Advice Please

JK7177

Well-Known Member
I was wondering what you guys would say about this. I'm currently about to graduate college this Fall with a degree in pro-flight, and will have MEI/CFI/CFII. At the present time i'm making about 65k a year working a job outside of the aviation world. Would it make more sense to work full time as a CFI and move away, or put off flying. I'm 23 and really hate my job.
 
depends on how much you hate your job. youll make less as a CFI. but you may be happier.

none of us can tell you which is more important for your situation.

making that kind of cash at 23 is pretty darn good though.
 
Are you wanting to start a career in aviation? If you are, then I don't think desk flying counts for anything:sarcasm:.
 
I was wondering what you guys would say about this. I'm currently about to graduate college this Fall with a degree in pro-flight, and will have MEI/CFI/CFII. At the present time i'm making about 65k a year working a job outside of the aviation world. Would it make more sense to work full time as a CFI and move away, or put off flying. I'm 23 and really hate my job.

Why do you hate your job? The hours? The money? Is it too hard? Too boring? Too tedious? Are you not good at it? You must give a name to your pain before any meaningful discussion can occur.
 
I'm curious what job you can get without a degree that pays 65K. Especially considering that you probably go to school full time.

Are you really pulling down 65K while only working part time as a college student?

I'm not trying to sound skeptical... I'm just wondering the details.
 
Wow, 65k at age 23! lol... Who is your daddy and what does he do? All jokes aside, is it instructing that you want to do? If so then the market is wide open. If it is not instructing that you want then stay where you are until the field opens up again.

Gay porn I hear you don't need a degree and you can probably make more than 65k a year. :laff:
 
Construction or real-estate are ways you can make money without a degree.

at 23 I could make around 50 K in construction, (no degree) and my uncle he made over 5 million from real estate before the age of 27 without even finishing highschool.
 
Construction or real-estate are ways you can make money without a degree.

at 23 I could make around 50 K in construction, (no degree) and my uncle he made over 5 million from real estate before the age of 27 without even finishing highschool.

Right... but could you do that while attending college full time? That's what makes the scenario so interesting. He is making 65K while taking enough classes to graduate at 23. The list of jobs that make that possible is pretty slim I think, but anything is possible.
 
I was wondering what you guys would say about this. I'm currently about to graduate college this Fall with a degree in pro-flight, and will have MEI/CFI/CFII. At the present time i'm making about 65k a year working a job outside of the aviation world. Would it make more sense to work full time as a CFI and move away, or put off flying. I'm 23 and really hate my job.


Dude, I would tough it out a couple years longer and save! You can't have too many expenses at your age (and it will be a long time before you see that kind of flow again). Do that and then make your decision. The industry might be brighter by that time.

-A
 
stay at your current job, build up a FAT savings account, don't be stupid with your money and flight instruct on the side at a local airport on weekends and evenings (or whatever schedule you can manage). When you eventually go to make teh transition to flying full time you'll have some money in your pocket to make it a lot easier on yourself and your family - especially the first few lean years as a flight instructor full time and then at the regional level.
 
There are so many variables at play to give you good advice in your situation, but as others have pointed out, ultimately it comes down to what you want to do with your life. It looks like you have a pretty good gig now, and as they say "the grass isn't always greener on the other side."

Some questions you might ask yourself:

What's the earning potential in your current walk of life? Could you be making 6-figures soon, or do you see yourself pretty much capped at around 65K in your profession? Can you give up what you have to live on ramen noodles and food stamps for a few years? It'll be a long time before you see anything like 65K in this business. At 23, you should be proud of yourself for that achievement; I'm 6 years older than you and I just might clear that amount this year for the first time ever.

What do you know about the lifestyle of a professional pilot/CFI? What are your goals in aviation, and how much do you know about what it takes to get up the career ladder? Flying professionally is a lot different than flying for pleasure.

How serious are you about starting a family in the next few years? Flying takes it's toll on the family life. Forget being able to sleep in the same bed every night. Forget being able to coach the baseball team. Forget about being there for special occasions in your family and missing a good portion of your kids growing up. You'll have to learn to be glued to your phone and forget about establishing any sort of routine in your life.


This is very much a lifestyle choice for you. You say you hate your current job. What is it about the job you hate? Is it the job itself? ...your boss? ...the company? If you got a similar job in the same field, do you think you'd feel the same way? Naturally, don't make yourself miserable doing something you hate, but I'd say there are probably just as many people fed up with aviation and leaving it for something else as there are people exiting any other profession. I love flying, but there are definitely sacrifices that have to be made, and it's a most unique lifestyle that only the individual can determine what the best choice for them is.
 
