Joshua Garza
3/5
I did not have the most positive experience upon departing Friday and two days from the Wed morn I was told to pack my belongings, meet professor who greeted me on first day of class w "is everything okay with you? you looked like you rode in on the short bus yesterday"at SWA U to drop off ipad, and then airport.
This was during the Gary Kelly led time when software dept, Bob Jordan, was already tenured and not yet name atop company head!
The last flight (before flying for interviews/training) w SWA was when I met the two NICEST flight attendants and gave me a lil faith that the company was not as horrible as my previous experiences. They encouraged me to apply/etc after joining us for dinner in city we flew home to, which was also my bday. It took years and work to finally get called for interview, but she kept her word and bc of that I don't hate the company. I didn't receive anything monetarily. I ended up spending more to get to the point that even allowed me a possibility to attend training that I eventually was invited to, after pretty great round of interviews and process that made me even a bit impressed w myself.
I was treated completely different the Wed I was asked to return home, then told I could not board flight bc doors were about to close. I didn't give them the reaction they wanted and testing me in situation. I was mad that not having a reliable alarm to woke me up in time was the cause of my training demise. I wasn't going to make up a huge story or lie bc that's just not how I want to begin something I truly am interested in. I also wasn't going to be treated or wait hours in airport for them to not have a flight time and mess w me. I ended up spending two nights in my own hotel and trying to secure return Friday flight via phone. It was zero issue before being sent from training and could not have been handled in a more distasteful way by them. I even was stuck paying the two nts that I was in the training hotel bc they ran it on my card I gave for incidentals.
I lost way money and invested time learning way too much of the company who prides themselves w world-class 'cult'-ure, which I received front end of when no longer trainee. I don't hate the company, honestly. The treatment and change in tone upon my returning was truly nothing more than unacceptable and shocking. It was from one min to the next black/white.
BUT, I met two nice woman and wanted something that motivated me to push myself towards. I genuinely NEVER thought it was a possibility.
I don't chase or do things I don't want, in general. I really REALLY wanted this, tho. The times applying and it took to finally get to training was bittersweet bc I was cut, but I made progress each time applying and more work invested. It had been a very long time of genuinely wanting (feeling) or having slightest interest in anything, much less something I kinda didn't believe was achievable. It gave me hope that I would feel that way again bc it was years before Southwest that I had..
This was towards end of Gary Kelly being head of company, before Bob Jordan who began his career w SWA in software tech area, became the name that is atop the company. Dunno if things have became less chaotic w new leader and post pandemic reopen.
