Cirrus Aircraft Interview Questions
& Process

First a recruiter reaches out, they are the gatekeepers. If you get past them, there are several interviews. I had 3 team meetings as interviews. After those 3 virtual interviews, I was contacted a few weeks later to book travel to Knoxville for the interview. The interview itinerary was subject to change and it definitely changed. It was a bit uncoordinated with several other applicants and handled like a circus, juggling applicants around. The best part of the trip was the planned dinner at the RT. The next morning, we all went our separate ways. Weeks passed with no word. Other applicants and I stayed in touch. I was contacted by someone else within the company weeks later for an impromptu lunch for a "vibe check" as requested by the region manager. The lunch went well and then again, waiting to hear something. I emailed the hiring manager and recruiter for an update, but it was ignored. Again, some weeks later I got an 11 pm text to join the team at a local event to join the "team" for what I think was another vibe check. That went well too, with campfire stories and a few beers bought by the regional at Cirrus. Then back to the campers where the cirrus reps were to bring the night to a close. As expected, nothing for weeks. I reached out today and finally got an answer. It took 13 weeks from initial contact to final contact with very little communication in between. Don't expect a quick response from Cirrus.

The interview process started pleasantly. Phone screen with recruiter, Teams meeting with hiring manager, and then Teams meeting with a few potential coworkers. Everyone was warm and engaged and they asked thoughtful questions aligned to their values. A few days after last interview I sent a follow up message to the recruiter and heard nothing back. After 3 rounds of interviews, I’ve been ghosted. This seems to be a tacky trend for Cirrus. Disappointing they can’t extend the courtesy of a simple email on people who invest time applying, learning about the organization, and interviewing.

Started with a recruiter call, then a video interview with engineering folks. They asked standard questions about my technical background, nothing too difficult. The communication throughout the hiring and onboarding was pretty bad; the recruiter was silent for a long time, even when I tried to reach out. I got some incorrect automated HR emails and no one clarified them. The administrative side seemed disorganized, like when I was given conflicting instructions for my first day and ended up at the wrong building twice. My security badge didn't work either, and it took an executive to sort it out. They also asked me to drive to get a new badge because the one they gave me was a duplicate. However, the company's facilities and planes are pretty cool, and my team seems good so far. Just be careful with HR and admin, they seem a bit out of touch.

You start with two phone interviews. The first one is just you and the interviewer, the second is a video call with other instructors. When you get there in person, they'll pick you up from your hotel and show you around the operations. After you've seen the place, you'll head to a flight simulator and then fly the SR22. You'll then need to teach a lesson and answer some questions about your personality with current instructors. Then, you'll go to lunch with the team. Keep in mind, you're being evaluated the whole time, even on your way back home.