My advice, for what it's worth: I currently make 6 figures and i hate my job. I am luckily in a financial position to have many choices right now. That being said, I am sitting at my desk at work each day and at home, looking for a new job and even considering getting out of my profession entirely given that my current job has soured me so much on the profession. I have always had in the back of my mind what my SCUBA instructor trainer used to say: "do what you love and everything else will take care of itself" This came from a pHd who was the first head of PE at UCSD and eventually garnered a tenured position due to his persistence and continued SCUBA instructing.

All professions require some sacrifice of some sort. You have to decide what sacrifices you want to make for that profession. As a physician, I have had to make a lot of sacrifices along the way. As a new father, I have to also consider staying in my current job for the good of my son. Life is full of choices, and all those choices have consequences.

Contemplate what you want, perhaps write it down for clarity, and then make your decision.
 
You guys had some really good things to say, thanks for all the advice. As for what i do, i do consulting and bidding for a construction company, which basically entails running a laptop and explaining things to people. What bothers me the most about the job is the fact that i have been working about 60-70 hours a week 6 to 7 days a week all sumer, and some of the spring. The work doesn't really conflict with my education because the only credits i have left to earn for my degree are flight labs which are self paced. However the reason i'm so concerned about the transition is that if i wait to get to an airline and instruct on the side for a few years i don't want to fall behind on my goals in moving up at an airline. Another good reason in my mind to get started early is the fact that i probably will start a family within the next 5 years and would like to make more than a second year FO ( no offense guys ) if i have a kid. I don't think i'd beable to move to an airline or another professional flying job ie: CFI, cargo, corporate if i put this off to much longer. However a lot of the things i hear about the industry are slightly discouraging at this point and being so near compleation of my degree and ratings it can bring a fella down. That being said there is nothing i want to do more than fly professionally in my life, with making the kind of money i do at a young age i realized that the money won't make you happy, but if you truly enjoy what your doing the money will come.
 
You guys had some really good things to say, thanks for all the advice. As for what i do, i do consulting and bidding for a construction company, which basically entails running a laptop and explaining things to people. What bothers me the most about the job is the fact that i have been working about 60-70 hours a week 6 to 7 days a week all sumer, and some of the spring. The work doesn't really conflict with my education because the only credits i have left to earn for my degree are flight labs which are self paced. However the reason i'm so concerned about the transition is that if i wait to get to an airline and instruct on the side for a few years i don't want to fall behind on my goals in moving up at an airline. Another good reason in my mind to get started early is the fact that i probably will start a family within the next 5 years and would like to make more than a second year FO ( no offense guys ) if i have a kid. I don't think i'd beable to move to an airline or another professional flying job ie: CFI, cargo, corporate if i put this off to much longer. However a lot of the things i hear about the industry are slightly discouraging at this point and being so near compleation of my degree and ratings it can bring a fella down. That being said there is nothing i want to do more than fly professionally in my life, with making the kind of money i do at a young age i realized that the money won't make you happy, but if you truly enjoy what your doing the money will come.


Welp man, nothing in aviation moves fast. I got in a good spot and got lucky and my quality of life is high and I'm making good money during the downturn. I'm pretty sure the guy you want to talk to is Zap on this thing, he can tell you what long term aviation is really like. If your gonna be anything but single in this profession starting out I personally think you and all these other guys are crazy. But I'm also young and dumb. There are shortcuts and they worked for me (colgan), but its shocking how important timing of a few weeks can make in this industry. I'm fat dumb and happy with 12-16 days off a month with a lot of guys below me at a base making a good paycheck at company that is hiring. Wouldn't be here though if it wasn't for a lot of luck, everything I own still fits in my civic and I make choices alone. Four states in the last five years for me (going on six). I'd say stick around and build up a ton of cash where you're at for a while.
 
Keep the 65k job.

Fly as a part time instructor somewhere.

Then, one day, if you really want to. . .make the adventourous jump into whatever segment of the industry you want. Hopefully you're saving a great deal of that 65k a year salary to help you live if/when you make the jump.

Good luck.
 
I'm curious what job you can get without a degree that pays 65K. Especially considering that you probably go to school full time.

Where do I sign up for the 65K a year job with no degree?...I want in!

This is more common than you think. Many fields pay that or better without a degree, especially if the employee happens to be very experienced in their field. You get paid for what you can do.
 
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