Applying to the "career destination" airlines

Avgirl said:
If you are on reserve as a regional CA, you are lucky to work 20 hours a month at times. Sometimes, less than that. Not enough FO's too many CA's.
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True. But this doesn't necessarily translate into days off. I don't block too many hours, but the company has an assignment for me nearly each day I'm on reserve.
 
Old Dominion Flyer said:
True. But this doesn't necessarily translate into days off. I don't block too many hours, but the company has an assignment for me nearly each day I'm on reserve.
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You definitely have assignments, but depending on what bucket you fall into, your likelihood of flying isn't always high. It isn't time off, but opportunities to do projects that if you got called in, the two hours notice would be sufficient to get back into pilot mode. Sounds good to people like me, who work all the time, but for others who have done that for years, it sucks.
 
Avgirl said:
You definitely have assignments, but depending on what bucket you fall into, your likelihood of flying isn't always high. It isn't time off, but opportunities to do projects that if you got called in, the two hours notice would be sufficient to get back into pilot mode. Sounds good to people like me, who work all the time, but for others who have done that for years, it sucks.
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The issue he is stating is not sitting at home on call, but rather sitting in a hotel for 30 hrs after you deadheaded in just to work 1 leg, to sit for another 18 hours at a different hotel. They aren't logging many flight hours, but are gone from home for most of their reserve days.
 
I had kinda figured out the networking thing in the 135/91 environment, but networking in the 121 world is dramatically different. It's much harder to gauge if someone is receptive to a conversation in a quick 30 second interaction rather than spending a couple hours together in a FBO crew lounge. @Derg is 110% correct with the elevator pitch skill. Practice it on everyone. The middle aged lady behind you in the supermarket, the barber cutting your hair, literally anyone you start a conversation with. It'll make you that much more confident when performance time comes with someone who actually matters.
 
Finny said:
I had kinda figured out the networking thing in the 135/91 environment, but networking in the 121 world is dramatically different. It's much harder to gauge if someone is receptive to a conversation in a quick 30 second interaction rather than spending a couple hours together in a FBO crew lounge. @Derg is 110% correct with the elevator pitch skill. Practice it on everyone. The middle aged lady behind you in the supermarket, the barber cutting your hair, literally anyone you start a conversation with. It'll make you that much more confident when performance time comes with someone who actually matters.
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Something else to add on:

"Ok, you have my attention. Now what?" :)

Your elevator pitch should roll off your tongue. Sometimes the first question at a career fair is "So, tell me about yourself, Mr. Smith" and the answer isn't "Uh, what do you want to hear?"
 
Derg said:
Something else to add on:

"Ok, you have my attention. Now what?" :)

Your elevator pitch should roll off your tongue. Sometimes the first question at a career fair is "So, tell me about yourself, Mr. Smith" and the answer isn't "Uh, what do you want to hear?"
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I've always found the "sandwich method" has worked best for me. Start with the easy answer to who you are, add in all the extra stuff about you, then finish with how that makes you who you are. "I'm a FO at blah blah, I volunteer, went to this school, have had this struggle but got over it, which makes me a great FO at blah blah, which will set me up for success at Legacy XYZ."
 
Derg said:
Toastmasters!

Seriously.

Or just craft an "elevator pitch". Don't be the guy that walks up at the bar and expects magic to happen through basic osmosis.

Here's the challenge and of course it's free advice so take it or leave it, but I'd suggest practicing. I can't tell you how many people my friend talks about that literally go to a career fair or just have a professional interaction where they can't hold a conversation or simply answer questions with one or two words. You need to know that (a) the person can do the job but most importantly, (b) is this someone I can handle spending 12 days with on a 777 pairing?

Personality is absolutely essential because you will be interacting with customers, you will be interfacing with other divisions and you will be expected to have some level of social comfort with your coworkers.

Here's an opportunity. There is a massive chance I may be able to connect you with people at a place you want to go, but I really don't know what your goals are. Do you want to work at my shop, or American, or Atlas, or I don't know, the Alaskan Virgin Airways, FedEx, UPS? :) I literally have no idea what you're after because you haven't reached out to at least communicate that or if you have, I've probably overlooked it seeeeeeeeew, tell me about yourself!
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Sorry to high jack this, what is the best way to contact you? I remember I thread years ago where you talked about it but I can't find it. Tried pm'ing but I think you said that's the least effective.
 
