Hey Everyone!
Have been a visitor here for some time and figured it’s time to make a post. I just finished up my oral and practical a little over a week ago and am waiting on my card in the mail. First, I’d like to say that I have learned so much from this forum throughout the whole process both from reading through the posts and from a few members directly via PM—so thank you!
Now it’s time to make some moves. I’m currently going on 3 years on the Ramp for Southwest. I would love to stay here and transition into Dispatch, which was my initial game plan, but I know that there are probably 100 others with the same goal and it’s probably a long line of people that are already positioned better than me. With my fresh new license in hand, it’s hard to sit on the sidelines hoping for a chance to play when I am so excited and eager to actually start dispatching! I don’t want to shoot myself in the foot by leaving pre-emptively, but I’ve also heard that the mega classes of 20 and 40 that I just missed the boat on are over for the foreseeable future—which makes my chances seem even grimmer.
I’ve started shooting my resume out to places that are maybe still a bit out of my league, but ones that I wouldn't have to think too hard about leaving Southwest to go pursue. I’m not expecting to hear much back but hey…it's a start. I haven't started applying to regionals yet because I'm nervous that if I were lucky enough to get an offer, that I would turn it down because I'm not yet ready to leave Southwest and I don't want to burn any bridges.
I know there is no right answer or sure-shot direction to take, I guess I’m just curious what you guys would do in my situation and am fielding for any advice in general. I would hate to see the trend return to internal hiring only, having given up my internal candidacy--but it’s also making me anxious watching all of the regional postings come and go, wondering when that’s going to start drying up also. I do have a great attendance record and strong relationships with my supervisors—maybe this could give me a leg up as an external candidate re-applying in the future with some real experience? I'm not sure what their philosophies are as far as re-hiring in this kind of situation.
Anyway, thanks everyone! Looking forward to any help and responses! (sorry for the wall of text)
Have been a visitor here for some time and figured it’s time to make a post. I just finished up my oral and practical a little over a week ago and am waiting on my card in the mail. First, I’d like to say that I have learned so much from this forum throughout the whole process both from reading through the posts and from a few members directly via PM—so thank you!
Now it’s time to make some moves. I’m currently going on 3 years on the Ramp for Southwest. I would love to stay here and transition into Dispatch, which was my initial game plan, but I know that there are probably 100 others with the same goal and it’s probably a long line of people that are already positioned better than me. With my fresh new license in hand, it’s hard to sit on the sidelines hoping for a chance to play when I am so excited and eager to actually start dispatching! I don’t want to shoot myself in the foot by leaving pre-emptively, but I’ve also heard that the mega classes of 20 and 40 that I just missed the boat on are over for the foreseeable future—which makes my chances seem even grimmer.
I’ve started shooting my resume out to places that are maybe still a bit out of my league, but ones that I wouldn't have to think too hard about leaving Southwest to go pursue. I’m not expecting to hear much back but hey…it's a start. I haven't started applying to regionals yet because I'm nervous that if I were lucky enough to get an offer, that I would turn it down because I'm not yet ready to leave Southwest and I don't want to burn any bridges.
I know there is no right answer or sure-shot direction to take, I guess I’m just curious what you guys would do in my situation and am fielding for any advice in general. I would hate to see the trend return to internal hiring only, having given up my internal candidacy--but it’s also making me anxious watching all of the regional postings come and go, wondering when that’s going to start drying up also. I do have a great attendance record and strong relationships with my supervisors—maybe this could give me a leg up as an external candidate re-applying in the future with some real experience? I'm not sure what their philosophies are as far as re-hiring in this kind of situation.
Anyway, thanks everyone! Looking forward to any help and responses! (sorry for the wall of text)