Advancing your career?

HJB

HJB

Well-Known Member
How to get ahead in aviation?? What are some things pilots can do to better there resume? I have found that in every other profession it’s easy to stand out, and get ahead. Let’s say you work for an airline, or flight instruct, other than getting your ticket, and building your seniority, is there anything one can do to get ahead in this industry? Only reason I ask is my parents keep asking if there is anything they can help pay for that will advance my career. I have been instructing for about three years, but they really have no idea what this industry is like. I will quit rambling now; any info would be much appreciated. :beer:
 
There is virtually no quick way to advance your career that can be bought that won't bite you in the tail later on.

The best way to advance your career is to network. I've seen seriously low time guys score pretty good gigs just because they were willing to put themselves in front of the right people and then make the right impressions upon them.

If they want to pay for something that can really boost your career than I might suggest a plane ticket and hotel room for NJC this year.
 
Sure there is.

They can buy you a plane to instruct in and take the tax deduction! :)

Seriously, you are almost there. It will not be long now.

Go to the NJC and network. You will be surprised at how much this will help you.

Joe
 
Like these guys have already said...Network, network, network!

In the 4 flying jobs I've had, 3 of them were a result of knowing someone internally.
 
dasleben said:
Like these guys have already said...Network, network, network!

In the 4 flying jobs I've had, 3 of them were a result of knowing someone internally.
Click to expand...


Two of the four aviation jobs I have had, or currently have are directly because of JC. So stick around here, make some friends, and don't change your Avatar, That chick is HAWT!
 
1) Network. By this I don't mean hand out business cards to everyone you meet and pretend to be interested until you find out they "can't help you". I mean be genuine, friendly, share your experiences with others. Listen when others share their experiences with you. Basically, be "out there" but don't be a jerk. You'd think this wouldn't require an explanation, but from what I've seen, it does.

2) Work for people you can trust. I try to work for people who, while they may not pay top dollar or you may work more than you'd like, or whatever, their word is their bond and they take care of their people. This has yet to prove to be a bad decision... I have not had one job that I'm sorry I had (in aviation, anyway).

3) No matter who you're talking to, always (on duty, at least) comport yourself as you would want a potential employer to see you. You never know who is watching or who knows someone you're talking to.

4) Never, never, never talk crap about your job. If it's that bad, quit, then talk crap. Certainly don't do it in an interview. If they want a "TMAAT you had a conflict with a co-worker", make it a light one and make it with someone at or beneath your paygrade. Maybe you were totally in the right, maybe your boss is Lucifer come again, but no one wants to hire someone whose first thought is "my boss/job sucks".

Other than that, just keep your nose to the grindstone, plug away, try to provide the best service you can to your clients, whoever they are. If you work hard, it will eventually pay off.
 
boondr said:
I suggest being pure dumb-lucky kinda like me.:crazy:
Click to expand...

That helps. I've been a pretty big luckbox lately, too. :D

But really, just lucky to have known the right person and "lucky" to have been furloughed when I was. I flew with a Captain at XJT who told me just before I hit the street "You might not realize it yet, but this furlough will be the best thing that's ever happened to you." He was absolutely right. Like the Communist Russian said, don't be a jerk. Make friends, buy a few beers, etc. Those same people will help you when your time comes.
 
I certainly will make to NJC this year. Thanks for the great advice! Please don’t get me wrong I don’t want to get ahead by buying my way, but thru hard work. It’s just if you look at business, law, sales, medical field etc.. you can stand out from your peers if you work really hard, in aviation it just seems different. Anyways thanks a lot guys :beer:
 
Deffiniatly wouldn’t change my avatar. What more could you ask for, she’s hot and a Dallas Cowboy! Or in this case Dallas Cowgirl
 
How about building turbine time? That will help your career big time. Do some other flying besides CFI'ing. Work for an airline outside of the US in africa, china, ect. Take that chance and seek adventure. That's what aviation is all about.
 
Apparently the most recent class of DAL newhires had 30 people. Of those, 8 had Masters Degrees and one had a doctorate!!
 
To be successful it often takes the willingness to sacrifice something else in your life. In aviation that often means moving for a job. You must be willing to move for the right job. I have watched lots of guys commit career suicide because they restrict themselves to one geographic area. At the same time I have watched many more get ahead by moving across the country and even around the world ( myself included ).

The second thing is to stay single until you get to a reasonable position in the industry. Again, you'll have to move so having a wife or significant other who ties you to one place can be very bad for your career advancement. That said, there are some women who are willing to move and can helpful in your early career. That tends to be rare though. Again, I've seen guys "settle" for a local job to please the wife when they could have had a much better one if they had moved.

The third thing is to excel at what you do. Learn everything you can about all aspects of aviation. Read, read, and read. Learn from others. Never get complacent about your knowledge level. I've been doing this for the better part of 30 years and I'm still learning.

Take opportunities to improve your professional qualifications. Whether it be with a new rating or a course on weather radar it will add to your knowledge level and that will show through to prospective employers.

Check out the thread I started in the Expatriate forum about two guys who got ahead quickly by moving around the world for stepping stone jobs.




Typhoonpilot
 
typhoonpilot said:
To be successful it often takes the willingness to sacrifice something else in your life. In aviation that often means moving for a job. You must be willing to move for the right job. I have watched lots of guys commit career suicide because they restrict themselves to one geographic area. At the same time I have watched many more get ahead by moving across the country and even around the world ( myself included ).