Finny said:
I've always found the "sandwich method" has worked best for me. Start with the easy answer to who you are, add in all the extra stuff about you, then finish with how that makes you who you are. "I'm a FO at blah blah, I volunteer, went to this school, have had this struggle but got over it, which makes me a great FO at blah blah, which will set me up for success at Legacy XYZ."
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I (and it truly is just MO) would leave out anything about struggle. Might come off as whining. Everyone who is in the piloting profession has struggled at some point, it's a given.
 
Avgirl said:
You definitely have assignments, but depending on what bucket you fall into, your likelihood of flying isn't always high. It isn't time off, but opportunities to do projects that if you got called in, the two hours notice would be sufficient to get back into pilot mode. Sounds good to people like me, who work all the time, but for others who have done that for years, it sucks.
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Or just jumpseat around places when sitting reserve, since you won't get called to fly anyway. :stir:
 
Seggy said:
Once again, if they perform that well, then there are opportunities to get out in front of the legacies. Dozens of folks on here have done that.



As stated, I know folks at various regionals with quick upgrades. They will be more professional than you can ever imagine.
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You seem to have forgotten the point of this thread and the fact that I was responding to some pilots who made the same point I was making. The OP asked, some responded and I added my voice to what they wrote.

I've been in this business a few years. I've seen some hired, some not hired. Last fall I flew with 5 FOs who were hired with no TPIC time while other seemingly identical pilots are still here. Them's the brakes. I feel for them.

And once again you attack my professionalism though you don't know me from jack. Grow up man. It's pretty easy to hide behind the anonymity of a web board and call people unprofessional. Do it to my face. Please. Aviation is a very small world. Be careful who you piss off on the way up. You tend to piss off a great many people.
 
Didn't read all of this but I think the problem today with hiring is the computers and HR are too involved and a lot of good pilots are being excluded from interview based on either an arbitrary number or lack of knowledge of other types of operations.

We need to get pilots more involved in hiring and letters of recommendation for current pilots need to carry more weight.
 
Word from FW, at AA, virtually no off the street hiring until 2017. 2016 hiring filled by flows and furloughees who are returning.
 
Finny said:
I had kinda figured out the networking thing in the 135/91 environment, but networking in the 121 world is dramatically different. It's much harder to gauge if someone is receptive to a conversation in a quick 30 second interaction rather than spending a couple hours together in a FBO crew lounge. @Derg is 110% correct with the elevator pitch skill. Practice it on everyone. The middle aged lady behind you in the supermarket, the barber cutting your hair, literally anyone you start a conversation with. It'll make you that much more confident when performance time comes with someone who actually matters.
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But just remember there is a time and place for everything. Don't try an elevator pitch in the bathroom stall, next to a recruiter. Or follow someone into a bathroom, and start up a conversation with someone while their doing their business at a urinal.
 
Blackhawk said:
You seem to have forgotten the point of this thread and the fact that I was responding to some pilots who made the same point I was making. The OP asked, some responded and I added my voice to what they wrote.

I've been in this business a few years. I've seen some hired, some not hired. Last fall I flew with 5 FOs who were hired with no TPIC time while other seemingly identical pilots are still here. Them's the brakes. I feel for them.

And once again you attack my professionalism though you don't know me from jack. Grow up man. It's pretty easy to hide behind the anonymity of a web board and call people unprofessional. Do it to my face. Please. Aviation is a very small world. Be careful who you piss off on the way up. You tend to piss off a great many people.
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I don't think he's worried about upsetting a FFDC pilot. Not saying I agree with his attitude or personality, but there really is no more "up" for him.
 
Avgirl said:
You definitely have assignments, but depending on what bucket you fall into, your likelihood of flying isn't always high. It isn't time off, but opportunities to do projects that if you got called in, the two hours notice would be sufficient to get back into pilot mode. Sounds good to people like me, who work all the time, but for others who have done that for years, it sucks.
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Ah, cognitive dissonance, we meet again. :)
When you say reserve, you seem to refer to living in base and working for a company that doesn't use reserves too often. When I say reserve, I refer to commuting to reserve for a company that uses short call reserves each day they're available.

I fly a Brazilian jet for an airline that runs on hot dish and hockey. Which operator are you referring to?
 
Old Dominion Flyer said:
Ah, cognitive dissonance, we meet again. :)
When you say reserve, you seem to refer to living in base and working for a company that doesn't use reserves too often. When I say reserve, I refer to commuting to reserve for a company that uses short call reserves each day they're available.

I fly a Brazilian jet for an airline that runs on hot dish and hockey. Which operator are you referring to?
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XJT
 
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