak, and I love the feeling that i get of speaking with somebody.

00:45:02: And so you just being quiet and letting me speak like...I'm getting all the satisfaction out of it!

00:45:08: That translates SO well to everyday

00:45:12: life!!

00:45:13: And I have gotten so much more opportunity because people want to hear themselves speak..and And the things I receive back are so much more impactful.

00:45:26: So, I encourage everybody starting on the podcast come hang out with us!

00:45:30: Yeah you're an expert and i'm listening very curiously to your but we had before Nick three things and now let's point it down to one...so lets put this system the other way around.

00:45:45: allow me a question what is most common mistakes?

00:45:50: I know you pointed, we already pointed out one two three but what are the most common mistakes?

00:45:56: You see from otherwise well qualified pilots during interviews.

00:46:01: So maybe...I don't know.

00:46:04: Okay mistakes let me whittle it down to three real quick.

00:46:08: um i'm gonna say

00:46:17: there's so many different..you

00:46:18: can

00:46:18: come up with one!

00:46:20: The most common mistake?

00:46:21: No

00:46:21: I could come up to three.

00:46:22: It's.

00:46:22: the question is whittling them down to Three.

00:46:29: This is important.

00:46:29: also the ability to sit.

00:46:32: this Is one mistake right here.

00:46:37: Do you hear?

00:46:38: The space and the quietness in a show, right now I'm not speaking And i'm taking the time To think and I could.

00:46:55: I can Sit Here and Calmly Organize my Thoughts and Be Deliberate with My Words Without the Pressure of Filling the White Space.

00:47:14: When people are not speaking they get uncomfortable.

00:47:23: They feel this need to constantly fill the void.

00:47:31: if I am If you're interviewing me and You asked me a question like this There is a and II sit, and I pause and I look And I just take a deep breath and I take even fifteen seconds or ten seconds.

00:47:55: The other person on the other side of the table often fills, feels the need to fill that space.

00:48:03: To say some words...to add a second part of a question.. ...to do with thing....to do this.....to do that.

00:48:09: But in an interview they are trained professionals to sit quietly and let you answer that question And YOU can take the time to organize your thoughts by taking a couple of breaths and thinking, when you ask me what are three mistakes?

00:48:31: Like I can think of a hundred mistakes.

00:48:36: And the problem is that I could think of one hundred mistakes.

00:48:39: now i have to think about What Are The Three Most Impactful Things That I Can Deliver To The Thousands Of People Who Listen To Your Show That Want To Get A Job.

00:48:50: How Can I Be Impactful For Them?

00:48:59: Be okay to organize your thoughts.

00:49:04: Don't sit there for five minutes like a dummy.

00:49:06: Like you'd like your brain just shut off But do take a breath get organized Think about what?

00:49:15: You're going to say.

00:49:16: because the first thing people don't do is think What they do is start and if you start Before you are ready, you're gonna sound like a fool.

00:49:32: And I see it.

00:49:35: I see it on my show, when i'm talking to people.

00:49:40: When im asking a question to somebody else at every single convention that i go but I'm not hiring anybody, so it doesn't really matter.

00:50:04: But if like that's one important thing the second part which i think is more of an american thing than a european thing you're gonna laugh at me...but i think this Is More Of An American Thing.

00:50:28: often times people from The US don't come with their game face on.

00:50:41: they Don't Come With That Mindset that this is a professional environment.

00:50:46: I have to be a

00:50:47: professional.".

00:50:47: They can often be too relaxed, they can often tell too many jokes...they could make them put themselves in position where are looked at as a jokester and i am the most of it like.

00:51:09: i'm the person who absolutely likes And it's off-putting,

00:51:15: so almost overconfident.

00:51:17: Over confident a thousand percent and every European listening to this is like yeah Every damn American I've ever met.

00:51:23: Yeah that's even To the point.

00:51:29: i tell This story about One of my one Of The sayings That i have Around us Aviation.

00:51:39: i Say i say this line Often i say don't say fuck And apologies ahead of time, if you have to edit the beep thing or whatever.

00:51:47: We don't

00:51:48: edit anything and I would disagree that this is a typically American thing over.

00:51:53: confidence absolutely exists also in Europe.

00:51:56: but Nick your words no editing

00:52:01: Good.

00:52:02: But i say Don't Say Fuck.

00:52:03: A Lot To People Because I was In An Interview Where It Was During COVID.

00:52:11: I got this job with an airline and we did online Zoom interview.

