Paying for a job checkride?

Houston said:
I'd say that the answer to both is no.

Of course, like so many things in life, it really boils down to supply and demand. If they can get a CFI to do that, then they will. If they are desperate for a CFI, they not only won't do that, they'll take you out to dinner afterwards and give you a gift certificate for the gasoline you used driving over to see them. You in turn just need to evaluate how much you want to work there and what other options are available to you.
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My first 91 job(well kind of second, but first real real flying job), when there were a lot of unemployed pilots, they flew me to the interview, put me up in a hotel for the night, took me out to dinner the night before, lunch the next day and we went up for maybe .7 or .8. Offered me the job later that day and flew me back home.
That's how you know they're worth working for and they're going to treat you right.
 
Yes it does sound like airlineapps.com

Not to hijack, but airlineapps is BS... they are charging those airlines piles of money for the service, then they have the nerve to charge us. It's a raquet especially when its the ONLY way with some airlines.
 
jwp_145 said:
Yes it does sound like airlineapps.com

Not to hijack, but airlineapps is BS... they are charging those airlines piles of money for the service, then they have the nerve to charge us. It's a raquet [sic] especially when its the ONLY way with some airlines.
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wilson-impact-tennis-racquet.jpg


? :)
 
z987k said:
My first 91 job(well kind of second, but first real real flying job), when there were a lot of unemployed pilots, they flew me to the interview, put me up in a hotel for the night, took me out to dinner the night before, lunch the next day and we went up for maybe .7 or .8. Offered me the job later that day and flew me back home.
That's how you know they're worth working for and they're going to treat you right.
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amen to this
 
Don't just tell them no, tell them HELL NO. That's the equivalent of paying for a portion of a type rating when a company says they want you to fly in their shiny jet, while they promise you will make lots of money and "blah blah blah, smoke and mirrors".

Sure, you wan't the job, but any sensible company should be able to tell how well you can fly even before you lift off the ground, or shortly thereafter. The flight check should just be a formality in which you demonstrate a solid knowledge of SOP's, and they make sure you don't have unbearable body odor in the cockpit (lol). Your shiny new CFI certificates should be proof enough that you aren't going to kill any students. That excuse they used is almost a slap in the face to the examiners who gave you the right to teach.

Respectfully tell them you aren't paying for a dime, but would love an opportunity to prove yourself. Going flying with a company CFI who isn't going to be your boss anyways is totally silly, your not a student anymore. That is just an attempt to try and find the biggest pushover they can. Don't let them own you like that.
 
I worked for 3 schools and none were that cheap. I wouldn't have worked for anyone who charged for checkout. Around Daytona there were a handful of places that did, they always had CFIs, so people must be willing to do it, but not I.
 
If the flight school is going to make money from your services (ie charge $50/hr and pay you $15/hr) then the school should pony up the $$$. Otherwise, you don't want to work for them anyway.
 
Tell them you will be happy to pay for the checkout at their school as soon as they pay for the time they took out of your day for them having the privilege of interviewing you.

My first job was contract. I randomly walked in a school and asked to talk to the Chief. The Chief looked at me and asked if I ever flew a 152. I said no. He asked could I. I said of course. He then said he pays 25 an hour. The guy in the sofa is at 60 hours and most everyone gave up on him as he has not even done his solo criss country yet. If I teach him to fly and get him finished with his private, he has 4 more for me. I still contract there to this day!

I had another job. Transpac. They paid for my hotel the night before the interview since I drove 18 hours to get there. They gave me an exhaustive interview. Hired me on the spot. 2 weeks later I showed up and we did a couple weeks of ground school and airplane check outs. And I was on their payroll the whole time.

