I sent in an application and was contacted two days later to correct the application and ensure it was right. I then followed up two weeks later and was called by another People Department member to ensure it was accurate. Shortly thereafter I was invited to a face-to-face interview in the city I wanted to work in. This was amended to a group hiring session before I arrived, but I still got a face-to-face interview, which went well, and was fingerprinted and drug screened for my background check, as well as being granted a conditional job offer. The following two weeks were harrowing, as I consistently bounced emails back and forth with the background check contractor, sending them a number of relevant documents. Four days after my last communication from the contractor, I received a phone call from SWA asking me to walk them through one of the more complicated years on my background check. I explained and received another phone call an hour later with a formal job offer. At that time we determined a start date that worked out and discussed relocation and the required baseline hearing test (Nothing to stress over, unless you're 100% deaf. If you're that deaf you have no business working around airplanes, because you might not notice them if you can't hear them and they definitely won't see you). I then received emails concerning this. My hire date was my start date. Any information received on or after my start date is considered sensitive but suffice it to say that of 250,000 applications received by Southwest this year, just over 4100 were hired, and most of those had to apply two or more times. The major things they're looking for are: 1) Enthusiasm! Southwest wants happy people who will make their customers and coworkers feel accepted. 2) Reliability. Southwest has a large pool to choose from, and require nothing but the best. The hiring process is deliberately complicated and requires a good bit of interaction on the side of the applicant in order to ensure the applicant is reliable. Southwest also has a very strict attendance policy for new hires. Don't miss work, don't be late, especially not in your first 180 days of employment. 3) Ability to Learn. Southwest doesn't expect you to pick up everything perfectly, but you need to be quick on your mental feet. There's a lot of information and being a Ramp Agent involves safely driving up to 18 different types of vehicles in a dangerous area around very big, heavy machines that move fast. Pay attention and ask questions. Communicating well also helps. 4) Longevity. They're looking for people to work for them for at least 5 years in some capacity, but would really like it if you stayed longer. Mentioning that you're looking for a career, not a job, does help. DO NOT TREAT THIS LIKE JUST ANOTHER JOB. This is one of those jobs you don't want to lose and it might just be one of the best you ever had. The benefits don't hurt either. Above all, stay positive, stay on top of your phone and email, and don't be discouraged by being told no.