00:52:22: Everybody got a job offer, the last step was to fly out you know, picture your passport and whatever.

00:52:33: And make your ID and do a drug test.

00:52:35: that's all.

00:52:36: there was no more questions No More Nothing.

00:52:38: You Just Come Do The Last Little Bit Congratulations.

00:52:41: Here Is Your Start Date.

00:52:43: So I am in a room with.

00:52:46: we start out In A Large Room With Like Fifty People.

00:52:49: Then They Bring You Into A Smaller Room.

00:52:52: That'S A Conference Room Where they're just going to...they are getting your logbook They Are Getting Your Documentation Coming Back And They Just Shuffle You Through Different Stations.

00:53:00: And I'm sitting there in a room with five or six people and this one guy is telling jokes.

00:53:22: and was, was cursing.

00:53:32: So I tell everybody don't say

00:53:34: fuck.".

00:53:35: And I didn't even come up with that.

00:53:36: a friend of mine came up with That and i just thought it Was so relevant?

00:53:42: And so I keep saying It now becomes this weird tagline!

00:53:45: So thats number two...I guess This is the long answer.

00:53:50: I'm sorry pal.

00:53:53: The third thing-the third and final Thing that I think A person needs to do in the interview is to, or the mistakes they made.

00:54:04: The third mistake Is that They don't take it so seriously and they don't get prepared.

00:54:12: I think the biggest mistake a person can make as not be prepared for an interview.

00:54:18: If you are professional interviewer if you go from airline-to-airline-to airlines-to interviewee Then You probably know how It goes.

00:54:28: But if YOU DON'T IF THAT'S NOT YOUR JOB and you don't interview professionally at airlines for some reason, then there's a good chance that you are not sure about what kind of questions they're going to ask you.

00:54:45: And each company is different.

00:54:47: in Each Company has their own values and each company Has it our own culture?

00:54:52: In each company has A different idea Of What They're Looking For on a Pilot.

00:54:57: It's important for You To Understand That and to be able to answer the things that you're asked with impact.

00:55:11: And this is how all of us got started, I work with a company called Spitfire Elite Interview Consulting and... This what we do!

00:55:21: We spin our coach almost one hundred coaches that are airline pilots at every major airline in the United States, a lot of international pilots.

00:55:34: We specialize and US hiring.

00:55:38: however all this kind falls into similar situation or mindset.

00:55:47: so people not preparing to do reps.

00:55:50: imagine playing playing in the final game of The World Cup, but you guys didn't practice at all and You just showed up.

00:56:03: You're gonna get beat!

00:56:03: You're going to get destroyed...you're gonna be shown the door.

00:56:06: Imagine what that would be like.

00:56:11: imagine getting sat down on an F-One race And your sitting across from Michael Schumacher right?

00:56:20: And he's gonna kick your ass all day long because you've never driven an F one car.

00:56:25: like You have to know the rules and you have to Know what?

00:56:27: You're getting into.

00:56:29: And people that rely on themselves That think hey, I'm a good talker i'll probably do okay those are The people with the highest likelihood To fail.

00:56:37: and then when you do fail and you look back Is it worthwhile to say oh man maybe I should Have done interview prep or Maybe I that that to me Like It costs money.

00:56:49: It costs real money to go do it, but I look at as if its insurance and itís an opportunity.

00:56:56: make sure that the end of day whether you get a job or not.

00:56:59: You can say ìI tried everything I could to put the odds in my favorî.

00:57:06: And so thatís number one mistake people make because when your looking back on it like man I wish would have done this or wish we had done that think about ahead time Think what your no answers will be and do those things first.

00:57:20: That way you can put everything in your favor.

00:57:25: Nick, we are breaking the record!

00:57:29: The one hour record including the intro of Stefan.

00:57:33: We're already over an hour and you promised us forty minutes.

00:57:38: it's incredible.

00:57:39: thankyou for every word but yeah I mean before we finally wrap up because You have, yeah.

00:57:47: There is somebody waiting for your help and I don't want to occupy more of your time than already did.

00:57:52: it's incredible thank you!

00:57:54: Before we wrap up if there anything left?

00:57:56: Do you wanna share with our listeners?

00:58:04: First off, I'm a huge fan and second-off like i want to be him right?

00:58:22: I love it.

00:58:31: a beautiful part of this industry and it's what I love most is the ability to sit down, have full conversations.

00:59:00: And know that we are all... We're all-we all have the same passion!

00:59:04: We all have The Same

00:59:05: Love!!