So I would definitely tell them to go blow. And when you do, drop off your invoice. I suggest a bil rate of 45 per hour for your time on the invoice and a surcharge of 20 dollars for interview supplies and admin fee.
 
wheelsup said:
I worked for 3 schools and none were that cheap. I wouldn't have worked for anyone who charged for checkout. Around Daytona there were a handful of places that did, they always had CFIs, so people must be willing to do it, but not I.
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Unfortunately this industry is full of suckers. It really makes me sick sometimes. No self-worth for a couple equals putting up with crap like this for all of us.
 
Yup. All kind of suckers. So on that note...

I write letters of recommendations for 150 bucks each. It consists of a 30 minute phone interview with me followed by me emailing you a signed PDF form personally endorsed by me with your recommendation. For an additional 50 I will mail you an original hard copy on quality parchment as well.

Any suckers.... I mean takers?

Let me know who all works at that school. I bet they take me up on it.
 
TexasFlyer said:
Tell them you will be happy to pay for the checkout at their school as soon as they pay for the time they took out of your day for them having the privilege of interviewing you.

My first job was contract. I randomly walked in a school and asked to talk to the Chief. The Chief looked at me and asked if I ever flew a 152. I said no. He asked could I. I said of course. He then said he pays 25 an hour. The guy in the sofa is at 60 hours and most everyone gave up on him as he has not even done his solo criss country yet. If I teach him to fly and get him finished with his private, he has 4 more for me. I still contract there to this day!

I had another job. Transpac. They paid for my hotel the night before the interview since I drove 18 hours to get there. They gave me an exhaustive interview. Hired me on the spot. 2 weeks later I showed up and we did a couple weeks of ground school and airplane check outs. And I was on their payroll the whole time.

So I would definitely tell them to go blow. And when you do, drop off your invoice. I suggest a bil rate of 45 per hour for your time on the invoice and a surcharge of 20 dollars for interview supplies and admin fee.
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I once went on a visit to a corporate flight department. This department paid for my hotel, gave me a car, and paid for my food while there. I wasn't even interviewing, it was more of a pre-interview. Really opened my eyes to the crappy ways (and how good things can be) of the industry.
 
Run far away! I had a few job interviews lined up a while back, and none of them expected me to pay. The school I work at now operates that way too.

If you're paying for things, the company views you as disposable.
 
What other industry would think of asking someone to "pay" for part or all of the interview process? How sad!

Again, though, if their margins are that bad that the cost of a plane for an hour or so, cannot be absorbed by their overhead cost (as other interviewing cost are), do you really want to work for that company?

I couldn't imagine conducting an interview as a hiring manager in my line of work and saying, "hey, I know you're an engineer and all, and I see your diploma, but I need you to take these other tests and there's going to be a fee that you'll have to pay". People would run and in short order, word would get out and no one but the truly desperate, and possibly unqualified, would even think of applying. Don't support that behavior and call them out on it, spread the word.
 
Similar thing just happened to me. I interviewed at a school and was told I would be reimbursed for my interview flight if I took the job. I wasn't doubting my ability at passing the flight so I figured I'd just go for it. I ended up interviewing at another place the next day and taking that job instead because it was a better place in my mind. After that experience(and reading this thread) there is no way I would pay for anything like that again.
 
sweeps said:
Similar thing just happened to me. I interviewed at a school and was told I would be reimbursed for my interview flight if I took the job. I wasn't doubting my ability at passing the flight so I figured I'd just go for it. I ended up interviewing at another place the next day and taking that job instead because it was a better place in my mind. After that experience(and reading this thread) there is no way I would pay for anything like that again.
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Man, please just walk out next time. They say that, just get up and walk out.
 
I must agree with everyone else here. DO NOT DO IT! Aside from that, if you need a job as a C.F.I. Flightsafety down in Vero is looking for CFI's BIG TIME. Even offering to pay for those who have yet to obtain thier CFI, II and MEI. Aerosim in Sanford is also looking for CFI's. Both don't charge for a checkout. Hope this helps you and others. (Flight Safety wants a 2 year commitment Aerosim nothing)
 
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