The Job Search

derg

derg

Apparently a "terse" writer
Staff member
Some pointers:

Just because you have an application in doesn't mean that you're done and it's a waiting game. Having an application on file is the absolute minimum effort. This works for some people, but presume it isn't going to work for you.

You have to actively pursue the job. Ask yourself, daily, "What have I done today in my pursuit of this position?"

Have you made new networking contacts this week? If not, why not? Get off your ass and make this happen. A networking contact does not mean that "Oh, I met some guy jumpseating and he wrote me a letter of recommendation so I'm good." You're not.

Have you updated your application in the last few weeks? If you haven't, you're not serious about employment.

Have you recently updated your networking contacts about changes, new certifications or even if they're still alive? If you haven't, you're not serious about employment.

If the alpha to the omega of your job search starts when you open your browser and ends when you close it, repeat after me, you're not serious about employment.

There are numerous amounts of fantastic opportunities out there and many of you will miss out because you're not actively managing your job search. If you're persistent, stay 'top of mind' with your networking contacts and forget about the "I applied. Just waiting until XYZ knocks on my door and hands me a job" you will succeed. Stagnation and sitting on your butt assuming that you've done all you can is deadly to your career endeavors.

Get busy. The wave may last or it may not.
 
To add....

Keep in contact with the people you meet who are willing to help you. I'm absolutely terrible at this but have gotten better at it over the last year or so.

I have so many business cards from important people that I've met that I've failed to contact or even follow up with.

It's quite easy to network here on JC. It's almost like drinking water when you're thirsty. Life always seems to get in the way outside of JC though. I have been making a consistent effort to keep in contact with people outside of JC via phone call, text, email, or linkedin. It's been working out pretty well so far.
 
I'd like to add also, that when you meet someone from your target company, probably best not to start with "can I have a recommendation?". Make friends with the individual. Learn about their company and their job but also about their lives. I'm far more likely to recommend a friend than I am some person who I've never met from a message board (even someone from the JC Family).

The people who have helped me along the way are people I had known for years and fostered relationships with. Then, when I mentioned that their airline was hiring and i was thinking of applying, THEY were the one who offered their help instead of me having to ask for it. (Not saying i've never asked. Sometimes you have to be bold.)
 
I would also like to add, always act professional because you never know who you will run into or who will be observing your behavior at work and even jump seating or nonreving. I recently met two more possible internal recommendations for my dream job, all because of the way I asked for a lift when jump seating home.
 
Derg said:
Should be.
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Once again though, without ignoring the spirit of this here fine organization, if others don't understand the basics of going about a professional job search/mission - then well - I ain't gonna quite shoot myself in the knees helping them figure out the realities of being a professional adult.
 
Gonzo said:
I would also like to add, always act professional because you never know who you will run into or who will be observing your behavior at work and even jump seating or nonreving. I recently met two more possible internal recommendations for my dream job, all because of the way I asked for a lift when jump seating home.
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You have no clue how many times ice been I'm civvies next to a table of pilots bitching about how messed up the process is at my employer and how onerous it is trying to find a contact. This just happened at the Taco Bell in DTW a few minutes ago when I was sitting with the captain I just flew in with.

Meanwhile if they were speaking positively, I might have offered them a business card and maybe chose to keep in contact about employment opportunities.

You never know who is listening and if they're willing to help.
 
ZapBrannigan said:
I'd like to add also, that when you meet someone from your target company, probably best not to start with "can I have a recommendation?". Make friends with the individual. Learn about their company and their job but also about their lives. I'm far more likely to recommend a friend than I am some person who I've never met from a message board (even someone from the JC Family).

The people who have helped me along the way are people I had known for years and fostered relationships with. Then, when I mentioned that their airline was hiring and i was thinking of applying, THEY were the one who offered their help instead of me having to ask for it. (Not saying i've never asked. Sometimes you have to be bold.)
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Oh heck yes. If LORs are for people you don't really know it kind of cheapens them. Makes it more of a scavenger hunt than trying to find the right kind of people that you would like to work with.
 