00:59:06: And..and we all don't have real jobs because ALL WE ARE PILOTS AND I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY PAY US FOR THIS.

00:59:14: And that is because I've had all the jobs.

00:59:16: I've worked in All The High Rises, I've Worked Finance...I've worked like I've sold paper!

00:59:24: I have done ALL THE TERRIBLE JOBS and THIS IS THE BEST BEST JOB.

00:59:29: It's ALSO THE BESST HOBBY AND THAT'S WHAT I ALSO LOVE.

00:59:33: ABOUT IT BECAUSE WOTO PILOTS WANT TO DO WHEN THEY'RE NOT FLYING TO GET PAID?

00:59:36: They want to spend their money to go fly because it so fun.

00:59:40: Yes its expensive but golly..it is THE MOST FUN And I love that.

00:59:47: Um, I want to encourage everybody to go.

00:59:51: do the thing you wanna do Do not... If your listening this and you want become a pilot Go do it!

00:59:57: Go DO THE FIRST THING!

00:59:59: If u don't know how to do the first things send me an email podcast at spitfireelite.com.

01:00:05: What do i recommend?

01:00:07: We'll work on them together.

01:00:09: I literally talked hundreds of pilots every single week because i think its important.

01:00:15: If you're going down the professional road, start getting your LinkedIn in order.

01:00:19: That's important.

01:00:20: find me on.

01:00:21: there will be buddies of that.

01:00:23: The work would.

01:00:25: find a mentor.

01:00:26: finds somebody.

01:00:27: they can help You find multiple mentors.

01:00:29: don't just rely on one person.

01:00:31: and And the last thing I was say is make sure you get a nap because that's A great way to stay motivated.

01:00:40: Jurgen thank you for letting Me Be part Of Your Show.

01:00:42: i'm so excited to hear my own voice again on another channel.

01:00:46: So many questions left and I hope you give us the chance for a follow-up interview sooner or later.

01:00:53: Hell yeah!

01:00:53: Nick, it was as i said an honor to have here and thank you for every second in all your words and advices.

01:01:04: Cheers mate

01:01:08: All right then.

01:01:08: that was the end of the video Jürgen.

01:01:11: well done Very, very nice guy.

01:01:17: He sounds like the kind of person you could sit down with and just talk for hours about aeroplanes obviously very experienced as we've just heard a whole career from Navy flying an airline or flying all kinds of aircraft currently flying to seven five-seven which I'm very jealous off because it's one my favorite aircrafts over time.

01:01:41: so how was the interview again?

01:01:45: Yeah, really an amazing interview.

01:01:49: I told you in a private conversation that i was not aware of this kind of.

01:01:57: normally when you are interviewing or asking questions and getting answers And there were already the first minutes sort of dialogue going on which is fascinating for me.

01:02:08: Nick is great person.

01:02:11: he's a great educator, great communicator.

01:02:16: If you didn't subscribe to his podcast, do it today.

01:02:23: You can also subscribe to Aviation Quest to see if you haven't already done would be the next.

01:02:29: I mean with this two podcasts your...I mean all that are ready for book ready for pushback podcast especially the solo episodes.

01:02:40: I couldn't do it.

01:02:40: It's really, Nick got some talent in educating and communicating with people.

01:02:49: All i can say.

01:02:49: this man is much more than a pilot but im also looking forward to keep an eye on him.

01:02:57: Im curious where his life will lead you know?

01:03:05: even more, there is more in Nick than it's really interesting.

01:03:09: It was for me a fascinating man and also a podcast experience.

01:03:18: as an interviewer I have never had i don't know how many podcasts are recorded now far over eight hundred fifty an honor to interview him, say it like straight away.

01:03:39: Great!

01:03:39: Yeah I loved listening to it.

01:03:41: i was a bit jealous that wasn't there.

01:03:43: think he's the kind of person...I think if we would have been on for two or three hours.

01:03:51: He is the kind pilot where you just talk about flying and aviation.

01:03:56: It never ends.

01:03:57: We call it hangar-flying.

01:03:59: So yeah now really cool guy And I agree with you there's more to come from Nick and I really, really hope that maybe at some point in the future he will come back.

01:04:10: And grace us again with his presence.

01:04:14: well yeah besides already for pushback podcast certainly also here Spitfire Elite interview consulting.

01:04:21: i think it is a valuable resource for any pilot preparing for next step into airline operations.

01:04:28: just get my point of view this They are giving hundred percent for their clients.

01:04:35: Yeah, absolutely!