The second thing is to stay single until you get to a reasonable position in the industry. Again, you'll have to move so having a wife or significant other who ties you to one place can be very bad for your career advancement. That said, there are some women who are willing to move and can helpful in your early career. That tends to be rare though. Again, I've seen guys "settle" for a local job to please the wife when they could have had a much better one if they had moved.

The third thing is to excel at what you do. Learn everything you can about all aspects of aviation. Read, read, and read. Learn from others. Never get complacent about your knowledge level. I've been doing this for the better part of 30 years and I'm still learning.

Take opportunities to improve your professional qualifications. Whether it be with a new rating or a course on weather radar it will add to your knowledge level and that will show through to prospective employers.

Check out the thread I started in the Expatriate forum about two guys who got ahead quickly by moving around the world for stepping stone jobs.




Typhoonpilot
Click to expand...


:yeahthat::yeahthat:

Seriously man, network. I'm right there with you, I'm on year 2 of instructing and I've also worked in the survey industry for a season. I got my job as an instructor by networking. I was offered a job that I HAD to turn down at the time because of networking (which now I almost wish I took). But like everyone else said, don't do it just because you want to get ahead, do it because you genuinely care. While doing my ratings at my airport, I literally lived there and got to know everyone. Now when I'm at the airport people are always asking me all the time how my job searches are going or telling me, 'hang tight I might have something for you'. Lot's of good people out there, and the short time I've spent here, looks like there's tons of good guys on here too.
 
I agree with what everyone is saying, networking is the key to success in this industry. So far I haven't found a job via networking, but I have seen others get the same job I have with less time, since they have an inside connection. Part of my problem is that I have been getting jobs at out of the way places or small companies. The other problem is that I have to put myself out there a little more and get the hang of the networking thing. It's easy to just hang out and meet people, but I always feel like I'm imposing on a friend if I ask them to stick their neck out for me. Like I said, still working on it... :)

This website really has helped me out as well. There is lots of great info out here, and I have used it to help me in the job hunt before.

Good luck!
 
Boris Badenov said:
1)
...

4) Never, never, never talk crap about your job. If it's that bad, quit, then talk crap. Certainly don't do it in an interview. If they want a "TMAAT you had a conflict with a co-worker", make it a light one and make it with someone at or beneath your paygrade. Maybe you were totally in the right, maybe your boss is Lucifer come again, but no one wants to hire someone whose first thought is "my boss/job sucks".

...
Click to expand...

Sage advice, but I've got to say that the above is one of the things I've continually seen from coworkers in the jobs I've held. Some of them have been great people individually, but if I were a prospective employer, I wouldn't be able to justify hiring them on personality alone.
 
Go far away to a place where people actually stare at airplanes and pilot's as if they were rock stars. :rawk:
 
Ive gotten into the corporate/135 world by networking and hard work and dedication.

It hasnt been all peaches and fun, but its all been worth it so far.


Its all about who you know, and dont burn bridges. That will take you far.
 
Boris Badenov said:
1) Network. By this I don't mean hand out business cards to everyone you meet and pretend to be interested until you find out they "can't help you". I mean be genuine, friendly, share your experiences with others. Listen when others share their experiences with you. Basically, be "out there" but don't be a jerk. You'd think this wouldn't require an explanation, but from what I've seen, it does.

2) Work for people you can trust. I try to work for people who, while they may not pay top dollar or you may work more than you'd like, or whatever, their word is their bond and they take care of their people. This has yet to prove to be a bad decision... I have not had one job that I'm sorry I had (in aviation, anyway).

3) No matter who you're talking to, always (on duty, at least) comport yourself as you would want a potential employer to see you. You never know who is watching or who knows someone you're talking to.

4) Never, never, never talk crap about your job. If it's that bad, quit, then talk crap. Certainly don't do it in an interview. If they want a "TMAAT you had a conflict with a co-worker", make it a light one and make it with someone at or beneath your paygrade. Maybe you were totally in the right, maybe your boss is Lucifer come again, but no one wants to hire someone whose first thought is "my boss/job sucks".

Other than that, just keep your nose to the grindstone, plug away, try to provide the best service you can to your clients, whoever they are. If you work hard, it will eventually pay off.
Click to expand...

OhioStatePilot said:
Sage advice, but I've got to say that the above is one of the things I've continually seen from coworkers in the jobs I've held. Some of them have been great people individually, but if I were a prospective employer, I wouldn't be able to justify hiring them on personality alone.
Click to expand...

Both are good ways to advance, but the first one Boris talked about is a big thing. As well as #4 I have dealt with co-workers from previous jobs that did not like it and wondered why I enjoy it instead of loathing like them. That is how you can differentiate between the ones who enjoy it vs the ones who hate it. I pretty much give a 110% every day and I showed that to the higher-ups/supervisors, or other dependable co-workers and got a chance to do more to show them that I can be dependable. Not to show off, but to gain knowledge.

Networking is a good way to get your foot in the door. I have friends that ask me about where I work and I let them know what it is really like. I give them a good idea what it's like and when they are there then they can make a decision. I would pretty much ask yourself "What do you want to do and what would you do letitimately/legally to get there?"
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top