ZapBrannigan said:
I'd like to add also, that when you meet someone from your target company, probably best not to start with "can I have a recommendation?". Make friends with the individual. Learn about their company and their job but also about their lives. I'm far more likely to recommend a friend than I am some person who I've never met from a message board (even someone from the JC Family).

The people who have helped me along the way are people I had known for years and fostered relationships with. Then, when I mentioned that their airline was hiring and i was thinking of applying, THEY were the one who offered their help instead of me having to ask for it. (Not saying i've never asked. Sometimes you have to be bold.)
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This times a million.

I know @Derg doesn't mean this, but don't use people just to use them. Make friends to have friends. Most people will automatically tune you out if they can tell the whole relationship is based on something you want. I know it sounds like common sense, but..yea I see it happening all the time.

I have a friend who has a pretty cool job that would help me be successful in being a controller. He was a co-worker and we became friends. I didn't push anything, we just always talked about the industry and hung out. About 8 months later he is calling me asking if I want a position and that he would recommend me.

Be surrounded by people who will take you were you want to go.

Just my $.02
 
This whole thread is this right here...



But for real, everything in this thread is excellent advice. It seriously could be turned into a book.
 
Gonzo said:
I would also like to add, always act professional because you never know who you will run into or who will be observing your behavior at work and even jump seating or nonreving. I recently met two more possible internal recommendations for my dream job, all because of the way I asked for a lift when jump seating home.
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Speaking to a complete stranger on a FedEx crew bus at midnight landed me a shot at my current gig on extremely short notice.
 
My 19 year old (yea you read that right) "Jr Pilot" on my last trip randomly met and had breakfast with a Charter CA from NetJets (or one of those) on our last trip... The CA saw he was eating breakfast by himself and that he was reading the CFI PTS and he struck up a conversation with him. They chat and eat and just because of my pilot's good attitude and friendliness he made a great contact for future employment opportunities. Don't be the grump sitting around hating life all the time. Everyone has problems in their personal life, but not everyone brings them to work. Be courteous, be friendly, and you never know who you may meet.
 
chrisreedrules said:
My 19 year old (yea you read that right) "Jr Pilot" on my last trip randomly met and had breakfast with a Charter CA from NetJets (or one of those) on our last trip... The CA saw he was eating breakfast by himself and that he was reading the CFI PTS and he struck up a conversation with him. They chat and eat and just because of my pilot's good attitude and friendliness he made a great contact for future employment opportunities. Don't be the grump sitting around hating life all the time. Everyone has problems in their personal life, but not everyone brings them to work. Be courteous, be friendly, and you never know who you may meet.
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I had something similar happen when I was 20 jump seating on FedEx. It was 2:30 am in Memphis and I was just excited about having awesome breakfast food. I sat down, a gentleman asked if he could sit at the table I was at, we started talking, and I ended up with a business card and a great person to talk with.
 
A word of advice: While you're out there hustling to figure out a way to duck good advice, and get by with only the bare minimum, I'm out there hustling to get better training and experience while networking myself. If you ever find yourself trying to justify doing the least you possibly can to get by, and think that it will result in you getting ahead, rest assured there are people out there trying to do their absolute best every day.
What's that mean? It means that the folks you are competing against for a job are doing everything they can to BEAT YOU. If you're not doing everything that YOU can do to get ahead by making sure you have that degree, by having a diversified resume and by networking your butt off, THEY will be the ones that are successful.

So when they get the job and you don't, don't be surprised, and don't make excuses.

Instead, start building your future success RIGHT NOW. Go do some work that sets you apart. Make sure you have your degree. Make connections RIGHT NOW even if you're only a private pilot with possible aspirations to fly professionally one day.

Never forget that there are people who are successful, and there are people who make excuses.

Don't make excuses. Instead, use the tools that are available RIGHT HERE to help you get ahead.
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