01:04:37: So if you haven't checked Nick out please do so.

01:04:41: he's certainly a very valuable force in the aviation world.

01:04:47: If you want any kind of advice and even if not just listening to him like I said He is very likable Very charming individual and obviously very, very knowledgeable.

01:05:01: And that combination makes him great as a podcaster.

01:05:05: so yeah you can.

01:05:07: any final words.

01:05:08: anything else he wants to talk about before we wrap it up?

01:05:13: I think in the second episode definitely you check-in with us.

01:05:19: We have a long haul flight on YouTube.

01:05:21: What about this?

01:05:22: You know, real-world long haul from America to Europe and all the way along so to say communicating or having fun with Nick.

01:05:33: Yes, I would have to recreate the longest flight in the world.

01:05:36: Remember we talked about this before?

01:05:39: What was it, twenty-three hours or something then?

01:05:42: maybe... Stephanie will agree!

01:05:43: This podcast is worth listening twice.

01:05:47: I mean what was that?

01:05:49: It's a broadcast webinar and seminar.

01:05:54: Yeah lots of really good advice for free You know, so if you are interested in this kind of stuff.

01:06:04: You've just been given a huge amount of very valuable information that will help you end his industry.

01:06:12: So I think there was very kind to him.

01:06:14: go down the route But sorry for interrupting your right.

01:06:20: You already have proven on your FS Clips YouTube channel that even three hours of interview could be covered by a flight of yours.

01:06:33: Yeah, but I also told you i'm not willing to do that again... ...to fly for twenty-three hours nonstop!

01:06:38: But anyway yeah..I really hope we can make it happen and love to be there to join in.

01:06:47: And maybe one final thought from my side to close this episode, Stefan if you allow.

01:06:55: If mindset or interview nerves are something YOU so dear listeners currently dealing with feel free to reach out to me via our homepage AviationQuest to see or LinkedIn.

01:07:10: I'm working more and more in this area.

01:07:12: it's really super fascinating also writing a lot at the moment.

01:07:19: It is, it's a super fascinating area and the first conversation with me as always free.

01:07:25: And simply about understanding where you are and whether I can help.

01:07:30: so i'm really...I think Stefan I am pretty straightforward an approachable so to say non salesman person.

01:07:39: Absolutely, I've known you for a very long time.

01:07:42: Like i said in the last episode there are many people as qualified when it comes to mental strength and if u don't believe me read up Jürgen's bio and you know what i mean.

01:07:59: so yes that is all i have say.

01:08:04: Again happy this isn´t video podcast.

01:08:08: Flush in Jürgen and all I can say.

01:08:10: my LinkedIn profile is quite up to date.

01:08:12: And yeah, it's under my real name certainly.

01:08:17: Yeah happy to see you there!

01:08:19: And Stefan?

01:08:21: I think really our podcast... It's going on.

01:08:24: what is thirty for a podcast this so-to-say becoming an adult?

01:08:30: yes If two people do podcasts for thirty episodes, does that mean we now have our silver wedding anniversary or something?

01:08:40: I don't know.

01:08:41: Wow!

01:08:43: Don't overdo it you have a family.

01:08:47: Exactly yes.

01:08:49: Well anyway i still enjoy myself immensely...I think its great to have lots of fun and love all the people who are super interesting boys & girls.

01:09:00: There will be girls in the future, we're already talking to them.

01:09:04: So yeah I have a great time and i really hope that listeners enjoy themselves as well!

01:09:11: Yeah it's already pointed out in the premiere episode...I really hope..and I am looking forward to having long term project with this because its fascinating also because of guests like todays guest Nick Fjalka.

01:09:28: Thank you one more time from, so to say for Albiardu Atlanta.

01:09:33: And yeah, Stefan thank you for your time and I'm already looking forward for the next episodes.

01:09:40: and dear listeners yes it's worth to subscribe to Aviation Quest to see because they are all ready.

01:09:46: pre-recorded episode of more guests.

01:09:52: i just said worse listening twice.

01:09:55: Yes, absolutely.

01:09:57: So also from my side thank you Jürgen for the interview.

01:09:59: Thank You Tunik For giving us his time and to all the listeners out there thank you so much for your support And as always we look forward To seeing and hearing you in next episode.

01:10:13: Bye bye!

01:10:19: aviation-quest.cc.

01:10:26: We appreciate your time and support, And we'd love to have you back for the next episode.

01:10:38: Until then stay safe Stay curious Keep your passion for aviation flying high.